Research and clinical trials
Go to Cancer Research UK’s clinical trials database if you are looking for a trial for NHL in the UK. You need to talk to your specialist if there are any trials that you think you might be able to take part in.
Some of the trials on this page have now stopped recruiting people. It takes time before the results are available. This is because the trial team follow the patients for a period of time and collect and analyse the results. We have included this ongoing research to give examples of the type of research being carried out in NHL.
All cancer treatments must be fully researched before they can be used for everyone. This is so we can be sure that:
they work
they work better than the treatments already available
they are safe
To make sure the research is accurate, each trial has certain entry conditions for who can take part. These are different for each trial.
Hospitals do not take part in every clinical trial. Some trials are only done in a small number of hospitals, or in one area of the country. You may need to travel quite far if you take part in these trials.
In this video, Jean talks about her experience of taking part in a clinical trial for NHL. The video lasts for 2 minutes.
Researchers are looking at the causes of some types of lymphoma. They are looking at blood, bone marrow and tissue samples.
The doctors are looking at changes to certain genes, proteins and sugars. They want to understand how these changes could affect how these diseases develop. They hope to learn more about the causes and possible treatments.
There is a type of lymphoma called anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL). A very rare type of ALCL might be caused by breast implants. This is called breast implant associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma (BIA-ALCL).
Researchers are looking at changes to certain genes, proteins and sugars. They want to find out more about how these changes could affect how BIA-ALCL develops. This may help develop new treatments for this condition in future.
Sometimes treatment doesn’t work or NHL comes back soon after. Doctors want to find out early on who has a high risk of their NHL coming back. One study is looking for in blood samples. Researchers want to know if they can use ctDNA to track if treatment is working early on.
Researchers are looking at after NHL treatment. They want to know if the scans can help them decide who needs further treatment and who does not.
It is common to have a combination of drugs to treat NHL. You often have this together with a . This is called chemoimmunotherapy.
Researchers are combining chemotherapy with different types of targeted cancer drugs. They are comparing it with standard treatments.
Targeted drugs change the way that cells work. For example, they can block signals that tell cells to grow. Immunotherapies can boost the body’s own immune system to fight off or kill cancer cells.
There are different types of targeted cancer drugs and immunotherapies. Researchers are looking at many different drugs for NHL. These include:
mogamulizumab
glofitamab
DTP3
acalabrutinib
MK-1026
polatuzumab vedotin
inobrodib
odronextamab
epcoritamab
venetoclax
zilovertamab vedotin
Immunotherapy uses our immune system to recognise and attack cancer cells. One type of immunotherapy is CAR T-cell therapy.
With this treatment doctors take a sample of a person’s . The scientists then change (genetically alter) these T cells in the laboratory. These altered T cells are called CAR T-cells.
The person then has a drip of the CAR T-cells into their bloodstream. For people with lymphoma, these CAR T-cells are designed to recognise and target a specific protein on the lymphoma cells. They aim to attack and kill the lymphoma cells.
CAR T-cell therapy is now a treatment for some types of NHL that has not responded to other treatment. Researchers are looking at:
how they can make CAR T-cells work better
new types of CAR T-cell therapy
how well it works for other types of NHL
how it compares to standard first treatments for NHL
Read more about CAR T-cell therapy
are a common treatment for some types of NHL. It is more common to have a transplant using your own stem cells. But some people have a transplant using stem cells from another person. This is called an allogeneic transplant.
happens when in the donated stem cells attack your own body cells. It is a possible complication of an allogeneic stem cell transplant.
Researchers are looking at different combinations of treatment to reduce the risk of GvHD. They are comparing newer treatments to the standard treatments used in the UK. They want to see how well these work.
Last reviewed: 07 Jun 2024
Next review due: 07 Jun 2027
Search for clinical trials with Cancer Research UK. Clinical trials are medical research studies involving people.
If you see a trial on our database that you are interested in, you will usually need to discuss it with your own doctor or cancer specialist.
Clinical trials are medical research studies involving people. They help us to understand more about cancer and how we treat it.
Your treatment depends on the type and stage of your NHL. Common treatments include chemotherapy, targeted and immunotherapy drugs, radiotherapy and a stem cell transplant.
You usually start by seeing your GP. They might refer you to a specialist doctor (haematologist) and organise tests.
Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) is a cancer of the lymphatic system. There are more than 60 different types of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. They can behave in very different ways and need different treatments.
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