Dr. Leslie on Frontline Treatment Options in Follicular Lymphoma

Lori A. Leslie, MD, lymphoma attending, John Theurer Cancer Center, discusses frontline treatment options in follicular lymphoma.

Follicular lymphoma is a heterogeneous type of B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma with varied options for frontline management, says Leslie. 

Currently, treatment selection is based on age, comorbidities, and disease aggressiveness​, Leslie says. However, ​development of predictive and prognostic biomarkers remains an unmet need to identify which patients are at risk for poor outcomes. 

​Frontline treatment ​options consist of rituximab (Rituxan) as monotherapy or in combination with bendamustine, rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone (R-CHOP), or obinutuzumab (Gazyva) with or without chemotherapy.

Additionally, maintenance therapy with a CD20 antibody is an option for patients who responded to chemoimmunotherapy, adds Leslie.