A Retrospective Observational Study of the Safety and Efficacy of Intensified Chemotherapy Regimens in Aggressive B-cell Lymphomas With MYC Rearrangement

igh-grade B-cell lymphomas (HGBCL), including Burkitt lymphoma (BL) and MYC-rearranged HGBCL (double-hit and triple-hit lymphomas), are highly aggressive malignancies characterized by rapid proliferation and poor outcomes when treated with standard chemoimmunotherapy regimens such as R-CHOP. Although intensified treatment approaches have improved outcomes in these patients. Over the past decade, the CARMEN regimen has been adopted in several Italian centers as part of routine clinical practice for patients with Burkitt lymphoma and other aggressive B-cell lymphomas characterized by MYC rearrangements. This multicenter, retrospective, observational study aims to evaluate the real-world outcomes of adult patients with aggressive B-cell lymphomas treated with the CARMEN regimen. The study will include consecutive patients diagnosed with Burkitt lymphoma or MYC-rearranged HGBCL, with or without HIV infection, who received CARMEN as first-line therapy during routine clinical practice. Data will be collected retrospectively from participating centers using anonymized patient records.

The primary objectives are to assess the effectiveness and tolerability of the CARMEN regimen in a large real-world population and to describe treatment outcomes, including response rates, progression-free survival, overall survival, relapse patterns, and treatment-related toxicity. Secondary objectives include the evaluation of outcomes according to lymphoma subtype, HIV status, disease characteristics, and consolidation strategies, as well as comparison with outcomes obtained using alternative first-line chemoimmunotherapy regimens employed in clinical practice.

Because this is a non-interventional observational study, no experimental diagnostic procedures, drugs, or medical devices will be administered. All data derive from routine clinical care, and patient management will not be influenced by study participation.

Approximately 500 patients are expected to be included across participating centers. Enrollment is based on retrospective identification of eligible patients treated between November 2022 and November 2027. The study may be suspended or terminated prematurely if the planned sample size cannot be achieved.