Primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL)
Cooperative Study Group
Scientific focus
Established in 1998, the German Cooperative Primary Central Nervous System Lymphoma (PCNSL) Study Group has conducted various clinical trials covering important questions in PCNSL treatment; be it in newly diagnosed, relapsed disease as well as elderly PCNSL patients. In each of these indications, the group has demonstrated a continuous track record - from early pilot studies investigating several immuno-chemotherapy protocols, which were subsequently improved and validated in large international multicenter studies and published in high-impact journals.
The German Cooperative PCNSL Study Group, located in Freiburg and Stuttgart, is currently conducting the world’s largest randomized phase III MATRix/IELSG43 trial (330 patients from 35 centers) and has completed recruitment targets and challenges in consolidating high-dose chemotherapy followed by autologous stem cell transplantation (HCT-ASCT) with conventionally dosed chemotherapy. A subsequent randomized phase III trial has already been designed with recruitment beginning early 2021. Another investigator-initiated pilot trial explored an elderly adapted approach with HCT-ASCT after short induction. The subsequent phase II MARTA trial has recently completed recruitment. The concept development phase of a subsequent randomized phase III trial is currently funded by the German Ministry of Research and Education. In addition to the described chemoimmunotherapy approaches, the group is currently running a bicentric phase IB trial investigating a chemotherapy-free regimen with venetoclax and obinutuzumab in relapsed and refractory PCNSL.
All PCNSL trials are accompanied by translational research programs (PI: Dr. F. Scherer). The major goal of these scientific projects is to establish molecular biomarkers that predict clinical outcomes and help understand the underlying biology of treatment response and treatment failure in PCNSL patients.
Trials- recruiting
OptiMATe Optimizing MATRix as remission induction in PCNSL: De-escalated induction treatment in newly diagnosed primary CNS lymphoma – a randomized phase III trial
More Information
OptiMATe mit aktualisierter Synopse
Contact:
- Coordinating Principal Investigator: Prof. Dr. med. Gerald Illerhaus (Stuttgart)
- Deputy Principal Investigator: PD Dr. med. Elisabeth Schorb (Freiburg)
- Project management: Elvira Burger (Freiburg)
VENOBI CNS- Chemotherapy free treatment with venetoclax and obinutuzumab for relapsed / refractory primary CNS lymphoma patients (VENOBI-CNS study) - A phase IB study to assess the pharmacokinetics in the cerebrospinal fluid-
More Information
Contact:
- Coordinating Principal Investigator: Prof. Dr. med. Gerald Illerhaus (Stuttgart)
- Deputy Principal Investigator: PD Dr. med. Elisabeth Schorb (Freiburg)
- Project management: Elvira Burger (Freiburg)
Trials in follow up
MATRix/IELSG43- High dose chemotherapy and autologous stem cell transplant or consolidating conventional chemotherapy in primary CNS lymphoma - randomized phase III trial
Recruitment was finished August 2019
More Information
Contact:
- Coordinating Principal Investigator: Prof. Dr. med. Gerald Illerhaus (Stuttgart)
- Deputy Principal Investigator: PD Dr. med. Elisabeth Schorb (Freiburg)
- Project management: Elvira Burger (Freiburg)
MARTA - Age-adjusted high-dose chemotherapy and autologous stem cell transplant in elderly and fit primary CNS lymphoma patients
Recruitment was finished September 2020
More Information
Contact:
- Coordinating Principal Investigator: Prof. Dr. med. Gerald Illerhaus (Stuttgart)
- Deputy Principal Investigator: PD Dr. med. Elisabeth Schorb (Freiburg)
- Project management: Elvira Burger (Freiburg)
Planned Trials
PRIMA-CNS - Age-adjusted high-dose chemotherapy followed by autologous stem cell transplantation or conventional chemotherapy with R-MP as first-line treatment in elderly CNS lymphoma patients - a randomized phase III trial
Start of recruitment: 4th quarter 2022
More Information
Contact:
- Coordinating Principal Investigator: Prof. Dr. med. Gerald Illerhaus (Stuttgart)
- Deputy Principal Investigator: PD Dr. med. Elisabeth Schorb (Freiburg)
- Project management: Elvira Burger (Freiburg)
PD Dr. med. Elisabeth Schorb
+49 761 270 35360
+49 761 270 73570
Dr. med. Lisa Isbell
Clinician Scientist
+49 761 270 18760
+49 761 270 34010 (Pforte)
Elvira Burger
Project Management
+49 761 270-36712
+49 761 270-73570
Natalie Malenica
Study Nurse
+49 761 270 72140
+49 761 270 73570
Annika Vreden
Medical Doctorate Student
Marilena Meyer
Medical Doctorate Student
Tatja Dopatka
Project Assistant
+49 761 270 72290
+49 761 270 73570
Dr. med. Julia Wendler
Clinician Scientist
Dr. med. Stefan Trefz
Clinician Scientist
Simone Neumaier
Clinician Scientist
Cora Steinheber
Study Nurse and Monitoring
+49 711 278-54720
+49 711 278-35649
Present and previous funding:
- Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung (BMBF)
- Else Kröner-Fresenius-Stiftung (EKFS)
- Medizinische Fakultät – Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg
Internal collaborations:
- Dr. Florian Scherer, Klinik für Innere Medizin I (coordination translational research program)
- Zentrum für Klinische Studien (ZKS) Freiburg
- Prof. Dr. Joachim Weis, CCCF, Selbsthilfeforschung
- Dr. Christiane Schmucker, Institut für Evidenz in der Medizin (für Cochrane Deutschland Stiftung)
External collaborations:
- Participating trial centers in Germany (n ~ 40)
- International Extranodal Lymphom Study Group (IELSG) with all international trial sites
- Dr. Kate Cwynarski (London, UK)
- Dr. Andres Ferreri (Milano, Italy)
- Dr. Christopher Fox (Nottingham, UK)
- Prof. Dr. Matthias Backenstraß, Institut für Klinische Psychologie, Klinikum Stuttgart
- Dr. Alexander Friedl, Geriatrisches Zentrum Stuttgart
- Dr. Elina Henkes, Abteilung für Neuroradiologie, Klinikum Stuttgart
- Prof. Dr. Martina Deckert, Institut für Neuropathologie, Universitätsklinikum Köln
- Prof. Dr. Falko Fend, Institut für Pathologie, Universitätsklinikum Tübingen
Original research
*equal contribution
- High-dose chemotherapy and autologous stem cell transplant in elderly patients with primary CNS lymphoma: a pilot study.
Schorb E, Kasenda B, Ihorst G, Scherer F, Wendler J, Isbell L, Fricker H, Finke J, Illerhaus G
Blood Advances 2020
- Ibrutinib in patients with relapsed/refractory central nervous system lymphoma: A retrospective single-centre analysis.
Lauer EM, Waterhouse M, Braig M, Mutter J, Bleul S, Duque-Afonso J, Duyster J, Marks R, Reinacher PC, Prinz M, Illerhaus G, Finke J, Schorb E, Scherer F.
Br J Haematol. 2020
- Induction therapy with the MATRix regimen in patients with newly diagnosed primary diffuse large B-cell lymphoma of the central nervous system - an international study of feasibility and efficacy in routine clinical practice.
Schorb E, Fox CP, Kasenda B, Linton K, Martinez-Calle N, Calimeri T, Ninkovic S, Eyre TA, Cummin T, Smith J, Yallop D, De Marco B, Krampera M, Trefz S, Orsucci L, Fabbri A, Illerhaus G, Cwynarski K, Ferreri AJM
Br J Haematol. 2020
- Age-adjusted high-dose chemotherapy and autologous stem cell transplant in elderly and fit primary CNS lymphoma patients
Schorb E, Finke J, Ihorst G, Kasenda B, Fricker H, Illerhaus G
BMC Cancer. 2019
- Rituximab in primary central nervous system lymphoma - A systematic review and meta-analysis.
Schmitt AM, Herbrand AK, Fox CP, Bakunina K, Bromberg JEC, Cwynarski K, Doorduijn JK, Ferreri AJM, Illerhaus G, Issa S, Schorb E, Zucca E, Hemkens LG, Schandelmaier S, Kasenda B.
Hematol Oncol. 2019
- The MRZ reaction and a quantitative intrathecal IgG synthesis may be helpful to differentiate between primary central nervous system lymphoma and multiple sclerosis.
Hottenrott T*, Schorb E*, Fritsch K, Dersch R, Berger B, Huzly D, Rauer S, Tebartz van Elst L, Endres D, Stich O.
J Neurol. 2018
- Hyper N-glycosylated SAMD14 and neurabin-I as driver CNS autoantigens of PCNSL.
Thurner L, Preuss KD, Bewarder M, Kemele M, Fadle N, Regitz E, Altmeyer S, Schormann C, Poeschel V, Ziepert M, Walter S, Roth P, Weller M, Szczepanowski M, Klapper W, Monoranu C, Rosenwald A, Möller P, Hartmann S, Hansmann ML, Mackensen A, Schäfer H, Schorb E, Illerhaus G, Buslei R, Bohle RM, Stilgenbauer S, Kim YJ, Pfreundschuh M.
Blood. 2018
- Whole-brain radiotherapy or autologous stem-cell transplantation as consolidation strategies after high-dose methotrexate-based chemoimmunotherapy in patients with primary CNS lymphoma: results of the second randomisation of the International Extranodal Lymphoma Study Group-32 phase 2 trial.
Ferreri AJM, Cwynarski K, Pulczynski E, Fox CP, Schorb E, La Rosée P, Binder M, Fabbri A, Torri V, Minacapelli E, Falautano M, Ilariucci F, Ambrosetti A, Roth A, Hemmaway C, Johnson P, Linton KM, Pukrop T, Sønderskov Gørløv J, Balzarotti M, Hess G, Keller U, Stilgenbauer S, Panse J, Tucci A, Orsucci L, Pisani F, Levis A, Krause SW, Schmoll HJ, Hertenstein B, Rummel M, Smith J, Pfreundschuh M, Cabras G, Angrilli F, Ponzoni M, Deckert M, Politi LS, Finke J, Reni M, Cavalli F, Zucca E, Illerhaus G; International Extranodal Lymphoma Study Group (IELSG).
Lancet Haematol. 2017
- High-dose thiotepa-based chemotherapy with autologous stem cell support in elderly patients with primary central nervous system lymphoma: a European retrospective study.
Schorb E, Fox CP, Fritsch K, Isbell L, Neubauer A, Tzalavras A, Witherall R, Choquet S, Kuittinen O, De-Silva D, Cwynarski K, Houillier C, Hoang-Xuan K, Touitou V, Cassoux N, Marolleau JP, Tamburini J, Houot R, Delwail V, Illerhaus G, Soussain C, Kasenda B.
Bone Marrow Transplant. 2017
- High-dose chemotherapy with autologous haematopoietic stem cell support for relapsed or refractory primary CNS lymphoma: a prospective multicentre trial by the German Cooperative PCNSL study group.
Kasenda B, Ihorst G, Schroers R, Korfel A, Schmidt-Wolf I, Egerer G, von Baumgarten L, Röth A, Bloehdorn J, Möhle R, Binder M, Keller U, Lamprecht M, Pfreundschuh M, Valk E, Fricker H, Schorb E, Fritsch K, Finke J, Illerhaus G.
Leukemia. 2017
- High-dose methotrexate-based immuno-chemotherapy for elderly primary CNS lymphoma patients (PRIMAIN study).
Fritsch K, Kasenda B, Schorb E, Hau P, Bloehdorn J, Möhle R, Löw S, Binder M, Atta J, Keller U, Wolf HH, Krause SW, Heß G, Naumann R, Sasse S, Hirt C, Lamprecht M, Martens U, Morgner A, Panse J, Frickhofen N, Röth A, Hader C, Deckert M, Fricker H, Ihorst G, Finke J, Illerhaus G.
Leukemia. 2017
- High-dose chemotherapy and autologous stem cell transplant compared with conventional chemotherapy for consolidation in newly diagnosed primary CNS lymphoma--a randomized phase III trial (MATRix).
Schorb E, Finke J, Ferreri AJ, Ihorst G, Mikesch K, Kasenda B, Fritsch K, Fricker H, Burger E, Grishina O, Valk E, Zucca E, Illerhaus G.
BMC Cancer. 2016
- High-dose chemotherapy with autologous haemopoietic stem cell transplantation for newly diagnosed primary CNS lymphoma: a prospective, single-arm, phase 2 trial.
Illerhaus G, Kasenda B, Ihorst G, Egerer G, Lamprecht M, Keller U, Wolf HH, Hirt C, Stilgenbauer S, Binder M, Hau P, Edinger M, Frickhofen N, Bentz M, Möhle R, Röth A, Pfreundschuh M, von Baumgarten L, Deckert M, Hader C, Fricker H, Valk E, Schorb E, Fritsch K, Finke J.
Lancet Haematol. 2016
- Chemoimmunotherapy with methotrexate, cytarabine, thiotepa, and rituximab (MATRix regimen) in patients with primary CNS lymphoma: results of the first randomisation of the International Extranodal Lymphoma Study Group-32 (IELSG32) phase 2 trial.
Ferreri AJ, Cwynarski K, Pulczynski E, Ponzoni M, Deckert M, Politi LS, Torri V, Fox CP, Rosée PL, Schorb E, Ambrosetti A, Roth A, Hemmaway C, Ferrari A, Linton KM, Rudà R, Binder M, Pukrop T, Balzarotti M, Fabbri A, Johnson P, Gørløv JS, Hess G, Panse J, Pisani F, Tucci A, Stilgenbauer S, Hertenstein B, Keller U, Krause SW, Levis A, Schmoll HJ, Cavalli F, Finke J, Reni M, Zucca E, Illerhaus G; International Extranodal Lymphoma Study Group (IELSG).
Lancet Haematol. 2016
- Prognosis of patients with primary central nervous system lymphoma after high-dose chemotherapy followed by autologous stem cell transplantation.
Schorb E, Kasenda B, Atta J, Kaun S, Morgner A, Hess G, Elter T, von Bubnoff N, Dreyling M, Ringhoffer M, Krause SW, Derigs G, Klimm B, Niemann D, Fritsch K, Finke J, Illerhaus G.
Haematologica. 2013
- Long-term cognitive function, neuroimaging, and quality of life in primary CNS lymphoma.
Doolittle ND, Korfel A, Lubow MA, Schorb E, Schlegel U, Rogowski S, Fu R, Dósa E, Illerhaus G, Kraemer DF, Muldoon LL, Calabrese P, Hedrick N, Tyson RM, Jahnke K, Maron LM, Butler RW, Neuwelt EA.
Neurology. 2013
- 18F-FDG PET is an independent outcome predictor in primary central nervous system lymphoma.
Kasenda B, Haug V, Schorb E, Fritsch K, Finke J, Mix M, Hader C, Weber WA, Illerhaus G, Meyer PT.
J Nucl Med. 2013
- Prognosis after high-dose chemotherapy followed by autologous stem-cell transplantation as first-line treatment in primary CNS lymphoma--a long-term follow-up study.
Kasenda B, Schorb E, Fritsch K, Finke J, Illerhaus G.
Ann Oncol. 2012
- The prognostic value of serum methotrexate area under curve in elderly primary CNS lymphoma patients.
Kasenda B, Rehberg M, Thürmann P, Franzem M, Veelken H, Fritsch K, Schorb E, Finke J, Lebiedz D, Illerhaus G.
Ann Hematol. 2012
Case reports
- Primary CNS lymphoma-radiation-free salvage therapy by second autologous stem cell transplantation.
Kasenda B, Schorb E, Fritsch K, Hader C, Finke J, Illerhaus G.
Biol Blood Marrow Transplant. 2011
Reviews
- Aktuelle Therapiestandards primärer ZNS Lymphome
Schorb E, Illerhaus G, Finke J
Dtsch Med Wochenschr 2019 - Novel agents for primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL) - evidence and perspectives - Invited review.
Illerhaus G, Schorb E, Kasenda B
Blood. 2018 - Advances in treatment of elderly primary central nervous system lymphoma
Nicolas Martinez-Calle, Lisa K. Isbell, Kate Cwynarski, Elisabeth Schorb
==> onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/bjh.17799 - Treatment Regimens for Immunocompetent Elderly Patients with Primary Central Nervous System Lymphoma: A Scoping Review
Elisabeth Schorb, Lisa Kristina Isbell, Gerald Illerhaus, Gabriele Ihorst, Joerg J Meerpohl, Kathrin Grummich, Blin Nagavci, Christine Schmucker
==> pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34503078/
Books
- Das Primäre ZNS-Lymphom
Illerhaus G, Kasenda B, Schorb E
UNI-MED Verlag AG; Auflage 1, 2019
Abstracts
- Vreden A., I., L., Ihorst, G., Kerkhoff, A., Fricker H., Malenica N., Finke J., Illerhaus G., Schorb E.,
Deutsche, Österreichische und Schweizerische Gesellschaften für Hämatologie und Medizinische Onkologie.
Oncol Res Treat 2021. 44(I–III).
==> https://www.karger.com/Journal/Issue/280769
- Advanced Clinican Scientist Award, Medizinische Fakultät Freiburg
- Clinical Research Training in Hematology Award, European Hematology Association (EHA)
- International PCNSL Cooperative Group Travel Scholarship Award
| 05/22 | Welcome to the team. Abed Al Hadi El Rabih, monitoring. |
| 01/22 | Welcome to the team. Elvira Burger-Martin, project coordinator. Tatja Dopatka, project assistant. |
Contact Cooperative Study Group
Primary Central Nervous System Lymphoma (PCNSL)
PD Dr. Elisabeth Schorb
Principal Investigator
Sekretariat: C. Gebhardt
+49 761 270 33741
+49 761 270 32330
cornelia.gebhardt.medizin@uniklinik-freiburg.de
Universitätsklinikum Freiburg
Klinik für Innere Medizin I
Hugstetter Straße 55
D-79106 Freiburg
Elvira Burger
Project Management
+49 761 270-36712
+49 761 270-73570
elvira.burger@uniklinik-freiburg.de
Universitätsklinikum Freiburg
Klinik für Innere Medizin I
Hugstetter Straße 55
D-79106 Freiburg