The PAULIEN study is named in honor of Paulien van Deutekom, a renowned Dutch speed skater and all-round world champion who passed away from lung cancer in January 2019. It was her friends from the skating community who initiated the Paulien van Deutekom Foundation, raising funds for the PAULIEN study through various initiatives, including scarf sales.
The PAULIEN study: regional clinical research involving patients with advance lung cancer
The PAULIEN study focuses on regional clinical research involving patients with advanced lung cancer. This study seeks to identify which treatment protocol is most effective for these patients. A critical factor in clinical decision-making is the presence of the PD-L1 protein on tumor cells, which suppresses immunity. This protein allows tumor cells to evade detection by the body's immune system. Immunotherapy with pembrolizumab works by maintaining T cells' activity against the tumor by preventing PD-L1 on cancer cells from binding to these immune cells.
In advanced lung cancer treatment, if 50% or more of the cancer cells exhibit the PD-L1 protein on their cell wall, pembrolizumab immunotherapy is the chosen treatment. However, it remains uncertain whether combining immunotherapy with chemotherapy can enhance therapeutic effects. The PAULIEN study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of first-line pembrolizumab monotherapy compared to a combination of immunotherapy and chemotherapy.
Working together for a better outcome
At the November 27 meeting, the multi-disciplinary team of the PAULIEN study, comprising principal investigators, physicians, PhD students, and research coordinators, convened with representatives of the Paulien van Deutekom Foundation. They discussed recent results and future directions of the study. To date, 50 patients have been enrolled, facilitating a preliminary evaluation of the initial data. Last October, an interim analysis was presented at the European Society of Medical Oncology (ESMO) congress in Madrid1.
The recent donation from the Paulien van Deutekom Foundation significantly enhances the scope of the PAULIEN study. With this funding, the research team can now conduct microscopic examinations of tumor biopsies from participating patients. This expansion is vital for a deeper understanding of the cellular processes occurring within the tumor environment and how they relate to treatment outcomes.
For more information, contact Dr. Idris Bahce, or visit the website of the Paulien van Deutekom Foundation or LinkedIn page of the Lung Cancer Patient Research Group Amsterdam UMC.
1. Houda, I., Ulas, E. B., Hashemi, S., Becker, A., Daniëls, H., Tarasevych, S., Looysen, E., Kunst, P. W., Moons-Pasic, A., Thonissen, N. M., Van Haarst, J., Van Tilburg, P., Maat, B., Barlo, N. P., Disselhorst, M., Van Diepen, V., Tiemessen, M., Van Laren, M., Veltman, J. D., & Bahce, I. (2023). 1445P A randomized phase III trial on Pembrolizumab Alone versus pembrolizumab-chemotherapy in first LInE NSCLC (PAULIEN), results of the interim analysis. Annals of Oncology, 34, S821–S822. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.annonc.2023.09.2476
Photos: Marlou Pulles (PUUR Pulles Fotografie). Text by Ezgi Ulas, translation by Henri van de Vrugt.