Publications by authors named "A-L Volckmar"

The adoption of comprehensive genomic profiling in oncology has rapidly increased the demand for standardized tumor sample processing in diagnostic laboratories. Automation of DNA and RNA library preparation workflows offers the possibility to scale-up and standardize sample processing. We report on the clinical implementation of the automated TruSight Oncology 500 High-Throughput library preparation workflow from formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tumor samples using the Biomek i7 hybrid Workstation.

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Targeted tumor only sequencing has become a standard practice in cancer diagnostics. This study aims to develop an approach for robust copy number variant calling in tumor samples using only off-target region (OTR) reads. We also established a clinical use case for homologous recombination deficiency (HRD) score estimation (HRDest) using the sum of telomeric-allelic imbalance and large-scale state transition scores without the need for loss of heterozygosity information.

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Article Synopsis
  • The IVDR regulation (EU 2017/746) introduces new requirements for pathology departments regarding in-house diagnostic devices, with certain conditions being phased in after its implementation on May 26, 2022.
  • The article focuses on the practical application of these regulations at the University Hospital of Heidelberg's Institute of Pathology, aiming to assist other institutions in compliance.
  • Effective implementation of the IVDR requirements is challenging due to the demands on personnel and resources, but collaboration and guidance documents help healthcare institutions navigate the process while balancing patient care, research, and quality management.
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Background: Regulation (EU) 2017/746 on in vitro diagnostic medical devices (IVDR) was passed by the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union on 5 April 2017 and came into force on 26 May 2017. A new amending regulation, which introduces a phased implementation of the IVDR with new transitional provisions for certain in vitro diagnostic medical devices (IVDs) and a later date of application of some requirements for in-house devices for healthcare facilities, was adopted on 15 December 2021. The combined use of CE-certified IVDs (CE-IVDs), in-house IVDs (IH-IVDs), and research use only (RUO) devices are a cornerstone of diagnostics in pathology departments and crucial for optimal patient care.

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Homologous repair deficiency (HRD) is present in many cancer types at variable prevalence and can indicate response to platinum-based chemotherapy and PARP inhibition. We developed a tumor classification system based on the loss of function of genes in the homologous recombination repair (HRR) pathway. To this end, somatic and germline alterations in BRCA1/2 and 140 other HRR genes were included and assessed for the impact on gene function.

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Checkpoint inhibitors have revolutionized the treatment of patients with metastasized melanoma. However, it remains unclear when to stop treatment. We retrospectively analyzed 45 patients (median age 64 years; 58% male) with metastasized melanoma from 3 cancer centers that received checkpoint inhibitors and discontinued therapy due to either immune-related adverse events or patient decision after an (F)2-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) combined with a low-dose CT scan (FDG-PET-CT) scan without signs for disease progression.

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