Although immunotherapy is rapidly changing the treatment approach to r/r diffuse large B cell lymphoma, there is still a place for autologous stem cell transplantation in some patients. The report by Stewart et al. focuses on induction therapy and the importance of the pretransplantation phase. Commentary on: Stewart et al. Canadian cancer trials group LY.17: A randomized phase II study evaluating novel salvage therapy pre‐autologous stem cell transplant in relapsed/refractory diffuse large B‐cell lymphoma—Outcome of rituximab‐dose‐intensive cyclophosphamide, etoposide, cisplatin (R‐DICEP) versus R‐GDP. Br J Haematol 2024; 205:881‐890.