Matthew S. McKinney, MD, reflects on his first experience of treating a patient with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) as a new attending at Duke University. The patient, a woman with multiple health issues, had an aggressive form of DLBCL and unfortunately succumbed to her disease. This case spotlighted the challenges of treating older patients with complex comorbidities, for whom standard therapies like R-CHOP may not be suitable. Dr McKinney then notes advancements in treatment, including novel agents and genomic sequencing, which could revolutionize care and offer more effective options, particularly for patients who would have otherwise had poor outcomes.
Dr McKinney also points to the emergence of newer therapies, such as BTK inhibitors, CAR T-cell therapy, antibody-drug conjugates, and bispecific antibodies, and acknowledges that although significant progress has been made, there is still much work to be done in improving care for patients with DLBCL.
