Primary Central Nervous System Lymphoma (PCNSL) Clinical Trials

Lymphoma is a cancer of lymphocytes, the white blood cells of the immune system. Most lymphomas start in lymph nodes. Primary CNS lymphoma starts inside the central nervous system instead, in the brain, the spinal cord, the meninges that wrap them, or the eye, and in almost all cases it stays confined there.

The most common symptoms of Primary Central Nervous System Lymphoma include Headaches, nausea or vomiting, Confusion, Weakness in an arm or leg, Seizures, Double vision, since the eyes are part of the central nervous system, among others. About 5 new cases per million people a year in the US (Ono Pharmaceutical and Deciphera); more than half of patients are 60 or older. Symptoms can range from mild to severe and may vary between individuals.

Trial Friend lists all active clinical trials for Primary Central Nervous System Lymphoma from ClinicalTrials.gov, with eligibility criteria translated into plain English. Patients can filter by trial phase and recruitment status, search by location, and use the Match Me tool to score trials against their profile. The standard first treatment is high-dose methotrexate given in the hospital, usually combined with rituximab and other chemotherapy drugs such as cytarabine and temozolomide, followed in fitter patients by high-dose chemotherapy with an autologous stem cell transplant, which has been shown to lengthen survival. Whole-brain radiation can control the disease but can also damage thinking, memory and speech.

As of September 2026, Trial Friend's curated drug index does not include an FDA-approved treatment specific to Primary Central Nervous System Lymphoma. The Treatments section of this page checks FDA drug labels live and lists any approved drug whose label names the condition, and the trials listed below cover the investigational options. The FDA is due to decide on Tirabrutinib by December 18, 2026; the FDA calendar page carries the outcome the day it lands.

Primary Central Nervous System Lymphoma arises from acquired (somatic) genetic changes in the affected cells, rather than from an inherited variant. PCNSL is not inherited. The gene changes that matter, most often in MYD88 and CD79B, are found by testing the tumor tissue from the biopsy. About 5 new cases per million people a year in the US (Ono Pharmaceutical and Deciphera); more than half of patients are 60 or older.

For Primary Central Nervous System Lymphoma the genetic testing that matters is usually of the tumor or affected blood cells rather than inherited DNA. PCNSL is not inherited. The gene changes that matter, most often in MYD88 and CD79B, are found by testing the tumor tissue from the biopsy.

Those results guide treatment choice and are often the entry requirement for targeted-therapy trials, so ask whether the biopsy was sent for molecular testing and request the report. The Genetic Testing section of this page lists laboratories in the NIH Genetic Testing Registry.

Eligibility for Primary Central Nervous System Lymphoma clinical trials depends on factors like age, diagnosis, treatment history, and overall health. Each trial sets its own inclusion and exclusion criteria. Trial Friend translates these requirements from medical language into plain English so patients can review them more easily. The Match Me tool can score your profile against active trials to help identify studies that may be a fit.

Participating in a Primary Central Nervous System Lymphoma clinical trial typically involves scheduled visits, medical tests, and close monitoring by a research team. Depending on the study phase, you may receive an investigational treatment, a placebo, or the current standard of care. Trials may last from a few weeks to several years. Study participation is voluntary, and you can withdraw at any time.