What the trial was testing
The trial enrolled 66 patients with lymphoma. The study was sponsored by MorphoSys and tracked outcomes across the full group of patients who matched the trial's eligibility profile.
It was an early-stage trial — researchers are still confirming safety and getting an early look at how well the treatment works. 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
97% remained cancer-free at 2 years if tumor DNA was undetectable after treatment.
Journal of Clinical Oncology · 2025 · NCT04134936
These findings — that cancer-free at 2 years if circulating tumor DNA was undetectable at end of treatment — were published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology and represent the headline result of the study.
Researchers tracked outcomes across 66 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
Ultra-sensitive tumor DNA (ctDNA) testing for lymphoma is increasingly available at major academic cancer centers and through some commercial labs. The PhasED-Seq method is FDA-cleared for some applications. Ask your hematologic oncologist about whether ctDNA testing is appropriate after treatment.
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.