Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42791537›Full record

ArticleBMC cancer2026

Insights into the survival impact of delayed immunochemotherapy in newly diagnosed diffuse large B-cell lymphoma: results from a nationwide registry study.

Susanne von Kroge, Nils Janis Steinhaus, Carsten Bokemeyer, Fabian Tetzlaff, Hanna Walk, Henrik Kusche, LYSED study group, Frederik Peters

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMC cancer, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Susanne von KrogeDepartment of Oncology, Hematology and Bone Marrow Transplantation With Section Pneumology, University Cancer Center Hamburg, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistraße 52, Hamburg, 20246, Germany. s.vonkroge@uke.de.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5655-3155
Nils Janis SteinhausDepartment of Oncology, Hematology and Bone Marrow Transplantation With Section Pneumology, University Cancer Center Hamburg, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistraße 52, Hamburg, 20246, Germany.
Carsten BokemeyerDepartment of Oncology, Hematology and Bone Marrow Transplantation With Section Pneumology, University Cancer Center Hamburg, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistraße 52, Hamburg, 20246, Germany.
Fabian TetzlaffDivision of Social Determinants of Health, Department of Epidemiology and Health Monitoring, Robert Koch Institute, Nordufer 20, Berlin, 13353, Germany.
Hanna WalkDepartment of Oncology, Hematology and Bone Marrow Transplantation With Section Pneumology, University Cancer Center Hamburg, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistraße 52, Hamburg, 20246, Germany.
Henrik KuscheHamburg Cancer Registry, Ministry of Science, Research and Equality, Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg, Süderstraße 30, Hamburg, 20097, Germany.
LYSED study group
Frederik PetersHamburg Cancer Registry, Ministry of Science, Research and Equality, Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg, Süderstraße 30, Hamburg, 20097, Germany.

Funding

Innovationsfond, Germany 01VSF25057
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe prognostic impact of the diagnosis-to-treatment interval (DTI) in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) remains controversial. We investigated the association between DTI and three-year all-cause mortality in a nationwide cohort.

methodsWe conducted a retrospective population-based cohort study using harmonised German cancer registry data (2020-2023), with vital status follow-up until December 2024. Patients with a first primary DLBCL diagnosis were included. Kaplan-Meier analyses and Cox regression assessed DTI in relation to survival, unadjusted and adjusted for patient, tumor, and structural characteristics. Missing International Prognostic Index (IPI) data formed a separate category, with complete-case and imputation sensitivity analyses.

resultsOf 16,443 patients, 10,872 initiated systemic therapy within 56 days (eight weeks) and entered the primary analysis. Median age was 71 years, 44.2% were female, and median follow-up was 1.5 years. Three-year overall survival ranged from ~ 63% to 75% across the five treatment-week groups. Compared with week 1, later initiation was associated with progressively lower hazard of death (week 3: HR 0.72, 95% CI 0.64-0.81; week 4: HR 0.63, 0.55-0.72; weeks 5-8: HR 0.62, 0.54-0.70). Lower-risk IPI predicted better survival (low risk: HR 0.24, 0.17-0.34 vs high risk). Later initiation was predicted by low-risk IPI (+ 7.89 days), older age (+ 0.62 days/SD), and surviving the first year (+ 3.26 days).

conclusionEarly treatment in DLBCL is primarily driven by adverse disease characteristics. A residual association between longer DTI and improved survival persisted after IPI adjustment, suggesting DTI may be an independent prognostic factor in less aggressive disease.

Indexed as

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy ProtocolsImmunotherapyLymphoma, Large B-Cell, DiffuseAgedAged, 80 and overFemaleGermanyHumansKaplan-Meier EstimateMaleMiddle AgedPrognosisRegistriesRetrospective StudiesRituximabTreatment DelayRituximabDiagnosis-to-treatment intervalDiffuse large B-cell lymphomaSurvivalTreatment delay

Identifiers

PMID42791537
PMCPMC13615582

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.