Study on Tailored Treatment in Elderly Patients With Newly Diagnosed Primary Lymphoma of Central Nervous System (FIORELLA)
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ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03495960 |
Recruitment Status :
Recruiting
First Posted : April 12, 2018
Last Update Posted : November 7, 2022
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Primary central nervous system lymphomas are rare aggressive malignancies, usually treated in two steps: an induction phase (where a combination of chemotherapy is given) followed by a consolidation phase (where patients usually receive one of the following: whole-brain irradiation, chemotherapy supported by autologous stem-cell transplantation, other type of chemotherapy, or are just observed).
The feasibility of this overall strategy, for several reasons, is limited in elderly patients .
This study involves patients aged ≥70 years. The more fit patients will receive the standard chemotherapy combination (high-dose methotrexate, procarbazine and rituximab) as induction. Responding patients will receive either procarbazine or lenalidomide as maintenance therapy; the aim is to evaluate the efficacy of these two drugs.
The more fragile patients will receive a less aggressive therapy consisting of concomitant whole-brain radiotherapy, temozolomide and rituximab as induction therapy, followed by temozolomide as maintenance treatment; the aim is to evaluate the efficacy of this combination of treatment.
Condition or disease | Intervention/treatment | Phase |
---|---|---|
Primary Central Nervous System Lymphoma | Drug: Rituximab Drug: Methotrexate Drug: Procarbazine Drug: Lenalidomide Radiation: Radiotherapy Drug: Temozolomide | Phase 2 |

Study Type : | Interventional (Clinical Trial) |
Estimated Enrollment : | 208 participants |
Allocation: | Randomized |
Intervention Model: | Parallel Assignment |
Intervention Model Description: | Multicenter open label phase II trial. The patients will be stratified according to their suitability to tolerate an induction chemo-immunotherapy regimen containing high-dose methotrexate. Patients eligible for high-dose methotrexate-based induction chemotherapy will enter the run-in phase of Part A of the study and after the induction phase will be randomly assigned to procarbazine or lenalidomide maintenance monotherapy. Forty assessable patients per treatment arm are required. Patients ineligible for high-dose methotrexate-based induction chemotherapy will be treated în Part B with concomitant whole-brain radiotherapy, temozolomide and rituximab and will receive temozolomide as maintenance.According to the Simon's two-stage minimax design, 46 patients will be treated in the first stage. If ≤ 16 patients will be progression-free at 2 years from maintenance treatment start, the study will be stopped. Otherwise, 19 additional patients will be treated for a total of 65 |
Masking: | None (Open Label) |
Primary Purpose: | Treatment |
Official Title: | Randomized Phase II Trial on Fitness- and Comorbidity- Tailored Treatment in Elderly Patients With Newly Diagnosed Primary CNS Lymphoma (FIORELLA Trial) |
Actual Study Start Date : | June 15, 2019 |
Estimated Primary Completion Date : | October 31, 2023 |
Estimated Study Completion Date : | October 31, 2023 |

Arm | Intervention/treatment |
---|---|
Experimental: Lenalidomide (experimental arm of part A)
Patients in part A will receive 2 courses of induction chemo-immunotherapy: Rituximab 375 mg/m2 i.v. on days -6, 1, 15, 29; Methotrexate 3 g/m2 0.5 g/m2 in 15 min. +2.5 g/m2 in 3-hr inf. on days 2,16,30; Procarbazine 60 mg/m2/d oral on days 2 to 11. The duration of each treatment course is 43 days. Patients will then be randomized to receive lenalidomide or procarbazine as maintenance therapy. Lenalidomide is given 25 mg/d per os, days 1 to 21 every 4 weeks for 24 courses |
Drug: Rituximab
PART A - INDUCTION PHASE During the primary chemo-immunotherapy (PRIMAIN regimen, 2 courses; every 43 days) administered as induction in the PART A of the study, Rituximab is given 375 mg/m2 as standard infusion at days -6, 1, 15 & 29. Rituximab on day -6 will be delivered only during the first course; it will be delivered between day -6 and day 0 according to clinical requirements and patient's conditions. Some patients would need for a fast chemotherapy starting. PART B - INDUCTION PHASE Patients ineligible for high-dose methotrexate, will be assigned to receive concomitant whole brain radiotherapy-temozolomide-rituximab (Induction Part B). Rituximab is given 375 mg/m2 in 4 weekly doses, starting on day 2 of radiotherapy. Drug: Methotrexate During the primary chemo-immunotherapy (PRIMAIN regimen, 2 courses; every 43 days) administered as induction in the PART A of the study, Methotrexate is given 3 g/m2 as infusion (0.5 g/m2 in 15 min. + 2.5 g/m2 in 3-hr infusion) on days 2, 16 & 30 Drug: Procarbazine PART A - INDUCTION PHASE During the primary chemo-immunotherapy (PRIMAIN regimen, 2 courses; every 43 days) administered as induction in the PART A of the study, Procarbazine is given oral 60 mg/m2/d from days 2 to 11 PART A - MANTEINANCE PHASE (control arm) Patients responsive or with stable disease after two courses of PRIMAIN regimen (the induction treatment) will be randomly allocated to receive two different maintenance therapies. Maintenance will start on day 60 of the 2nd PRIMAIN course. Procarbazine represents the control arm and is given oral 100 mg/d from day 1 to 5 for 6 courses, every 4 weeks. Drug: Lenalidomide Patients responsive or with stable disease after two courses of PRIMAIN regimen (the induction treatment) will be randomly allocated to receive two different maintenance therapies. Maintenance will start on day 60 of the 2nd PRIMAIN course. Lenalidomide represents the experimental arm and is given oral 25 mg/d from day 1 to 21 for 24 courses; every 4 weeks. |
Active Comparator: Procarbazine (comparator arm of part A)
Patients in part A will receive 2 courses of induction chemo-immunotherapy: Rituximab 375 mg/m2 i.v. on days -6, 1, 15, 29; Methotrexate 3 g/m2 0.5 g/m2 in 15 min. +2.5 g/m2 in 3-hr inf. on days 2,16,30; Procarbazine 60 mg/m2/d oral on days 2 to 11. The duration of each treatment course is 43 days. Patients will then be randomized to receive lenalidomide or procarbazine as maintenance therapy. Procarbazine is given 100 mg/d per os, days 1 to 5 every 4 weeks for 6 courses |
Drug: Rituximab
PART A - INDUCTION PHASE During the primary chemo-immunotherapy (PRIMAIN regimen, 2 courses; every 43 days) administered as induction in the PART A of the study, Rituximab is given 375 mg/m2 as standard infusion at days -6, 1, 15 & 29. Rituximab on day -6 will be delivered only during the first course; it will be delivered between day -6 and day 0 according to clinical requirements and patient's conditions. Some patients would need for a fast chemotherapy starting. PART B - INDUCTION PHASE Patients ineligible for high-dose methotrexate, will be assigned to receive concomitant whole brain radiotherapy-temozolomide-rituximab (Induction Part B). Rituximab is given 375 mg/m2 in 4 weekly doses, starting on day 2 of radiotherapy. Drug: Methotrexate During the primary chemo-immunotherapy (PRIMAIN regimen, 2 courses; every 43 days) administered as induction in the PART A of the study, Methotrexate is given 3 g/m2 as infusion (0.5 g/m2 in 15 min. + 2.5 g/m2 in 3-hr infusion) on days 2, 16 & 30 Drug: Procarbazine PART A - INDUCTION PHASE During the primary chemo-immunotherapy (PRIMAIN regimen, 2 courses; every 43 days) administered as induction in the PART A of the study, Procarbazine is given oral 60 mg/m2/d from days 2 to 11 PART A - MANTEINANCE PHASE (control arm) Patients responsive or with stable disease after two courses of PRIMAIN regimen (the induction treatment) will be randomly allocated to receive two different maintenance therapies. Maintenance will start on day 60 of the 2nd PRIMAIN course. Procarbazine represents the control arm and is given oral 100 mg/d from day 1 to 5 for 6 courses, every 4 weeks. |
Radiotherapy, temozolomide and rituximab (single arm part B)
Patients ineligible for high-dose-methotrexate will be treated in the single-arm phase II part B of the trial and will receive
Patients will then receive maintenance therapy with 12 courses of temozolomide administered on days 1-5, every 4 weeks at a dose of 150 mg/m2/d at the first course, and of 200 mg/m2/d at the subsequent courses. |
Drug: Rituximab
PART A - INDUCTION PHASE During the primary chemo-immunotherapy (PRIMAIN regimen, 2 courses; every 43 days) administered as induction in the PART A of the study, Rituximab is given 375 mg/m2 as standard infusion at days -6, 1, 15 & 29. Rituximab on day -6 will be delivered only during the first course; it will be delivered between day -6 and day 0 according to clinical requirements and patient's conditions. Some patients would need for a fast chemotherapy starting. PART B - INDUCTION PHASE Patients ineligible for high-dose methotrexate, will be assigned to receive concomitant whole brain radiotherapy-temozolomide-rituximab (Induction Part B). Rituximab is given 375 mg/m2 in 4 weekly doses, starting on day 2 of radiotherapy. Radiation: Radiotherapy Patients ineligible for high-dose methotrexate, will be assigned to receive concomitant whole brain radiotherapy-temozolomide-rituximab (Induction Part B). Whole-brain will be irradiated by two opposite lateral fields including the first two cervical vertebras and the posterior two thirds of the eyes. Photons of 4 - 10 MeV, 180 - 200 cGy per day, 5 weekly fractions will be employed Drug: Temozolomide PART B - INDUCTION PHASE Patients ineligible for high-dose methotrexate, will be assigned to receive concomitant whole brain radiotherapy-temozolomide-rituximab (Induction Part B). Temoyolomide is given 75 mg/m2/d, every day for the whole duration of radiotherapy. PART B - MAINTENANCE PHASE Temozolomide is also given as maintenance in Part B. The treatment consists of 12 courses where temozolomide is administered on days 1-5, every 4 weeks at a dose of 150 mg/m2/d at the first course, and of 200 mg/m2/d at the subsequent courses, |
- Two years Progression Free Survival (PFS) - part A [ Time Frame: From date of randomization until the date of first documented progression or date of death from any cause, whichever came first, assessed up to 2 years. ]
The primary objective is to evaluate whether lenalidomide administered as maintenance treatment after achievement of disease stabilization or better response by standard induction therapy results in a higher 2-year PFS rate as compared to procarbazine maintenance.
The corresponding primary endpoint is the difference in 2-years PFS between the two treatment arms.
- Two years Progression Free Survival (PFS) - part B [ Time Frame: From date of maintenance start until the date of first documented progression or date of death from any cause, whichever came first, assessed up to 2 years ]
- Duration of response (part A) [ Time Frame: From date of first assessment of response (PR or CR) until the date of first documented progression, assessed up to 2 years from randomization. ]Difference between the two arms in time from first assessment of response (PR or CR) to relapse/progression
- Response Rates (part B) [ Time Frame: From the start of the treatment until disease progression, assessed up to 2 years from start of maintenance. ]Proportion of patients showing CR, PR, SD, PD as best response to treatment
- Overall survival (OS) [ Time Frame: From date of induction treatment start until the date of death from any cause or the date of the last visit in patients still alive at study end, assessed up to 2 years from start of maintenance. ]
- Relapse rates and patterns [ Time Frame: From the start of the treatment until disease progression, assessed up to 2 years from start of maintenance. ]Analysis of the following relapse rates and patterns: primary site vs. secondary CNS sites vs. extra-CNS sites; CNS sites: brain, meninges, cranial nerves, and/or eyes
- Incidence of Treatment-Emergent Adverse Events [ Time Frame: From the 2 weeks preceding treatment start through study completion, an average of 2.5 years ]Analysis of adverse events and adverse reactions incidence and severity
- Early and late neurotoxicity [ Time Frame: From maintenance up to 2 years. ]Analysis of incidence and severity of early and late neurotoxicity assessed by specific neuropsychological and quality of life tests up to 2 years from maintenance treatment start

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Ages Eligible for Study: | 70 Years and older (Older Adult) |
Sexes Eligible for Study: | All |
Accepts Healthy Volunteers: | No |
Inclusion Criteria:
- Histologically or cytologically assessed diagnosis of CD20+ diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.
- Diagnostic sample obtained by stereotactic or surgical biopsy, CSF cytology examination or vitrectomy.
- Lymphoma exclusively localized in the central nervous system (brain parenchyma and/or meningeal/CSF dissemination and/or eyes and/or cranial nerves).
- Previously untreated patients (previous or ongoing steroid therapy admitted).
- Age ≥70 years
- Patients not eligible for high-dose chemotherapy supported by autologous stem cell transplant
- ECOG PS ≤3.
- Adequate bone marrow, cardiac, renal, and hepatic function
- No previous or concurrent malignancies with the exception of surgically cured carcinoma in-situ of the cervix, carcinoma of the skin or other cancers without evidence of disease at least for 3 years (patients with a previous lymphoma at any time are NOT eligible).
- Absence of any familial, sociological or geographical condition potentially hampering compliance with the study protocol and follow-up schedule.
- No concurrent treatment with other experimental drugs.
- Patients receiving oral lenalidomide or procarbazine must agree to avoid sharing the study medication with another person and to return all unused study drug to the investigator.
- Male patients must agree to always use a latex or synthetic condom during any sexual contact with females of reproductive potential while taking lenalidomide, during dose interruptions and for up to 7 days after treatment discontinuation, even if they have undergone a successful vasectomy.
- Informed consent from the patient, or legal representative, obtained before registration.
Exclusion Criteria:
- Lymphoma entity other than diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.
- Extra-CNS disease.
- Lymphoma exclusively localized in the eyes
- Lymphoma infiltration of the cranial nerves as exclusive site of disease
- Previous antineoplastic treatment for the PCNSL.
- Patients eligible for ASCT.
- HBsAg- and HCV-positive patients; HBsAg- and HCV-positive patients. HBcAb+ is not exclusion criteria in the absence of detectable levels HBVDNA.
- HIV disease or immunodeficiency.
- Severe concomitant illnesses/medical conditions (e.g. impaired respiratory and/or cardiac function, uncontrolled diabetes mellitus despite optimal medical management).
- Active infectious disease.
- Hypersensitivity to any active principle and/or any excipient according to the contraindications reported in the Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPCs) of the anticancer drugs used in the study

To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the contact information provided by the sponsor.
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier (NCT number): NCT03495960
Contact: Emanuele Zucca, MD | +41 58 666 7321 | ielsg@ior.usi.ch |

Study Chair: | Andrès JM Ferreri, MD | IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy |
Responsible Party: | International Extranodal Lymphoma Study Group (IELSG) |
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: | NCT03495960 |
Other Study ID Numbers: |
IELSG45 |
First Posted: | April 12, 2018 Key Record Dates |
Last Update Posted: | November 7, 2022 |
Last Verified: | November 2022 |
Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Drug Product: | No |
Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Device Product: | No |
non-Hodgkin's lymphoma elderly PCNSL |
Lymphoma Neoplasms by Histologic Type Neoplasms Lymphoproliferative Disorders Lymphatic Diseases Immunoproliferative Disorders Immune System Diseases Rituximab Methotrexate Lenalidomide Temozolomide Procarbazine Antineoplastic Agents, Immunological Antineoplastic Agents Immunologic Factors |
Physiological Effects of Drugs Antirheumatic Agents Abortifacient Agents, Nonsteroidal Abortifacient Agents Reproductive Control Agents Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic Antimetabolites Molecular Mechanisms of Pharmacological Action Dermatologic Agents Enzyme Inhibitors Folic Acid Antagonists Immunosuppressive Agents Nucleic Acid Synthesis Inhibitors Angiogenesis Inhibitors Angiogenesis Modulating Agents |