Around 1 in 5 people diagnosed with cancer in the UK take part in a clinical trial.
A trial looking at chemotherapy for Waldenstrom's macroglobulinaemia or lymphoma of the spleen (WM1)
Cancer type:
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Phase:
This trial compared chlorambucil with fludarabine chemotherapy for Waldenstrom's macroglobulinaemia or lymphoma of the spleen.
Doctors treat Waldenstrom’s macroglobulinaemia or lymphoma of the spleen with chemotherapy. Fludarabine and chlorambucil are drugs that are commonly used. Doctors knew that both drugs worked but wanted to find out which drug worked the best.
This trial compared them to find out which was better and more about their side effects.
Summary of results
The trial team found that fludarabine was better than chlorambucil to treat Waldenstrom’s macroglobulinaemia or lymphoma of the spleen.
This was a phase 3 trial. It recruited 414 people. It was a randomised trial. Half the people had fludarabine and the other half had chlorambucil.
When the researchers looked at the number of people whose lymphoma responded to treatment they found that
- 53 out of every 100 people (53%) had fludarabine
- 43 out of every 100 people (43%) had chlorambucil
The average time people were free of their lymphoma was
- 3 years for those who had fludarabine
- Just over 2 years for those who had chlorambucil
5 years after treatment, the team looked at how many people were alive. They found that
- 62 out of every 100 (62%) had chlorambucil
- 70 out of every 100 (70%) had fludarabine
The worst side effect for both fludarabine and chlorambucil was a drop in blood cells.
The trial team concluded that fludarabine was better than chlorambucil to treat Waldenstrom’s macroglobulinaemia or lymphoma of the spleen.
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 Roger G Owen
Supported by
NIHR Clinical Research Network: Cancer
Taunton and Somerset NHS Trust
If you have questions about the trial please contact our cancer information nurses
Freephone 0808 800 4040