Evaluating the efficacy of combined modality therapy versus chemotherapy alone in unresectable primary pulmonary diffuse large b-cell lymphoma: a retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND

Primary pulmonary diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (PP-DLBCL) is a rare and aggressive extranodal lymphoma, with no consensus on optimal treatment strategies. For unresectable cases, current evidence is insufficient to determine whether the addition of radiotherapy (RT) to chemotherapy (CT) provides a survival benefit. To address this gap, we used data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database to compare survival outcomes between combined modality therapy (CMT) and CT alone in patients with unresectable PP-DLBCL.

METHODS

Data on patients with unresectable PP-DLBCL were extracted from the SEER database of the National Cancer Institute, using SEER*Stat software (v8.4.3). Propensity score matching (PSM) was applied to adjusted confounding factors. Overall survival (OS) and cancer-specific survival (CSS) were estimated using Kaplan-Meier methods, and differences between groups were assessed using the log-rank test. Hazard ratios (HRs) were calculated using Cox proportional hazards models.

RESULTS

A total of 880 patients with unresectable PP-DLBCL diagnosed between 2000 and 2021 met the inclusion criteria and the median follow-up were 87 months. The estimated 5-year OS rate was 65.4% [95% confidence interval (CI): 60.1-70.7%]. Of these patients, 719 received CT alone and 161 received CMT. Significant differences in primary tumor site and laterality were observed between the two groups (P<0.001). The analysis revealed a significant association between CMT and improved OS (HR, 0.77; 95% CI: 0.59-0.99), and this association remained consistent in the sensitivity analysis using PSM. Additionally, univariate and multivariate Cox regressions indicated that sex, age and Ann Arbor stage were independent prognosis factors of OS.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings suggest that CMT may improve survival in patients with unresectable PP-DLBCL. Moreover, the prognostic factors identified in this study may help in identifying high-risk patients. Our findings provide new evidence to support the clinical management of this rare patient population.