Interim PET/CT result is the sole prognostic factor of survival in patients with advanced-stage diffuse large B-cell lymphoma: a subset analysis of a prospective trial

This study aimed to evaluate the prognostic value of interim positron emission tomography (iPET) in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). Among 53 enrolled patients, 39 had iPET-negative (iPET−) and 14 had iPET-positive (iPET+) scans. The objective response rate was 94.3%. The 3-year progression-free survival was 65.7% and the 3-year overall survival was 79.9%. The iPET− patients had significantly higher 3-year PFS rate (78.1% vs. 34.3%) and improved OS (87.1% vs. 62.3%) than iPET+ patients. In the univariate analysis, iPET− was the sole independent prognostic factor for PFS. In conclusion, PET/CT has a good prognostic value in patients with advanced-stage DLBCL. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT 01804127. Registered on March 5th, 2013, https://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01804127?term=01804127&rank=1 .