
Last year in the UK over 60,000 cancer patients enrolled on clinical trials aimed at improving cancer treatments and making them available to all.
This trial is looking at zanubrutinib for .
It is open to people whose lymphoma is a and has:
Primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL) is a type of brain tumour. The most common type of PCNSL is diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL).
Doctors can treat PCNSL with high doses of chemotherapy. Unfortunately for some people this doesn’t help and their lymphoma continues to get worse during treatment. For others the treatment helps but their lymphoma comes back sometime after they have finished treatment.
Researchers are looking for other treatments to help people in these situations.
Zanubrutinib is a called a cancer growth blocker. It targets a particular
that DLBCL needs to grow and divide. By doing so it stops the DLBCL from growing.
Other studies show that similar drugs to zanubrutinib can help people with PCNSL. Researchers want to find out if zanubrutinib can improve treatment.
The aims of the trial are to find out:
The following bullet points are a summary of the entry conditions for this trial. Talk to your doctor or the trial team if you are unsure about any of these. They will be able to advise you.
Who can take part
You may be able to join this trial if all of the following apply. You:
Who can’t take part
Cancer related
You cannot join this trial if any of these apply. You:
Medical conditions
You cannot join this trial if any of these apply. You:
Other
You cannot join this trial if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
This is a phase 2 trial. The team need 20 people to take part.
Zanubrutinib is a capsule. You take it twice a day every day. You take 2 capsules unless your doctor tells you otherwise. You can take them with or without food.
Your doctor will talk to you about taking zanubrutinib and what to do if you accidentally miss a dose.
You continue to take zanubrutinib as long as it is helping and the side effects aren’t too bad.
Samples for research
You give extra blood samples during the trial. Where possible the trial team take these when you have bloods taken as part of your routine care.
The team will ask for samples of the fluid surrounding the brain and spine (CSF) when you have the .
They also ask for a piece of the lymphoma tissue () from when you were first diagnosed or from when the lymphoma came back. You do not have a new biopsy done. The team can get these samples from the hospital where they were taken.
Researchers will or plan to use these samples to:
MRI scan for research
The team are looking at whether a certain type of is better than the routine MRI scan to look at primary CNS lymphoma. Depending on which hospital you go to you might have an MRI scan for this research. It is no different to having a routine MRI scan.
You see the doctor for tests before taking part. These tests include:
You see the doctor regularly during the first 3 months of treatment. This is to:
You then see the doctor every 3 months.
You have an MRI scan every 3 months.
You have a lumbar puncture after the start of treatment at:
At the end of treatment you see the doctor for a check up and blood tests. You also have:
You then continue to see the doctor every 3 months.
The trial team monitor you during treatment and afterwards. Contact your advice line or tell your doctor or nurse if any side effects are bad or not getting better.
The most common side effects of zanubrutinib are:
Your doctor will talk to you about the possible side effects of the treatment before you agree to take part.
Please note: In order to join a trial you will need to discuss it with your doctor, unless otherwise specified.
Dr Christopher Fox
BeiGene
Cure Leukaemia
University of Birmingham
If you have questions about the trial please contact our cancer information nurses
Freephone 0808 800 4040
Last year in the UK over 60,000 cancer patients enrolled on clinical trials aimed at improving cancer treatments and making them available to all.