Biomarker Driven Intensified ChemoImmunotherapy With Early CNS Prophylaxis
Biomarker Driven Intensified ChemoImmunotherapy With Early CNS Prophylaxis
This study is testing whether stratification of the patients according to biological risk
 factors for different treatment groups will improve the outcome of patients with clinically
 high diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL).
For young clinically high-risk diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) patients the optimal
 therapy has not been established. Previous Nordic phase II studies, where dose-dense
 chemoimmunotherapy (R-CHOEP-14) with systemic CNS prophylaxis (HD-Mtx and HD-AraC) was given,
 demonstrated favorable outcome in comparison to historical controls. However, the patients
 with biological risk factors, such as translocation of bcl2 and myc oncogenes or and/or high
 BCL2 and MYC expression or deletion 17p and/or high P53 expression had significantly higher
 risk of death, as compared to patients without aberrations. The figures provide evidence for
 an unmet clinical need for the patients with biological risk factors, and underscore the
 importance of a clinical trial, where both biological and clinical risk factors play a role
 in the treatment planning.

 In this trial treatment intensity varies according to presence or absence of biological risk
 factors. All patients receive a prephase medication consisting of prednisone and vincristine
 and two cycles of R-CHOP and high dose (HD) methotrexate. Subsequently, depending on the
 biological risk factors either four additional cycles of R-CHOEP (standard arm with no risk
 factors) or four dose adjusted R-EPOCH courses (experimental arm with risk factors) are
 given, followed by one course of high dose cytarabine (Ara-C) and R. R-CHOEP courses should
 be given with a two-week and R-EPOCH with a three-week interval.
Inclusion Criteria:

 -  Age 18 - 64 years

 -  Histologically confirmed CD20+ DLBCL based on revised WHO 2008 Lymphoma
 Classification. The following subgroups and variants can be included:

 -  ALK-positive large B-cell lymphoma

 -  Intravascular large B-cell lymphoma

 -  T-cell rich B-cell lymphoma

 -  Myc/BCL-2 double hit lymphoma

 -  Follicular lymphomas grade 3b

 -  DLBCL with previously undiagnosed concurrent small cell infiltration in bone
 marrow, lymph node, or extranodal site and lymphomas intermediate between DLBCL
 and Burkitt's lymphoma are allowed

 -  Posttransplantation lymphoma (PTLD), discordant or transformed lymphoma are NOT
 allowed

 -  Patients in at least stage II with age adjusted IPI score of 2 or 3:

 -  Stage III /IV and elevated LDH

 -  Stage III/IV and WHO performance status 2 - 3

 -  Stage II and elevated LDH and WHO performance status 2 - 3

 -  And/or patients with site specific risk factors for CNS recurrence defined as follows

 -  More than one extranodal site

 -  Testicular lymphoma, stage IIE and higher

 -  Paranasal sinus and orbital lymphoma with destruction of bone

 -  Large cell lymphoma infiltration of the bone marrow

 -  Previously untreated, except steroids allowed

 -  WHO performance status 0-3

 -  Written informed consent

 Exclusion Criteria:

 -  Severe cardiac disease: cardiac function grade 3-4, left ventricular ejection fraction
 <45%

 -  Impaired bone marrow liver, renal or other organ function not caused by lymphoma,
 which will interfere with the treatment schedule (Hemoglobin < 9 g/dL, ANC < 1.5 ×
 109/L, Platelet count < 75 × 109/L, creatinine clearance < 40 mL/min, ALT/AST > 2.5 x
 ULN, bilirubin 1.5 x ULN, INR > 1.5)

 -  Pregnancy/lactation

 -  Men and women of reproductive potential not agreeing to use effective contraception
 during treatment and for 18 months after completion of treatment (Effective
 contraception is combined (estrogen and progestogen containing) hormonal contraception
 associated with inhibition of ovulation (oral, intravaginal or transdermal),
 progestogen-only hormonal contraception associated with inhibition of ovulation (oral,
 injectable or implantable), intrauterine device (IUD), hormone-releasing IUD,
 bilateral tubal occlusion, vasectomised partner, or sexual abstinence

 -  Patients with other severe medical problems, including active infections, cardiac or
 pulmonary disease, history of PML and with an expected short survival for non-lymphoma
 reasons

 -  Known HIV positivity

 -  Active or chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection (defined as positive HBsAg
 serology), or active hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection (defined by antibody serology
 testing). HBsAg, HBcAb, and HCVAb must be tested during screening. Patients who have
 protective titers of HBsAb along negative HBsAg after vaccination or prior but cured
 hepatitis B are eligible.

 -  Vaccination with a live vaccine within one month prior to randomization

 -  Patients with a malignancy that has been treated but not with curative intent, unless
 the malignancy has been in remission without treatment for ≥ 5 years prior to
 enrollment

 -  Earlier treatment containing anthracyclines

 -  Psychiatric or mental disorder which make the patient unable to give an informed
 consent and/or adhere to the protocol

 -  CNS disease as diagnosed by MRI or CSF cytology. Positive CSF flow cytometry below
 diagnostic threshold level by cytology is allowed

 -  Transformed lymphoma

 -  Primary mediastinal B-cell lymphoma

 -  Pleural or peritoneal fluid that cannot be drained safely

 -  Hypersensitivity to the active substance or any of the other ingredients

 -  History of severe allergic or anaphylactic reactions to humanized or murine monoclonal
 antibodies or known sensitivity or allergy to murine products

 -  Patients participating in other clinical studies, unless followed for survival

 -  Lower urinary tract constriction, which cannot be treated adequately

 -  Degenerative and toxic encephalopathy

 -  Neuromuscular disease