Follicular lymphoma cells (FL cells)

Follicular lymphoma (FL) cells are malignant B-lymphocytes that characterize follicular lymphoma, the most frequent indolent non-Hodgkin lymphoma. These cells are typically derived from germinal center B-cells and are defined by a hallmark t(14;18) chromosomal translocation that results in the constitutive overexpression of the anti-apoptotic protein BCL2 (StatPearls, 2023). FL cells reside within lymphoid follicles and rely on complex interactions with the tumor microenvironment, including T-follicular helper cells and follicular dendritic cells, for survival and growth signals (PubMed, 2022). Clinically, these cells are targeted by a variety of therapies, most notably anti-CD20 monoclonal antibodies like rituximab, which induce cell death through immune-mediated mechanisms (NIH, 2024). Other therapeutic approaches target specific intracellular vulnerabilities, such as BCL2 inhibitors like venetoclax or EZH2 inhibitors like tazemetostat in patients with specific mutations (NCBI, 2023). Despite high initial response rates to treatment, the persistence of FL cells often leads to a relapsing-remitting disease course and the risk of histological transformation into aggressive diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.

Other names

Malignant follicular B-cellsFollicular center lymphoma cellsGerminal center-derived B-cell lymphoma cells

Targeting of surface antigens (CD20, CD19) to induce antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC), inhibition of anti-apoptotic proteins (BCL2), or modulation of epigenetic regulators (EZH2) and signaling pathways (PI3K) to induce cell cycle arrest and apoptosis.