When to Use Targeted Therapy for the Treatment of Follicular Lymphoma.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Follicular lymphoma is a common indolent non-Hodgkin lymphoma with survival improving in the modern era. Despite favorable responses and improving remission duration, FL remains largely incurable with patterns of relapsing and remitting disease with many patients requiring multiple lines of therapy. As our understanding of the malignant B-cell biology evolves, more targeted therapies have emerged for the treatment of follicular lymphoma.

RECENT FINDINGS: Targeted therapies entering the treatment landscape of follicular lymphoma include lenalidomide in combination with rituximab based on the randomized AUGMENT. Tazemetostat, an EZH2 inhibitor, joins the list of targeted therapies approved based on single-arm phase 2 studies in the relapsed setting. There are three PI3K inhibitors currently approved and more under development. Herein, I will review the available evidence that supports the use of targeted therapy across the disease course of follicular lymphoma.