Research to make sure young people with lymphoma get the right amount of chemotherapy

A large trial at UCLH is looking to optimise chemotherapy for young people with nodular lymphocyte predominant Hodgkin lymphoma (NLPHL).

Treatment for NLPHL often works very well. But treatment can involve intensive chemotherapy, which can be tough on the body. Evidence has shown that this intensive treatment does not reduce recurrence of the cancer, and can lead to problems later in life, including heart problems and second cancers in later life.

Researchers on the Euronet PHL LP-1 trial led in the UK by UCLH paediatric oncologist Dr Ananth Shankar believe more targeted treatment will reduce long term side effects of the toxicities linked with intensive chemotherapy – while still successfully clearing the cancer.

Dr Shankar said: “We want to apply the Goldilocks principle – finding what is just right for each patient. We want to be able to offer personalised treatment for our patients: intensive chemotherapy for the small minority who would benefit, and sparing the majority,  who do not require such intensive treatment programs.”

The trial will seek to find out whether young people with NLPHL who have had all their lymphoma removed by surgery need to have chemotherapy, and whether those with lymphoma remaining after surgery can safely have less chemotherapy than they would commonly get.

All trial participants will be carefully monitored during the trial.

The trial is the first international trial in children and young adults with early stage  disease – with research centres taking part from the UK, Europe, the US, Ireland, and Australia. Participants have been enrolled from all paediatric oncology centres in the UK and Republic of Ireland.

The trial is funded by Cancer Research UK and was featured in the Mail on Sunday yesterday. The study has completed recruitment so is currently closed to recruitment.