Combining radiation therapy and rituximab for treating early-stage follicular lymphoma

Randomized Trial of Radiation Therapy With and Without Rituximab for Patients With Stage I II Follicular Lymphoma Grade I/II

Phase1; Phase2 Interventional M.D. Anderson Cancer Center · NCT01473628

This study tests if adding rituximab to radiation therapy helps people with early-stage follicular lymphoma live longer without their cancer coming back.

Quick facts

PhasePhase1; Phase2
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment130 (estimated)
Ages18 Years and up
SexAll
SponsorM.D. Anderson Cancer Center Academic / other
Drugs / interventionsrituximab, radiation, Immunotherapy
Locations1 site (Houston, Texas)
Trial IDNCT01473628 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This clinical trial investigates the effectiveness of combining radiation therapy with rituximab in patients diagnosed with stage I-II grade 1 or grade 2 follicular lymphoma. Participants are randomly assigned to receive either radiation therapy alone or radiation therapy alongside rituximab, an immunotherapy drug. The primary goal is to assess whether the combination treatment improves progression-free survival compared to radiation alone. Patients will be monitored for several years after treatment to evaluate long-term outcomes.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates include newly diagnosed patients with stage I or II follicular lymphoma, confirmed to be grade 1 or 2.

Not a fit: Patients with advanced-stage follicular lymphoma or those with significant comorbidities may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could enhance treatment effectiveness and improve survival rates for patients with early-stage follicular lymphoma.

How similar studies have performed: Previous studies have shown promising results with similar combinations of radiation and immunotherapy, suggesting potential for success in this trial.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* Newly diagnosed patients with stage I and II follicular lymphoma, pathologically confirmed at MD Anderson Cancer Center (MDACC) to be grade 1 or 2
* Prophylactic use of lamivudine in patients that have antibody positive (+), but no active infection will be up to the treating physician
* Absolute neutrophil count (ANC) \>= 1000/mm\^3; this value must be obtained within four weeks before protocol entry
* Platelets \>= 80,000/mm\^3; this value must be obtained within four weeks before protocol entry
* Hemoglobin \>= 8 g/dL; this value must be obtained within four weeks before protocol entry
* Bilirubin =\< 1.5 times the upper limit of normal (ULN); this value must be obtained within four weeks before protocol entry
* Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) =\< 2 times the ULN or aspartate aminotransferase (AST) =\< 2 times the ULN; these values must be obtained within four weeks before protocol entry
* Performance status \>= 2
* Patients are required to have adequate renal function as indicated by a serum creatinine =\< 2.5 mg/dL; this value must be obtained within four weeks before protocol entry
* No prior known allergic reaction to monoclonal antibodies
* Male patients must agree to use a barrier method of contraception or agree to abstain from heterosexual activity for the duration of the study
* Female patients must be willing to use two adequate barrier methods of contraception to prevent pregnancy or agree to abstain from heterosexual activity throughout the study or be post menopausal (free from menses \> two years or surgically sterilized)
* Female patients of childbearing potential must have a negative serum pregnancy test (beta human chorionic gonadotropin \[B HCG\]) within 72 hours of receiving the first dose of rituximab
* Patients must have the ability able to give informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

* Patients with active hepatitis B and/or hepatitis C infection
* Patients with known human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection
* Patients with active infections requiring specific anti-infective therapy are not eligible until all signs of infections are resolved
* Patients who had previous radiation dose to the site of the current primary disease, which would lead to violation of known radiation tolerance limit of that particular site if treated again
* Patients with pre-existing cardiovascular disease requiring ongoing treatment; this includes: congestive heart failure III/IV as defined by New York Heart Association (NYHA); uncontrolled cardiac arrhythmia; unstable angina pectoris; and recent myocardial infarction (MI) (within 6 months)
* Patients who are pregnant or breast-feeding
* Patient with concurrent use of complementary or alternative medicines
* Patients with psychiatric illness and/or social situations that would limit compliance with the study medication and requirements

Where this trial is running

Houston, Texas

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Conditions Ann Arbor Stage I Grade 1 Follicular LymphomaAnn Arbor Stage I Grade 2 Follicular LymphomaAnn Arbor Stage II Grade 1 Follicular LymphomaAnn Arbor Stage II Grade 2 Follicular Lymphoma
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.