Follicular LymphomaPhase 11stFLORNCT03245021
Nivolumab Plus Rituximab in First-line Follicular Lymphoma gr 1-3A
A Phase 1 study testing Opdivo in people with Follicular Lymphoma, run by Dr. Eliza Hawkes at 5 sites in Australia.
Trial summary
Firstline treatment for grade 13a Follicular Lymphoma using Opdivo (nivolumab) plus Rituximab: The 1st FLOR trial Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 years and older
- Conditions the study is for
- Follicular Lymphoma
- What is being tested?
- Opdivo
- Type of treatment
- Injection or infusion
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 39 participants
- Where
- 5 sitesAustralia
- Study dates
- 7 Sep 2017to Jun 2027
- Phase
- Phase 1
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 years and older
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Age ≥ 18 years.
- Histologically proven Follicular non Hodgkin lymphoma (FL) grades 1-3A according to the current World Health Organization classification.29 The B cell nature of the proliferation must be verified by the positivity with an anti-CD20 antibody.
- No previous chemotherapy, or other investigational drug for this indication apart from focal radiotherapy.
- Stage II-IV disease (Ann Arbor criteria). Stage II disease must not be encompassable in a single radiotherapy field and being considered for definitive radiotherapy.
- Eastern Collaborative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status 0 to 1 unless attributable to lymphoma, in which case patients of performance status 2 are also eligible.
- Deemed to need treatment by treating investigator. Reasons for treatment can include, but are not limited to:
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- Any nodal or extranodal tumour mass >7cm AND/OR multiple extranodal disease sites b. Involvement of at least 3 sites each with diameter >3cm c. Symptomatic splenic enlargement d. Organ involvement/compression e. Ascites or pleural effusion f. Lactate Dehydrogenase (LDH) elevated g. Presence of systemic symptoms h. Disease progression in preceding 3 months i. Evidence of marrow infiltration with marrow compromise. (eg Hb, WBC or plt count below lower limit of institutional normal range).
- Adequate bone marrow function including:
- Haemoglobin >9.0 g/dL
- White blood cells (WBC) ≥2000/μL
- Neutrophils >1.5 x 109/L
- Platelets >100 x 109/L at the time of study entry, unless attributed to bone marrow infiltration by lymphoma.
- Adequate renal function with serum creatinine ≤1.5 x ULN or creatinine clearance (CrCl) ≥ 40mL/min (using Cockroft-Gault formula) Female CrCl = (140 - age in years) x weight (kg) x 0.85 72 x serum creatinine (mg/dL) Male CrCl = (140 - age in years) x weight (kg) x 1.00 72 x serum creatinine (mg/dL) i) Adequate hepatic function with AST/ALT ≤3x ULN and total bilirubin ≤1.5 x ULN (except subjects with Gilbert syndrome, who can have a total bilirubin ≤3 mg/dL or ≤51.3 μmol/L) j) Life expectancy > 3 months. k) Patients of childbearing potential willing to adhere to contraceptive precautions
- Women of childbearing potential (WOCBP) must have a negative serum or urine pregnancy test (minimum sensitivity 25 IU/L or equivalent units of HCG) within 24 hours prior to the start of study treatment
- Women must not be breastfeeding
- WOCBP must use appropriate method(s) of contraception to avoid pregnancy for 23 weeks (30 days plus five half-lives of nivolumab) post-treatment completion
- Men who are sexually active with WOCBP must use any contraceptive method with a failure rate of less than 1% per year. They must agree to adhere to contraception for a period of 31 weeks after the last day of nivolumab.
- Azoospermic males and WOCBP who are continuously not heterosexually active are exempt from contraceptive requirements. However, they must still undergo pregnancy testing as described in this section.
- Written, informed consent.
Who cannot join
- Grade 3B follicular lymphoma, transformed follicular lymphoma, other indolent lymphomas.
- Prior therapy with anti-PD-1, anti-PD-L1, anti-PD-L2, anti-CD137, or anti-CTLA-4 antibody or any other antibody or drug specifically targeting T-cell co-stimulation or checkpoint pathways.
- Central nervous system, meningeal involvement or cord compression by lymphoma.
- Patients with active, known or suspected autoimmune disease. Patients with well controlled type I diabetes mellitus, coeliac disease, residual hypothyroidism due to autoimmune condition only requiring hormone replacement, vitiligo or psoriasis not requiring systemic treatment, or other conditions not expected to recur in the absence of an external trigger are permitted to enrol.
- Subjects with a condition requiring systemic treatment with either corticosteroids (> 10mg daily prednisone equivalents) or other immunosuppressive medications within 14 days of study drug administration. Inhaled or topical steroids, and adrenal replacement doses > 10 mg daily prednisone equivalents are permitted in the absence of active autoimmune disease.
- Past history of interstitial lung disease.
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- Prior malignancy active within the previous 3 years except for locally curable cancers that have been apparently cured, such as basal or squamous cell skin cancer, superficial bladder cancer, or carcinoma in situ of the prostate, cervix, or breast.
- Any other serious active disease.
- Any positive test result for hepatitis B or hepatitis C virus during screening indicating acute or chronic infection.
- Any positive test for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or known acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)
- Any history of severe hypersensitivity reactions to other monoclonal antibodies. A history of allergy or intolerance (unacceptable AEs) to study drug components or Polysorbate-80-containing infusions
- Medical or psychiatric conditions that compromise the patient's ability to give informed consent.
Trial locations and contacts
5 sites in 1 country.
5 sites in 1 country
Australia5 sites
Ballarat Health
Ballarat, Victoria
Eastern Health
Box Hill, Victoria, 3128
Monash Health
Clayton, Victoria
Austin Health
Heidelberg, Victoria, 3084
St Vincent's Hospital
Melbourne, Victoria
About this study
Official title: First-line Treatment for Grade 1-3A Follicular Lymphoma Using Opdivo (Nivolumab) Plus Rituximab: The 1st FLOR Study
Firstline treatment for grade 13a Follicular Lymphoma using Opdivo (nivolumab) plus Rituximab: The 1st FLOR trial
Read the detailed description
This study will involve participants with a condition called Follicular NonHodgkin Lymphoma (Follicular Lymphoma).
The main purpose of this study is to see if it is safe to give drug Nivolumab before and in combination with drug Rituximab and to see how effective Nivolumab is in patients who have had no previous drug treatment for their lymphoma. In particular, we will be monitoring for any specific side effects which may be increased by adding Nivolumab to Rituximab treatment, including monitoring of the immune system.
Participants will be reviewed at baseline and prior to each cycle of treatment for toxicity, scans will be performed at baseline, after 4 cycles of nivolumab, after 8 cycles of nivolumab +/rituximab and at 6 months post induction treatment phase and following completion of treatment, participants will be followed up for a total of 5 years (every 3 months for 2 years, every 6 months for 3 years). In participants with relapsed disease, these will be followed for survival every 3 months.
- Conditions
- Follicular Lymphoma
- Being tested
- Opdivo
- Medical subject headings
- Lymphoma, Follicular
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
OpdivoDrug
Also called Rituximab
All patients will receive:
Nivolumab 240mg IV q2-weekly for four cycles
Patients in complete remission (CR):
Nivolumab 240mg IV q2-weekly for four further cycles (8 in total)
Patients with partial response (PR), stable disease (SD), asymptomatic or minor progressive disease (PD) post 4cycles receive:
Nivolumab 240mg IV plus rituximab 375mg/m2 IV q2-weekly for four cycles
Patients in CR:
Nivolumab 240mg IV q2-weekly for four further cycles (8 in total)
Patients with PR, SD, asymptomatic or minor PD post 4 cycles receive:
Nivolumab 240mg IV plus rituximab 375mg/m2 IV q2-weekly for four cycles
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Open-Label | Other | Opdivo - Single-arm open label study Receives: Drug: Opdivo |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
To evaluate the feasibility and safety of combination nivolumab and rituximab as determined by the proportion of toxicity grade 3 or higher per CTCAE v4.0 occurring on induction treatment (ie first 16 weeks of therapy)
As determined by rate of toxicity grade 3 or higher per CTCAE v4.0
Measured: 1st 16 weeks of therapy
Secondary outcomes (6)
Overall toxicity
As determined by rate of toxicity grade 3 or higher per CTCAE v4.0
Measured: 5 years
Response rate
Response Rate to Nivolumab + Rituximab according to the Lugano classification for Response Criteria for Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma
Measured: 1st 16 weeks of therapy
Complete response rate
Response Rate to Nivolumab + Rituximab according to the Lugano classification for Response Criteria for Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma
Measured: 6 months post completion of induction treatment
Time to treatment failure
Time to progression
Measured: 5 years
Progression free survival
Duration of survival without relapse or non-relapse mortality
Measured: 5 years
Overall survival
Overall toxicity as assessed by CTCAE v4.0
Measured: 5 years
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted10 Aug 2017
- Study start7 Sep 2017
- Primary completion11 May 2022
- Study completionJun 2027 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (1)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Follicular LymphomaStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase 1
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Not applicable
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Model description
- Single Group Assignment
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 39 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Dr. Eliza Hawkes
- Sponsor type
- Other government
- Collaborators
- Bristol-Myers Squibb
- Responsible party
- Sponsor-investigator, Dr. Eliza Hawkes, Austin Health
- Investigators
- Eliza Hawkes, MD, Principal investigator, Austin Health
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT03245021
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- CA209-676
- Acronym
- 1stFLOR
- Status last verified
- Oct 2026
- First submitted
- 7 Aug 2017
- Last updated
- 29 Oct 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- Yes
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- Undecided: IPD is the property of the Sponsor (Austin Health). Results from the research intends to be published/presented in relevant publications/conferences for colleague review
Publications
Barraclough A, Lee ST, Burgess M, Churilov L, Chong G, Lee D, Gilbertson M, Fancourt T, Manos K, Ritchie DS, Koldej RM, Scott AM, Keane C, Hawkes EA. Nivolumab and rituximab in treatment-naive follicular lymphoma: the phase 2 1st FLOR study. Blood Adv. 2025 Mar 25;9(6):1432-1441. doi: 10.1182/bloodadvances.2024015487.
PubMed 39853272
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 29 Oct 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- First-line Treatment for Grade 1-3A Follicular Lymphoma Using Opdivo (Nivolumab) Plus Rituximab: The 1st FLOR Study
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT03245021
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- 1stFLOR / CA209-676
- Conditions
- Follicular Lymphoma
- Phase
- Phase 1
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Active, not recruiting
- Enrolment
- 39 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Dr. Eliza HawkesOther government
- Collaborators
- Bristol-Myers Squibb
- Study start
- 7 Sep 2017 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 11 May 2022 (actual)
- Study completion
- Jun 2027 (estimated)
- First posted
- 10 Aug 2017 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
Firstline treatment for grade 13a Follicular Lymphoma using Opdivo (nivolumab) plus Rituximab: The 1st FLOR trial
Detailed description
This study will involve participants with a condition called Follicular NonHodgkin Lymphoma (Follicular Lymphoma).
The main purpose of this study is to see if it is safe to give drug Nivolumab before and in combination with drug Rituximab and to see how effective Nivolumab is in patients who have had no previous drug treatment for their lymphoma. In particular, we will be monitoring for any specific side effects which may be increased by adding Nivolumab to Rituximab treatment, including monitoring of the immune system.
Participants will be reviewed at baseline and prior to each cycle of treatment for toxicity, scans will be performed at baseline, after 4 cycles of nivolumab, after 8 cycles of nivolumab +/rituximab and at 6 months post induction treatment phase and following completion of treatment, participants will be followed up for a total of 5 years (every 3 months for 2 years, every 6 months for 3 years). In participants with relapsed disease, these will be followed for survival every 3 months.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Not applicable
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 1
- Model description
- Single Group Assignment
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Open-Label | Other | Drug: OpdivoOpdivo - Single-arm open label study |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (19 listed)
- Age ≥ 18 years.
- Histologically proven Follicular non Hodgkin lymphoma (FL) grades 1-3A according to the current World Health Organization classification.29 The B cell nature of the proliferation must be verified by the positivity with an anti-CD20 antibody.
- No previous chemotherapy, or other investigational drug for this indication apart from focal radiotherapy.
- Stage II-IV disease (Ann Arbor criteria). Stage II disease must not be encompassable in a single radiotherapy field and being considered for definitive radiotherapy.
- Eastern Collaborative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status 0 to 1 unless attributable to lymphoma, in which case patients of performance status 2 are also eligible.
Key exclusion criteria (12 listed)
- Grade 3B follicular lymphoma, transformed follicular lymphoma, other indolent lymphomas.
- Prior therapy with anti-PD-1, anti-PD-L1, anti-PD-L2, anti-CD137, or anti-CTLA-4 antibody or any other antibody or drug specifically targeting T-cell co-stimulation or checkpoint pathways.
- Central nervous system, meningeal involvement or cord compression by lymphoma.
- Patients with active, known or suspected autoimmune disease. Patients with well controlled type I diabetes mellitus, coeliac disease, residual hypothyroidism due to autoimmune condition only requiring hormone replacement, vitiligo or psoriasis not requiring systemic treatment, or other conditions not expected to recur in the absence of an external trigger are permitted to enrol.
- Subjects with a condition requiring systemic treatment with either corticosteroids (> 10mg daily prednisone equivalents) or other immunosuppressive medications within 14 days of study drug administration. Inhaled or topical steroids, and adrenal replacement doses > 10 mg daily prednisone equivalents are permitted in the absence of active autoimmune disease.
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| OpdivoAlso: RituximabAll patients will receive: Nivolumab 240mg IV q2-weekly for four cycles Patients in complete remission (CR): Nivolumab 240mg IV q2-weekly for four further cycles (8 in total) Patients with partial response (PR), stable disease (SD), asymptomatic or minor progressive disease (PD) post 4cycles receive: Nivolumab 240mg IV plus rituximab 375mg/m2 IV q2-weekly for four cycles Patients in CR: Nivolumab 240mg IV q2-weekly for four further cycles (8 in total) Patients with PR, SD, asymptomatic or minor PD post 4 cycles receive: Nivolumab 240mg IV plus rituximab 375mg/m2 IV q2-weekly for four cycles | Drug | Open-Label |
Primary outcome
To evaluate the feasibility and safety of combination nivolumab and rituximab as determined by the proportion of toxicity grade 3 or higher per CTCAE v4.0 occurring on induction treatment (ie first 16 weeks of therapy)
Time frame: 1st 16 weeks of therapy
As determined by rate of toxicity grade 3 or higher per CTCAE v4.0
6 secondary outcomes
Overall toxicity
Time frame: 5 years
Response rate
Time frame: 1st 16 weeks of therapy
Complete response rate
Time frame: 6 months post completion of induction treatment
Time to treatment failure
Time frame: 5 years
Progression free survival
Time frame: 5 years
Overall survival
Time frame: 5 years
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 29 Oct 2026.
- Derived from this study: PubMed 39853272Barraclough A, Lee ST, Burgess M, Churilov L, Chong G, Lee D, Gilbertson M, Fancourt T, Manos K, Ritchie DS, Koldej RM, Scott AM, Keane C, Hawkes EA. Nivolumab and rituximab in treatment-naive follicular lymphoma: the phase 2 1st FLOR study. Blood Adv. 2025 Mar 25;9(6):1432-1441. doi: 10.1182/bloodadvances.2024015487.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: Undecided. IPD is the property of the Sponsor (Austin Health). Results from the research intends to be published/presented in relevant publications/conferences for colleague review
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Eliza Hawkes, MD principal investigator
Austin Health
5 sites in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A Phase 1 study testing Opdivo in people with Follicular Lymphoma, run by Dr. Eliza Hawkes at 5 sites in Australia.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 19 inclusion and 12 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: under way, not looking for participants, as of the sponsor's last update on 29 Oct 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 5 sites in Australia. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
What does this phase mean?
Phase 1 studies test a treatment in a small group of people for the first time or in a new way, mainly to check safety and find the right dose.
Not every study follows the same path, and some studies (observational studies, device studies) have no phase.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
To evaluate the feasibility and safety of combination nivolumab and rituximab as determined by the proportion of toxicity grade 3 or higher per CTCAE v4.0 occurring on induction treatment (ie first 16 weeks of therapy) (time frame: 1st 16 weeks of therapy). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT03245021, which also lists 1 linked publication.
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 29 Oct 2026.