Second Line Treatment of DLBCL: Evolution of Options

Abstract

In the era of immunochemotherapy, approximately 60%–70% of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) patients achieve remission with first-line rituximab-based chemoimmunotherapy. However, 30-40% relapse after initial response to first line therapy and, out of them, 20% to 50% are refractory or experience early relapse. The second-line therapy algorithm for DLBCL has recently evolved, thanks to the recent approval of new therapeutic agents or their combinations. The new guidelines suggest a stratification of relapsed/refractory (R/R) DLBCL based on the time to relapse. For transplant-eligible patients, autologous stem cell transplant remains the preferred option when the patient relapses after 12 months from diagnosis, while anti-CD19 CART-cell therapy is the current preferred choice for high-risk DLBCL, defined as primary refractory or relapse ≤ 12 month. For transplant-ineligible or CAR T-cell therapy-ineligible patients, the therapeutic arsenal historically lacked effective options. However, new therapeutic options, including polatuzumab vedotin combined with bendamustine-rituximab and tafasitamab with lenalidomide, have been recently approved, and novel agents such as loncastuximab tesirine, selinexor, anti-CD19 CAR T-cell therapy and bispecific antibodies have shown promising efficacy and manageable safety in this setting offering new hope to patients in this challenging scenario.