Recruiting
Phase 2

Dexrazoxane vs. Liposomal Doxorubicin

Sponsor:

Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center

Code:

NCT07654426

Conditions

Diffuse Large B-cell Lymphoma (DLBCL)

Cardiotoxicity

Lymphoma

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: All

Age: 18+

Healthy Volunteers: Not accepted

Interventions

Dexrazoxane

Dexrazoxane placebo

Doxorubicin

Liposomal Doxorubicin

Cyclophosphamide

Study Details

Brief summary:

This trial is to evaluate if dexrazoxane is safer and more effective than liposomal doxorubicin in preventing heart failure events in participants with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) undergoing either standard of care R-CHOP or pola-R-CHP treatment regiments.

The names of the study drugs involved in this study are:

  • Dexrazoxane (a type of Topoisomerase II Inhibitor)
  • Liposomal Doxorubicin (a type of Topoisomerase II Inhibitor)
  • Standard of care R-CHOP treatment regimen (Cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, prednisone, rituximab)
  • Standard of care pola-R-CHP treatment regimen: Cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, polatuzumab vedotin-piiq, prednisone, rituximab

Conditions

Diffuse Large B-cell Lymphoma (DLBCL)

Cardiotoxicity

Lymphoma

Study ID

NCT07654426

Start date

Aug 31, 2026

Status verified date

Jul, 2026

Completion date

Dec 31, 2035

Anticipated

Primary completion date

Dec 31, 2030

Anticipated

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: All

Age: 18+

Healthy Volunteers: Not accepted

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Participants must have histologically confirmed diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, histologically transformed large B cell lymphoma from a prior indolent lymphoma, or other high-grade B-cell lymphoma for which R-CHOP or pola-R-CHP are planned. Any cancer stage is permitted.
  • Participants must not have received any prior chemotherapy for this malignancy. Pre-phase steroids are allowed. Prior treatment for a different malignancy is allowed, including prior treatment for indolent lymphoma.
  • Age ≥18 years. Diffuse large B cell lymphoma is rare in participants <18 years of age. The prevalence of HF prior to chemotherapy is also exceedingly rare in participants <18 years of age; therefore, participants <18 years of age are excluded from this study.
  • Participants must have ONE or more of the following risk factors for HF events with anthracycline-containing chemotherapy

1. LVEF 30-50% on most recent echocardiogram with or without HF history
2. LVEF 50% with a history of HF (i.e. HF with improved EF or HF with preserved EF).
3. History of anthracycline exposure for different malignancy.
  • Participants with a prior or concurrent malignancy whose natural history or treatment does not have the potential to interfere with the safety or efficacy assessment of the investigational regimen are eligible for this trial.
  • Because dexrazoxane as well as other therapeutic agents used in this trial are known to be teratogenic, women of child-bearing potential and men must agree to use adequate contraception (hormonal or barrier method of birth control; abstinence) prior to study entry and for the duration of study participation. Should a woman become pregnant or suspect she is pregnant while she or her partner is participating in this study, she should inform her treating physician immediately. Men treated or enrolled on this protocol must also agree to use adequate contraception prior to the study, for the duration of study participation, and 4 months after completion of chemotherapy administration.
  • Ability to understand and the willingness to sign a written informed consent document.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • New York Heart Association (NYHA) Class III or IV exertional dyspnea. The symptoms should be attributed to HF and not due to lymphoma, anemia, arthritis or other causes per the assessment of the treating clinician or study investigator. NYHA Class III defined as: "Marked limitations with less than ordinary activity such as walking short distances or climbing a few stairs" and NYHA Class IV defined as: "Inability to carry out any activity without discomfort. Symptoms are present at rest and if any physical activity is undertaken the symptoms are increased." (see Appendix A for NYHA Classification).
  • LVEF <30% on most recent echocardiogram. Patients with prior LVEF <30% with improvement to >30% on most recent echocardiogram are eligible.
  • Meeting criteria for frailty according to the simplified geriatric assessment (see Appendix A for the simplified geriatric assessment criteria).
  • History of allergic reactions attributed to compounds of similar chemical or biologic composition to any agents used in study.
  • Presence of central nervous system involvement
  • Presence of concurrent genetic rearrangements of the MYC and BCL2 genes, so called "double-hit" large-cell lymphoma who are not deemed eligible for intensified induction chemotherapy such as dose adjusted EPOCH-R by their treating physician can be enrolled
  • Ineligible for R-CHOP or pola-R-CHP because of liver disease per institutional policies
  • Patients with planned dose reductions from the first cycle ie R-mini-CHOP will be excluded
  • There are no contraindicated medications. Caution and monitoring are advised with medications that can cause myelosuppression.
  • Patients with positive Hepatitis B core antibody can be enrolled if they have negative viral load and can be maintained on antiviral prophylaxis
  • Patients with HIV can be enrolled if they have anti-retroviral therapy options without drug-drug interactions with the cancer treatment, agree to take anti-retroviral therapy and do not have uncontrolled opportunistic infections.
  • Pregnant women are excluded from this study because dexrazoxane and liposomal doxorubicin are agents with the potential for teratogenic or abortifacient effects. Because there is an unknown but potential risk for adverse events in nursing infants secondary to treatment of the mother with dexrazoxane and liposomal doxorubicin, breastfeeding should be discontinued if the mother is treated with dexrazoxane and liposomal doxorubicin. These potential risks may also apply to other agents used in this study.
  • Eligibility for observational arm of the study. The above inclusion and exclusion criteria are for the randomized trial. Patients who meet the inclusion criteria but have one or more exclusion criterion are eligible to participate in the observational arm of the study. In addition, patients who meet all eligibility criteria for the randomized trial but decline participation in the randomized trial are also eligible to participate in the observational arm of the study.

Study Design

Enrollment

60 participants

Anticipated

Allocation

Randomized

Intervention Model

Parallel Assignment

Primary purpose

Treatment

Interventions and Outcome Measures

Arms

experimental: Arm A: Dexrazoxane + Doxorubicin + RCHOP

Participants will be randomized in 1:1 ratio and stratified by cancer stage and enrolling site to this group and will complete:

  • Baseline visit
  • Cycle 1 through End of Treatment (21 day cycles):

  • Day 1: predetermined dose of Dexrazoxane 1x daily
  • Day 1: predetermined dose of Doxorubicin 1x daily
  • Standard of care R-CHOP per protocol
  • 3 and 12 month follow up post-standard of care treatment completion
  • Long term follow up: annually from year 2 - 5

placebo comparator: Arm B: Dexrazoxane Placebo + Liposomal Doxorubicin + RCHOP

Participants will be randomized in 1:1 ratio and stratified by cancer stage and enrolling site to this group and will complete:

  • Baseline visit
  • Cycle 1 through End of Treatment (21 day cycles):

  • Day 1: predetermined dose of Dexrazoxane placebo 1x daily
  • Day 1: predetermined dose of Liposomal Doxorubicin 1x daily
  • Standard of care R-CHOP per protocol
  • 3 and 12 month follow up post-standard of care treatment completion
  • Long term follow up: annually from year 2 - 5

experimental: Arm C: Dexrazoxane + Doxorubicin + pola-R-CHP

Participants will be randomized in 1:1 ratio and stratified by cancer stage and enrolling site to this group and will complete:

Baseline visit

  • Cycle 1 through End of Treatment (21 day cycles):

  • Day 1: predetermined dose of Dexrazoxane 1x daily
  • Day 1: predetermined dose of Doxorubicin 1x daily
  • Standard of care pola-R-CHP per protocol
  • 3 and 12 month follow up post-standard of care treatment completion
  • Long term follow up: annually from year 2 - 5

placebo comparator: Arm D: Dexrazoxane Placebo + Liposomal Doxorubicin + pola-R-CHP

Participants will be randomized in 1:1 ratio and stratified by cancer stage and enrolling site to this group and will complete:

  • Baseline visit
  • Cycle 1 through End of Treatment (21 day cycles):

  • Day 1: predetermined dose of Dexrazoxane placebo 1x daily
  • Day 1: predetermined dose of Liposomal Doxorubicin 1x daily
  • Standard of care pola-R-CHP per protocol
  • 3 and 12 month follow up post-standard of care treatment completion
  • Long term follow up: annually from year 2 - 5

other: Arm E: Observational R-CHOP

Participants meeting inclusion but not all exclusion criteria, or who decline randomization, may enroll in an observational cohort for data and biospecimen collection and will complete the following:

  • Baseline visit with assessments and questionnaires
  • Cycle 1 through End of Treatment (21 day cycles):

  • Day 1: assessments and questionnaires
  • Standard of care R-CHOP
  • 3 and 12 month follow up post-treatment completion
  • Long term follow up: annually from year 2 - 5, in-person or virtually

other: Arm F: Observational pola-R-CHP

Participants meeting inclusion but not all exclusion criteria, or who decline randomization, may enroll in an observational cohort for data and biospecimen collection and will complete the following:

  • Baseline visit with assessments and questionnaires
  • Cycle 1 through End of Treatment (21 day cycles):

  • Day 1: assessments and questionnaires
  • Standard of care pola-R-CHP
  • 3 and 12 month follow up post-treatment completion
  • Long term follow up: annually from year 2 - 5, in-person or virtually

Interventions

Dexrazoxane

Topoisomerase II Inhibitor, single-dose vial, via intravenous infusion per protocol.

Dexrazoxane placebo

Dexrazoxane placebo via intravenous infusion per protocol.

Doxorubicin

Topoisomerase II Inhibitors, single-dose vial, via intravenous infusion per protocol.

Liposomal Doxorubicin

Topoisomerase II Inhibitors, single-dose vial, via intravenous infusion per protocol.

Cyclophosphamide

Lymphodepleting chemotherapy, multi-dose vial, via intravenous infusion per standard of care.

Vincristine

vinca alkaloid, single-dose vial, via intravenous infusion per standard of care.

Prednisone

Glucocorticoid, tablet taken orally per standard of care.

Rituximab

Anti-CD20 antibody, single-use vials, via intravenous infusion per standard of care.

Polatuzumab Vedotin

CD79b-directed antibody-drug conjugate, single-dose vial, via intravenous infusion per standard of care.

Primary outcome measure

  • Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction (LVEF) [ Time Frame: LVEF will be assessed by echocardiography 3 months after completion of front-line chemotherapy, with chemotherapy administered for up to 18 weeks. ]

Central Contacts and Locations

Central contacts

Locations

Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center

Recruiting

Boston, Massachusetts, United States, 02215

Contacts

More Information

Sponsor

Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center

Last update posted

Jul 27, 2026

Last verified

Jul, 2026

Keywords

  • Diffuse Large B-cell Lymphoma (DLBCL)
  • High Risk for Heart Failure Events
  • Cardiotoxicity
  • Lymphoma
  • Stage B Heart Failure
  • Stage C Heart Failure
  • Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) decline

Trial information was received from ClinicalTrials.gov and was last updated on 2026-09-08. This information was provided to ClinicalTrials.gov by Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center on 2026-07-27.