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Treatment with Prednisone and Vitamin D for Elderly Patients with Lymphoma

Prephase Treatment With Prednisone +/- Vitamin D Supplementation Followed by Immunochemotherapy in Elderly Patients With Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma (DLBCL) A Randomized, Open Label, Phase III Study by Fondazione Italiana Linfomi.

Phase 3 Interventional Fondazione Italiana Linfomi - ETS · NCT04442412

This study is testing if adding Vitamin D to the usual treatment with prednisone helps older patients with lymphoma do better during their cancer treatment.

Quick facts

PhasePhase 3
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment430 (estimated)
Ages65 Years and up
SexAll
SponsorFondazione Italiana Linfomi - ETS Academic / other
Drugs / interventionsrituximab, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, radiation, prednisone
Locations49 sites (Brescia, BS and 48 other locations)
Trial IDNCT04442412 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This open-label, multicenter, randomized phase III trial aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a prephase treatment with oral prednisone and Vitamin D supplementation followed by immunochemotherapy in elderly patients diagnosed with Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma. Patients will be randomly assigned to either a standard treatment arm receiving prednisone alone or an experimental arm receiving both prednisone and Vitamin D. The study will assess the impact of Vitamin D on treatment outcomes during six cycles of immunochemotherapy with R-CHOP or R-miniCHOP. Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment will guide treatment decisions, particularly for frail patients.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates are elderly patients aged 65 and older with a confirmed diagnosis of Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma or Follicular grade IIIb lymphoma.

Not a fit: Patients who have previously received treatment for lymphoma or have significantly elevated Vitamin D levels may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could improve treatment outcomes and overall health for elderly patients with lymphoma.

How similar studies have performed: While the specific combination of prednisone and Vitamin D in this context is novel, previous studies have shown promising results with Vitamin D supplementation in cancer treatment.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria 
Inclusion criteria

1. Histologically documented diagnosis of Diffuse Large B-cell Lymphoma or Follicular grade IIIb lymphoma, as defined in the 2017 edition of the World Health Organization (WHO) classification.
2. Age ≥ 65 years
3. Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment performed at baseline, before start of any treatment.
4. Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status (PS) ≤3
5. Eligibility for anthracycline containing regimen (R-CHOP or R-miniCHOP)
6. No previous treatment for DLBCL or Follicular grade IIIb lymphoma
7. Ann Arbor stage I-IV
8. At least one site of measurable nodal disease at baseline ≥ 1.5 cm in the longest transverse diameter as determined by CT scan ; or one metabolic active site of disease at baseline FDG-PET scan
9. Serum basic levels of Vitamin D \[25 (OH) VitD\] ≤ 40 ng / ml;
10. Adequate hematological counts defined as follows:

    * Absolute Neutrophil count \> 1.5 x 109/L unless due to bone marrow involvement by lymphoma
    * Platelet count ≥ 80.000/mm3 unless due to bone marrow involvement by lymphoma
11. Adequate renal function defined as follows:

    \- Creatinine ≤ 2 mg/dL, unless secondary to lymphoma
12. Adequate hepatic function defined as follows:

    \- Bilirubin ≤ 2 mg/dL unless secondary to lymphoma
13. LVEF \> 50% at bidimensionally echocardiogram
14. Life expectancy ≥ 6 months
15. Subject understands and voluntarily signs an informed consent form approved by an Independent Ethics Committee , prior to the initiation of any screening or study-specific procedures
16. Subject must be able to adhere to the study visit schedule and other protocol requirements
17. Men must agree to use one of the below reported acceptable method of contraception for the duration of the study and for 3 months after receiving the last dose of immunochemotherapy, and to not donate sperm while on study.

Exclusion criteria

1. Histological diagnosis different from Diffuse large B-Cell Lymphoma or Follicular grade IIIb lymphoma, including diagnosis of HGBL, with rearrangement of MYC, BCL2 and/or BCL6 (double-hit)
2. Use of VitD supplementation as standard of care at dose higher than 10,000 U/week
3. Suspect or clinical evidence of CNS involvement by lymphoma
4. Contraindication to the use of rituximab
5. Contraindication to the use of VitD supplementation (Hypercalcemia/Hyperphosphatemia)
6. Subject has received any anti-cancer therapy including chemotherapy, immunotherapy, radiotherapy, investigational therapy, including targeted small molecule agents within 14 days prior to the first dose of study drug
7. Significant history of neurologic, psychiatric, endocrinological, metabolic, immunologic, or hepatic disease that would preclude participation in the study or compromise ability to give informed consent
8. Any history of other active malignancies within 2 years prior to study entry, with the exception of adequately treated in situ carcinoma of the cervix uterine, basal cell carcinoma of the skin or localized squamous cell carcinoma of the skin or limited stage surgically removed breast cancer or adequately treated with radiation therapy or limited stage prostate carcinoma surgically removed or adequately treated with radiation therapy or previous malignancy confined and surgically resected with curative intent
9. Evidence of other clinically significant uncontrolled condition including, but not limited to:

   * Uncontrolled and/or active systemic infection (viral, bacterial or fungal)
   * Chronic hepatitis B virus or hepatitis C requiring treatment.

Where this trial is running

Brescia, BS and 48 other locations

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.
View on ClinicalTrials.gov → Find more trials like this →
Conditions Diffuse Large B-Cell LymphomaElderly PatientsVitamin Dprednisone +/- Vitamin D supplementationrandomized, open label, phase III
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.