National Center for Advancing and Translational Sciences Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center, a program of the National Center for Advancing and Translational Sciences

Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma


Other Names:
DLBCL
Categories:
Subtypes:
Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), a form of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, is the most common blood cancer. Lymphomas occur when cells of the immune system, known as B lymphocytes, grow and multiply uncontrollably. DLBCL occurs mostly in adults and is a fast-growing (aggressive) lymphoma. It can start in the lymph nodes or outside of the lymphatic system in the gastrointestinal tract, testes, thyroid, skin, breast, bone, or brain.[1] Often, the first sign of DLBCL is a painless rapid swelling in the neck, armpit, abdomen, or groin caused by enlarged lymph nodes. For some people, the swelling may be painful. Other symptoms include night sweats, unexplained fevers, and weight loss.[1][2]

Treatment may differ depending on the location of the tumor and the subtype of lymphoma.[1][3] For those who have advanced DCBCL and have not been treated previously, a combination of chemotherapy and the monoclonal antibody rituximab (Rituxan) (R-CHOP) may be tried.[1][2][3]. In addition, as of October 2017, axicabtagene ciloleucel (brand name: Yescarta), a type of gene therapy, has been approved by the United States FDA to treat DCBCL that is not responding to at least two treatment attempts or has returned after being treated before.[4] A stem cell transplant may also be an option if DLBCL returns or relapses. [1]
Last updated: 11/9/2017

FDA-Approved Treatments

The medication(s) listed below have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as orphan products for treatment of this condition. Learn more orphan products.

  • Tisagenlecleucel-T (Brand name: Kymriah) - Manufactured by Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation
    FDA-approved indication: May 2018, KYMRIAH is a CD19-directed genetically modified autologous T-cell immunotherapy indicated for the treatment of patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, high-grade B-cell lymphoma, or DLBCL arising from follicular lymphoma who received two or more lines of systemic therapy.
    National Library of Medicine Drug Information Portal
    Medline Plus Health Information
  • Rituximab and hyaluronidase human (Brand name: Rituxan Hycela) - Manufactured by Genentech, Inc.
    FDA-approved indication: Treatment of adult patients with previously untreated diffuse large B-cell lymphoma in combination with cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, prednisone (CHOP) or other anthracycline-based chemotherapy regimens.
    National Library of Medicine Drug Information Portal
  • Axicabtagene ciloleucel (Brand name: Yescarta) - Manufactured by Kite Pharma, Inc.
    FDA-approved indication: Treatment of adult patients with relapsed or refractory large B-cell lymphoma after two or more lines of systemic therapy, including diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) not otherwise specified, primary mediastinal large B-cell lymphoma, high-grade B-cell lymphoma, and DLBCL arising from follicular lymphoma.
    National Library of Medicine Drug Information Portal
    Medline Plus Health Information

Research helps us better understand diseases and can lead to advances in diagnosis and treatment. This section provides resources to help you learn about medical research and ways to get involved.

Clinical Research Resources

  • ClinicalTrials.gov lists trials that are related to Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma. Click on the link to go to ClinicalTrials.gov to read descriptions of these studies.

    Please note: Studies listed on the ClinicalTrials.gov website are listed for informational purposes only; being listed does not reflect an endorsement by GARD or the NIH. We strongly recommend that you talk with a trusted healthcare provider before choosing to participate in any clinical study.

Living with a genetic or rare disease can impact the daily lives of patients and families. These resources can help families navigate various aspects of living with a rare disease.

Financial Resources

  • Patient Access Network Foundation (PAN Foundation) has Assistance Programs for those with health insurance who reside in the United States. The disease fund status can change over time, so you may need to check back if funds are not currently available. 

These resources provide more information about this condition or associated symptoms. The in-depth resources contain medical and scientific language that may be hard to understand. You may want to review these resources with a medical professional.

In-Depth Information

  • The Monarch Initiative brings together data about this condition from humans and other species to help physicians and biomedical researchers. Monarch’s tools are designed to make it easier to compare the signs and symptoms (phenotypes) of different diseases and discover common features. This initiative is a collaboration between several academic institutions across the world and is funded by the National Institutes of Health. Visit the website to explore the biology of this condition.
  • Orphanet is a European reference portal for information on rare diseases and orphan drugs. Access to this database is free of charge.

Questions sent to GARD may be posted here if the information could be helpful to others. We remove all identifying information when posting a question to protect your privacy. If you do not want your question posted, please let us know.

  1. Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma. Lymphoma Research Foundation. December 2016; http://www.lymphoma.org/site/pp.asp?c=bkLTKaOQLmK8E&b=6300153.
  2. Freedman, Arnold and Friedberg, Jonathan. Patient information: Diffuse large B cell lymphoma in adults (Beyond the Basics). UpToDate. August 15 2017; http://www.uptodate.com/contents/diffuse-large-b-cell-lymphoma-in-adults-beyond-the-basics.
  3. Ghandi, S. Diffuse Large Cell Lymphoma. MedScape Reference. October 21, 2017; http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/202969-overview.
  4. FDA approves axicabtagene ciloleucel for large B-cell lymphoma. United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA). October 25, 2017; https://www.fda.gov/Drugs/InformationOnDrugs/ApprovedDrugs/ucm581296.htm.