The global clinical trial Glo-BNHL is for children and young adults with a type of cancer in the lymphatic system called B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma. When conventional therapies do not work or the lymphoma returns, there are only a few treatment options available. The trial is therefore evaluating several new immunotherapies in parallel.
B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (B-NHL) is a cancer that develops in the lymph nodes or in organs such as the liver and spleen. In children, adolescents and young adults whose cancer does not respond to treatment or relapses, achieving a cure is particularly difficult. Because current treatments have many side effects and help only around one third of young patients, better treatment options are urgently needed.
What is the purpose of the study?
Glo-BNHL is a global clinical trial for children and adolescents with relapsed or treatment-resistant B-NHL. It examines whether one or more of the new treatments studied in adults are also effective in young patients. Experts continually monitor which new treatments should be incorporated into the Glo-BNHL study.
The study tests several treatments at the same time: If a treatment does not work as well as hoped, it is replaced. If a treatment proves effective, it is studied further until it is clear that it truly represents the best treatment option. If a treatment does not work for a child, they can switch to another treatment within the study provided a suitable study group is available.
All treatments in the Glo-BNHL trial have shown promising results in studies with adults who have similar conditions. Nevertheless, the researchers cannot guarantee that all children, adolescents, and young adults will personally benefit from taking part. However, the findings from the study may help young people with B-NHL in the future.
In Switzerland, it is expected that approximately one patient per year will take part in the study.
Who is responsible for the study
The University of Birmingham in the United Kingdom (sponsor) is responsible for the international conduct of the study. In Switzerland, the Swiss Paediatric Oncology Group (SPOG) is the national sponsor representative responsible for the study.
- National Study Chair: PD Dr. med. Francesco Ceppi, Médecin associé, Unité d’hématologie-oncologie pédiatrique, Service de pédiatrie, Centre hospitalier universitaire vaudois CHUV
- Deputy Swiss study lead: –
Contact details for the Swiss sponsor representative:
SPOG Coordination Centre
Partner Relations
Effingerstrasse 33
3008 Bern
Email: partnerrelations@spog.ch
Tel.: +41 31 389 91 89
In short
- B-NHL affects children, adolescents, and young adults particularly severely when the cancer does not respond to treatment or returns: current medicines help only one third of young patients and have considerable side effects.
- The Glo-BNHL study tests several new treatments in parallel. Less effective treatments are replaced while effective ones continue to be investigated.
- If a treatment proves ineffective for a participant, they can switch to another study group provided a suitable alternative is available within the study.
Study team
National Study Chair
PD Dr. med. Francesco Ceppi
Associated Physician, Department of Paediatric Haematology-Oncology
Lausanne University Hospital
Clinical Project Manager
Sabrina Amrein
Clinical Project Manager
SPOG Coordinating Centre
+41 31 508 42 56 E-Mail 
