In English | En español
Questions About Cancer? 1-800-4-CANCER

Clinical Trials (PDQ®)

Page Options

  • Print This Page
  • Email This Document
Clinical Trial Questions?
Get Help:
1-800-4-CANCER
LiveHelp online chat
Rituximab and Combination Chemotherapy in Treating Patients With Diffuse Large B-Cell Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma

Basic Trial Information
Trial Description
     Summary
     Further Trial Information
     Eligibility Criteria
Trial Contact Information

Basic Trial Information

PhaseTypeStatusAgeSponsorProtocol IDs
Phase IIIDiagnostic, TreatmentActive18 and overNCI, OtherCDR0000433265
CALGB-50303, ECOG-50303, NCI-05-C-0252, NCT00118209

Trial Description

Summary

RATIONALE: Monoclonal antibodies, such as rituximab, can block cancer growth in different ways. Some block the ability of cancer cells to grow and spread. Others find cancer cells and help kill them or carry cancer-killing substances to them. Drugs used in chemotherapy work in different ways to stop the growth of cancer cells, either by killing the cells or by stopping them from dividing. Giving rituximab together with combination chemotherapy may kill more cancer cells. It is not yet known which combination chemotherapy regimen is more effective when given with rituximab in treating diffuse large B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Imaging procedures, such as fludeoxyglucose F 18 positron emission tomography (FDG-PET)/computed tomography (CT), may help diagnose if recurrent disease is likely.

PURPOSE: This randomized phase III trial is studying rituximab when given together with two different combination chemotherapy regimens to compare how well they work in treating patients with diffuse large B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

Further Study Information

OBJECTIVES:

Primary

  • Compare the event-free survival of patients with previously untreated de novo diffuse large B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma treated with R-CHOP comprising rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone vs EPOCH-R comprising etoposide, prednisone, vincristine, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, and rituximab.
  • Determine molecular predictors of outcome (using molecular profiling) in patients treated with these regimens.

Secondary

  • Compare the response rate and overall survival of patients treated with these regimens.
  • Compare the toxicity of these regimens in these patients.
  • Correlate the clinical parameters (i.e., toxicity, response, survival outcomes, and laboratory results) with molecular profiling in patients treated with these regimens.
  • Assess the use of molecular profiling for pathological diagnosis in patients treated with these regimens.
  • Identify new therapeutic targets using molecular profiling.
  • Perform a comprehensive analysis of somatic alterations to the tumor genome in order to understand which genomic alterations are somatically acquired by the tumor and which are encoded in the germ line of the patient.
  • Identify biomarkers of response to chemotherapy by FDG-PET/CT imaging that are predictive of histopathologic remissions and survival in patients with stage I (mediastinal), II, III, or IV untreated DLBCL.
  • Evaluate the use of semiquantitative measurements of FDG uptake in defining FDG-PET/CT-based biomarkers of response to chemotherapy in patients with DLBCL.
  • Determine whether FDG-PET/CT measurements of tumor response after the second cycle of chemotherapy can predict clinical response.
  • Establish a standardized protocol for FDG-PET/CT image acquisition.
  • Determine additional FDG-PET/CT parameters (e.g., the ratio of tumor SUVmax to liver SUVmean; SUVs corrected for body surface area and lean body mass; nuclear medicine physician's assessment) and evaluate their utility in refining FDG-PET/CT based biomarkers of response to therapy.
  • Evaluate inter-institutional reproducibility of FDG-PET/CT measurements for this indication.

OUTLINE: This is a randomized, multicenter study. Patients are stratified according to International Prognostic Index score. Patients are randomized to 1 of 2 treatment arms.

  • Arm I (R-CHOP): Patients receive rituximab IV, cyclophosphamide IV, doxorubicin IV over 3-5 minutes, and vincristine IV on day 1 and oral prednisone once daily on days 1-5. Treatment repeats every 21 days for 6 courses in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.
  • Arm II (EPOCH-R): Patients receive rituximab IV on day 1, doxorubicin IV, etoposide IV, and vincristine IV continuously over 96 hours on days 1-4, cyclophosphamide IV on day 5, and oral prednisone twice daily on days 1-5. Patients also receive filgrastim (G-CSF) once daily on days 2-11 or until blood counts recover. Treatment repeats every 21 days for 6 courses in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.

As of July 1, 2012, the FDG-PET/CT imaging companion study CALGB-580603 will be required of all patients enrolling on this study. FDG-PET/CT scans of abdomen/chest/pelvis are collected at baseline, post-course 2, and post-course 6.

After completion of study treatment, patients are followed every 3 months for 2 years and then every 6 months for up to 3 years.

PROJECTED ACCRUAL: A total of 478 patients (239 per treatment arm) will be accrued for this study within 4.5 years.

Eligibility Criteria

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

  • Histologically confirmed* de novo B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) of 1 of the following WHO histologic subtypes:
  • Diffuse large cell lymphoma, including any of the following morphologic variants:
  • Centroblastic
  • Immunoblastic
  • T-cell/histiocyte rich
  • Anaplastic
  • Mediastinal (thymic) large cell lymphoma
  • Intravascular large cell lymphoma NOTE: *Fine needle aspirates or core biopsies must not be the only diagnostic material
  • Stage I primary mediastinal (thymic) OR stage II-IV disease
  • CD20-positive disease
  • No underlying low-grade lymphoma (e.g., transformed lymphoma or low-grade lymphoma in the bone marrow)
  • No known lymphomatous CNS involvement
  • Lumbar puncture required unless there are no neurological symptoms
  • As of July 1, 2012, the PET/CT imaging companion study CALGB-580603 will be required of all patients enrolling onto the treatment study CALGB-50303 NOTE: A new classification scheme for adult non-Hodgkin's lymphoma has been adopted by PDQ. The terminology of "indolent" or "aggressive" lymphoma will replace the former terminology of "low", "intermediate", or "high" grade lymphoma. However, this protocol uses the former terminology.

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age

  • 18 and over

Performance status

  • ECOG 0-2

Life expectancy

  • Not specified

Hematopoietic

  • Absolute neutrophil count ≥ 1,000/mm^3^*
  • Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm^3^*
  • No active bleeding unrelated to NHL NOTE: *Unless due to NHL

Hepatic

  • Bilirubin ≤ 2 mg/dL* NOTE: *Unless due to NHL or Gilbert's disease

Renal

  • Creatinine ≤ 1.5 mg/dL^* OR
  • Creatinine clearance ≥ 50 mL/min^* NOTE: *Unless due to NHL

Cardiovascular

  • No active ischemic heart disease
  • No congestive heart failure

Other

  • Not pregnant or nursing
  • Negative pregnancy test
  • Fertile patients must use effective contraception
  • HIV negative
  • No active uncontrolled bacterial or viral infection unrelated to NHL
  • No other active medical process unrelated to NHL

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy

  • No prior rituximab

Chemotherapy

  • No prior chemotherapy for other malignancies
  • No prior cytotoxic chemotherapy
  • No other concurrent chemotherapy

Endocrine therapy

  • Prior short course (< 10 days) glucocorticoids allowed for an urgent local disease complication (e.g., cord compression or superior vena cava syndrome) at diagnosis
  • No concurrent hormonal therapy except steroids for adrenal failure or hormones for non-disease related conditions (e.g., insulin for diabetes)
  • No concurrent dexamethasone or other steroidal antiemetics

Radiotherapy

  • Prior limited field radiotherapy allowed for an urgent local disease complication (e.g., cord compression or superior vena cava syndrome) at diagnosis
  • No concurrent radiotherapy except for isolated CNS lesions

Surgery

  • Not specified

Other

  • No other concurrent investigational or commercial agents or therapies for NHL

Trial Contact Information

Trial Lead Organizations/Sponsors

Cancer and Leukemia Group B

National Cancer Institute

Wyndham Hopkins WilsonStudy Chair

Andrew D. Zelenetz

Trial Sites

U.S.A.
California
  Mountain View
 Palo Alto Medical Foundation
 Peter P. Yu Ph: 650-934-7000
  Palo Alto
 Palo Alto Medical Foundation
 David S Leibowitz Ph: 650-853-2906
  Email: waldorj@pamf.org
  Saint Helena
 Saint Helena Hospital
 Gregory B Smith Ph: 707-967-3698
  San Diego
 Naval Medical Center - San Diego
 Preston S. Gable Ph: 619-532-8712
 Rebecca and John Moores UCSD Cancer Center
 Erin G Reid Ph: 858-822-5354
  Email: cancercto@ucsd.edu
Connecticut
  Norwich
 Eastern Connecticut Hematology and Oncology Associates
 Dennis E. Slater Ph: 860-886-8362
Delaware
  Lewes
 Tunnell Cancer Center at Beebe Medical Center
 Stephen Scott Grubbs Ph: 302-733-6227
  Newark
 Helen F. Graham Cancer Center at Christiana Hospital
 Stephen Scott Grubbs Ph: 302-733-6227
Illinois
  Chicago
 Cancer and Leukemia Group B
 Wyndham H Wilson Ph: 301-435-2415
  Email: wilsonw@mail.nih.gov
 Creticos Cancer Center at Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center
 Deepti A. Singh Ph: 773-296-5360
 Mount Sinai Hospital Medical Center
 Pam G. Khosla Ph: 773-257-5960
  Email: suhi@sinai.org
 Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center at Northwestern University
 Jane N. Winter Ph: 312-695-1301
  Email: cancer@northwestern.edu
 University of Illinois Cancer Center
 David J. Peace Ph: 312-355-3046
  Maywood
 Cardinal Bernardin Cancer Center at Loyola University Medical Center
 Scott E. Smith Ph: 708-226-4357
Maryland
  Baltimore
 Alvin and Lois Lapidus Cancer Institute at Sinai Hospital
 Roberto F Martinez Ph: 410-601-6120
  Email: pridgely@lifebridgehealth.org
  Bethesda
 National Institutes of Health
 Wyndham Hopkins Wilson Ph: 800-411-1222
 National Naval Medical Center
 David C Van Echo Ph: 301-319-2100
Michigan
  Southfield
 Providence Hospital - Southfield
 Howard R. Terebelo Ph: 248-849-5337
  Email: jaswinder.grewal@stjohn.org
Missouri
  Saint Louis
 Siteman Cancer Center at Barnes-Jewish Hospital - Saint Louis
 Nancy L. Bartlett Ph: 800-600-3606
  Email: info@siteman.wustl.edu
New Hampshire
  Concord
 New Hampshire Oncology - Hematology, PA at Payson Center for Cancer Care
 Douglas Jay Weckstein Ph: 603-224-2556
  Hooksett
 New Hampshire Oncology - Hematology, PA - Hooksett
 Douglas Jay Weckstein Ph: 603-224-2556
New Jersey
  Newark
 UMDNJ University Hospital
 Lillian F. Pliner Ph: 732-235-8675
New York
  Glens Falls
 Charles R. Wood Cancer Center at Glens Falls Hospital
 Aqeel A Gillani Ph: 518-926-6700
  New York
 New York Weill Cornell Cancer Center at Cornell University
 John P. Leonard Ph: 212-746-1848
  Rochester
 James P. Wilmot Cancer Center at University of Rochester Medical Center
 Jonathan W Friedberg Ph: 585-275-5830
North Carolina
  Charlotte
 Presbyterian Cancer Center at Presbyterian Hospital
 Justin P Favaro Ph: 704-384-5369
  Kinston
 Kinston Medical Specialists
 Peter R. Watson Ph: 252-559-2200
  Statesville
 Iredell Memorial Hospital
 Ruby A. Grimm Ph: 704-873-5661
  Winston-Salem
 Wake Forest University Comprehensive Cancer Center
 David Duane Hurd Ph: 336-713-6771
North Dakota
  Grand Forks
 Altru Cancer Center at Altru Hospital
 Grant R Seeger Ph: 701-780-6520
Ohio
  Canton
 Mercy Cancer Center at Mercy Medical Center
 Mitchell Haut Ph: 888-293-4673
  Columbus
 Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute at Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center
 Kristie A. Blum Ph: 866-627-7616
  Email: osu@emergingmed.com
Pennsylvania
  Danville
 Geisinger Cancer Institute at Geisinger Health
 Edward J Gorak Ph: 570-271-5251
  Easton
 Easton Regional Cancer Center at Easton Hospital
 Rajen P Oza Ph: 610-250-4000
  Hazleton
 Geisinger Hazleton Cancer Center
 Edward J Gorak Ph: 570-271-5251
  Hershey
 Penn State Hershey Cancer Institute at Milton S. Hershey Medical Center
 Elliot M. Epner Ph: 717-531-3779
  Email: CTO@hmc.psu.edu
  Pittsburgh
 Western Pennsylvania Cancer Institute at Western Pennsylvania Hospital
 John Lister Ph: 412-578-5000
  Wilkes-Barre
 Frank M. and Dorothea Henry Cancer Center at Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center
 Edward J Gorak Ph: 570-271-5251
Texas
  Amarillo
 Harrington Cancer Center
 Stewart Allen Sharp Ph: 806-359-4673
  Email: ryokubaitis@harringtoncc.org
Vermont
  Berlin
 Mountainview Medical
 Emiliano N Mugnaini Ph: 802-656-8990
Washington
  Tacoma
 Madigan Army Medical Center - Tacoma
 Anthony J Fadell Ph: 253-968-0129
  Email: mamcdci@amedd.army.mil
West Virginia
  Morgantown
 Mary Babb Randolph Cancer Center at West Virginia University Hospitals
 Sayed M Hamadani Ph: 304-293-2745
  Email: sfilburn@hsc.wvu.edu
Wisconsin
  Marshfield
 Marshfield Clinic - Marshfield Center
 Ali W. Bseiso Ph: 715-389-4457
 Saint Joseph's Hospital
 Ali W. Bseiso Ph: 715-389-4457
  Minocqua
 Marshfield Clinic - Lakeland Center
 Ali W. Bseiso Ph: 715-389-4457
  Rhinelander
 Ministry Medical Group at Saint Mary's Hospital
 Ali W. Bseiso Ph: 715-389-4457
  Rice Lake
 Marshfield Clinic - Indianhead Center
 Ali W. Bseiso Ph: 715-389-4457
  Stevens Point
 Marshfield Clinic at Saint Michael's Hospital
 Ali W. Bseiso Ph: 715-389-4457
 Saint Michael's Hospital Cancer Center
 Ali W. Bseiso Ph: 715-389-4457
  Weston
 Diagnostic and Treatment Center
 Ali W. Bseiso Ph: 715-389-4457
 Marshfield Clinic - Weston Center
 Ali W. Bseiso Ph: 715-389-4457

Link to the current ClinicalTrials.gov record.
NLM Identifer NCT00118209
Information obtained from ClinicalTrials.gov on February 14, 2013

Note: Information about this trial is from the ClinicalTrials.gov database. The versions designated for health professionals and patients contain the same text. Minor changes may be made to the ClinicalTrials.gov record to standardize the names of study sponsors, sites, and contacts. Cancer.gov only lists sites that are recruiting patients for active trials, whereas ClinicalTrials.gov lists all sites for all trials. Questions and comments regarding the presented information should be directed to ClinicalTrials.gov.

Back to TopBack to Top