Abstract
ABSTRACT: Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is the most common and a morphologically, molecularly, and clinically heterogeneous group of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) whose outcomes have greatly improved after rituximab-based chemotherapy. The present Indian study is unique as we have analysed the data of DLBCL patients based on cell of origin, clinical features, and outcomes with rituximab-based chemotherapy. In this retrospective observational study from 2016-2023, the medical records of 580 DLBCL patients were analysed. The cell of origin was based on immunohistochemistry using the Hans algorithm. The median age of presentation was 55 years, with the Activated B-cell (ABC) type being the most common. Stage IV disease was observed in 41% of the patients. As per International Prognostic Index (IPI) risk stratification, 38% and 36% of the patients were in the low intermediate (LI) and high intermediate (HI) risk groups, respectively. Extranodal involvement, B symptoms, and bulky disease were seen in 26%, 46%, and 29% of the patients, respectively. R-CHOP chemotherapy was used in 75% of the patients. Complete response was seen in 73% and 43% in the germinal centre B-cell (GCB) type and ABC type, respectively. Other factors associated with lower rates of complete response were female sex, Stage II/IV, IPI-HI/H, Bulky disease, and non-R-CHOP chemotherapy use. The overall two-year PFS rate was 78%, with 87.6% in the GCB and 70.5% in the ABC type, respectively. Two-year overall survival was 81.4% (87.7% for GCB, 73.5% for ABC and 90.1% for others). CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: Nil.