University Hospital Cologne and Gustave Roussy launch Franco-German research project on lung cancer
Project costs of EUR 1.5 million are covered by a German donor and the French entrepreneurial Oddo family
The three-year study compares two treatment regimens: two cycles of chemo-immunotherapy followed by immunotherapy maintenance, compared to standard treatment with four cycles of chemo-immunotherapy.
Prof. Dr. Michael Hallek, Director of Clinic I for Internal Medicine and the Center for Integrated Oncology (CIO) Cologne, explains: "We are very much looking forward to this joint, cross-border project. We are grateful for the support of the donors for this important, potentially practice-hanging studym which will determine whether a reduced intensity of chemotherapy is similarly effective but better tolerated than standard therapy for the study group."
Prof. Fabrice André, Research Director of Gustave Roussy, adds: "We are deeply grateful to the donors for their generous support, which will help generate practice-changing results and insights that contribute to optimizing the treatment of patients with lung cancer."
The study will be conducted in selected centers in Germany and France. A total of 15 centers are to be activated.
The operational implementation in Germany will be carried out by the Lung Cancer Group Cologne under the direction of Prof. Dr. Jürgen Wolf at the University Hospital of Cologne and the "national Network Genomic Medicine Lung Cancer (nNGM)". In France, the study is being conducted by the internationally renowned Gustave Roussy Cancer Center in Paris. The head of the study there is Dr. Maxime Frélaut.
After completion of the study, its results will be incorporated into the International Treatment Guidelines, promising to significantly transform patient management strategies.
The study is being financed entirely by the German Dr. Rolf M. Schwiete Stiftung and the French Oddo family of entrepreneurs.
Background on Center for Integrated Oncology (CIO) at the University Hospital Cologne
The Cancer Center of the University Hospital Cologne - the CIO Cologne - is one of the leading international cancer centers and hosts several large national study groups. Together with the cancer centers of the University Hospitals of Aachen, Bonn and Düsseldorf, it forms the CIO Aachen Bonn Cologne Düsseldorf, one of 15 comprehensive cancer centers in Germany. With the West German Tumor Center Essen, it also forms the NCT West and is part of the National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), a long-term cooperation between the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), excellent partners in university medical centers and other research institutions at various locations in Germany.
For further information: Center for Integrated Oncology (CIO) Köln
Background on Gustave Roussy
Ranked as the leading French and European Cancer Centre and fourth in the world, Gustave Roussy is a centre with comprehensive expertise and is devoted entirely to patients suffering with cancer. The Institute is a founding member of the Paris Saclay Cancer Cluster. It is a source of diagnostic and therapeutic advances. It caters for almost 50,000 patients per year and its approach is one that integrates research, patient care and teaching. It is specialized in the treatment of rare cancers and complex tumors and it treats all cancers in patients of any age. Its care is personalized and combines the most advanced medical methods with an appreciation of the patient’s human requirements. In addition to the quality of treatment offered, the physical, psychological and social aspects of the patient’s life are respected. 4,100 professionals work on its two campuses: Villejuif and Chevilly-Larue. Gustave Roussy brings together the skills, which are essential for the highest quality research in oncology: 40% of patients treated are included in clinical studies.
For further information: www.gustaveroussy.fr/en, Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram