An observational study to collect treatment data for the long-term optimization of treatment in non-Hodgkin B-cell lymphomas

B-cell lymphomas arise from a specific subgroup of white blood cells, the B lymphocytes. In B-cell lymphomas, these cells undergo malignant transformation, which can lead to the development of various forms of lymphoma. The most common B-cell lymphomas are diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), follicular lymphoma (FL), mantle cell lymphoma (MCL), chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL)—including small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL)—and Burkitt lymphoma. A closely related disease is Waldenström’s disease (Waldenström macroglobulinemia, WM). Symptoms of these diseases include, among others, enlarged lymph nodes, fever, night sweats, and weight loss. The exact cause is unknown in most cases, but genetic mutations and infections may play a role.

There are various treatment options for the different types of B-cell lymphomas. The choice of treatment depends, among other factors, on the patient’s age and overall health, the presence of symptoms, the stage of the disease, and any prior treatments. However, there is often a lack of long-term data regarding treatment outcomes. Comparing the different treatments is further complicated by the fact that, in many cases, there is no standardized recording of interventions and outcomes.

The goal of the RUBIN study, as an observational study (registry), is to collect data on patients’ health status, prior treatments, current therapies, disease progression, and quality of life. This is intended to identify opportunities for improvement in routine care and to assess the success of new treatment methods in everyday clinical practice.

The study is purely observational, meaning that the choice of therapy is made independently of participation in the study. In addition, a decentralized biobank will be established to store blood or tissue samples for future research purposes (provided the patients consent). The study tracks the entire course of treatment for a maximum of approximately 5 years per patient.

Patients aged 18 and older with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), follicular lymphoma (FL), mantle cell lymphoma (MCL), marginal zone lymphoma (MZL), or Waldenström macroglobulinemia (WM) are eligible to participate in this study.