Lymphoma Cancer

The primary aim of the TROG 99.03 trial was to see if, by adding immuno-chemotherapy to the standard treatment of radiotherapy alone, outcomes could be improved for patients with stage I-II low-grade follicular lymphoma. This multi-centre international study, which accrued 150 participants across Australia, New Zealand and Canada, was the first of its kind to be conducted and helped define the standard of care for these patients.

It is clear from the trial results that radiotherapy plus R-CVP (the name of a combination of cancer drugs), is associated with a much better chance that patients will survive to 10 years without a relapse. The results of this trial will inform every discussion of a treatment strategy for every patient with stage I-II follicular lymphoma in the developed world.

The TROG 99.04 trial, which looked at chemotherapy and radiation therapy as a treatment for Osteo Lymphoma (OL), showed a relatively high rate of local and distant disease control, as well as a low rate of toxicity. It remains the only prospective trial addressing this disease and it has provided TROG with valuable experience in the testing of rare diseases.