Frontlight ResearchEarly access
Not yet taking people in BelgiumPhase 2
Adds epcoritamab to standard treatment for older, frail adults with new lymphoma
Tests epcoritamab with R-mini-CHOP in older, frail adults with new DLBCL.
Key facts
- Who runs it
- Hemato-Oncologie voor Volwassenen Nederland (Hovon) Stichting
- Where
- Brasschaat, Brugge, Gent, and Leuven, BelgiumSee the 4 sitesAlso in 10 other countries, 33 sites
- Trial code
- Registry title
- HOVON 168:Study on epcoritamab in frail patients with diffuse large B-Cell lymphoma (DLBCL) who have not been treated before
- Status
- Not yet recruiting
- Phase
- Phase 2
- People taking part
- 276 people, planned
- Started
- 1 Jun 2026
- Expected to end
- 1 Jun 2029
- Type of study
- Interventional
- Record updated
- 27 October 2026
Who can take part
AI summary
From the trial's eligibility criteria. Machine-read from the registry text on this page, so it can be wrong. The registry text below and the trial team decide who can take part.
The trial is looking for adults aged 70 or older with newly diagnosed CD20+ diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, to test epcoritamab added to R-mini-CHOP.
- Age
- At least 70 years old, with a life expectancy of ≥ 12 months.
- Sex
- All sexes can join.
- Disease stage
- Newly diagnosed, confirmed CD20+ DLBCL (or CD20+ transformed follicular lymphoma, or CD20+ DLBCL/HGBL with MYC and BCL2 rearrangements). Ann Arbor stage I(E) with bulky disease (>10 cm (3.9 in)), or stage II-IV. Measurable disease. ECOG performance status 0-2 (3 may be allowed if due to the lymphoma).
- Earlier treatment
- No earlier systemic anti-lymphoma treatment for DLBCL. No live vaccine within 28 days before the first dose. No investigational drug within 30 days or 5 half-lives before the first dose.
- Biomarker or test result
- CD20-positive lymphoma is required. Enough fresh or paraffin-embedded tumor biopsy material must be available.
Main reasons for not taking part
- Primary CNS tumor or known CNS involvement
- Primary mediastinal lymphoma, or radiation to the mediastinum or pericardium
- Active infection, including active hepatitis B, hepatitis C or HIV
- Clinically significant heart disease or LVEF <45%
- Medication that lowers T-cell numbers or activity, or other immunosuppressive medication
The registry criteria, word for word
Show all 18 criteriaShow less
Who can take part
- Patients must voluntarily sign and date an informed consent
- Patient has measurable disease
- Adult individuals, at least 70 years old with a life expectancy of ≥ 12 months
- Laboratory values meeting the protocol defined criteria within the screening period prior to the first dose of study drug
- Are willing and able to comply with procedures required in this protocol
- Are able to tolerate SC injections
- Have available adequate fresh or paraffin-embedded tumor biopsy material at Screening; 7 Newly diagnosed, histologically confirmed CD20+ DLBCL NOS, CD20+ Follicular large B-cell lymphoma transformed follicular lymphoma, or CD20+ DLBCL/high grade B-cell lymphoma (HGBL) with MYC and BCL2 rearrangements
- ECOG performance status score of 0-2 (3 may be allowed if Grade 3 status is related to lymphoma)
- Ann Arbor Stage I(E) bulky disease (>10 cm), stage II – IV
Who cannot take part
- Patient has history of prior systemic anti-lymphoma therapy for DLBCL
- Subject with histologically transformed FL, who has previously been treated with > 1 lines of therapy for FL
- Patient has medication known to decrease T-cell numbers or activity or other concurrent immunosuppressive medication or has received any live vaccine within 28 days prior to the first dose of study drug or is expected to need any live vaccination during study treatment
- Patient has been treated with any investigational drug within 30 days or 5 half-lives of the drug (whichever is longer) prior to the first dose of study treatment or is currently taking an investigational drug or is participating in another interventional study until participant is in the survival follow-up phase
- Male patient who is considering fathering a child or donating sperm during the study or for 12 months after the last dose of study drug
- Patient has history of primary mediastinal lymphoma, or mediastinal or pericardial radiation
- Patient has life-threatening illness, medical condition, or organ system dysfunction that, in the Investigator's opinion, could compromise the patient's safety, compliance with the protocol, interpretation of the study results, or put the study outcomes at undue risk
- Patient has: history of severe allergic or anaphylactic reactions to anti-CD20 mAb therapy or known allergy or intolerance to any component or excipient of epcoritamab or CHOP; known active bacterial, viral, fungal, mycobacterial, parasitic, or other infection; active hepatitis B virus or Hepatitis C virus or HIV infection; active tuberculosis or history of completed treatment for active TB within the past 12 months; active (symptomatic) CMV disease; known active SARS-CoV-2 infection; major surgery within 4 weeks prior to randomization; clinically significant cardiovascular disease; LVEF <45%; clinically significant liver disease; history of Progressive Multifocal Leukoencephalopathy; history of other prior malignancies; neuropathy Grade > 1; current seizure disorder requiring therapy within the past 12 months
- Patient has a primary CNS tumor or known CNS involvement
Where in Belgium
Also in 10 other countries, 33 sites
- Algemeen Ziekenhuis klinaBrasschaat, BelgiumNo longer taking part
- AZ ST-JAN Brugge A.V.Brugge, BelgiumNo longer taking part
- Universitair Ziekenhuis GentGent, BelgiumNo longer taking part
- UZ LeuvenLeuven, BelgiumNo longer taking part
About the trial
What the trial wants to find out
The primary objective of this study is to evaluate whether the addition of epcoritamab to standard R-mini-CHOP treatment can improve efficacy compared with R-mini-CHOP treatment alone in elderly, frail, or unfit participants with newly diagnosed DLBCL
Questions to ask the study team
- How often do I need to come in, and for how long each time?
- Are travel costs paid?
- Can I keep my own doctor?
- What happens if I want to stop?
Contact the study team: see the registry record
Print a page for my doctorData and sources
- Registry record
- Listed on the EU's official list of trials (CTIS).
- Official title
- HOVON 168: Epcoritamab in Addition to R-Mini-CHOP Compared to R-Mini-CHOP in Elderly, Frail or Unfit Patients with Diffuse Large B-cell Lymphoma
- Plain-language title
- Adds epcoritamab to standard treatment for older, frail adults with new lymphomaGenerated from the registry record. The registry title is the official one.
- AI summary
- From the trial's eligibility criteria. Read by machine on 9 November 2026.
- Record updated
- 27 October 2026