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On February 8th, DLBCL specialist Dr. Elif Yilmaz from UT Southwestern Medical Center joined HealthTree for a webinar about treatment options for relapsed/refractory DLBCL. Watch her full presentation below, along with summaries of key discussion points.
Relapsed/Refractory DLBCL
- The majority of non-Hodgkin lymphomas arise from T lymphocytes or B lymphocytes. B lymphocyte lymphomas can range from indolent (slow-growing) to highly aggressive.
- Relapsed disease is when the cancer returns within 12 months following therapy. Refractory disease is when the cancer does not achieve remission while on treatment or worsens while on treatment.
- For patients who have tried 2-3 lines of treatment and still relapsed, considering a clinical trial is strongly encouraged.
- Relapsed/refractory DLBCL is still curable in about 30-40% of patients.
CAR T Cell Therapy
- CAR T cell therapy and stem cell transplants are the most common treatments for the relapsed/refractory DLBCL patient population.
- CAR T cell therapy is done by collecting the patient’s T-cells, sending them to a manufacturer who alters them, and then T cells are returned to the patient’s body.
- CAR T cell therapy is still somewhat new and very expensive. Medicaid does not cover CAR T cell therapy and Medicare requires supplemental insurance. However, large academic centers have financial assistance programs that may help with the cost.
Stem Cell Transplants
- Autologous stem cell transplantation is done by collecting stem cells from the patient. The cells are sent to a lab while the patient undergoes conditioning chemotherapy, then the stem cells are returned to the body.
- Allogeneic stem cell transplantation is similar to autologous stem cell transplantation except that it uses stem cells from a donor match.
At the end of the webinar, Dr. Yilmaz shared an important comment about experiencing anxiety during and after treatment. Relapse is a valid fear for DLBCL patients and Dr. Yilmaz recommends that patients seek psychotherapy to help with this anxiety.
To stay informed of upcoming events, join one of our chapters!
On February 8th, DLBCL specialist Dr. Elif Yilmaz from UT Southwestern Medical Center joined HealthTree for a webinar about treatment options for relapsed/refractory DLBCL. Watch her full presentation below, along with summaries of key discussion points.
Relapsed/Refractory DLBCL
- The majority of non-Hodgkin lymphomas arise from T lymphocytes or B lymphocytes. B lymphocyte lymphomas can range from indolent (slow-growing) to highly aggressive.
- Relapsed disease is when the cancer returns within 12 months following therapy. Refractory disease is when the cancer does not achieve remission while on treatment or worsens while on treatment.
- For patients who have tried 2-3 lines of treatment and still relapsed, considering a clinical trial is strongly encouraged.
- Relapsed/refractory DLBCL is still curable in about 30-40% of patients.
CAR T Cell Therapy
- CAR T cell therapy and stem cell transplants are the most common treatments for the relapsed/refractory DLBCL patient population.
- CAR T cell therapy is done by collecting the patient’s T-cells, sending them to a manufacturer who alters them, and then T cells are returned to the patient’s body.
- CAR T cell therapy is still somewhat new and very expensive. Medicaid does not cover CAR T cell therapy and Medicare requires supplemental insurance. However, large academic centers have financial assistance programs that may help with the cost.
Stem Cell Transplants
- Autologous stem cell transplantation is done by collecting stem cells from the patient. The cells are sent to a lab while the patient undergoes conditioning chemotherapy, then the stem cells are returned to the body.
- Allogeneic stem cell transplantation is similar to autologous stem cell transplantation except that it uses stem cells from a donor match.
At the end of the webinar, Dr. Yilmaz shared an important comment about experiencing anxiety during and after treatment. Relapse is a valid fear for DLBCL patients and Dr. Yilmaz recommends that patients seek psychotherapy to help with this anxiety.
To stay informed of upcoming events, join one of our chapters!
about the author
Kat Richardson
Kat is from Lehi, Utah and is the Health Education Manager for lymphoma. She has worked in healthcare for a decade now, and earned her degree in Community Health Education and Promotion. Kat is passionate about disease prevention as well as improving quality of life and health equity. She enjoys reading, hiking, baking, ice skating, gardening, time with her family and friends, and most of all, spoiling her nieces and nephew.
