An observational study in PCNSL, sponsored by IRCCS San Raffaele. Active, not recruiting at 1 site in Italy. Open to participants aged 18 Years to 80 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-02-03.
Sponsored by IRCCS San Raffaele · Observational
PCNSL is a rare and aggressive subtype of B lymphoma that has been recognized as a distinct disease entity in the latest edition of the WHO Classification of Tumors of Haematopoietic and Lymphoid Tissue and is defined as DLBCL that develops exclusively in the brain parenchyma, spinal cord, leptomeninges and eye. In patients under 70 years of age without severe comorbidities, first-line treatment with induction chemo-immunotherapy according to the MATRix scheme (Methotrexate, Cytarabine, Tiothepa, Rituximab) and subsequent consolidation with HDCT followed by ASCT achieved the best results in terms of PFS and OS. Data on patients enrolled in a randomized phase 2 study showed an OS of 70% at a median FU of 88 months. In patients> 70 years of age or with low KPS, the prognosis remains significantly lower in the younger population. Several population studies have shown a stable increase over the past 30 years in terms of PFS and OS in patients aged under 70 years, while in patients over 70 years or with KPS \<70%, the survival curves are not satisfactory. in part because these patients are often referred to BSC alone, despite the benefit in PFS and OS demonstrated with HD-MTX-based treatments (≥1 g / m2) combined with oral alkylating agents or cytarabine in high doses.
Historically, HDCT followed by ASCT has not been considered a feasible option for elderly patients, although recent data collected in the "real life" setting and a pilot study conducted in Germany demonstrate that maintenance of the dose intensity of HD-MTX and treatment completion with HDCT / ASCT-based consolidation are similar to those in clinical studies. However, 20 to 50% of newly diagnosed PCNSL patients do not achieve a complete response with currently available treatment regimens, highlighting the need for improved induction strategies. Furthermore, even after a complete response, patients with PCNSL may experience relapse, especially in the elderly. First-line treatment failure usually occurs (70-75% of cases) within the first two years and the prognosis of this population is extremely poor as demonstrated in a retrospective study of more than 250 patients with PCNSL R / R who reported median PFS and OS at first relapse / progression of 2.2 and 3.5 months, respectively. Similar results have also been highlighted in several prospective studies in which the PFS and OS curves are equivalent. There is currently no standard of treatment for the treatment of patients with PCNSL R/R. Data extrapolated from the long-term FU of a randomized phase 2 trial suggests that patients with relapses more than 36 months after the end of first-line methotrexate-based immuno-chemotherapy could benefit from a rechallenge with the same treatment. On the other hand, for patients refractory or with relapses within 36 months or not eligible for HD-MTX, the best therapeutic choice is represented by enrollment in a clinical trial. In the absence of this option, the therapeutic choice is based on the experience of phase 2 studies.
IRCCS San Raffaele is the lead sponsor of 443 studies on the registry; 234 are open to participants now.
Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.
Adult patients diagnosed with relapsed or refractory PCNSL who in the period between August 2020 and May 2022 were candidates for treatment with ibrutinib alone or in combination with R-CHOP or R-CHOP like (in compassionate use, or off- label).
Exclusion Criteria:
Adult patients diagnosed with relapsed or refractory PCNSL who in the period between August 2020 and May 2022 were candidates for treatment with ibrutinib alone or in combination with R-CHOP or R-CHOP like (in compassionate use, or off- label).
Drug: Ibrutinib
ibrutinib alone or in combination with R-CHOP or R-CHOP like
To evaluate the efficacy in terms of overall rate of responses in patients treatment
To evaluate the efficacy in terms of overall rate of responses to treatment (ORR = sum of complete responses \[CR\] + partial responses \[PR\]) according to the IPCG 2005 criteria in a retrospective cohort of patients with relapsed / refractory PCNSL undergoing treatment with ibrutinib given as monotherapy or in combination with R-CHOP immuno-chemotherapy.
Time frame: 6MONTH
Evaluate the effectiveness in terms of overall survival (OS);
Evaluate the overall survival (OS) after the treatment
Time frame: 6MONTH
Evaluate the effectiveness in terms of progression-free survival (PFS);
Verify the no progression of the lymphoma after the treatment
Time frame: 6MONTH
Verification of the safety of the ibrutinib monotherapy and in combination with R-CHOP
To evaluate the safety of ibrutinib administered alone and in combination with R-CHOP in the PCNSL R / R patient population;
Time frame: 6MONTH
To evaluate the role of consolidation therapy with high-dose chemotherapy
To evaluate the role of consolidation therapy with high-dose chemotherapy and autologous transplant or radiotherapy (ASCT or RT) and of ibrutinib maintenance therapy;
Time frame: 6MONTH
Frequency of invasive fungal infections after prophylactic antifungal therapy
Assess the frequency of invasive fungal infections and the effectiveness of prophylactic antifungal therapy in the patients treated with R-CHOP
Time frame: 6MONTH
Plan to share: Undecided
This study is active, not recruiting, as verified in Jan 2026. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.
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IRCCS San Raffaele