Lancet
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Long-term effect of a watch and wait policy versus immediate systemic treatment for asymptomatic advanced-stage non-Hodgkin lymphoma: a randomised controlled trial.
Neither chemotherapy with a single-alkylating agent nor aggressive combination chemotherapy cures advanced stage low-grade non-Hodgkin lymphomas, even when combined with radiotherapy. Our aim was to compare administration of immediate chlorambucil treatment with a policy of delaying chlorambucil until clinical progression necessitated its use, in asymptomatic patients with advanced-stage, low-grade non-Hodgkin lymphoma. ⋯ An initial policy of watchful waiting in patients with asymptomatic, advanced stage low-grade non-Hodgkin lymphoma is appropriate, especially in patients older than age 70 years.