Dr. Maddocks on Remaining Challenges in Follicular Lymphoma

Kami J. Maddocks, MD, an associate professor of clinical internal medicine, Division of Hematology, The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center–James, discusses remaining challenges in treating patients with follicular lymphoma.

The biggest challenge right now is treating patients with follicular lymphoma who relapse early, or within 24 months of completing their initial therapy, says Maddocks. These patients have more aggressive disease and it is harder for them to achieve long-term responses and remissions. Ongoing trials are examining the best treatment approach for these patients to overcome this challenge.

Another challenge is when follicular lymphoma turns into aggressive lymphoma, says Maddocks. Outside of an allogeneic transplant, which is rarely done, this is an incurable disease; patients will need treatment for the rest of their lives. Finding effective, long-lasting, and tolerable approaches is the goal for this population, concludes Maddocks.