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What is lymphoma?
Lymphoma is cancer of lymphocytes, the white blood cells of the immune system, usually starting in lymph nodes, the spleen, or bone marrow. It most often shows up as painless swollen lymph nodes, sometimes with fevers, night sweats, weight loss, or fatigue. Doctors divide it into two families. Hodgkin lymphoma, identified by a distinctive cell under the microscope, is most common in young adults and people over 60 and is among the most curable cancers. Non-Hodgkin lymphoma covers dozens of types, most arising from B cells, ranging from fast growing ones that need treatment right away to slow growing ones that may be watched for years. Treatment depends on the type and includes chemotherapy, antibodies, radiation, targeted pills, CAR T cells, and bispecific antibodies.
New to research? Read how clinical trials for cancer work.
Types of lymphoma clinical trials
CAR T and cellular trials. Engineered immune cells for relapsed lymphomas, including targets beyond CD19; see CAR T cell therapy.
Bispecific antibody trials. Antibodies linking T cells to lymphoma cells, moving into earlier treatment.
Hodgkin lymphoma trials. Immunotherapy with chemotherapy, and lower toxicity regimens for young patients.
T-cell lymphoma trials. New drugs for rarer T-cell types with fewer approved options.
Pediatric trials. Studies in children and young adults, often through national cooperative groups.
Who can participate in lymphoma clinical trials?
Trials are organized by lymphoma type, stage, and treatment history. Most require biopsy confirmed lymphoma of a specific type; newly diagnosed trials enroll before treatment, and relapsed trials specify how many prior treatments and whether CAR T or transplant has been used. Pediatric trials enroll children and young adults. Eligibility always varies by study.
Types of lymphoma, and where to find their trials
Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. The most common, fast growing type.
Follicular lymphoma. The most common slow growing type; see follicular lymphoma clinical trials.
Mantle cell lymphoma. See mantle cell lymphoma clinical trials.
Small lymphocytic lymphoma. The same disease as CLL.
Hodgkin and T-cell lymphomas. Covered by the studies on this page.
How to enroll in a lymphoma clinical trial
Identify your trial. Use the filters and match the stage or type and the treatment history named in study titles to your own.
Select your preferred location. Enter your city or state; large trials run at many sites, early phase studies at fewer centers.
Explore study details. Click "Learn More" for eligibility, prior treatment rules, and the visit schedule.
Complete the health profile. Click "Get started" to begin the 5-step application. Have three things ready: your lymphoma type and stage from the biopsy report, the treatments you have had, and whether you have had CAR T or a transplant.
Submit the application. A clinical trial coordinator reviews it and contacts you. Nothing is decided until informed consent, and participation is voluntary at every step.