Revised Prognostic Index for DLBCL Patients

Established prognostic parameters in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma have been modified in the era of rituximab immunochemotherapy, leading to a proposed Revised-IPI score.

Addition of rituximab to CHOP (cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine and prednisone) chemotherapy has led to better responses and longer survival versus CHOP alone, including improved outcomes for patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) who previously were classified as high risk. Investigators at the British Columbia Cancer Agency performed a retrospective review of an unselected population of 365 DLBCL patients who were treated with rituximab plus CHOP (R-CHOP) before January 2005; they correlated outcomes with standard International Prognostic Index (IPI) scores. Patients were excluded if they were HIV-positive, had a second neoplasm or serious comorbid condition precluding definitive therapy, or had a coexisting indolen…

Reviewing Author

Michael E. Williams, MD