Follicular lymphoma: contemporary clinical management with a focus on recent therapeutic advances

Korean J Intern Med. 2025 May;40(3):371-393. doi: 10.3904/kjim.2024.279. Epub 2025 Feb 21.

Abstract

Follicular lymphoma (FL) is the most common type of indolent lymphoma, and the prognosis is favorable for most patients. However, FL remains generally incurable, and relapse is common. Patients are at risk of developing treatment-resistant lymphoma, particularly when early disease progression occurs or transformation to aggressive lymphoma takes place. Furthermore, lymphoma is the leading cause of death among patients with FL, emphasizing the need for more effective treatment strategies. This review summarizes therapeutic approaches for FL, with a focus on therapies currently in development. Recent biological insights have driven the emergence of highly effective treatments, including novel immune and targeted therapies. Clinical trials are assessing the efficacy of these novel approaches, which are increasingly used in earlier line settings. In the future, FL therapy is expected to rely less on chemotherapeutic methods, extend remission, and potentially enable cures for a growing number of patients.

Keywords: Chemotherapy; Follicular lymphoma; Immunotherapy; Molecular targeted therapy; Radiation.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Humans
  • Lymphoma, Follicular* / drug therapy
  • Lymphoma, Follicular* / immunology
  • Lymphoma, Follicular* / mortality
  • Lymphoma, Follicular* / pathology
  • Lymphoma, Follicular* / therapy
  • Molecular Targeted Therapy
  • Treatment Outcome