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Maintenance therapy in follicular lymphoma
Anne-Sophie Michallet1, Bertrand Coiffier, Gilles Salles
1Hospices Civils de Lyon, Centre Hospitalier Lyon Sud, Pierre Bénite, Lyon, France. anne-sophie.michallet@chu-lyon.fr
Current Opinion in Oncology
|July 8, 2011
Summary
Maintenance therapy with rituximab (anti-CD20) can prolong progression-free survival and improve response quality in follicular lymphoma patients. This approach is well-tolerated and offers a valuable strategy for managing this usually incurable cancer.
Area of Science:
- Hematology
- Oncology
- Clinical Immunology
Background:
- Follicular lymphoma is typically incurable despite survival improvements.
- Anti-CD20 antibody and chemotherapy combinations enhance survival.
- Maintenance therapy, a concept from acute leukemias, is being re-evaluated for indolent lymphomas.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the benefits of maintenance therapy in follicular lymphoma.
- To assess the role of rituximab as a maintenance treatment.
Main Methods:
- Review of randomized studies on follicular lymphoma treatment.
- Analysis of the International Primary Rituximab and Maintenance study results.
Main Results:
- Rituximab maintenance (2 years) prolongs progression-free survival.
- Maintenance therapy delays the need for subsequent anti-lymphoma treatments.
- Rituximab maintenance improves response quality and is well-tolerated.
Conclusions:
- Relapses are common in follicular lymphoma, even after complete remission.
- Achieving minimal residual disease negativity improves outcomes.
- Rituximab maintenance offers a safe and effective strategy to improve outcomes in follicular lymphoma.
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