Summary and Future Directions

Our understanding of disease biology and treatment paradigms in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is now sufficiently mature that we are poised to enter a new phase of hematological oncology. To achieve the goal of precision medicine and begin to logically deploy the vast array of currently available, novel targeted therapies we must develop a roadmap for clinical research. We urgently need robust biomarkers to inform the results of current and planned randomized, controlled phase III clinical trials. These biomarkers should capitalize on our current understanding of the genetic landscape of DLBCL and will help to define those patients destined to fail R-CHOP. But more importantly, they will inform the molecular correlates of treatment failure for planned clinical trials testing novel agents and combinations. If successful, we can move the field past the vast array of prognostic markers and develop predictive biomarkers that direct future therapy.