Management options, survivorship, and emerging treatment strategies for follicular and Hodgkin lymphomas

Abstract

Our understanding of the biology underlying lymphoma is continually increasing and leading to improved treatment strategies for affected patients. However, clinical approaches differ between disease subtypes based on the likelihood of achieving durable remissions. For example, follicular lymphoma (FL) is a common and indolent form of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, in which most patients relapse after treatment and periods of remission become progressively shorter after each course of treatment. Thus, the main focus of research efforts in FL is to develop improved treatment strategies that provide prolonged periods of disease remission. In contrast, Hodgkin lymphoma (HL), although rare, is considered to be highly curable with current treatments and the clinical need is for effective-management strategies, potentially avoiding chemotherapy, that reduce long-term toxicity and improve quality of life for patients. This report summarizes the latest advances in our understanding of FL and HL, and demonstrates the different approaches required when developing novel treatment strategies for the two diseases.