ClinicalTrials.gg
TerminatedNCT03422523ARGOUpdated Aug 22, 2022

Atezolizumab, Rituximab, Gemcitabine and Oxaliplatin in Patients With Relapsed or Refractory DLBCL Not Suitable for High-dose Therapy

A Phase 2 interventional study of Atezolizumab and Rituximab in Diffuse Large B Cell Lymphoma, Relapsed Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma and Refractory Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma, sponsored by University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust. Terminated at 1 site in United Kingdom. Open to participants aged 16 Years and older. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2022-08-22.

Sponsored by University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust · Phase 2, Interventional, and Treatment

Why this study was terminated
Failure to reach pre-specified futility boundary
Phase
Phase 2
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
53
Allocation
Randomized
Ages
16 Years and older
Sex
All
01

Study summary

This study evaluates the addition of Atezolizumab to current therapy of Rituximab, Gemcitabine and Oxaliplatin (R-GemOx) for patients with relapsed or refractory Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma (DLBCL) that are not candidates for high-dose therapy. All patients will receive one cycle of R-GemOx. Three quarters of patients (Arm B) will go on to have a further 5 cycles (every 14 days) of R-GemOx with Atezolizumab, with one quarter of patients (Arm A) continuing with 5 cycles of R-GemOx.

The patients in Arm B will continue to have Atezolizumab every 21 days for 8 cycles whilst Arm A patients will enter an observational phase during this time.

Follow up will begin at 12 months from initial treatment until month 32.

Read the detailed description

Rituximab is a chimeric mouse/human monoclonal antibody that binds to CD20, on pre-B and mature B lymphocytes and eliminates these cells potentially via a number of different mechanisms.

The R-GemOx regimen has been adopted by many sites internationally as therapy for older patients or comorbid patients with relapsed or refractory DLBCL and as a back-bone for the investigation of novel therapies in combination with chemotherapy.

The cytotoxic T-lymphocyte co-receptor PD-1 has been extensively studied and is recognised to provide critical inhibitory signals that down-regulate T-cell function and provides a mechanism for immune evasion for tumours. PD-L1, the ligand of PD-1 is expressed on DLBCL tumour cells, along with infiltrating non-malignant cells, primarily macrophages, with PD-1 expressed on tumour infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs). Atezolizumab targets programmed PD-L1 on immune and tumour cells and prevents interaction with either PD-1 receptor or B7.1 (CD80), both of which function as inhibitory receptors expressed on T cells. Interference of the PD-L1:PD-1 and PDL1:B7.1 interactions may enhance the magnitude and quality of the tumour-specific T-cell response through increased T-cell priming, expansion, and/or effector function.

This study of atezolizumab in combination with rituximab, gemcitabine and oxaliplatin aims to address the unmet need of patients with relapsed and refractory DLBCL. It is based upon a sound mechanistic approach, investigating the activity of novel agents and will aim to compressively explore biomarkers of response.

The primary objective will be to document the durability of anti-tumour activity in patients with relapsed or refractory DLBCL and to determine the safety and toxicity profile of the combination. A maintenance phase of atezolizumab has been added as this may induce an on-going T-cell response to neo-antigens released as a result of chemotherapy.

02

Conditions studied

  • Diffuse Large B Cell Lymphoma
  • Relapsed Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma
  • Refractory Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma

Keywords

  • Refractory
  • Relapsed
  • Hematological cancer
03

In context

Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse

1,868 studies on the registry are indexed under Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse; 355 are open to participants now.

This study's enrollment of 53 is above the median of 45 across 1,497 interventional studies indexed under Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse.

Browse Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse studies →

Lead sponsor

University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust is the lead sponsor of 150 studies on the registry; 35 are open to participants now.

Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.

04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
16 Years and older
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
No

Go through the criteria one by one — yes, no or not sure — and take the list to your doctor or the study team. Kept in this browser only.

Inclusion criteria

  • proven CD20 +ve diffuse large B-cell lymphoma with sufficient diagnostic material, obtained either at diagnosis or relapse (the latter is preferable) that is available to forward to the Haematological Diagnostic Service (HMDS) for gene expression profiling and central pathology review. (See screening procedure for details on requirements)
  • to, or relapsed following, or second-line treatments with rituximab concurrently with anthracycline or anthracenedione-based chemotherapy (etoposide or gemcitabine allowed if comorbid).

Refractory disease must fulfil one of the following:

  • Continuing partial response (PR) from termination of first-line treatment. It is strongly recommended the lymphoma be reconfirmed by biopsy however, if these procedures are deemed to be inappropriate, the CI may determine eligibility following review of the imaging results and disease history.
  • Continuing stable disease (SD) from termination of first-line treatment. Reconfirmation of the lymphoma by biopsy (preferred) is recommended but not mandatory.
  • Progressive disease (PD). Biopsy or reconfirmation of the lymphoma is recommended but not mandatory.

    o Not eligible for high-dose therapy with peripheral blood progenitor cell rescue at Investigator discretion as a result of:

  • Age
  • Co-morbidity
  • Previous HDT. Rationale to be clearly documented on eCRF and medical notes.

    • Baseline FDG-PET scans must demonstrate positive lesions compatible with CT defined anatomical tumour sites.
    • CT/PET scan showing at least:
  • 2 or more clearly demarcated lesions/nodes with a long axis >1.5cm and short axis ≥1.0cm OR
  • 1 clearly demarcated lesion/node with a long axis >2.0cm and short axis ≥1.0cm.

    • Resolution of toxicities from previous therapy to a grade that in the opinion of the investigator does not contraindicate study participation.
    • Patients aged 16 years or over.
    • Willingness to participate in appropriate pregnancy prevention measures.
  • Female patients who are fertile and of must have a negative serum or urine pregnancy test during screening (within 14 days prior to the start of trial treatment) and agree to use two highly effective forms of (oral, injected or implanted hormonal contraception and condom; an intra-uterine device and condom) effective from the first administration of all study drugs, throughout the trial and for 12 months after last dose of study therapy are considered eligible. Unless they are surgically sterile or ≥ 2 years after the onset of menopause.
  • Male patients with partners of child-bearing potential who agree to take measures not to father children by using one form of highly effective contraception (oral, injected or implanted hormonal contraception and condom; an intra-uterine device and condom) effective from the first administration of all study drugs, throughout the trial and for 12 months after last dose of study therapy are considered eligible. Male subjects must also refrain from donating sperm during this period. Unless they are surgically sterile.
  • Men with pregnant or lactating partners must be advised to use barrier method contraception (for example: condom plus spermicidal gel) to prevent exposure to the foetus or neonate

    • Written using current version of Protocol, Patient Information Sheet and Informed Consent Form.
    • performance status ≤3

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Received any of the following treatments within two weeks prior to start of study therapy (unless otherwise stated):

    • Anti-cancer cytotoxics (excluding )
    • Radiotherapy unless it is to a limited field to control life/organ-threatening symptoms.
  • DLBCL that is to or relapsed within 3 months of a gemcitabine regimen for DLBCL
  • Major surgery within 4 weeks of registration.
  • Treatment with any known non-marketed drug substance or experimental therapy within 5 terminal half-lives or 4 weeks prior to registration.
  • History of stroke or intracranial haemorrhage within 6 months prior to registration.
  • Pre-existing peripheral neuropathy grade >2.
  • cardiac disease including unstable angina, acute myocardial infarction within six months prior to registration, congestive heart failure ( III-IV), a current of \<40%
  • Significant concurrent, uncontrolled medical condition that in the opinion of the investigator contraindicates participation in this study
  • Known lymphoma involvement of the CNS.
  • Known or suspected to study treatments that in the opinion of the investigator contraindicates their participation. Patients with known history of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, organizing pneumonia (e.g., bronchiolitis obliterans), drug induced pneumonitis or idiopathic pneumonitis, or evidence of active pneumonitis will be excluded from study participation.
  • Known positivity; positive serology for Hep B (defined as positivity for surface antigen (HBsAg) or Hepatitis B core antibody (anti-HBc)) or C; chronic or current infectious disease (except evidence of prior vaccination).
  • Known active bacterial, viral, fungal, mycobacterial, parasitic, or other infection or any major episode of infection requiring treatment with IV antibiotics or hospitalization within 2 weeks of the start of Cycle 1. Suspected active or latent tuberculosis needs to be confirmed by positive interferon gamma (IFN-gamma) release assay.
  • Other past or current within 2 years prior to registration unless in the opinion of the investigator it does not contraindicate participation in the study. Subjects who have a history of completely resected non-melanoma skin cancer, or successfully treated in situ carcinoma, are eligible.
  • Screening laboratory values:
  • \<75x109/L (unless due to lymphoma involvement of the bone marrow)
  • neutrophils \<1.0x109/L (unless due to lymphoma involvement of the bone marrow)
  • creatinine >2.0 times upper normal limit (unless due to lymphoma or unless >60mL/min (should be calculated using Cockcroft and Gault equation))
  • total >1.5 times upper normal limit (unless due to lymphoma or a known history of Gilbert's disease, no higher than >3 times upper normal limit)
  • /AST >2.5 times upper normal limit (unless due to lymphoma, no higher than >5 times upper normal limit)
  • alkaline phosphatase >2.5 times upper normal limit (unless due to lymphoma, no higher than >5 times upper normal limit)
  • Subjects known or suspected of being unable to comply with the study protocol.
  • Pregnant or lactating women. Women of must have a negative pregnancy test at screening.
  • History of disease, including but not limited to myasthenia gravis, myositis, autoimmune hepatitis, systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, vascular thrombosis associated with antiphospholipid syndrome, Wegener's granulomatosis, Sjögren's syndrome, Guillain-Barré syndrome, multiple sclerosis, vasculitis, or glomerulonephritis (Patients with a history of autoimmune-related hypothyroidism on a stable dose of thyroid replacement hormone will be eligible as will be patients with controlled Type I diabetes mellitus on a stable dose of insulin). Patients with eczema, psoriasis, lichen simplex chronicus, or vitiligo with dermatologic manifestations only (e.g., patients with psoriatic arthritis are excluded) are eligible for the study provided all of following conditions are met:
  • Rash must cover \<10% of body surface area
  • Disease is well controlled at baseline and requires only low-potency topical corticosteroids
  • No occurrence of acute exacerbations of the underlying condition requiring psoralen plus ultraviolet A radiation, methotrexate, retinoids, biologic agents, oral calcineurin inhibitors, or high potency or oral corticosteroids within the previous 12 months
  • Patients who have previously undergone transplantation.
  • Vaccination with a within 28 days of study treatment or anticipation of need for such a vaccine during the course of the study and up to 5 months after the last dose of atezolizumab.
  • History of severe allergic anaphylactic reactions to chimeric, human or humanised antibodies, or fusion proteins.
  • Known hypersensitivity to CHO cell products or any component of the atezolizumab formulation.
Terms in these criteria, in plain language(23)

Underlined terms in the criteria open these too. Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.

Histologically or cytologically confirmed

The diagnosis was confirmed by looking at a sample under a microscope: tissue from a biopsy or surgery (histology), or cells from a fluid or needle sample (cytology).

Your pathology report is the document that shows this.

Cancer (malignancy)

Malignancy means cancer. Criteria about another or earlier malignancy ask whether you have had a different cancer, usually within a set number of years.

Some are commonly allowed, such as treated skin cancers other than melanoma and early cancers removed completely — check the exceptions this study lists.

Biopsy and archival tissue

A biopsy takes a small piece of tissue to examine. “Archival tissue” is a sample already taken, for example at diagnosis, and kept by the hospital.

Whether a stored sample will do depends on when it was taken, how much there is and what the study needs. Ask whether the study accepts your stored sample or needs a new biopsy.

Relapsed and refractory

Relapsed: the illness came back after treatment had worked. Refractory: it did not respond to treatment, or stopped responding while still on it.

Line of therapy

A line of therapy is one course of treatment, which may combine several drugs. First-line is the first course given; second-line follows when that stops working or is not tolerated.

“Two prior lines” means two courses that count separately under the study’s rules — not simply two drugs. Ask the study team if you are unsure how yours are counted.

Childbearing potential

Able to become pregnant: from the first period until menopause, unless permanently unable to through surgery (removal of the womb, or of both ovaries or both fallopian tubes).

Criteria for people of childbearing potential usually ask for a negative pregnancy test and for contraception during the study and for a time after it.

Contraception

Ways of preventing pregnancy. “Highly effective” methods fail less than 1% of the time a year when used correctly — for example an IUD or an implant.

Criteria usually say which methods count and how long to keep using them after the last dose, sometimes for male participants too. Some studies accept a partner’s vasectomy if it was confirmed successful and that person is the participant’s only sexual partner.

Informed consent

Before you join, the study team explains what taking part involves — its purpose, what happens, the risks and possible benefits — and answers your questions, so you can decide freely. Consent is usually recorded on a form (the informed consent form, ICF) signed by you or, where the law allows, by someone legally authorised to decide for you.

You can keep asking questions during the study, you are told of new information that matters, and you can choose to leave at any time.

ECOG performance status

A scale of how much an illness limits everyday activity. For people being assessed to join a study, scores run from 0 (fully active) to 4; lower is more active.

0
Fully active, no restrictions.
1
Limited in strenuous activity, but walking and able to do light work, such as housework or office work.
2
Walking and able to look after yourself, but unable to work; up and about more than half of waking hours.
3
Able to look after yourself only in part; in bed or a chair more than half of waking hours.
4
Unable to look after yourself at all; in bed or a chair all day.

Studies most often ask for 0–1 or 0–2. Your doctor gives the score; the WHO scale uses the same steps. The full scale also has 5, which records death.

Corticosteroids (steroids)

Anti-inflammatory medicines such as prednisone, prednisolone and dexamethasone — not the anabolic steroids used for muscle.

Studies differ in what they allow: check which steroid medicines, routes (tablets, injections, creams, inhalers, eye drops) and doses this study accepts.

Clinically significant

Judged by the study doctor to matter for your health or for the study. It is a doctor’s decision, so ask the study team if you are unsure whether something counts.

NYHA class (heart failure)

The New York Heart Association’s four classes of how much heart failure limits physical activity.

I
No limits: ordinary activity causes no undue tiredness or breathlessness.
II
Slight limits: comfortable at rest, ordinary activity causes symptoms.
III
Marked limits: comfortable at rest, less than ordinary activity causes symptoms.
IV
Symptoms even at rest; any activity makes them worse.

Studies set their own limit — many outside heart failure leave out class III–IV, while heart failure studies may ask for a particular class. Check the class this study names.

LVEF (left ventricular ejection fraction)

The share of blood the heart’s main pumping chamber (the left ventricle) pushes out with each beat, measured by an echocardiogram (heart ultrasound) or a MUGA scan. About 50–70% is normal.

Hypersensitivity

An allergy, or another reaction of the immune system, to a substance. “Hypersensitivity to the study drug” means a known allergic reaction to it — not every side effect a medicine can have.

HIV

The human immunodeficiency virus, which weakens the immune system.

Many studies now accept people whose HIV is controlled on treatment, judged by the viral load and the CD4 count. Check the limits this study sets.

Hepatitis B tests

Hepatitis B is a virus that infects the liver. These are separate tests: HBsAg positive usually means a current infection (a recent vaccination can briefly cause it too); total anti-HBc (HBcAb) positive means an infection now or in the past; HBV DNA measures how much virus is in the blood.

Some studies accept a past infection if HBV DNA is undetectable, sometimes with antiviral medicine during the study. Check what this study allows.

Platelets

Blood cells that help blood clot. Too few raises the risk of bleeding and bruising. A usual adult range is about 150–400 × 10⁹/L (150,000–400,000 per µL); each lab has its own reference range.

Creatinine clearance (CrCl)

How quickly the kidneys clear creatinine, a waste product, from the blood. A study may estimate it from a blood test with age, weight and sex (often by the Cockcroft–Gault formula), or measure it using blood and urine collected over a set time. Given in mL/min; higher is better.

Bilirubin

A yellow substance made when red blood cells are broken down, which the liver clears. A high level can mean a problem with the liver or the bile ducts.

Criteria often allow more for people with Gilbert’s syndrome, a harmless inherited condition that raises bilirubin.

ALT and AST (liver enzymes)

Two enzymes measured in a routine blood test of the liver. Higher levels can mean the liver is under strain or damaged. SGPT and SGOT are older names for ALT and AST.

Criteria usually give a limit as a multiple of the upper limit of normal (ULN), often higher when cancer has spread to the liver.

Autoimmune disease

A condition in which the immune system attacks the body’s own tissues, such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, psoriasis, type 1 diabetes or inflammatory bowel disease.

Immunotherapy studies often leave out active autoimmune disease, and some name exceptions, such as thyroid disease on replacement hormone. Check the exceptions this study lists.

Allogeneic and autologous transplant

Stem cell (bone marrow) transplants. Allogeneic uses cells from a donor; autologous uses your own cells, collected earlier and given back.

Live vaccines

Vaccines made with a weakened form of the germ, such as measles–mumps–rubella (MMR), chickenpox and yellow fever. They can be risky when the immune system is weakened. Flu injections are not live; the nasal flu spray is.

05

Study design

Phase
Phase 2
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention model
Parallel assignment
Masking
None (open label)
Enrollment
53 participants (actual)

Study arms

  • Active comparator
    Arm A Control

    6 Cycles of R-GemOx (Rituximab, Gemcitabine and Oxaliplatin) every 14 days.

    Drug: Rituximab · Drug: Gemcitabine 1000 mg · Drug: Oxaliplatin 100 MG

  • Experimental
    Arm B Experimental

    1 Cycle of R-GemOx (Rituximab, Gemcitabine and Oxaliplatin) followed by 5 cycles of R-GemOx with Atezolizumab every 14 days. Followed by 8 maintenance cycles of Atezolizumab every 21 days.

    Drug: Atezolizumab · Drug: Rituximab · Drug: Gemcitabine 1000 mg · Drug: Oxaliplatin 100 MG

Interventions

06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Progression free survival

    Progression free survival will be measured from patient notes, from the day of registration to the date of progression or death from any cause. Patients who do not die will be censored at their date of last follow up.

    Time frame: From date of registration until the date of first documented progression or date of death from any cause, whichever came first, up to follow up at month 36.

Secondary outcomes

  1. AE's reported and graded according to National Cancer Institute (NCI) Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) for R-GemOx-Atezo

    Determining the toxicity and causality of each adverse event with R-GemOx-Atezo.

    Time frame: At all visits from baseline to follow up month 36

  2. Lugano classification lymphoma response criteria (LYRIC) to PET/CT

    Objective response, partial or complete metabolic response, to be assessed by PET / CT according to LYRIC.

    Time frame: Baseline and cycle 3 day 8, cycle 3 day 8 and week 42, week 42 and 12 month follow up, 12 month follow up and 24 month follow up

  3. Overall survival

    Overall survival will be measured from patient notes, from the day of registration to the date of death from any cause. Patients who do not die will be censored at their date of last follow up.

    Time frame: From date of registration until the date of first documented progression or date of death from any cause, whichever came first, up to follow up at month 36.

Other outcomes

  1. Whole transcriptome profiling

    Gene expression profiling on FFPE tumour material

    Time frame: Baseline

  2. Double staining techniques

    immunohistochemical analysis of primary tumour material

    Time frame: Baseline

  3. Flow Cytometry

    flow cytometry of t-cells in peripheral blood collected during therapy

    Time frame: day 1 of cycles 1, 2, 3, and 5, week 15, day 1 of weeks 17, 23, 29, 35 and 42 only

  4. Genes of NGS DLBCL mutation panel

    Application genes of NGS DLBCL mutation panel of 54 genes to tumour material

    Time frame: Baseline

  5. Fluorescence in situ Hybridization (FISH) analysis

    Examine translocations of Myc, Bcl6 and Bcl2 by FISH

    Time frame: Baseline

  6. Immunohistochemical analysis for dual protein expression

    Immunohistochemical analysis for dual protein expression on Myc and Bcl2

    Time frame: Baseline

  7. cfDNA molecular analysis

    Plasma lymphoma nucleic acid at baseline studied and compared with paired lymphoma tissue sample and repeated throughout study period to examine dynamics of change and possible assessment of minimal residual disease, depending upon responses observed

    Time frame: baseline, cycle 2 day 1, cycle 3 day 1, cycle 5 day 1, week 15, day 1 week 29, day 1 week 38 and follow up months 12, 16, 20, 24, 30 and 36.

07

Study locations

1 site
  • The Christie NHS Foundation Trust
    Manchester, M20 4BX, United Kingdom
08

References and documents

Individual participant data

Plan to share: Undecided

No publications or documents are linked to this record.

09

Updates

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Aug 22, 2022, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
10

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT03422523
Collaborators
Hoffmann-La Roche
Responsible party
Sponsor
First posted
Feb 5, 2018
Start date
May 9, 2018
Primary completion
Jan 31, 2021
Completion
Nov 18, 2021
Last update
Aug 22, 2022

Study contacts

Andy Davies
principal investigator · Southampton University

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
Yes
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

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