It has become clear that there is immense biological heterogeneity in diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL). Developing technology has allowed better characterization of patient subsets at a molecular level, allowing for a link of phenotype and clinical outcomes to oncogenic mechanisms and biologic signatures. Cell of origin and double hit status are able to identify aggressive subsets, with molecular profiling allowing for a clearer understanding of biologic pathways that contribute to cellular resistance to conventional treatment in these subsets. Although the standard treatment for DLBCL remains R-CHOP or R-CHOP-like therapy at present, rational drug targets have been established with novel classes of drugs under investigation. In germinal center (GC) DLBCL, mechanisms of therapeutic interest include anti-apoptosis mediated by BCL-2, PI3K/AKT/mTOR, and EZH2, whereas drug interventions are directed at BCR, NF-κB, and/or JAK-STAT pathways in activated B cell (ABC) DLBCL. There is also evidence for cooperation of various oncogenic pathways in these subsets. As such, we are arguably on the verge of shifting to a more tailored approach using single and combinatorial strategies-this, however, relies on prioritizing the exploration of biomarkers for patient selection for validating novel treatment strategies.
Keywords: Apoptosis; CART; Checkpoint inhibition; DLBCL; Epigenetics; Immunotherapy.