title: Clinical Features and Survival of Patients With Follicular Lymphoma in Korea.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The incidence of follicular lymphoma (FL) varies according to geographic location. It is the second most common non-Hodgkin lymphoma in Western countries but has a very low incidence in Asia. Thus, no representative data are available for FL. Therefore, we gathered our own data to build a foundation for FL research.
  
  
  METHODS
  We collected a total of 343 patient records. The median age was 53 years, and the ratio of male to female patients was 1.4:1. Most patients received chemotherapy with or without rituximab.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The incidence of grade 1 and 2 FL was 64.9% (n = 205) and of stage III and IV was 51.2% (n = 171). The grade tended to be higher and the stage to be lower compared with Western data. In the chemotherapy group, the complete response rate was 76.0%, and the partial response rate was 17.1%. The median follow-up duration was 38.1 months. The estimated 5- and 10-year progression-free survival and overall survival rates were 68.3% and 84.9% and 63.0% and 71.3%, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We could not find definitive differences between our Korean data and the Western data, although we found some trends in the baseline characteristics. Therefore, we hope to develop an understanding of FL and perform more qualitative studies in the future.
authors: Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Pusan National University Yangsan Hospital, Yangsan, South Korea.
authors: Su-Hee
authors: SH
authors: Cho
authors: Department of Oncology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.
authors: Cheolwon
authors: C
authors: Suh
authors: Department of Hematology-Oncology, Dongsan Medical Center, Keimyung University School of Medicine, Daegu, South Korea.
authors: Young Rok
authors: YR
authors: Do
authors: Department of Hematology, Chonnam National University Hwasun Hospital, Hwasun, South Korea.
authors: Je-Jung
authors: JJ
authors: Lee
authors: Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, South Korea.
authors: Hwan-Jung
authors: HJ
authors: Yun
authors: Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Dong-A University College of Medicine, Busan, South Korea.
authors: Sung Young
authors: SY
authors: Oh
authors: Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Kosin University Gospel Hospital, Busan, South Korea.
authors: Ho Sup
authors: HS
authors: Lee
authors: Department of Hematology, Catholic Blood and Marrow Transplantation Center, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, South Korea.
authors: Seok-Goo
authors: SG
authors: Cho
authors: Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Eulji University Hospital, Daejeon, South Korea.
authors: In Sung
authors: IS
authors: Cho
authors: Department of Hematology-Oncology, Inje University College of Medicine, Busan Paik Hospital, Busan, South Korea.
authors: Won-Sik
authors: WS
authors: Lee
authors: Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Hanyang University College of Medicine, Guri, South Korea.
authors: Young-Woong
authors: YW
authors: Won
authors: Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, Hallym University, Hallym University Sacred Heart Hospital, Anyang, South Korea.
authors: Hyo Jung
authors: HJ
authors: Kim
authors: Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Konkuk University Medical Center, Seoul, South Korea.
authors: Hong Ghi
authors: HG
authors: Lee
authors: Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Dankook University Hospital, Cheonan, South Korea.
authors: Soon Il
authors: SI
authors: Lee
authors: Department of Hematology-Oncology, Inje University College of Medicine, Busan Hae-undae Paik Hospital, Busan, South Korea.
authors: Sung-Nam
authors: SN
authors: Lim
authors: Department of Hematology-Oncology, Inje University College of Medicine, Sanggye Paik Hospital, Seoul, South Korea.
authors: Byeong Seok
authors: BS
authors: Sohn
authors: Department of Oncology, Gangneung Asan Hospital, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Gangneung, South Korea.
authors: Heui June
authors: HJ
authors: Ahn
authors: Department of Hematology-Oncology, Ilsan Hospital, Goyang, South Korea.
authors: Myung Hee
authors: MH
authors: Chang
authors: Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Dongnam Institute of Radiological and Medical Sciences, Busan, South Korea.
authors: Kyung A
authors: KA
authors: Kwon
authors: Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea. Electronic address: wskimsmc@skku.edu.
authors: Won Seog
authors: WS
authors: Kim
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007723:Korea; D008224:Lymphoma, Follicular / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015996:Survival Rate; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Ann-Arbor Stage; Asia; Bcl-2; Grade; Western