About

Pointillism - project

Pointillism 2.0 has the goal to determine whether a cancer patient will benefit from immunotherapy treatment. Immunotherapy uses the body's natural defense mechanism to fight cancer cells. Unfortunately, the treatment does not provide a cure for all patients, and it is also very expensive. By determining in advance which patients will benefit the most, doctors can avoid unnecessary treatments. This is in the best interest of patients' well-being and reduces healthcare costs.

Pointillism 1.0, the first phase of the research, took place from 2019 to 2022. This project’s objective was to find biomarkers that can predict the success of immunotherapy. Biomarkers are molecules, cells or other small pieces of body tissue that allow researchers to recognize, predict or monitor a particular disease. To find out which biomarkers qualify, researchers collected samples of body tissue from patients with four different types of cancer. Based on these samples, researchers mapped changes in the tumors, using innovative multi-omics single-cell profiling. By analyzing the difference between patients who respond well to immunotherapy and those who do not, a series of biomarkers were identified. Based on these biomarkers, researchers can predict whether or not immunotherapy will benefit a particular patient.

Pointillism 2.0

In 2023, Pointillism 2.0 is kicked off. This project is to confirm and refine the results of the first phase. The research consists of four clinical trials in which tissue samples and blood samples are collected from melanoma and breast cancer patients. All of these patients are receiving immunotherapy. Their response to treatment will be analyzed in this research as well. The research methods from the first phase have been improved and expanded to assess each of the potential biomarkers individually, compare their performance and combine them into a biomarker panel with the highest sensitivity and specificity. The result of the research should lead to a simple blood test allowing physicians to see immediately which cancer patients will respond well to immunotherapy and for whom a different method of treatment is needed.

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GC - Biopt
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Pointillism 2.0 will perform an independent validation of these promising biomarkers to deliver a validated blood-based test for robust patient stratification into responders and non-responders to immunotherapy. Biopsies and blood samples will be collected from 4 clinical trials in which melanoma and breast cancer patients are treated with immunotherapy, and for which clinical response data is available.

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GC - Single Cell
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Techniques and analysis pipelines optimized in the original project will be complemented with even more novel techniques, in order to assess each of the potential biomarkers separately, compare their performance and combine them into a biomarker panel with the highest sensitivity and specificity.

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GC - Kanker Analyse
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Additionally, this prototype set of markers will be prepared for transition to a routine clinical diagnostic setting, such that it can immediately be applied in the local context or can be further developed for broader application.