Use of obinutuzumab in therapy of patients with newly diagnosed follicular lymphoma. Experience of the Oncohematology Division of the Clinical Hospital “Lapino”

Follicular lymphoma (FL) is the most common indolent form of lymphoma and characterized by recurrent course and heterogenous clinical signs. Selection of treatment program for patients with newly diagnosed or recurrent FL is based primarily on the size of the tumor. While use of rituximab-containing regimens led to increased progression-free survival, in some cases tumors are refractory to rituximab. Understanding of molecular mechanisms of FL pathogenesis and action of anti-CD20 monoclonal antibodies allowed to develop new drugs with several advantages compared to rituximab. According to the data of large randomized trials, use of glycoengineered monoclonal anti-CD20 type II antibody obinutuzumab in combination with chemotherapy in patients with FL has manageable toxicity profile and longer progression-free survival and event-free survival compared to use of rituximab.