What the trial was testing
The trial enrolled 181 patients with lymphoma. The study was sponsored by Pharmacyclics LLC. and tracked outcomes across the full group of patients who matched the trial's eligibility profile.
It was a large trial designed to confirm whether the treatment works well enough for wider use. Trials at this stage are designed to produce evidence regulators and physicians can act on — not just observations to follow up later.
What the results showed
82% disease-free rate at 2.5 years with the two-drug combination versus 28% with rituximab alone.
The New England journal of medicine · 2018 · NCT02165397
These findings — that 82% of patients had no disease progression at 2.5 years with the combination treatment. — were published in the The New England journal of medicine and represent the headline result of the study.
Researchers tracked outcomes across 181 patients enrolled in the trial. The result was consistent enough across the group that the team felt confident reporting it.
What this means for patients
For patients with lymphoma, this result changes the calculus on what to ask their care team about. Whether it changes day-to-day care depends on factors like disease subtype, prior treatments, and where the patient is in their care journey.
What you can do now
This treatment significantly improved survival without disease progression in Waldenström's macroglobulinemia, a rare blood cancer. The combination worked for both newly diagnosed and previously treated patients. It's important to know that heart rhythm problems and high blood pressure occurred more often with this treatment, so your doctor will monitor you closely.
Eligibility for the treatments mentioned above depends on specific test results and clinical history. Bring this summary, the trial name, and your most recent labs or pathology report to your next visit.
Open lymphoma trials
Study on Predicting Response to Standard First-Line Treatment in Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma (DLBCL) Patients Using ctDNA Combined With PET
This is a prospective, multicenter, multi-cohort study of ctDNA combined with PET for predicting the efficacy of standard first-line therapy for patients with newly diagnosed diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL).
CalPeg for Newly Diagnosed Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL)
The purpose of the study is to evaluate the safety and tolerability of the study drug, calaspargase pegol, when given with multi-agent chemotherapy.