A new prognostic model identifies a subgroup of adults with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) relapsing after an autologous transplant who can experience long-term progression-free survival (PFS) following an allogeneic transplant. Researchers analyzed 503 adults with DLBCL relapsing after autologous hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) who underwent an allogeneic HCT between 2000 and 2012. Outcomes were reported to CIBMTR (Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research).
Researchers used multivariate analysis to identify factors that significantly affected HCT outcome, and used the results to classify patients into three prognostic groups: low risk (0-1 points), intermediate risk (2-3 points), or high risk (4-5 points). The model predicted 3-year PFS probabilities of 38% (95% CI=32-44), 19% (95% CI=11-27) and 10% (95% CI=0-22), respectively, and 3-year overall survival probabilities of 43%, 25%, and 14%, respectively. The researchers concluded that the CIBMTR prognostic model identifies a subgroup of DLBCL patients relapsing from an autologous HCT who can experience long-term PFS following an allogeneic HCT, and that reduced-intensity conditioning is preferred in this setting.