Recent genetic and molecular discoveries regarding alterations in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) deeply changed the approach to this lymphoproliferative disorder. Novel additional predictors of outcomes and new therapeutic strategies are being introduced to improve outcomes. Areas covered: This review aims to analyse the recent molecular discoveries in DLBCL, the rationale of novel molecular driven treatments and their impact on DLBCL prognosis, especially in ABC-DLBCL and High Grade B Cell Lymphoma. Pre-clinical and clinical evidences are reviewed to critically evaluate the novel DLBCL management strategies. Expert commentary: New insights in DLBCL molecular characteristics should guide the therapeutic approach; the results of the current studies which are investigating safety and efficacy of novel 'X-RCHOP' will probably lead, in future, to a cell of origin (COO) based upfront therapy. Moreover, it is necessary to identify early patients with DLBCL who carried MYC, BCL2 and/or BCL6 rearrangements double hit lymphomas (DHL) because they should not receive standard R-CHOP but high intensity treatment as reported in many retrospective studies. New prospective trials are needed to investigate the more appropriate treatment of DHL.
Keywords: CHOP regimen; Diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL); activated B cell (ABC); cell of origin (COO); gene expression profiling (GEP); germinal centre-B cell like (GCB); immunohistochemistry (IHC); rituximab.