Routine Blood Tests in Asymptomatic Patients With Indolent Lymphoma Have Limited Ability to Detect Clinically Significant Disease Progression

Abstract

PURPOSE: Patients with indolent non-Hodgkin lymphoma (iNHL) undergo regular active surveillance in between treatment periods to detect disease relapse or progression. As part of surveillance, international guidelines recommend regular routine blood testing, which is based on consensus rather than evidence of utility. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective analysis of all patients older than age 16 years diagnosed with grade 1-3A follicular or marginal zone lymphoma between 2008 and 2017 from 2 Australian cancer centers to assess the utility of full blood examination, lactate dehydrogenase, and β2-microglobulin in detecting progression events, defined as either disease relapse or progression o..