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Follicular lymphoma –⁠ current perspective on treatment with emphasis on chemo free strategies


Authors: V. Procházka 1;  K. Steinerová 2
Authors‘ workplace: Hemato onkologická klinika LF UP a FN Olomouc 1;  Hematologicko onkologické oddělení, FN Plzeň 2
Published in: Transfuze Hematol. dnes,31, 2025, No. 4, p. 297-304.
Category: Review/Educational Papers
doi: https://doi.org/10.48095/cctahd202527

Overview

Treatment of follicular lymphoma (FL) is shifting from traditional chemoimmunotherapy to biologically driven chemo‑free strategies. Patients with low tumor burden are managed with a watch‑and‑wait approach or rituximab monotherapy, while symptomatic disease requires immunochemotherapy (commonly bendamustine-rituximab, R‑CHOP, or bendamustine-obinutuzumab, BG). The rituximab‑lenalidomide (R²) combination provides an effective, time‑limited chemo‑free option. In relapsed/refractory FL, tafasitamab‑R², zanubrutinib‑obinutuzumab, and the EZH2 inhibitor tazemetostat are established options. Emerging immunotherapies –⁠ bispecific antibodies (mosunetuzumab, epcoritamab,) and CAR‑T cells (axi‑cel, tisa‑cel, liso‑cel) –⁠ achieve deep and durable remissions even in heavily pretreated patients. Advanced response monitoring using PET/CT and circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) enables more precise evaluation and personalized treatment.

Keywords:

follicular lymphoma – immunochemotherapy – bispecific antibodies – cellular therapy – functional cure


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Haematology Internal medicine Clinical oncology

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