Follicular lymphoma (FL) is a neoplasm comprising germinal center B cells, which typically has, at least, a partially follicular pattern. Although the natural course of the disease is indolent, the chemosensitivity is low, which results in frequent relapse and immunosuppression. Therefore, the tumor stage and tumor burden are essential criteria for deciding on the treatment strategy. For advanced-stage patients with a low tumor burden, watchful waiting is a standard option. The optimal timing for administrating rituximab is a critical clinical question. For advanced-stage patients with a high tumor burden, R-CHOP, R-CVP, and BR are the standard options. Recently, the second-generation CD20 antibody was added to the options. Several new agents are now under development for relapsed FL.
Keywords: Chemotherapy; Follicular lymphoma; Rituximab; Watchful wait.