Monica Balzarotti, MD, a hematologist, Department of Hematology within the Institute for Research, Hospitalization, and Health Care (IRCCS) Humanitas Research Hospital, in Milan, Italy, discusses the challenges of treating elderly patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL).

Apart from autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT), which is not curative, the field has several therapies available, many of which are utilized within a subgroup of patients who are not suitable for ASCT, says Balzarotti. The majority of patients with DLBCL are not eligible for ASCT, as it primarily affects the elderly. Oftentimes, elderly patients do not receive an optimal treatment in the first-line setting. 

Sometimes these patients receive a reduced dose of rituximab (Rituxan), cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone and then relapse, or they have a comorbidity that does not allow them to receive full-dose chemotherapy, concludes Balzarotti.

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Monica Balzarotti, MD, discusses the challenges of treating elderly patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.

Dr. Balzarotti on the Challenges of Treating Elderly DLBCL

Monica Balzarotti, MD, hematologist, Department of Hematology, Institute for Research, Hospitalization, and Health Care (IRCCS) Humanitas Research Hospital, Milan, Italy, discusses remaining questions regarding consolidation and maintenance therapy in relapsed/refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). 

Often, younger patients with DLBCL receive consolidation therapy with high-dose chemotherapy in the frontline setting followed by maintenance therapy, explains Balzarotti. 

Whether consolidation and maintenance therapy are options for patients in the relapsed/refractory setting is not well defined, Balzarotti says.

Typically, patients with DLBCL are not candidates for maintenance therapy because the disease is not associated with molecular markers, such as BCL-2, Balzarotti says.

However, circulating tumor DNA testing may identify novel actionable markers in DLBCL that could allow for the introduction of maintenance therapy in the relapsed/refractory space, concludes Balzarotti.


Monica Balzarotti, MD, discusses remaining questions regarding consolidation and maintenance therapy in relapsed/refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.  



Monica Balzarotti, MD

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Dr. Balzarotti on the Challenges of Treating Elderly DLBCL

Dr. Balzarotti on Questions With Consolidation and Maintenance Therapy in R/R DLBCL