Sample analysis for COVID-19 vaccine responses in FL (PETReA trial) [COVID-19]
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Sample analysis to elucidate COVID-19 vaccine responses in follicular lymphoma as part of the PETReA trial
IRAS ID
300884
Contact name
Melanie Oates
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Liverpool
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
17/NW/0512, PETReA Clinical Trial
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 0 months, 0 days
Research summary
People with blood cancer have a weakened immune system and are more vulnerable to COVID-19. The new vaccines from Pfizer and Oxford/AstraZeneca are generally very effective. However, we don’t know how well they work in people with blood cancer and what effect different cancer treatments might have. This gap in our knowledge is a particular problem for people with follicular lymphoma (FL) who already have to make difficult treatment decisions. The dilemma is that stronger or more prolonged treatments, which are better at controlling the lymphoma, may weaken the immune system and increase the risk of infections including COVID-19. The PETReA clinical trial, which is open at more than 40 UK sites, is generating important information that will help with these decisions. The study also provides an ideal opportunity to study the immune response to COVID-19 vaccines in people with FL and how it is affected by treatments such as bendamustine and rituximab which suppress different parts of the immune system. To do this, patients in the PETReA trial are invited to provide additional blood samples to see how well COVID-19 vaccines stimulate the production of antibodies and T-cells that react to the SARS-CoV-2 virus. As we learn more about which parts of the immune system are most important in protecting against COVID-19, the study should help people with FL to make better informed decisions about treatment options, while it should give those patients who have already completed treatment a better idea of how much protection to expect from vaccination and what additional precautions might be required.
REC name
London - London Bridge Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
21/HRA/3228
Date of REC Opinion
26 Jul 2021
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion