Primary Vs. Relapsed Diffuse Large B Cell Lymphoma

Diffuse large B cell lymphoma is an aggressive form of cancer characterized by a rapidly growing lymph node mass. Treatments and outcomes vary significantly for primary and relapsed (recurrent) forms of this disease.

Primary Cases

Doctors diagnose roughly one out of every three primary cases of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma before they spread (metastasize) to other areas of the body, according to the American Cancer Institute (ACS). Typically, these localized cases prove easier to treat than metastasized cases.

Primary Treatments

Primary diffuse large B-cell lymphoma responds well to treatment with chemotherapy, notes the ACS. Initial chemo treatments eliminate signs of lymphoma in roughly 75 percent of patients, and chemo ultimately cures roughly 50 percent of patients.

Recurrence

If diffuse large B-cell lymphoma reappears after treatment, survival rates drop dramatically. UpToDate for Patients notes that patients with recurring lymphoma have only a small chance of finding a cure.

Treating Recurrence

Doctors may choose to treat recurrent diffuse large B-cell lymphoma with a technique called salvage chemotherapy, which involves the use of single or combined chemotherapy drugs for a period of several days, reports UpToDate for Patients.

Additional Treatments

UpToDate for Patients cites additional treatments for recurrence that include high-dose chemotherapy, stem cell transplantation and participation in clinical trials.

References

• American Cancer Society: Detailed Guide: Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin Type - What Is Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma?
• UpToDate for Patients: Patient information - Diffuse Large B-cell Lymphoma in Adults

Resources

• Lymphoma Research Foundation: Getting the Facts - Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma