Skip to main content
TTrialFinderData
TrialFinderData is for informational purposes only and does not provide medical advice. Always talk to your doctor.

Updated May 2026 · ClinicalTrials.gov

RECRUITINGPhase 1INTERVENTIONAL

Pomalidomide and Dose-Adjusted EPOCH +/- Rituximab for HIV-Associated Lymphomas

Phase I Trial of Pomalidomide and Dose-Adjusted EPOCH +/- Rituximab for HIV-Associated Lymphomas

Pomalidomide and Dose-Adjusted EPOCH +/- Rituximab for HIV-Associated Lymphomas (NCT05389423) is a Phase 1 interventional studying Diffuse Large Cell Lymphoma and Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma, sponsored by National Cancer Institute (NCI). RECRUITING as of the most recent ClinicalTrials.gov update. Talk to your doctor before contacting the trial site.

Important: This information is not medical advice. Talk to your doctor about whether a clinical trial is right for you.

About This Trial

Background: Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) is the most common cancer among people living with HIV in the United States. People with HIV are up to 17 times more likely to get NHL than people who do not have HIV. The disease may also be different in these two groups. More study is needed for treating people with both HIV and NHL. Objective: To test a study drug (pomalidomide) in combination with chemotherapy with or without another drug (rituximab) in people with HIV-associated NHL. Eligibility: Adults aged 18 years or older diagnosed with HIV-associated B-cell NHL with high-risk features. Design: Individuals will undergo screening. They will have a physical exam. They will have blood and urine tests and tests of heart function. They may have imaging scans. Researchers will review tissue samples of individual s tumors. In some cases, a new biopsy may be needed. Individuals will receive up to 6 cycles of treatment. The first cycle is 26 days: Individuals will take pomalidomide by mouth for 10 days. After 5 days they will start receiving chemotherapy drugs through a tube attached to a needle placed in a vein (IV). Some participants will receive rituximab on day 5. All individuals will receive a second set of IV drugs that will last for 4 days (96 hours). They will receive another IV drug after the previous treatment is complete. The remaining cycles are each 21 days. Individuals will take pomalidomide by mouth for the first 10 days. Other chemotherapy treatments will also be repeated starting on day 1 of each cycle. Screening tests will be repeated at study visits. Follow-up visits will continue for 4 years....

What Stage of Research Is This?

Phase 1 trials test a new treatment for the first time in humans, focusing on safety, dosing, and how the body processes the drug. For Diffuse Large Cell Lymphoma, a Phase 1 study typically enrolls a small number of participants — often healthy volunteers or patients who have exhausted standard treatment options. Phase 1 results determine whether a treatment moves into larger Phase 2 efficacy studies.

This trial is currently recruiting participants. The sponsor has registered the study with ClinicalTrials.gov as actively enrolling, which means new applicants who meet the eligibility criteria can be considered for screening. Trial status can change between updates — confirm current recruiting status with the study contact before traveling for a screening visit.

With a target enrollment of 25 participants, this is a small study — typical of early-phase research, rare-disease trials, or pilot studies designed to generate preliminary signal before a larger study is launched.

Who May Be Eligible (Plain English)

* Who May Qualify: - diagnosed by tissue sample (biopsy-confirmed) B-cell NHL confirmed by the Laboratory of Pathology (LP), NCI, with one or more of the following features: - Leptomeningeal/CSF involvement - High-risk for CNS relapse per CNS-IPI (score 4-6) - Plasmablastic histology - Gamma herpesvirus positive tumor - Presence of KS - Measurable or evaluable lymphoma. - Positive HIV1/2 serology. - Individuals may not have received prior curative-intent chemotherapy for lymphoma. Individuals who have received prior treatment as a bridge to curative-intent therapy will be considered per Protocol Chair discretion if \>= 2 weeks since administration. Steroids given for any reason or rituximab given for multicentric Castleman disease may be given any time prior to treatment start. - Age \>=18 years - Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status (ECOG-PS) \<=4 - Individuals of childbearing potential (IOCBP) must have a negative serum or urine pregnancy test with a sensitivity of at least 25 mIU/mL within 2 weeks prior to and again within 1 day before starting the study drugs and must either commit to continued abstinence from penetrative vaginal intercourse or begin TWO acceptable methods of birth control, one highly effective method and one additional effective method AT THE SAME TIME, at least 28 days before the participant starts taking pomalidomide and for 12 months after the last dose of combined chemotherapy. - Individuals able to father a child must agree to use an effective method of contraception (barrier, surgical sterilization, abstinence) for the duration of the study treatment and up to six (6) months after the last dose of the study drug(s). We also will recommend individuals able to father a child with IOCBP partners to ask the partners to be on an effective birth control (hormonal, intrauterine device (IUD), surgical sterilization). Individuals able to father a child must not freeze or donate sperm within the same period. ...See full criteria on ClinicalTrials.gov Always talk to your doctor about whether this trial is right for you.

These are translations of the protocol\'s inclusion and exclusion criteria, simplified for patients and caregivers. The original clinical text appears below. Eligibility is ultimately confirmed by the trial site\'s screening process — this summary is a starting point for a conversation with your doctor, not a final determination.

Original Eligibility Criteria

View original clinical language
* INCLUSION CRITERIA: * Histologically or cytologically confirmed B-cell NHL confirmed by the Laboratory of Pathology (LP), NCI, with one or more of the following features: * Leptomeningeal/CSF involvement * High-risk for CNS relapse per CNS-IPI (score 4-6) * Plasmablastic histology * Gamma herpesvirus positive tumor * Presence of KS * Measurable or evaluable lymphoma. * Positive HIV1/2 serology. * Individuals may not have received prior curative-intent chemotherapy for lymphoma. Individuals who have received prior treatment as a bridge to curative-intent therapy will be considered per Protocol Chair discretion if \>= 2 weeks since administration. Steroids given for any reason or rituximab given for multicentric Castleman disease may be given any time prior to treatment start. * Age \>=18 years * Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status (ECOG-PS) \<=4 * Individuals of childbearing potential (IOCBP) must have a negative serum or urine pregnancy test with a sensitivity of at least 25 mIU/mL within 2 weeks prior to and again within 1 day before starting the study drugs and must either commit to continued abstinence from penetrative vaginal intercourse or begin TWO acceptable methods of birth control, one highly effective method and one additional effective method AT THE SAME TIME, at least 28 days before the participant starts taking pomalidomide and for 12 months after the last dose of combined chemotherapy. * Individuals able to father a child must agree to use an effective method of contraception (barrier, surgical sterilization, abstinence) for the duration of the study treatment and up to six (6) months after the last dose of the study drug(s). We also will recommend individuals able to father a child with IOCBP partners to ask the partners to be on an effective birth control (hormonal, intrauterine device (IUD), surgical sterilization). Individuals able to father a child must not freeze or donate sperm within the same period. * All individuals must agree to be registered into the mandatory POMALYST REMS(R)TM program and be willing and able to comply with the requirements of the POMALYST REMS(R)TM program. * Able to take aspirin 81mg orally daily or another substitute thromboprophylaxis. * Adequate organ and marrow function as defined below unless abnormalities are attributed to lymphoma or HIV as determined by investigator: * absolute neutrophil count \>=1,000/mcL * platelets \>=75,000/mcL * total bilirubin \<=1.5 X institutional upper limit of normal (individuals with history of Gilbert disease are eligible if total bilirubin \<= 5 mg/dL with \<80% unconjugated bilirubin) * aspartate aminotransferase (AST) / alanine transaminase (ALT) \<=3 X institutional upper limit of normal * creatinine clearance \>=60 mL/min/1.73 m\^2 for individuals with creatinine levels above institutional normal. * Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection must be on suppressive antiviral therapy. * Willingness to take and adhere to ART (individuals are not required to be on any specific regimen of ART). * Individuals must understand and sign a written informed consent document. EXCLUSION CRITERIA: * Individuals may not receive investigational agents on other clinical trials. * Requirement of any of the agents listed as prohibited thearapies. * History of allergic reactions attributed to compounds of similar chemical or biologic composition to pomalidomide or other agents used in study. * Parenchymal brain involvement with lymphoma. * Ejection fraction less than 40% by echocardiography (ECHO) * CTCAEv5.0 Grade 3-4 neuropathy * History of malignant tumors other than KS or KSHV-associated multicentric Castleman Disease, (MCD), unless: * In complete remission for \>= 1 year from the time response was first documented; or, * Completely resected basal cell carcinoma; or, * In situ squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix or anus; or, * Prior or concurrent malignancy has a natural history or treatment which does not have the potential to interfere with the safety or efficacy assessment of the investigational regimen per Protocol Chair discretion. * Known drug-related, inherited, or acquired procoagulant disorder including prothrombin gene mutation 20210, antithrombin III deficiency, protein C deficiency, protein S deficiency and antiphospholipid syndrome but not including heterozygosity for the Factor V Leiden mutation or the presence of a lupus anticoagulant in the absence of other criteria for the antiphospholipid syndrome. * Symptomatic congestive heart failure * Unstable angina pectoris, symptomatic cardiac arrhythmia, or cardiac arrhythmia requiring medical treatment. * Uncontrolled intercurrent illness or participants considered to be of poor medical health due to a serious, uncontrolled medical disorder, non-malignant systemic disease or active uncontrolled infection (excluding lymphoma or HIV) as documented in prior records or suggested by medical history, physical examination or standard clinical assessments such as imaging and laboratory studies. * Pregnant or nursing individuals (if lactating, must agree not to nurse while taking pomalidomide).

Treatments Being Tested

DRUG

Vincristine

0.4 mg/m2/day administered by CIVI on days 1 to 4

DRUG

Prednisone

60 mg/m2/day administered orally on days 1 to 5

DRUG

Doxorubicin

10 mg/m2/day administered by CIVI on days 1 to 4

DRUG

Etoposide

50 mg/m2/day administered by CIVI on days 1 to 4

DRUG

Pomalidomide

An initial dose of 3mg administered orally for 10 days in all cycles. In cycle 1, it will start 5 days before DA-EPOCH; in cycles 2-6, it will start on day 1. Administered at an MTD dose for the expansion phase.

DRUG

Cyclophosphamide

750 mg/m2 administered IV on day 5

DRUG

Rituximab

375 mg/m2 administered IV on day 1 (only for CD20+ tumors)

Locations (1)

Trial sites listed on ClinicalTrials.gov for this study. Site activation status can vary — confirm with the specific site before traveling for a screening visit.

National Institutes of Health Clinical Center
Bethesda, Maryland, United States

How to Talk to Your Doctor About This Trial

Bring the printable summary of this trial — including the NCT ID (NCT05389423), the sponsor (National Cancer Institute (NCI)), and the key eligibility criteria — to your next appointment. Your doctor can review the inclusion and exclusion criteria against your medical history, lab values, and current treatments to assess whether you are likely to qualify. They can also help you weigh whether trial participation makes sense alongside your existing care plan.

Useful questions to walk through together: What does the trial protocol require beyond standard care? How long is the active treatment phase, and how long is follow-up? Are there study visits at sites I can reach? Who pays for the trial-specific procedures, and who pays for standard-of-care portions? See our 25 questions to ask about clinical trials guide for a more complete checklist.

Authoritative Sources

The official record for this trial lives on ClinicalTrials.gov — the federal registry maintained by the National Library of Medicine at NIH. For background on how this trial fits into the FDA approval pathway, see the FDA drug approval process. For oncology-specific guidance for patients considering trials, the National Cancer Institute publishes patient-oriented overviews. International trial registries are aggregated by the WHO ICTRP.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the NCT05389423 clinical trial studying?

Background: Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) is the most common cancer among people living with HIV in the United States. People with HIV are up to 17 times more likely to get NHL than people who do not have HIV. The disease may also be different in these two groups. More study is needed for treating people with both HIV and NHL. Objective: To test a study drug (pomalidomide) in combination with chemotherapy with or without another drug (rituximab) in people with HIV-associated NHL. Eligibility: Adults aged 18 years or older diagnosed with HIV-associated B-cell NHL with high-risk features. De… The full protocol is registered on ClinicalTrials.gov and includes the primary outcome measures, eligibility criteria, and study endpoints.

Who can participate in NCT05389423?

Eligibility for this trial depends on the specific inclusion and exclusion criteria set by the sponsor. The plain-English summary above translates the most important criteria into accessible language; the official clinical text is preserved in the collapsible section underneath. Whether you fit any specific trial is a medical decision your doctor needs to confirm — bring the trial information to your treating physician for a full review against your medical history.

How do I contact the trial site for NCT05389423?

Contact information registered with ClinicalTrials.gov is shown in the sidebar of this page. Before reaching out, confirm with your treating physician that this trial is appropriate for your situation. The trial site will then walk you through the screening process to determine final eligibility.

Is participating in a clinical trial safe?

Clinical trials in the United States are regulated by the FDA and overseen by Institutional Review Boards (IRBs) that review the protocol for safety. Risk varies by trial — Phase 1 studies test new treatments in humans for the first time, while Phase 3 trials use treatments that have already passed earlier safety screening. The informed consent document for any specific trial details the known risks and what to expect. Discuss those risks with your physician before deciding whether to participate.

Where can I verify the data on this page?

Every detail on this page comes directly from the ClinicalTrials.gov API. Click "View on ClinicalTrials.gov" in the sidebar to see the official, unmodified record. The federal record is always authoritative; this page is a structured presentation with a plain-English eligibility translation. For background on how clinical trials are regulated, see the FDA drug approval process documentation.

How This Page Is Built

Every field on this page is pulled directly from the ClinicalTrials.gov API v2 — no estimates, no proxies. The plain-English eligibility translation is generated from the original protocol text and reviewed for fidelity to the underlying clinical criteria. The original clinical text remains visible in the collapsible section above so users and clinicians can verify the translation. Read the full methodology for the data pipeline and known limitations.

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov API v2 record for NCT05389423. Maintained by the National Library of Medicine at NIH. Public domain. Cite as: "TrialFinderData. NCT05389423. Data: ClinicalTrials.gov."

Medical disclaimer: This page is informational, not medical advice. Talk to your doctor about whether a clinical trial is right for you.

Last updated 2026-05-08 · Data from ClinicalTrials.gov.