Treatment for CD30 Positive Diffuse Large B-cell Lymphoma Patients Who Didn't Respond to Initial Chemotherapy

Phase I-II Study Combining Brentuximab Vedotin With Second Line Salvage Chemotherapy (R-DHAP) in CD30 Positive Diffuse Large B-cell Lymphoma Patients Refractory to First Line Chemotherapy or in First Relapse Who Are Eligible for High Dose Treatment Followed by Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation

Phase1; Phase2 Interventional Stichting Hemato-Oncologie voor Volwassenen Nederland · NCT03356054

This study is testing a new treatment combining brentuximab vedotin and chemotherapy for patients with CD30 positive diffuse large B-cell lymphoma who didn't respond to their first chemotherapy, to see if it can improve their chances of recovery.

Quick facts

PhasePhase1; Phase2
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment37 (estimated)
Ages18 Years and up
SexAll
SponsorStichting Hemato-Oncologie voor Volwassenen Nederland Academic / other
Drugs / interventionsbrentuximab, chemotherapy, Radiation
Locations1 site (Rotterdam)
Trial IDNCT03356054 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This clinical trial focuses on patients with CD30 positive diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) who are either refractory to first-line chemotherapy or experiencing their first relapse. Participants will receive a combination of brentuximab vedotin and R-DHAP chemotherapy, followed by high-dose chemotherapy and autologous stem cell transplantation for those who respond positively. The study aims to improve the prognosis for these patients, who currently have limited treatment options and poor long-term survival rates. The treatment regimen will last approximately 16 weeks, with follow-up extending up to five years.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates include adults with CD30 positive DLBCL who are refractory to or in their first relapse after R-CHOP or R-CHOP-like therapy.

Not a fit: Patients with CD30 negative DLBCL or those who have not undergone first-line chemotherapy may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this treatment could significantly improve survival rates for patients with CD30 positive DLBCL who have limited options after initial chemotherapy.

How similar studies have performed: Previous studies have shown that brentuximab vedotin is effective in treating relapse CD30 positive DLBCL, suggesting potential success for this combination approach.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* CD30 positive DLBCL, i.e. more than 1% of DLBCL cells CD30 positive(central pathology review results not required to enter patient into the study), according to the WHO classification 2008:

  * CD30 positive DLBCL, including EBV positive DLBCL
  * CD30 positive primary mediastinal B-cell lymphoma
* Primary refractory to or in first relapse after first line therapy with R-CHOP or R-CHOP-like therapy

  * Relapse is defined as biopsy confirmed CD30 positive DLBCL after a complete response. The relapse must be histologically confirmed. In case a surgical biopsy is not possible, at least confirmation by FNA biopsy is required
  * Refractory disease is defined as:

    1. progressive disease during first line therapy, In this case biopsy confirmation of CD30 positive DLBCL is preferred but not required
    2. stable disease after at least 3 cycles of first line therapy, In this case biopsy confirmation of CD30 positive DLBCL is preferred but not required
    3. PR after at least 6 cycles of first line therapy, or in the case of stage I-II disease after at least 3 cycles of therapy and definitive involved field radiotherapy. In this case refractory disease must be histologically confirmed
* Age ≥ 18 years (upper age limit for ASCT at the discretion of the participating center)
* Measurable disease: on CT scan at least 1 lesion/node with a long axis of \> 1.5 cm and at least one positive lesion on 18F-FDG PET scan
* WHO performance status 0-2, status 3 only if disease related (see appendix C)
* Adequate hepatic function: total bilirubin ≤ 1.5 times ULN (unless due to lymphoma involvement of the liver or a known history of Gilbert's syndrome as defined by \> 80% unconjugated bilirubin) and ALAT/ASAT ≤ 3 times ULN (unless due to lymphoma involvement of the liver; in that case ALAT/ASAT may be elevated up to 5 times ULN)
* Adequate renal function: GFR \> 60 ml/min as estimated by the Cockroft\&Gault formula at rehydration: CrCL = (140-age \[in years\] x weight \[kg\] (x 0.85 for females) / (0.815 x serum creatinine \[μmol/L\])
* Adequate bone marrow function: Absolute neutrophil count (ANC) ≥ 1.5x109/L and platelet count ≥ 100 x 109/L, unless caused by diffuse bone marrow infiltration by the NHL
* Hemoglobin must be ≥ 8 g/dL (5.0 mmol/L), transfusion is allowed
* Eligible for high-dose chemotherapy and ASCT
* Resolution of relevant toxicities from first-line therapy
* Life expectancy of \> 3 months with treatment
* Negative pregnancy test at study entry, if applicable
* Female patient is either post-menopausal for at least 1 year before screening visit or surgically sterile or if of childbearing potential, agrees to practice 2 effective methods of contraception, at the same time, or agrees to completely abstain from heterosexual intercourse, from the time of signing the informed consent through 12 months after the last dose of study drug
* Male patients, even if surgically sterilized, (i.e. status post vasectomy) agree to practice effective barrier contraception, or agrees to completely abstain from heterosexual intercourse, during the entire study period and through 12 months after the last dose of study drug
* Written informed consent
* Patient is capable of giving informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

* Peripheral sensory or motor neuropathy grade ≥ 2
* Known cerebral or meningeal disease (NHL or any other etiology), including signs and symptoms of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML)
* Symptomatic neurological disease compromising normal activities of daily living or requiring medications
* Transformed lymphoma
* DLBCL after organ transplantation
* Immunodeficiency-associated B-cell lymphoproliferative disease
* Use of other investigational agents within at least 5 half-lives of the most recent agent used prior to study entry
* Treatment with myelosuppressive chemotherapy or biological therapy ≤ 4 weeks before study entry
* Female patients who are breast feeding
* History of another malignancy less than 3 years before study inclusion, or previously diagnosed with another malignancy and have evidence of residual disease, with the exception of non-melanoma skin cancer, completely resected melanoma TNMpT1 and carcinoma in situ of the uterine cervix
* Known hypersensitivity to recombinant proteins, murine proteins, or to any excipient contained in the drug formulation of brentuximab vedotin
* Active hepatitis B or C infection as defined by positive serology and transaminitis. Non-active hepatitis B carriers or anti-HBc positive patients may be included if protected with lamuvidine or entecavir (see 9.4)
* HIV positivity
* Radiation therapy within 8 weeks prior to start of protocol treatment. Emergency radiation therapy is allowed, as long as measurable disease (at non-irradiated sites) persists
* Patients with a serious psychiatric disorder that could, in the investigator's opinion, potentially interfere with the completion of treatment according to protocol
* Major organ dysfunction, unless NHL-related
* Patients who have any severe and/or uncontrolled medical condition or other conditions that could affect their participation in the study such as:

  * Known history of symptomatic congestive heart failure (NYHA III, IV, appendix E), myocardial infarction ≤ 6 months prior to first study drug
  * Evidence of current serious uncontrolled cardiac arrhythmia, angina pectoris, electrocardiographic evidence of acute ischemia or active conduction system abnormalities
  * Recent evidence (within 6 months before first dose of study drug) of a left-ventricular ejection fraction \<45%
  * Severely impaired pulmonary function as defined as spirometry and DLCO (diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide) that is 50% or less of the normal predicted value and/or O2 saturation that is 90% or less at rest on room air
* Thyroid abnormalities when thyroid function cannot be maintained in the normal range by medication
* Current participation in another clinical trial interfering with this trial
* Any psychological, familial, sociological and geographical condition potentially hampering compliance with the study protocol and follow-up schedule
* Claustrophobia to the extent that PET-CT is impossible

Where this trial is running

Rotterdam

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 DLBCL
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.