Long-term remissions in patients with early relapse of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma following high-dose chemotherapy, autologous stem cell transplantation, and radiotherapy of residual disease

PurposeThe prognosis of an early relapse of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) appears to be poor following autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT). The aim of this study is to contribute data to the open question on whether additional radiotherapy can improve the outcome.Patients and methodsForty-eight patients with an early relapse (median 4 months after the end of initial immunochemotherapy, range 1–11) of DLBCL have been treated in...