Dr. Burke on Treatment Options in Low-Tumor Burden Follicular Lymphoma

John M. Burke, MD, associate chair of the Hematology Research Program for US Oncology and medical oncologist and hematologist at Rocky Mountain Cancer Centers, discusses treatment options for patients with early-stage or advanced follicular lymphoma with a low tumor burden.

Patients with early-stage follicular lymphoma are often treated with localized radiation therapy, explains Burke. These patients tend to have stage 1 disease and may have 1 lymph node involved.

Conversely, patients with stage 3 or 4 advanced follicular lymphoma who are asymptomatic and have a low tumor burden are often considered for active surveillance, Burke says.

For patients who do not feel comfortable going without treatment, single-agent rituximab (Rituxan) could be considered, concludes Burke.