Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) and Burkitt lymphoma (BL) are aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (NHLs) that evolve rapidly and are fatal if untreated [1]. While the majority of patients are successfully initiated on multiagent chemotherapy, there is a subgroup of patients, particularly elderly patients and those with high disease burden, who are at risk for developing treatmentrelated toxicities during the initial phase of therapy [2]. Prephase therapy, a regimen consisting of corticosteroids with or without low-dose chemotherapy, has been used as a preventive strategy prior to definitive multiagent chemotherapy to ameliorate the development of toxicity, such as febrile neutropenia, tumor lysis syndrome (TLS), deterioration in performance status (PS), and death; however, data regarding the efficacy of this approach is limited [2-4]. We present data from our experience at the University of North Carolina Cancer Hospital, NC, U.S.A. on the safety and efficacy of prephase therapy prior to definitive multiagent chemotherapy in patients with aggressive NHLs. We conducted a retrospective analysis of patients 18 years and older with newly diagnosed DLBCL or BL between January 2014 and December 2017. Patients were identified via the Carolina Data Warehouse for Health database per Institutional Review Board-approved protocol. Patients with primary central nervous system lymphoma, or previously diagnosed with an indolent or low-grade lymphoma that transformed to an aggressive NHL were CONTACT Christopher Dittus,