Radiation for Early Follicular Lymphoma Shown to Increase Transformation Risk

The "inherent risk" of malignant transformation actually impacts outcomes among some unfortunate patients treated with radiotherapy for early follicular lymphoma, reports this team from Vancouver. They urge immediate treatment with rituximab(Drug information on rituximab) to improve survival in this "poor-risk" group of patients.

RESULT:  Incidence of transformation to aggressive lymphoma in limited-stage follicular lymphoma treated with radiotherapy
Annals of Oncology | Oct 3, 2012 (Free abstract. Full text $32)



German investigators report the results of 25 years' followup on patients treated with radiotherapy for low grade follicular lymphoma. They found no significant difference in freedom from progression according to mode of radiation delivery, nor did patient factors predict this outcome. This team feels that total nodal irradiation (which had been used for younger and healthier patients with higher disease stages) "should be considered as ... potentially curative."


RESULT:  Radiotherapy alone for stage I-III low grade follicular lymphoma: long-term outcome and
comparison of extended field and total nodal irradiation
Radiation Oncology  | Jun 24, 2012 (FREE FULL TEXT)