Lymphoma — cancer of the lymphatic system — is the fifth most common cancer in the UK, with around 19,000 new cases each year. It encompasses over 70 subtypes, from the highly curable Hodgkin lymphoma to aggressive non-Hodgkin lymphomas like diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). UK centres have been pivotal in developing CAR-T cell therapy, bispecific antibodies, and checkpoint inhibitors that are now transforming lymphoma treatment at every stage.
The UK is a global leader in lymphoma clinical trials, with the NCRI Lymphoma Clinical Studies Group and Lymphoma Research Trust coordinating a broad portfolio. Blood Cancer UK funds pioneering research, and the NHS commissions CAR-T for several relapsed lymphoma subtypes. Real-world data from the National Lymphoma Registry informs trial design and eligibility.
There are currently over 100 actively recruiting lymphoma trials in the UK, spanning CAR-T, bispecific antibodies, novel immunotherapies, and molecularly targeted agents.
Types of Lymphoma Trials
CAR-T Cell Therapy
CD19-directed CAR-T (axi-cel, liso-cel, tisa-cel) for relapsed DLBCL, follicular lymphoma, and mantle cell lymphoma — now moving into earlier lines.
Anti-PD-1 therapy (nivolumab, pembrolizumab) for relapsed Hodgkin lymphoma and being explored in select non-Hodgkin subtypes.
Targeted Small Molecules
BTK inhibitors, PI3K inhibitors, EZH2 inhibitors, BCL-2 inhibitors, and lenalidomide-based combinations for various lymphoma subtypes.
CAR-T Cell Therapy
The UK is Europe's largest provider of CAR-T for lymphoma, with seven NHS CAR-T centres now operational:
Axicabtagene ciloleucel (Yescarta) — approved for second-line relapsed/refractory DLBCL. UK trials now testing: first-line use in high-risk patients, combination with checkpoint inhibitors, and in transformed follicular lymphoma
Lisocabtagene maraleucel (Breyanzi) — approved for second-line large B-cell lymphoma and now in UK trials for relapsed follicular lymphoma and mantle cell lymphoma
Tisagenlecleucel (Kymriah) — approved for relapsed follicular lymphoma. UK trials exploring: longer follow-up durability, use in marginal zone lymphoma, and outpatient administration
Next-generation CAR-T — trials of dual-targeting CARs (CD19 + CD20 or CD22), armored CAR-T secreting IL-15, and allogeneic (off-the-shelf) CAR-T products to reduce manufacturing time from weeks to days
T-cell lymphoma CAR-T — early-phase UK trials developing CAR-T for T-cell lymphomas (a much harder target due to T-cell fratricide), using CD30 and CD5 as targets
Bispecific Antibodies
Bispecific T-cell engagers are revolutionising lymphoma treatment as an off-the-shelf alternative to CAR-T:
Glofitamab (Columvi) — CD3×CD20 bispecific with fixed-duration treatment. UK trials in relapsed/refractory DLBCL showing high complete response rates, now testing in earlier lines and in combination with chemotherapy
Epcoritamab (Tepkinly) — subcutaneous CD3×CD20 bispecific, offering convenient administration. UK trials testing: step-up dosing optimisation, combination with lenalidomide, and as maintenance therapy
Mosunetuzumab (Lunsumio) — CD3×CD20 bispecific approved for follicular lymphoma. UK trials exploring: earlier use, combination with polatuzumab, and in aggressive lymphomas
Bispecific sequencing after CAR-T — UK trials investigating bispecifics for patients who relapse after CAR-T, and conversely, CAR-T salvage after bispecific failure
Immunotherapy & Checkpoint Inhibitors
Immunotherapy has transformed Hodgkin lymphoma and is being explored in non-Hodgkin subtypes:
Nivolumab for Hodgkin lymphoma — checkpoint inhibition is now standard for relapsed classical Hodgkin lymphoma after brentuximab. UK trials testing: frontline use (replacing chemotherapy for some patients), combination with brentuximab, and as maintenance after transplant
Pembrolizumab in primary mediastinal B-cell lymphoma — a subtype that shares features with Hodgkin lymphoma and responds to PD-1 blockade
NK cell therapy — natural killer cell infusions (allogeneic, off-the-shelf) as a non-CAR approach to immunotherapy for lymphoma, in early UK trials
Vaccine approaches — personalised lymphoma vaccines targeting idiotypic immunoglobulin on B-cell lymphomas, in UK Phase 2 trials
Targeted Therapies
Small molecule drugs targeting specific pathways are expanding treatment options:
BTK inhibitors — ibrutinib, acalabrutinib, and zanubrutinib for mantle cell lymphoma, Waldenström macroglobulinaemia, and marginal zone lymphoma. UK trials testing: BTK inhibitor + BCL-2 inhibitor combinations, and newer non-covalent BTK inhibitors for resistant disease
Lenalidomide — immunomodulatory drug effective in multiple lymphoma subtypes. UK trials combining with rituximab (R² regimen) and with novel agents
EZH2 inhibitors (tazemetostat) — for EZH2-mutant follicular lymphoma, now in UK trials and expanding to wild-type disease
PI3K inhibitors — umbralisib and next-generation PI3K inhibitors for indolent lymphomas, with UK trials focusing on improved safety profiles
Antibody-drug conjugates — polatuzumab vedotin (anti-CD79b), loncastuximab tesirine (anti-CD19), and newer ADCs delivering potent chemotherapy directly to lymphoma cells
Hodgkin Lymphoma Innovations
Hodgkin lymphoma already has high cure rates, and UK trials are focusing on reducing long-term toxicity:
De-escalation trials — reducing chemotherapy cycles or radiation dose for patients with early favourable responses on PET-CT, maintaining cure rates while minimising long-term effects
Brentuximab vedotin — anti-CD30 antibody-drug conjugate now used in frontline combinations. UK trials testing: as a single agent for early-stage disease, and in older patients who cannot tolerate standard chemotherapy
Checkpoint inhibitors replacing transplant — UK trials investigating whether nivolumab can replace autologous stem cell transplant as salvage therapy for relapsed Hodgkin lymphoma
Fertility preservation — trials incorporating fertility-sparing protocols for young patients, with long-term reproductive outcome monitoring
Who Can Participate?
Lymphoma trial eligibility depends on subtype, prior treatment, and disease status:
CAR-T trials — relapsed/refractory B-cell lymphoma after ≥2 prior lines (for standard commissioning), or after ≥1 line (for some trials). Requires CD19-positive disease, adequate organ function for leukapheresis, and no active CNS involvement
Bispecific antibody trials — broader eligibility than CAR-T. May accept patients with compromised organ function, and some allow prior CAR-T. Requires CD20-positive disease
Targeted therapy trials — may require specific molecular markers (EZH2 mutation, BTK pathway activation). Often for relapsed indolent lymphomas
General criteria — ECOG performance status 0–2, adequate blood counts and organ function, no active infection, and willingness to attend regular monitoring
💡 Tip: Biopsy for Molecular Profiling
If you have relapsed lymphoma, a repeat biopsy before starting new treatment is increasingly important. Modern trials require up-to-date tissue for molecular profiling (CD19/CD20 status, EZH2 mutations, double-hit/triple-hit genetics for DLBCL). Your haematologist can arrange this — it opens the door to the most innovative trial options.
UK Lymphoma Trial Locations
Major UK centres running lymphoma trials include:
London — UCLH (major CAR-T centre), King's College Hospital, Royal Marsden, Guy's and St Thomas', Barts Health
Manchester — The Christie NHS Foundation Trust (major CAR-T centre)
Birmingham — Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham
Leeds — St James's University Hospital
Southampton — University Hospital Southampton (lymphoma research centre)
Glasgow — Beatson West of Scotland Cancer Centre
Edinburgh — Western General Hospital
Cardiff — University Hospital of Wales
How to Find Your Match
Use our Smart Matcher to find lymphoma trials tailored to your subtype, stage, and treatment history. Whether you are exploring CAR-T, bispecific antibodies, checkpoint inhibitors, or novel targeted therapies, we can match you to actively recruiting studies.