Early relapse of follicular lymphoma may increase risk of death

the Oncology Nurse Advisor take:

Early relapse of follicular lymphoma could be carefully considered when making decisions about treatment for these patients, according to a new study published online ahead of print in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

Researchers at the University of Rochester in New York and colleagues analyzed data from the National LymphoCare Study in order to evaluate whether patients with follicular lymphoma who experience progression of disease within 2 years of initial R-CHOP therapy have an increased risk of death.

Results showed that the 5-year overall survival was 50% for those who experienced early progression of disease compared with 90% among those who did not.

"Through research we have confirmed that all relapsed patients are not equal, and therefore should not be approached the same at diagnosis nor at the time of relapse in terms of therapies," Carla Casulo, MD, oncologist and assistant professor of Medicine at the University of Rochester said.