Treatment strategies in advanced stage follicular lymphoma

Abstract

Although the introduction of anti-CD20 monoclonal antibodies has improved the outcome of patients with follicular lymphoma, a curative treatment is still not available. Many questions still remain to be answered: when should treatment be initiated? Is there an optimal first line treatment and can this treatment be individualized on the basis of prognostic markers? What is the best treatment strategy for relapsed follicular lymphoma and what is the place of the many novel agents? Should maintenance treatment be given to all patients and how? In the present review we will address these questions.