Hi, I’m Noriko Fukuhara from Tohuku University in Japan. Here at the ASH 2024 meeting, I'm honored to present the result of a clinical trial on behalf of our Japan Clinical Oncology Group, JCOG.
So in this trial, we are looking at patients with low tumor burden follicular lymphoma. So, do you know rituximab? That is an anti-CD20 antibody. It has dramatically changed the treatment strategy for, follicular lymphoma and it's improved its prognosis. However, many patients of low tumor burden follicular lymphoma are usually asymptomatic. So in our clinical practice for low tumor burden follicular lymphoma, firstly, we may exact observation. And then if the lymphoma grows a little, we will start rituximab. And finally, if the lymphoma grows to high-tumor burden, we will start chemotherapy. But is it really okay to start rituximab when the lymphoma grows a little?The optimal timing of starting rituximab remains unclear. So we conducted our clinical trial to answer this critical question.
The patient with untreated advanced stage and very low tumor burden follicular lymphoma was randomized to observation arm or rituximab induction arm. So in all the rituximab induction arms, only one cycle of rituximab. So four infusions were administered immediately after administration. The results of the overall study showed the clinical benefit of rituximab induction. So the main clinical benefit is the reducing to progression to high-tumor burden or starting chemotherapy. Furthermore, when an untreated low tumor burden follicular lymphoma patient comes to our hospital, we can now propose rituximab therapy with confidence. So we believe that, this study may change the standard of care for low tumor burden follicular lymphoma.
Thank you for your attention.
HealthTree • December 23, 2024