"I was delighted to take part in a clinical trial as it has the potential to really help others in the future.”
A trial of CHOP chemotherapy, with or without rituximab for follicular non Hodgkin lymphoma that has come back (EORTC 20981)
Cancer type:
Status:
Phase:
This trial looked at rituximab with chemotherapy for follicular lymphoma that had come back after treatment.
Follicular NHL is a type of low grade lymphoma. It is usually possible to control this type of lymphoma for a number of years, but it is difficult to cure. Doctors usually treat it with chemotherapy to get it into remission. This means there is no sign of the disease, but it is still there and is likely to come back at some time in the future. Each time follicular NHL comes back, it is harder to get it into remission.
This trial was in 2 parts. The aim in the first part was to see if adding a monoclonal antibody called rituximab (Mabthera) to CHOP chemotherapy would make it easier to get follicular NHL that has come back into another remission.
The aim of the second part was to see if continuing to treat follicular NHL with rituximab after chemotherapy would keep follicular NHL in remission for longer.
Summary of results
The trial team found that rituximab with CHOP (R-CHOP) was better for putting follicular NHL into remission than CHOP alone. They also found that continuing rituximab after chemotherapy kept it in remission for longer.
The trial team were able to look at 465 of the 474 people this trial recruited. Of these 465 people
- 231 had CHOP
- 234 had R-CHOP
The follicular NHL responded to treatment in 167 of the 231 people who had CHOP alone. Of these
- In 36 people it went away completely – this means the researchers could not find it in routine blood and bone marrow tests (complete
remission ) - In 131 people it did not completely go away (
partial response )
The follicular NHL responded to treatment in 199 of the 234 people who had R-CHOP. Of these
- 69 people had a complete remission
- 130 people had a partial response
The second part of the trial was only open to people whose follicular NHL responded to treatment. Of these 366 people, 334 were able to take part. They were put into 1 of 2 groups
- 167 had rituximab after their chemotherapy finished
- 167 did not
For those who had rituximab the average time it took for their follicular NHL to come back was 51 and a half months. For those who did not have rituximab the average time was just under 15 months.
After 3 years, 142 people who had rituximab after chemotherapy were still alive. And 129 people who did not have rituximab after chemotherapy were still alive.
The researchers concluded that adding rituximab to CHOP made it easier to get follicular NHL into remission after it had come back. They also concluded that having rituximab after chemotherapy would keep follicular NHL in remission for longer.
We have based this summary on information from the team who ran the trial. The information they sent us has been reviewed by independent specialists (
Recruitment start:
Recruitment end:
How to join a clinical trial
Please note: In order to join a trial you will need to discuss it with your doctor, unless otherwise specified.
Chief Investigator
Dr R Marcus
Supported by
European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC)
Haematology Trials Group
NIHR Clinical Research Network: Cancer
If you have questions about the trial please contact our cancer information nurses
Freephone 0808 800 4040