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Disease

Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse

Late-stage therapeutic developmentEmerging researchCooling momentum
14
Publications
21
Clinical trials
4
Related conditions
4
Related treatments
3
Related proteins
2025
Latest publication
Current focus
Immunoconjugates biologyTherapeutic developmentGenetics & risk factorsInflammation & immunity
Latest activity
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Recent clinical, regulatory, research and industry developments relating to this disease.

B Cell Lymphoma 6 (BCL6): A Conserved Regulator of Immunity and Beyond.

Research2024-10-11International journal of molecular sciences

Approval: Breyanzi (EMA)

Regulatory2022-04-04EMA

Polatuzumab Vedotin in Previously Untreated Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma.

Research2021-12-14The New England journal of medicine

Axicabtagene Ciloleucel as Second-Line Therapy for Large B-Cell Lymphoma.

Research2021-12-11The New England journal of medicine

Estimating the global burden of Epstein-Barr virus-related cancers.

Research2021-10-27Journal of cancer research and clinical oncology

Tisagenlecleucel in Adult Relapsed or Refractory Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma.

Research2018-12-01The New England journal of medicine

Axicabtagene Ciloleucel CAR T-Cell Therapy in Refractory Large B-Cell Lymphoma.

Research2017-12-10The New England journal of medicine

What's happening now

An analyst briefing on current research, clinical, regulatory and industry activity surrounding this disease.

Therapeutic landscape

Therapies with a regulatory footing for this condition, alongside the wider set of agents co-studied with it in the literature.

Approved & established therapies
Odronextamabapproved

Approval — Ordspono as monotherapy is indicated for the treatment of adult patients with relapsed or… (2024)

Epcoritamabapproved

Approval — Tepkinly as monotherapy is indicated for the treatment of adult patients with relapsed or… (2023)

Glofitamabapproved

Approval — Columvi in combination with gemcitabine and oxaliplatin is indicated for the treatment of… (2023)

Approval — Breyanzi is indicated for the treatment of adult patients with diffuse large B-cell lymph… (2022)

Approval — Zynlonta as monotherapy is indicated for the treatment of adult patients with relapsed or… (2022)

Tafasitamabapproved

Approval — Minjuvi is indicated in combination with lenalidomide followed by Minjuvi monotherapy for… (2021)

Approval — Polivy in combination with bendamustine and rituximab is indicated for the treatment of a… (2020)

Approval — Kymriah is indicated for the treatment of: • Paediatric and young adult patients up to an… (2018)

Clinical trials

16 sponsors · 0 new · 0 completed in the last 12 months (net +0)

The current development programme across all trial phases.

Clinical programme
21
All trials
6
Active
3
Late-stage
6
Completed
Late-stage studies
Recently completed

A Randomised Evaluation of Molecular Guided Therapy for Diffuse Large B-cell Lymphoma With Bortezomib

Phase 3 · Completed · University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust

Regulatory timeline

Drug regulatory events matched to this condition by indication — EMA.

First approvals
2024emaApprovalOdronextamab· Ordspono as monotherapy is indicated for the treatment of adult patients with relapsed or refractory follicular lymphoma (r/r FL) after two or more lines of systemic therapy. Ordspono as monotherapy is indicated for the treatment of adult patients with relapsed or refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (r/r DLBCL) after two or more lines of systemic therapy. source ↗
2023emaApprovalEpcoritamab· Tepkinly as monotherapy is indicated for the treatment of adult patients with relapsed or refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) after two or more lines of systemic therapy.Tepkinly as monotherapy is indicated for the treatment of adult patients with relapsed or refractory follicular lymphoma (FL) after two or more lines of systemic therapy.Tepkinly as monotherapy is indicated for the treatment of adult patients with relapsed or refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) after two or more lines of systemic therapy.Tepkinly as monotherapy is indicated for the treatment of adult patients with relapsed or refractory follicular lymphoma (FL) after two or more lines of systemic therapy.  source ↗
2023emaApprovalGlofitamab· Columvi in combination with gemcitabine and oxaliplatin is indicated for the treatment of adult patients with relapsed or refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma not otherwise specified (DLBCL NOS) who are ineligible for autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT).Columvi as monotherapy is indicated for the treatment of adult patients with relapsed or refractory diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL), after two or more lines of systemic therapy. source ↗
2022emaApprovalLoncastuximab tesirine· Zynlonta as monotherapy is indicated for the treatment of adult patients with relapsed or refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) and high-grade B-cell lymphoma (HGBL), after two or more lines of systemic therapy. source ↗
2022emaApprovalLisocabtagene maraleucel· Breyanzi is indicated for the treatment of adult patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), high grade B-cell lymphoma (HGBCL), primary mediastinal large B-cell lymphoma (PMBCL) and follicular lymphoma grade 3B (FL3B), who relapsed within 12 months from completion of, or are refractory to, first-line chemoimmunotherapy.   Breyanzi is indicated for the treatment of adult patients with relapsed or refractory DLBCL, PMBCL and FL3B, after two or more lines of systemic therapy.  Breyanzi is indicated for the treatment of adult patients with relapsed or refractory follicular lymphoma (FL) after two or more lines of systemic therapy.   Breyanzi is indicated for the treatment of adult patients with relapsed or refractory mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) after at least two lines of systemic therapy including a Bruton’s tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitor.  source ↗
2021emaApprovalTafasitamab· Minjuvi is indicated in combination with lenalidomide followed by Minjuvi monotherapy for the treatment of adult patients with relapsed or refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) who are not eligible for autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT). source ↗
2020emaApprovalPolatuzumab vedotin· Polivy in combination with bendamustine and rituximab is indicated for the treatment of adult patients with relapsed/refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) who are not candidates for haematopoietic stem cell transplant. Polivy in combination with rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, and prednisone (R-CHP) is indicated for the treatment of adult patients with previously untreated diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). source ↗
2018emaApprovalTisagenlecleucel· Kymriah is indicated for the treatment of: • Paediatric and young adult patients up to and including 25 years of age with B cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) that is refractory, in relapse post transplant or in second or later relapse. • Adult patients with relapsed or refractory diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) after two or more lines of systemic therapy. • Adult patients with relapsed or refractory follicular lymphoma (FL) after two or more lines of systemic therapy. source ↗

European Medicines Agency (CC BY 4.0). Events are matched to this condition by drug indication text — approvals/updates for drugs indicated for it, not disease-specific acts.

Research activity

14 papers

Key research shaping understanding of this disease, combining the latest publications with the most influential evidence.

Publications over time
20172025
Most influential
Recent publications
Major themes8
  • Immunotherapy, Adoptive4
  • Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse3
  • Antigens, CD191
  • Antigens, CD201
  • Arthritis, Rheumatoid1
  • Gene Expression Profiling1
  • Genetic Heterogeneity1
  • Germinal Center1
Leading journals6
  • The New England journal of medicine5
  • Journal of hematology & oncology2
  • American journal of hematology1
  • Blood1
  • Frontiers in immunology1
  • International journal of molecular sciences1
Leading researchers8
  • Locke FL4
  • Bartlett NL3
  • Farooq U3
  • Flinn IW3
  • Ghobadi A3
  • Jacobson CA3
  • Jiang Y3
  • Miklos DB3
Affiliations (unnormalised)6
  • City of Hope National Medical Center2
  • Dana-Farber Cancer Institute2
  • Moffitt Cancer Center2
  • University of Iowa2
  • University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center2
  • Abramson Cancer Center1

Disease biology

3 matches

Key proteins & gene products studied in this disease. Number shows shared papers.

Related conditions

4 matches

Diseases frequently studied alongside this one. Number shows shared papers.

Disease profile

A grounded synthesis of the condition — overview, causes, mechanism, risk factors and current standard of care.

Overview

Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma is a malignant lymphoma made up of large B lymphoid cells, with nuclei that can be larger than normal macrophage nuclei or more than twice the size of a normal lymphocyte. The growth pattern is predominantly diffuse. Most cases represent the malignant counterpart of B lymphocytes at a midstage of differentiation.

Causes

The supplied grounding does not support a specific cause or aetiology for diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. One review notes that novel genetic classification systems are being used to guide individualized treatment, but it does not establish a single causal mechanism. EBV is mentioned only in a broader review of EBV-related cancers and is not specifically linked here to this disease.

Pathophysiology

The disease arises from malignant transformation of B cells at a midstage of differentiation, producing a diffuse proliferation of large B lymphoid cells. The literature grounding also points to genetic, transcriptome, and epigenetic aspects in DLBCL, indicating biologic heterogeneity and molecularly defined subgroups. BCL6 is highlighted as an important regulator in DLBCL, consistent with a role for altered transcriptional control in disease biology.

Risk factors

The supplied grounding does not support specific risk factors for diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. It does indicate that genetic features and molecular classification are relevant to the disease, but not as established risk factors. EBV is discussed only at the level of EBV-related cancers overall, without disease-specific risk attribution here.

Current standard of care

A widely recognized standard regimen is R-CHOP, which combines rituximab with cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone. For relapsed or refractory disease, the literature highlights newer approaches including CAR-T cell therapy, bispecific T-cell engagers, immunomodulatory drugs, immune checkpoint inhibitors, monoclonal antibodies, antibody-drug conjugates, molecular pathway inhibitors, and epigenetic-modifying drugs. The grounding also specifically mentions axicabtagene ciloleucel and tisagenlecleucel as CAR-T therapies used in this setting.

AI-generated summary grounded in MeSH and 4 peer-reviewed sources. Informational only — not medical advice. Generated 2026-07-07.

Reference

Authoritative identity, definition & identifiers.

Defined in MeSH

Malignant lymphoma composed of large B lymphoid cells whose nuclear size can exceed normal macrophage nuclei, or more than twice the size of a normal lymphocyte. The pattern is predominantly diffuse. Most of these lymphomas represent the malignant counterpart of B-lymphocytes at midstage in the process of differentiation.

References & data sources
  • Disease identity & definition — NLM Medical Subject Headings (MeSH), public domain
  • Clinical trials — ClinicalTrials.gov (U.S. National Library of Medicine)
  • Research activity — Europe PMC (EMBL-EBI) + OpenAlex-derived paper links
  • Related entities are derived from literature co-mention (studied together) — associative, not causal.