Vol 3, No 4 (2012)
Review paper
Published online: 2013-01-16
Rituximab maintenance treatment in first and further remissions in patients with follicular lymphoma
Hematologia 2012;3(4):343-354.
Abstract
The treatment of patients with follicular lymphoma (FL) requires that the first line therapy is
precisely planned and individualised. Immunochemotherapy based on rituximab (R) remains the
standard of the first line treatment. Despite of the choice of the first line therapy (including
monotherapy with R and chemotherapy), responding patient benefit from R maintenance treatment.
When patients with relapsed FL require treatment, there is a broad number of options, ranging
from R alone to combination chemotherapy plus R, radioimmunotherapy and for selected
patients hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. A 2-year maintenance therapy with R, either
as four weekly infusions every 6 months or as a single infusion every 2–3 months, should be
added to standard therapy for patients with relapsed or refractory FL after successful
re-induction therapy.
precisely planned and individualised. Immunochemotherapy based on rituximab (R) remains the
standard of the first line treatment. Despite of the choice of the first line therapy (including
monotherapy with R and chemotherapy), responding patient benefit from R maintenance treatment.
When patients with relapsed FL require treatment, there is a broad number of options, ranging
from R alone to combination chemotherapy plus R, radioimmunotherapy and for selected
patients hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. A 2-year maintenance therapy with R, either
as four weekly infusions every 6 months or as a single infusion every 2–3 months, should be
added to standard therapy for patients with relapsed or refractory FL after successful
re-induction therapy.
Keywords: follicular lymphomarituximabmaintenance therapy
