Recipient organisationNIHR Nottingham Clinical Research Facility
NIHR supportRecorded as supported by this research centre
PeriodJan 2025 — May 2027
In plain English
AI plain-English summary
Older Hodgkin lymphoma patients will receive an immunotherapy drug called tislelizumab before chemotherapy, with some avoiding chemotherapy entirely if their tumours shrink enough. This matters because standard chemotherapy cures most younger Hodgkin lymphoma patients, but older patients often cannot tolerate the full course of treatment. Doctors do not yet know the best drug combination for this age group. Tislelizumab, which activates the immune system against cancer cells, is already used for relapsed Hodgkin lymphoma and tends to have milder side effects than chemotherapy. If the trial succeeds, it could establish a new treatment pathway for patients aged 60 and over. Those with early-stage disease who respond well to initial immunotherapy might skip chemotherapy altogether, receiving only radiotherapy and continued tislelizumab for up to two years. Others would receive a shorter, better-tolerated course of chemotherapy alongside the immunotherapy. The trial will recruit across 20 NHS hospitals, and the drug is provided free of charge by the manufacturer BeiGene. Results could change how the NHS treats older Hodgkin lymphoma patients, reducing treatment-related harm while maintaining high cure rates.
View original technical description
RATiFY is a trial for patients age 60 years or older with Hodgkin lymphoma who have previously not received any treatment for their lymphoma. In younger people Hodgkin lymphoma can usually be cured with first-line chemotherapy treatment, but it becomes more difficult to treat in older people because it is more difficult for them to tolerate side effects of treatment. We currently don't know what the best combination of treatment is for elderly patients. Immunotherapy in combination with chemotherapy may prove to be an effective form of treatment with tolerable side effects.Immunotherapy is treatment that activates the immune system against cancer cells. In this trial we will look at including an immunotherapy drug called tislelizumab to see if it is effective and well-tolerated. Similar immunotherapy drugs are already used for Hodgkin lymphoma that has not responded to or has come back after treatment. They are usually better tolerated than chemotherapy, although they do have some side effects.All patients will receive 3 doses of tislelizumab at 21-day intervals then have a scan to assess how their disease has responded to the treatment. Some patients with ‘early stage’ lymphoma with a very good response to the treatment will receive radiotherapy and go on to have further tislelizumab for up to 2 years, but no chemotherapy. All other patients will receive tislelizumab with chemotherapy for between 2 and 6 28-day cycles after the first 3 doses. Some patients will also receive radiotherapy depending on which parts of their body are affected by the lymphoma. Patients will attend hospital for regular appointments and tests including blood tests and scans. Patients will be followed up for 2 years from the start of their trial participation then their disease status will be checked on annually until the trial ends.RATiFY will recruit patients in 20 NHS hospitals throughout the UK. The study is funded by BeiGene, who are providing tislelizumab free of charge.
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