What is DLBCL?

Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, or DLBCL, is a cancer of the immune system.

DLBCL occurs in lymphocytes, a type of white blood cell. These cells are an important part of your immune system and help defend your body from infection. When you have DLBCL, too many white blood cells that are affected by the disease build up in your lymph nodes, blood, and bone marrow. They may also build up in your spleen (an organ in your immune system) and cause swelling of this organ.

Map of lymph nodes, spleen, and bone marrow in the body

Everyone experiences diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, or DLBCL, differently. Because DLBCL is a fast-growing lymphoma, symptoms may show up sooner than in some others. It is important to pay attention to how your DLBCL may be affecting you. Tell your doctor if you notice any symptoms or changes in your health.

DLBCL can arise in lymph nodes or outside of the lymphatic system in the gastrointestinal tract, testes, thyroid, skin, breast, bone, or brain. Fast-growing lymphomas such as DLBCL usually require immediate treatment.

Possible symptoms you should watch for include:

Enlarged lymph nodes
Fever, fatigue, and night sweats
Unexplained weight loss
Severe or frequent infections
Easy bruising or bleeding
Numbness or tingling in feet and/or hands
Headaches and/or blurry vision

While you are being treated and after your treatment concludes, your doctor will continue to monitor your DLBCL.

Swelling in your lymph nodes, liver, or spleen
An increase in the number of abnormal white blood cells
A decrease in the number of normal blood cells

Symptoms of DLBCL may be seen in other conditions as well. Only your doctor will be able to tell if your symptoms are related to DLBCL.

NEXT: Medical tests

Indications

RITUXAN HYCELA^® (rituximab/hyaluronidase human) is a prescription medicine used to treat adults with:

Follicular Lymphoma (FL) as a single-agent therapy in patients whose disease recurred or did not respond to initial treatment
Follicular Lymphoma as an initial treatment with chemotherapy and, in patients whose initial treatment was successful, as a single-agent follow-up therapy
Follicular Lymphoma as a single agent follow-up therapy for patients who did not progress on initial treatment with CVP chemotherapy
Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma (DLBCL) as an initial treatment in combination with CHOP or other anthracycline-based chemotherapy regimens
Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL) in combination with FC chemotherapy as an initial treatment or as a treatment after disease has recurred

You can only receive RITUXAN HYCELA after you receive at least 1 full dose of intravenous (IV) RITUXAN^® (rituximab). Read the IV RITUXAN Medication Guide for more information about severe infusion reactions, which usually happen during the first dose with IV RITUXAN

RITUXAN HYCELA is not for use to treat medical conditions other than cancers

It is not known if RITUXAN HYCELA is safe and effective in children

What is the most important information I should know about RITUXAN HYCELA?

RITUXAN HYCELA can cause serious side effects that can lead to death, including:

Severe skin and mouth reactions: Tell your healthcare provider or get medical help right away if you get any of these symptoms at any time during your treatment with RITUXAN HYCELA: painful sores or ulcers on your skin, lips, or in your mouth; blisters; peeling skin; rash or pustules
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) reactivation: Before you receive RITUXAN HYCELA, your doctor will do blood tests to check for HBV infection. If you have had hepatitis B or are a carrier of hepatitis B virus, receiving RITUXAN HYCELA could cause the virus to become an active infection again. Hepatitis B reactivation may cause serious liver problems including liver failure and death. Your healthcare provider will monitor you for hepatitis B infection during and for several months after you stop receiving RITUXAN HYCELA. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you get worsening tiredness, or yellowing of your skin or white part of your eyes during treatment with RITUXAN HYCELA
Progressive Multifocal Leukoencephalopathy (PML): PML is a rare, serious brain infection caused by a virus that can happen in people who receive RITUXAN HYCELA. People with weakened immune systems can get PML. PML can result in death or severe disability. There is no known treatment, prevention, or cure for PML. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have any new or worsening symptoms or if anyone close to you notices these symptoms: confusion; dizziness or loss of balance; difficulty walking or talking; decreased strength or weakness on one side of your body; vision problems, such as blurred or loss of vision
Serious allergic reactions and other severe reactions:
Serious allergic reactions, and reactions due to release of certain substances by your body that can lead to death, can happen with rituximab products, including RITUXAN HYCELA

Skin reactions at or near the injection site (local), including injection site reactions can happen with RITUXAN HYCELA. Symptoms at or near the injection site may include: pain, swelling, hardness, redness, bleeding, itching, and rash. These reactions sometimes happen more than 24 hours after an injection of RITUXAN HYCELA

Tell your healthcare provider or get medical help right away if you get any of these symptoms during or after an injection of RITUXAN HYCELA: hives (red itchy welts) or rash; itching; swelling of your lips, tongue, throat, or face; sudden cough; shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, or wheezing; weakness; dizziness or feeling faint; palpitations (feeling like your heart is racing or fluttering); chest pain; fever; chills or shaking chills

What are possible side effects of RITUXAN HYCELA?

RITUXAN HYCELA can cause serious side effects, including:

Tumor Lysis Syndrome (TLS): TLS is caused by the fast breakdown of cancer cells. TLS can cause you to have kidney failure, the need for dialysis treatment, and an abnormal heart rhythm. TLS can happen within 12 to 24 hours after an injection of RITUXAN HYCELA. Your healthcare provider may do blood tests to check you for TLS. Your healthcare provider may give you medicine to help prevent TLS. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have any of the following signs or symptoms of TLS: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or lack of energy
Serious Infections: Serious infections can happen during and after treatment with RITUXAN HYCELA and can lead to death. Rituximab products can increase your risk of getting infections and can lower the ability of your immune system to fight infections. Types of serious infections that can happen with RITUXAN HYCELA include bacterial, fungal, and viral infections. After receiving RITUXAN HYCELA, some people have developed low levels of certain antibodies in their blood for a long period of time (longer than 11 months). Some of these people with low antibody levels developed infections. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have any symptoms of infection: fever; cold symptoms, such as runny nose or sore throat that do not go away; flu symptoms, such as cough, tiredness, and body aches; earache or headache; pain during urination; white patches in the mouth or throat; cuts, scrapes, or incisions that are red, warm, swollen, or painful
Heart Problems: RITUXAN HYCELA may cause chest pain, irregular heartbeats, and heart attack. Your healthcare provider may monitor your heart during and after treatment with RITUXAN HYCELA if you have symptoms of heart problems or have a history of heart problems. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have chest pain or irregular heartbeats during treatment with RITUXAN HYCELA
Kidney Problems: RITUXAN HYCELA can cause severe kidney problems that can lead to death. Your healthcare provider should do blood tests to check how well your kidneys are working
Stomach and serious bowel problems that can sometimes lead to death: Bowel problems, including blockage or tears in the bowel, can happen if you receive RITUXAN HYCELA with chemotherapy medicines. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have severe stomach-area (abdomen) pain or repeated vomiting during treatment with RITUXAN HYCELA

Your healthcare provider will stop treatment with RITUXAN HYCELA if you have severe, serious, or life-threatening side effects.
The most common side effects of RITUXAN HYCELA in people with:

FL: infections, low white blood cell count, nausea, constipation, cough, and tiredness
DLBCL: infections, low white blood cell count, loss of hair, nausea, and low red blood cell count
CLL: infections, low white blood cell count, nausea, low platelet count, fever, vomiting, and injection site redness

Additional Important Safety Information

Before receiving RITUXAN HYCELA, tell your healthcare provider about all of your medical conditions, including if you:

Have had a severe reaction to a rituximab product or RITUXAN HYCELA
Have had a recent vaccination or are scheduled to receive vaccinations. You should not receive certain vaccines before or during treatment with RITUXAN HYCELA
Are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, are breastfeeding, or plan to breastfeed. RITUXAN HYCELA may harm your unborn baby. Females who are able to become pregnant should use effective birth control (contraception) during treatment with RITUXAN HYCELA and for 12 months after the last dose of RITUXAN HYCELA. Talk to your healthcare provider about effective birth control. Tell your healthcare provider if you become pregnant or think you may be pregnant during treatment with RITUXAN HYCELA. RITUXAN HYCELA may pass into your breast milk. Do not breastfeed during treatment and for 6 months after your last dose of RITUXAN HYCELA

These are not all of the possible side effects with RITUXAN HYCELA. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. Please see the full Prescribing Information, including BOXED WARNINGS and Medication Guide, for additional Important Safety Information.

You may report side effects to the FDA at (800) FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch. You may also report side effects to Genentech at (888) 835-2555.