Blood Cancer Research Award Advances Lymphoma Clinical Trials
A national career development award will support Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center’s Juan Alderuccio, M.D., and three investigator-initiated clinical trials testing more precise treatments for large B-cell lymphoma.
Key Takeaways
- A national career development award will support three investigator-initiated clinical trials led by Juan Alderuccio, M.D.
- The studies focus on large B-cell lymphoma, including disease involving the central nervous system and lymphoma that has returned or resisted treatment.
- The research program will evaluate treatment combinations, a ctDNA-guided strategy and biomarkers associated with treatment resistance.
The Blood Cancer United Scholar in Clinical Research Award was recently given to Juan Alderuccio, M.D., a lymphoma specialist at Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, part of the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. The prestigious award will provide up to $625,000 over five years to support his independent clinical research program. That program includes three investigator-initiated clinical trials aiming to improve outcomes for patients with large B-cell lymphoma (LBCL).
The Scholar in Clinical Research Award is reserved for exceptional investigators conducting early-stage clinical trials in blood cancer research. Unlike traditional project-based grants, the award recognizes an investigator’s broader research program and long-term vision for advancing the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of hematologic malignancies through research that directly impacts patients. Recipients must demonstrate scientific excellence, leadership potential and a commitment to translating discoveries into better care.
“This award is incredibly meaningful because it recognizes my research program in large B-cell lymphoma dedicated to improving the lives of these patients. It provides an opportunity to build on three investigator-initiated clinical trials that we’ve developed and started at Sylvester, accelerating the development of more effective, patient-centered treatment strategies,” said Dr. Alderuccio, an associate professor of hematology at the Miller School.
How are the Three Trials Studying Large B-Cell Lymphoma?
Over the past several years, Dr. Alderuccio has emerged as a leading investigator in lymphoma clinical trials, participating in the development of multiple national and international studies. His work spans both aggressive and slow-growing forms of the disease, addressing some of the field’s most pressing clinical challenges.
Dr. Alderuccio’s funded research program encompasses three clinical trials in large B-cell lymphoma.
The first study evaluates zanubrutinib in combination with polatuzumab vedotin with R-CHP and high-dose methotrexate in patients with secondary central nervous system lymphoma (SCNSL). Thhe disease spreads to the central nervous system and is associated with very poor survival under current therapies. This trial (NCT06730542) is one of the few national studies in this disease, is currently enrolling patients at Sylvester.
What Do the Three Lymphoma Trials Study?
1. Lymphoma involving the central nervous system
This trial evaluates a combination treatment for patients whose large B-cell lymphoma has spread to the central nervous system.
2. Treatment duration guided by ctDNA
This planned study will use circulating tumor DNA, a blood-based marker of treatment response, to investigate whether some patients can receive a shorter course of cytotoxic chemotherapy.
3. An off-the-shelf antibody combination
This trial evaluates epcoritamab with loncastuximab tesirine for relapsed or refractory large B-cell lymphoma.
The second study will test a de-escalation strategy in patients with untreated large B-cell lymphoma, aiming to shorten the course of cytotoxic chemotherapy based on circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) results, a highly sensitive blood-based test that reveals treatment effect at the molecular level. Dr. Alderuccio expects to launch this highly innovative trial in the fourth quarter of 2026. It will be one of the first studies personalizing treatment duration in this disease.
The third study builds on early results combining loncastuximab tesirine with a bispecific antibody in relapsed/refractory (r/r) large B-cell lymphoma, an approach with potential as a highly effective, off-the-shelf treatment. This trial will test the combination of epcoritamab with loncastuximab tesirine in second-line r/r large B-cell lymphoma (NCT06919939). It is currently enrolling at Sylvester, with plans to expand to two additional sites.
Across all three trials, Dr. Alderuccio’s program will incorporate innovative correlative studies, including molecular imaging, circulating biomarkers and genomic tissue interrogation, to uncover mechanisms of resistance to these agents.
That broader vision builds on research that has already helped expand treatment options for patients with lymphoma. In a phase 2 clinical trial, Dr. Alderuccio led the evaluation of loncastuximab tesirine and rituximab in patients with relapsed or refractory high-risk follicular lymphoma. The study showed strong response rates and helped support expansion into a larger multicenter trial. Findings from the study also contributed to updated National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines recognizing the regimen as a treatment option for patients with relapsed or refractory follicular lymphoma.
What Comes Next for Lymphoma Research?
Looking ahead, Dr. Alderuccio sees tremendous opportunity as advances in disease biology, immunotherapy and targeted treatments continue to reshape the field.
“We are entering a remarkable era in lymphoma research. Our growing understanding of disease biology, along with powerful technologies such as ctDNA and significant advances in drug development, are allowing us to develop more precise therapies that can improve outcomes while reducing treatment-related toxicity through shorter treatment programs,” he said. “The ultimate goal is to ensure that every patient receives the right treatment at the right time and that we continue moving toward therapies that are both more effective and easier to tolerate.”
The Blood Cancer United award will help fuel that mission, providing critical support for a research program dedicated to translating scientific discoveries into better options for patients with lymphoma and other blood cancers.
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Tags: blood cancers, cancer research, cancer survivorship, CAR T cells, clinical trials, diffuse large B cell lymphoma, Dr. Juan Pablo Alderuccio, hematology, immune system, lymphoma, lymphoma research, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, Sylvester Survivorship and Supportive Care Institute