Analysis of prognostic factors in patients with newly diagnosed diffuse large B-cell lymphoma and skeletal involvement.

BACKGROUND: Skeletal involvement (SI) is observed at low prevalence in patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). Due to the rareness of this particular condition, prospective trials for these patients are scarce.

METHODS: We analyzed clinical characteristics and outcome of 75 patients with DLBCL and SI in order to identify factors with prognostic impact towards progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS).

RESULTS: Limited stage disease (Ann Arbor stage IE-IIE) was present in 34 patients (45%), 41 patients (55%) had advanced stage disease (Ann Arbor stage IIIE-IVE). Outcome was generally favorable for patients with DLBCL and SI with 3-year OS of 83%. The international prognostic index (IPI) was able to distinguish between different risk groups within this specific entity. Additionally, hypercalcemia showed to be a factor significantly associated with inferior survival. In regard to first-line treatment modalities, consolidative radiotherapy was positively associated with prolonged PFS and OS while intensification of chemotherapy had no significant impact.

CONCLUSIONS: In our cohort of patients with DLBCL and SI, high-risk IPI as well as presence of hypercalcemia were associated with inferior outcome. Consolidative radiotherapy had a positive impact on survival.