Researchers at the Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute (ONJCRI), in collaboration with University of Queensland, Austin Health, Monash Health and Princess Alexandra Hospital, have discovered a method to identify which lymphoma patients will respond best to a promising combination of radiotherapy and immunotherapy.
The phase I clinical trial, led by ONJCRI’s Chief Clinical Research Officer Prof Eliza Hawkes and published in Blood Advances, tested radiotherapy combined with immunotherapy in patients with relapsed or treatment-resistant lymphoma.
While immunotherapy alone typically shows limited success in these cancers, the combination approach showed encouraging results.
Key findings
T-cells are a type of white blood cell that play a crucial role in the immune system’s defense against infections and cancer. Using innovative PET imaging techniques, including novel T-cell imaging with specialised tracers, researchers discovered that specific T-cell patterns in the blood and tumour tissue could predict treatment success.
This novel biomarker approach revealed that patients with certain T-cell characteristics showed significantly better responses to the combination therapy.
The treatment proved both safe and effective:
- 60% of follicular lymphoma (FL) patients responded, with 40% achieving complete remission
- 14% of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) patients responded, with 7% in complete remission
What this means
The research provides clear biomarkers to help doctors select patients most likely to benefit from this combination approach.
Prof Hawkes’ team is now exploring this approach with newer immunotherapies, advancing personalised care for lymphoma patients. This is aligned with ONCRI’s commitment to creating more effective, tolerable and accessible treatment options for those affected by cancer.
Read the paper here: https://ashpublications.org/bloodadvances/article/doi/10.1182/bloodadvances.2025016505/537883/T-cell-dysregulation-informs-radiotherapy
Acknowledgements:
This trial was funded by the Victorian Cancer Agency. Drug and part funding was provided by AstraZeneca. The PET substudy imaging agent was provided by ImaginAb Inc.