A retrospective study on the management of patients with rituximab refractory follicular lymphoma

Summary Given that there are currently no clear recommendations regarding therapeutic options for rituximab refractory/relapsed follicular lymphoma patients, this study aimed to describe the real‐life management of patients with refractory follicular lymphoma after systemic rituximab‐containing regimens (rFL), and rFL patient characteristics. In this retrospective, national, multicentre study, descriptive analyses were mainly performed according to rituximab‐containing regimen at rFL diagnosis [rituximab monotherapy (R‐MONO), rituximab + chemotherapy (R‐COMBO), and ongoing rituximab maintenance (R‐MAINTAIN)]. The 459 analysed patients experienced rituximab‐refractoriness between October 2013 and September 2015: R‐MONO: 58 (13%), R‐COMBO: 197 (43%), R‐MAINTAIN: 204 (44%). Post‐refractoriness strategies were heterogeneous: idelalisib ± rituximab (22%), without anti‐lymphoma treatment (21%), rituximab‐chemotherapy (21%) and stem cell transplantation (18%). Rituximab was continued in combination in 41% of cases. Chosen strategies varied according to patient age (without anti‐lymphoma treatment: 28% of patients if ≥65 years vs. 12% if