RecruitingObservational

How treatments affect people recently diagnosed with follicular lymphoma. A study over time

This study, called PETReA Plus, is looking at how different treatments affect people recently diagnosed with follicular lymphoma. Follicular lymphoma is a type of blood cancer. If you join, the study will gather information from your routine medical records and clinic visits. You'll also be asked to fill in some questionnaires about your quality of life. There are no new medicines or extra tests involved; everything will be part of your usual care. The aim is to get a better understanding of this condition and how people respond to different treatments over time. This information could help improve care for future patients. The study runs from September 2024 to about October 2029, and it's open to adults aged 18 and over who have been recently diagnosed.

At a glance

Status

Recruiting

Sponsor

University of Liverpool

Enrolment target

500

Start

01 Nov 2025

Estimated completion

29 Feb 2028

Malignant neoplasms, stated or presumed to be primary, of lymphoid, haematopoietic and related tissue

What is this study about?

Follicular lymphoma is a type of cancer that affects your white blood cells. When you're first diagnosed, doctors will talk to you about different treatment options, which might include specific medicines, radiotherapy, or sometimes just closely watching your condition (this is called 'watch and wait'). The PETReA Plus study wants to understand how these different approaches affect people newly diagnosed with follicular lymphoma in the long term.

This study is called an 'observational' study. This means that if you choose to take part, the researchers will mainly gather information that is already being collected as part of your normal hospital care. They won’t ask you to have any extra medical tests or give you any new medications. You'll continue to receive the care your medical team believes is best for you. The study will also ask you to fill out some questionnaires about your quality of life, which means how you’re feeling day-to-day. This helps researchers understand the real-life impact of the illness and its treatments.

The information collected in PETReA Plus will be combined with data from another related study called PETReA. By putting this information together from many patients (up to 1500!), it can provide a much clearer picture of how follicular lymphoma progresses and how different treatments work for a wide range of people. This larger pool of information is incredibly valuable and could lead to better ways of treating follicular lymphoma in the future, particularly for those with more serious forms of the disease. You might also be asked if you'd be willing to share your data with an international registry, and in the future, allow researchers to study small pieces of your tumour tissue that are already collected during diagnosis, if you wish.

Key takeaways

It's an 'observational' study, meaning no new treatments or tests.
Data collected from your routine care and quality of life questionnaires.
Aims to understand how treatments affect people with new follicular lymphoma diagnoses.
Information will help improve future care for patients.
Runs until October 2029; you can withdraw anytime without affecting your care.

Who may be eligible?

To be able to take part in the PETReA Plus study, you need to be an adult, aged 18 or over. You must have been recently diagnosed with follicular lymphoma (specifically Grade 1, 2, 3A, or 3B, or a type called 'de novo transformed FL') within the last six months.

Your doctors must be planning to start your first main treatment, or they might be planning to simply 'watch and wait' your condition initially. It's important that you haven't received any previous treatment for follicular lymphoma, apart from steroids. You also need to be able to understand the study and agree to take part by signing a consent form.

There are a few reasons why you might not be able to join. For instance, if you're already part of another specific trial called the PETReA trial, you can't join PETReA Plus. Also, if you're pregnant or breastfeeding, or if your doctor believes there's another serious health reason preventing you from participating, then you wouldn't be able to join this study.

Could this study suit you?

Answer these quick questions to see if you may be eligible. This is a guide only — the research team makes the final call.

Are you 18 years old or older?
Have you been diagnosed with follicular lymphoma in the last 6 months?
Are you about to start your first treatment, or are you on 'watch and wait'?
Have you had no previous treatment for follicular lymphoma (other than steroids)?
Are you pregnant or breastfeeding? (If yes, you likely can't join.)

Answer every question to see your result.

What does participation involve?

If you decide to join the PETReA Plus study, what you do won't change much from your usual care. You won't be given any new medicines, and you won't have any extra tests beyond what your doctor would normally recommend. The study will collect information from your existing medical notes.

You will be asked to fill out some questionnaires about your quality of life, which helps the researchers understand how you are feeling. This usually happens at specific times: before you start your treatment, when your treatment finishes, and during a follow-up period about six months after your treatment.

The researchers will try to collect all the necessary information during your already planned clinic visits, so it shouldn't mean extra trips to the hospital for you. The study will track your progress over several years, from your diagnosis until about October 2029.

Potential risks and benefits

There are no direct benefits to you by taking part in this study, as you won't be receiving new treatments or extra care. However, by sharing your information, you will be helping researchers learn more about follicular lymphoma, which could lead to better treatments and improved understanding for future patients. There are no extra risks involved with participating, as the study only collects information from your routine care and doesn't involve any additional medical procedures or changes to your treatment. You are free to withdraw from the study at any time without giving a reason, and this will not affect your medical care.

Locations (42)

Southampton
Approximate
Southampton, England
Arrow Park Hospital
City only
Wirral, England
Clatterbridge Hospital
Approximate
Wirral, England
Derriford Hospital
Approximate
Plymouth, England
Kent and Canterbury Hospital
Approximate
Canterbury, England
Northern General Hospital
Unverified
Sheffield, England
John Radcliffe Hospital
Unverified
Oxford, England
Croydon University Hospital
Unverified
Croydon, England
Forth Valley
Unverified
Stirling, Scotland
Poole Hospital
Unverified
Poole, England
Taunton
Unverified
Taunton, England
Leicester Royal Infirmary
Unverified
Leicester, England

Common questions

What is follicular lymphoma?

It's a type of blood cancer that affects certain white blood cells. It's often slow-growing.

Will I get new medicine if I join this study?

No, you won't be given any new medicines. Your treatment will be decided by your usual medical team, just as it would be if you weren't in the study.

Do I have to have extra appointments?

The study aims to collect information during your regular hospital visits, so you shouldn't need extra appointments specifically for the study.

What happens to my information?

Your medical information will be collected by the study team. If you agree, it might also be shared with an international registry and linked with a tissue bank for future research, but always with strict privacy measures.

Who is paying for this study?

The study is funded by the Follicular Lymphoma Foundation, Blood Cancer UK, and The Joyce & Norman Freed Charitable Trust.

How to find out more

PETReA Plus Trial Manager

petreaplus@liverpool.ac.uk +44 (0)151 795 5289 Official trial record

Always speak to your GP or specialist before deciding to take part in a study.