How to Treat Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma

Anthracycline-containing therapy is the cornerstone of frontline treatment for diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), and autologous stem cell transplantation, and more recently, chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy are the primary treatment options for relapsed refractory DLBCL. Given these therapies are all associated with cardiovascular toxicities, patients with underlying cardiac comorbidities are severely limited in treatment options. The focus of this review is to outline the cardiotoxicities associated with these standard treatments, explore strategies developed to mitigate these toxicities, and review novel treatment strategies for patients with underlying cardiovascular comorbidities. DLBCL patients with underlying cardiac complications are a high-risk patient population who require complicated management strategies that utilize a multidisciplinary approach with collaboration between cardiologists and oncologists.