Divergent paths: management of early relapsed follicular lymphoma

Abstract

Follicular lymphoma (FL) is the second most common non-Hodgkin lymphoma in the United States and Western Europe. Overall outcomes for patients with FL have continued to improve over the last several decades—most notably, with the addition of the CD20 monoclonal antibody rituximab to the treatment armamentarium. More recently, we have seen advances in the management of patients with relapsed/refractory FL with the approval of several new treatments including lenalidomide, axicabtagene ciloleucel, copanlisib, umbralisib, and tazemetostat. Unfortunately, there remains a group of patients for which treatment outcomes, especially overall survival (OS), are suboptimal. This group has been identified as patients who relapse within 24 months (POD24) of completion of chemoimmunotherapy (CIT). Data indicate that patients who relapse within this window have a 5-year OS of around 50%, compared to 80% for those who remain in remission beyond 24 months. POD24 patients have been included and evaluated in the studies of the novel agents mentioned. While not specifically designed to treat this high-risk group, early data suggest that outcomes are not significantly impacted by this designation, unlike CIT. While to date the optimal management of POD24 patients has not been elucidated, the future appears bright with the continued use of the approved agents and several others in clinical development.