Maintenance Rituximab for Follicular Lymphoma

Progression-free survival was longer with maintenance therapy than without it.

Follicular lymphoma (FL), the most prevalent subtype of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, is characterized by chronic relapsing and sequential therapies. Although front-line treatment with rituximab plus chemotherapy has become the standard of care for patients with advanced FL, the role of maintenance rituximab has not been established. To assess the potential benefit of maintenance rituximab after induction rituximab plus chemotherapy, investigators conducted an industry-sponsored, multicenter, phase III, randomized, controlled trial involving 1217 patients with previously untreated FL.

All patients demonstrated high tumor burden, symptomatic disease, or both; 80% had intermediate-risk or high-risk FLIPI (FL International Prognostic Index) scores. Pat…

Reviewing Author

Michael E. Williams, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardAbbVie; AstraZeneca; Beigene; Janssen; Pharmacyclics

Grant/Research SupportJanssen

Editorial BoardsAmerican Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) Hematology Longitudinal Knowledge Approval Committee

Michael E. Williams, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardAbbVie; AstraZeneca; Beigene; Janssen; Pharmacyclics

Grant/Research SupportJanssen

Editorial BoardsAmerican Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) Hematology Longitudinal Knowledge Approval Committee