What are the needs in oral antitumor therapy? An analysis of patients' and practitioners' preferences.

Background: Since the European approval of CDK4/6 inhibitors in 2016, the treatment of patients with hormone-receptor-positive, HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer has changed significantly. Compared with chemotherapy, endocrine-based therapy has different treatment regimens and is associated with new side effects. Oral therapy aims for optimal drug efficacy and long treatment times while maintaining maximum independence and quality of life resulting in the conservation of medical staff resources.

Prevalence of Pathogenic Germline Variants in Women with Non-Familial Unilateral Triple-Negative Breast Cancer.

Introduction: International guidelines recommend genetic testing for women with familial breast cancer at an expected prevalence of pathogenic germline variants (PVs) of at least 10%. In a study sample of the German Consortium for Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer (GC-HBOC), we have previously shown that women with TNBC diagnosed before the age of 50 years but without a family history of breast or ovarian cancer (sTNBC) meet this criterion. The present study investigates the PV prevalence in and nine additional cancer predisposition genes in an extended sTNBC study sample including a cohort of women with a later age at sTNBC diagnosis.

KLF11 is an independent negative prognostic factor for breast cancer from a cohort study and induces proliferation and inhibits apoptosis in vitro.

Background: The therapy concepts that target several members of krüppel like factor (KLF) family have been achieved in breast cancer (BC). However, the role of KLF11 in BC remains unclear. This study explored the prognostic significance of KLF11 in BC patients and investigated its functional roles in this malignancy.

PARP inhibitors: risk factors for toxicity and matching patients to the proper poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitor (PARPi) therapy.

The past 5 years have seen several fundamental advances in ovarian cancer, with important new insights towards novel therapeutic opportunities within the DNA repair pathway. With the incorporation of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitors (PARPi) into maintenance treatment regimens, the management of short- and long-term adverse events are key clinical priorities. Currently, three different PARPi are clinically beneficial and have been approved for primary and recurrent ovarian cancer: olaparib, niraparib, and rucaparib.

Presence of regulatory T-cells in endometrial cancer predicts poorer overall survival and promotes progression of tumor cells.

Purpose: Endometrial cancer (EC) is one of the most common gynaecologic malignancies. Tumor infiltrating regulatory T-cells (Treg) have been reported to have a prognostic impact in many malignancies. Immunotherapeutic strategies are gaining interest for advanced and recurrent EC cases, where treatment options are rare.

Subcellular Distribution of Thyroid Hormone Receptor Beta in Ovarian Cancer.

Background: Since the most well-known function of thyroid hormone receptors (TRs) relies on their ability to act as ligand-activated transcription factors, their subcellular localization has been recognized to be relevant for their biological meaning. The current study aimed to determine the prevalence and subcellular distribution of TR beta and TR beta-1 in ovarian cancer (OC). Methods: Tissue was collected from 153 patients that had undergone surgery due to OC at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology of the Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich.

AKR1C1/2 inhibition by MPA sensitizes platinum resistant ovarian cancer towards carboplatin.

In recurrent epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) most patients develop platinum-resistance. On molecular level the NRF2 pathway, a cellular defense mechanism against reactive oxygen species, is induced. In this study, we investigate AKR1C1/2, target of NRF2, in a well-established EOC collective by immunohistochemistry and in a panel of ovarian cancer cell lines including platinum-resistant clones.

The role of resveratrol, Sirtuin1 and RXRα as prognostic markers in ovarian cancer.

Objective: Ovarian cancer is the most lethal gynecologic cancer. Resveratrol (RSV) is known to alter metabolism in cancer. It affects the nuclear retinoid-X-receptor (RXR), which implies a modulating effect of RXR to gynaecologic cancers.

Role of FoxP3-positive regulatory T-cells in regressive and progressive cervical dysplasia.

Purpose: Forkhead Box Protein 3 (FoxP3) is known as a key mediator in the immunosuppressive function of regulatory T-cells (Tregs). The aim of our study was to investigate whether FoxP3-positive Tregs have the potential to act as an independent predictor in progression as well as in regression of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia, especially in patients with intermediate cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN II).

Methods: Nuclear FoxP3 expression was immunohistochemically analysed in 169 patient samples (CIN I, CIN II with regressive course, CIN II with progressive course, CIN III).

Actin Beta-Like 2 as a New Mediator of Proliferation and Migration in Epithelial Ovarian Cancer.

The impact of Actin beta-like 2 (ACTBL2), a novel described actin isoform, on epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) biology has not been investigated so far. In this study, we analyzed the prognostic and functional significance of ACTBL2 and its regulatory element Nuclear factor of activated T-cells 5 (NFAT5). The expression of ACTBL2 and NFAT5 was examined in tissue microarrays of 156 ovarian cancer patients by immunohistochemistry.

Late Presentation at Primary Diagnosis of Breast Cancer: Patients' Personality Characteristics and Attitudes.

Introduction: Breast cancer (BC) is the most common cancer in women worldwide. Despite screening and information efforts, about 10% of patients present with tumor size T3 or T4 at primary diagnosis. Late presentation is associated with more advanced tumor stage and consecutively with worse survival rates.

The Platelet-Activating Factor Receptor's Association with the Outcome of Ovarian Cancer Patients and Its Experimental Inhibition by Rupatadine.

The platelet-activating factor receptor (PAFR) and its ligand (PAF) are important inflammatory mediators that are overexpressed in ovarian cancer. The receptor is an important player in ovarian cancer development. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the prognostic value of PAFR in epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) and the potential use of its antagonist, rupatadine, as an experimental treatment.

Platelet-Activating Factor Acetylhydrolase Expression in BRCA1 Mutant Ovarian Cancer as a Protective Factor and Potential Negative Regulator of the Wnt Signaling Pathway.

Aberrantly activated Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, as well as platelet-activating factor (PAF), contribute to cancer progression and metastasis of many cancer entities. Nonetheless, the role of the degradation enzyme named platelet-activating factor acetylhydrolase (PLA2G7/PAF-AH) in ovarian cancer etiology is still unclear. This study investigated the functional impact of platelet-activating factor acetylhydrolase on BRCA1 mutant ovarian cancer biology and its crosstalk with the Wnt signaling pathway.

First Experiences with Alpelisib in Clinical Routine: Case Reports from a German Breast Center.

Introduction: The phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K) inhibitor alpelisib is the only approved agent for treating --mutated, hormone receptor-positive (HR+) human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative (HER2-) advanced breast cancer (ABC). Trials have reported hyperglycemia, diarrhea, and rash as the main grade 3 side effects.

Methods: In a managed access program (ClinicalTrials.

Implementation of Precision Oncology for Patients with Metastatic Breast Cancer in an Interdisciplinary MTB Setting.

The advent of molecular diagnostics and the rising number of targeted therapies have facilitated development of precision oncology for cancer patients. In order to demonstrate its impact for patients with metastatic breast cancer (mBC), we initiated a Molecular Tumor Board (MTB) to provide treatment recommendations for mBC patients who had disease progression under standard treatment. NGS (next generation sequencing) was carried out using the Oncomine multi-gene panel testing system (Ion Torrent).

Breast adipose tissue macrophages (BATMs) have a stronger correlation with breast cancer survival than breast tumor stroma macrophages (BTSMs).

Background: An abundance of tumor-associated macrophages has been shown to be an independent prognostic factor for a poor prognosis of human breast cancer (BC). Adipose tissue accounts for the largest proportion of the breast and has also been identified as an independent indicator of poor survival in BC. This study aims to elucidate if the influence of adipose tissue in BC might be mediated by macrophages.

The G-Protein-Coupled Estrogen Receptor (GPER) Regulates Trimethylation of Histone H3 at Lysine 4 and Represses Migration and Proliferation of Ovarian Cancer Cells In Vitro.

Histone H3 lysine 4 trimethylation (H3K4me3) is one of the most recognized epigenetic regulators of transcriptional activity representing, an epigenetic modification of Histone H3. Previous reports have suggested that the broad H3K4me3 domain can be considered as an epigenetic signature for tumor-suppressor genes in human cells. G-protein-coupled estrogen receptor (GPER), a new membrane-bound estrogen receptor, acts as an inhibitor on cell growth via epigenetic regulation in breast and ovarian cancer cells.

First Evidence for a Role of Siglec-8 in Breast Cancer.

Sialic acid-binding immunoglobulin-like lectins (Siglecs) are involved in various immune cell-mediated diseases. Their role in cancer is poorly investigated, and research focusses on Siglec-expression on immune cells interacting with tumor cells. This study evaluates the role of Siglec-8 in breast cancer (BC).

Epigenetic modification via H3K4me3 and H3K9ac in human placenta is reduced in preeclampsia.

Backround: Alterations of DNA accessibility and chromatin structure are associated with diseases. We aimed to investigate epigenetic modifications in preeclampsia (PE), a pregnancy-associated hypertonic disease. Specifically, we addressed histone modification proteins H3K9ac (acetylated lysine 9 of the histone H3) and H3K4me3 (trimethylated lysine 4 of the histone H3) in PE.

Development and Validation of a Novel 11-Gene Prognostic Model for Serous Ovarian Carcinomas Based on Lipid Metabolism Expression Profile.

(1) Background: Biomarkers might play a significant role in predicting the clinical outcomes of patients with ovarian cancer. By analyzing lipid metabolism genes, future perspectives may be uncovered; (2) Methods: RNA-seq data for serous ovarian cancer were downloaded from The Cancer Genome Atlas and Gene Expression Omnibus databases. The non-negative matrix factorization package in programming language R was used to classify molecular subtypes of lipid metabolism genes and the limma package in R was performed for functional enrichment analysis.

Nuclear Enolase-1/ MBP-1 expression and its association with the Wnt signaling in epithelial ovarian cancer.

Background: Enolase-1, primarily known for its role in glucose metabolism, is overexpressed in various cancer entities. In contrast its alternative spliced nuclear isoform MBP-1 acts as a tumor suppressor. The aim of this study is to analyze the prognostic impact of Enolase-1/ MBP-1 and its functional significance in epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC).

Trastuzumab Biosimilars in the Therapy of Breast Cancer - "Real World" Experiences from four Bavarian University Breast Centres.

With the introduction of the first trastuzumab biosimilar in the summer of 2018, biosimilar antibodies for breast cancer have found their way into the area of gynaecological oncology. The switch of anti-human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) therapy from the reference drug Herceptin to a biosimilar has presented challenges to the clinics. In addition to structural and organisational measures, training of employees as well as patient briefing and acceptance were major challenges.