Publications by authors named "Hartkopf A"

Backgound: The GeparOLA study evaluated paclitaxel(P) plus olaparib(O) in neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) for patients with HER2-negative early breast cancer (eBC) with homologous recombination deficiency (HRD). HRD was defined by high HRD-score or germline(g)/tumor(t) BRCA1/2 mutations (g/tBRCA1/2mut). Here, we report long-term outcome data.

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Background: Patients with first-line metastatic breast cancer (MBC) comprise patients with de novo metastases (dnMBC) or recurrent disease after primary breast cancer (rMBC). This analysis aimed to explore the prognostic value of dnMBC versus rMBC overall and particularly in subgroups according to age and metastasis site, in addition to other prognostic clinicopathological parameters in a first-line, hormone receptor (HR)-positive, HER2-negative (HRpos/HER2neg) population.

Methods: Within the prospective PRAEGNANT MBC registry (NCT02338167), 508 HRpos/HER2neg patients, receiving first-line treatment for advanced disease, were identified.

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Purpose: To assess trial-level surrogacy value for overall survival (OS) of the pathologic complete response (pCR) and invasive disease-free survival (iDFS) in randomized clinical trials (RCTs) for early breast cancer (BC).

Methods: Individual patient data of neoadjuvant RCTs with available data on pCR, iDFS, and OS were included in the analysis. We used the coefficient of determination from weighted linear regression models to quantify the association between treatment effects on OS and on the surrogate end points.

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Background/objectives: This single-center analysis evaluated the number of potential candidates for endocrine-based oral maintenance therapy in a real-world setting, focusing on three therapeutic agents, namely, olaparib, abemaciclib, and ribociclib, for patients with hormone receptor-positive HER2-negative early breast cancer.

Methods: All breast cancer cases from the past 10 years ( = 3230) that underwent treatment at the certified Breast Cancer Center of the Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Lübeck Campus, were analyzed.

Results: Of a total of 2038 patients with HR+ HER2- eBC, 685 patients (33.

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: Endometriosis and urogenital malformation with uterus didelphys and renal agenesis might occur concomitantly, and the question arises whether both entities are associated with each other. : A literature search was conducted in PubMed and Web of Science, using the following search terms: "endometriosis and uterine malformation, endometriosis and Herlyn-Werner-Wunderlich syndrome", "endometriosis and OHVIRA (Obstructed Hemivagina and Ipsilateral Renal Anomaly) syndrome" and "uterus didelphys, renal agenesis and endometriosis". : We identified and examined 36 studies, comprising a total of 563 cases with coinciding endometriosis and OHVIRA.

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The progress that has been made in recent years in relation to liquid biopsies in general and circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) in particular can be seen as groundbreaking for the future of breast cancer treatment, monitoring and early detection. Cell-free DNA (cfDNA) consists of circulating DNA fragments released by various cell types into the bloodstream. A portion of this cfDNA, known as ctDNA, originates from malignant cells and carries specific genetic mutations.

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Article Synopsis
  • Breast cancer (BC) patients have a higher incidence of mental disorders compared to those without the disease, with 64.2% of BC patients affected versus 38.1% of controls.
  • Specific mental health issues such as hypochondriac, anxiety, affective, and adjustment disorders were notably more prevalent among BC patients, particularly those undergoing endocrine therapy.
  • Mastectomy patients had lower rates of mental illnesses than those receiving breast-conserving treatment or breast reconstruction, which was associated with higher rates of psychological issues.
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Purpose: Breast cancer is a primary cause of cancer-related death among women worldwide. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) is a cornerstone treatment for locally advanced, non-metastatic breast cancer. Achieving pathological complete response (pCR) is often used as a surrogate marker for long-term outcomes.

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The Ovarian Cancer Retrospective European (O'CaRE) study assessed the cumulative impact of high-risk factors on progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) following first-line treatment in patients diagnosed with advanced ovarian cancer. Medical records were collected from five European countries (2014 and 2015). Patients were grouped by number of high-risk factors: stage IV diagnosis, no known , interval debulking surgery or no surgery, or visible residual disease.

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Background: Although adequate physical activity has been shown to be beneficial in early breast cancer, evidence in metastatic breast cancer is sparse and contradictory, which could be related to distinct effects of physical activity on the different molecular cancer subtypes. Therefore, we here evaluated the effect of physical activity on progression-free and overall survival (PFS, OS) in metastatic breast cancer, specifically looking at molecular subtypes.

Methods: International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) questionnaires, filled out by patients enrolled in the prospective PRAEGNANT registry (NCT02338167; n = 1,270) were used to calculate metabolic equivalent task (MET) minutes, which were subsequently categorized into low (n = 138), moderate (n = 995) or high IPAQ categories (n = 137).

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Article Synopsis
  • Increased physical activity is linked to improved survival rates among postmenopausal women with advanced hormone receptor-positive breast cancer, according to a study conducted in Germany from 2012 to 2017.
  • The study involved 1,440 participants who reported their physical activity levels using the Godin Leisure Time Exercise Questionnaire, with findings indicating that "active" women experienced longer progression-free survival (PFS) and fewer adverse events compared to their "insufficiently active" peers.
  • Additionally, "active" participants reported better quality of life (QoL) and lower fatigue levels, highlighting the benefits of maintaining physical activity during cancer treatment.
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Background/objectives: Breast cancer may negatively affect later pregnancy and childbirth. We aimed to analyze the impact of previous breast cancer on obstetric outcomes in postdiagnosis pregnancies.

Methods: Insurance claims data in Southern Germany were used to identify breast cancer (BC) survivors with at least one subsequent delivery after cancer diagnosis between 2010 and 2020.

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Background The preparation of multidisciplinary team (MDT) meetings can be time-consuming. In addition to the clinical data being available digitally in subsystems, the preparation of more complex cases requires literature research. Several expert systems have been developed to support this process.

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Introduction: The third-generation antibody-drug conjugates (ADC), trastuzumab deruxtecan (T-DXd) and sacituzumab govitecan (SG), recently obtained approval for metastatic breast cancer treatment across various subtypes and therapeutic contexts.

Materials And Methods: This retrospective, multicentric study evaluated real-world tolerability, feasibility and efficacy in a pre-treated, real-world cohort at three major German breast cancer centers.

Results: 125 patients treated with T-DXd or SG from November 2020 to June 2023 were included (T-DXd: 77 patients; SG: 48 patients).

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Recent studies have revealed an association between TP53 mutations and endocrine resistance in hormone receptor-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer (HR + HER2 -BC). Aberrant p53 immunostaining (IHC) patterns may provide a surrogate marker for TP53 mutations. Building upon a ternary algorithm of aberrant staining patterns, this study evaluates the reliability of p53 IHC as screening tool for TP53 mutations in BC (NST).

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Germline mutations in BRCA1 and BRCA2 (gBRCA1/2) are required for a PARP inhibitor therapy in patients with HER2-negative (HER2-) advanced breast cancer (aBC). However, little is known about the prognostic impact of gBRCA1/2 mutations in aBC patients treated with chemotherapy. This study aimed to investigate the frequencies and prognosis of germline and somatic BRCA1/2 mutations in HER2- aBC patients receiving the first chemotherapy in the advanced setting.

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Purpose: The goal of breast-conserving surgery is to achieve negative tumor margins, since insufficient marginal distance is associated with more local and distant recurrences. This study investigates whether IOUS (intraoperative ultrasound) can reduce the re-resection rate compared to standard breast surgery, regardless of tumor biology and focality.

Materials And Methods: The present study is a monocentric, prospective, randomized, and non-blinded parallel group study conducted between 7/2015 and 2/2018.

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The Breast Committee of the Arbeitsgemeinschaft Gynäkologische Onkologie (German Gynecological Oncology Group, AGO) presents the 2024 update of the evidence-based recommendations for the diagnosis and treatment of patients with locally advanced and metastatic breast cancer.

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Introduction: Each year the interdisciplinary AGO (Arbeitsgemeinschaft Gynäkologische Onkologie, German Gynecological Oncology Group) Breast Committee on Diagnosis and Treatment of Breast Cancer provides updated state-of-the-art recommendations for early and metastatic breast cancer.

Methods: The updated evidence-based treatment recommendations for early and metastatic breast cancer have been released in March 2024.

Results And Conclusion: This paper concisely captures the updated recommendations for early breast cancer chapter by chapter.

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Article Synopsis
  • - Breast cancer is a major cause of death for women worldwide, and despite treatment advances, there's still a risk of the cancer returning, potentially linked to distant tumor cells (DTCs).
  • - A study of 201 early breast cancer patients found differences in HER2 expression between primary tumors and DTCs, revealing that patients with mismatched HER2 statuses experienced worse survival outcomes.
  • - The research highlights the need to evaluate HER2 expression in DTCs for better treatment strategies and calls for further trials to confirm these findings and explore targeted therapies.
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Article Synopsis
  • - The interpretation of clinical evidence varies based on clinical studies and personal experiences, highlighting the significance of expert panels like the Advanced Breast Cancer Panel (ABC7), which met in November 2023.
  • - The 2023 conference addressed advanced breast cancer, revealing clear answers regarding the use of CDK4/6 inhibitors and the potential role of chemotherapy based on extensive new data.
  • - Key discussions included therapeutic approaches for patients with complex conditions such as brain metastases and older patients, emphasizing the need for tailored treatments across various cancer subtypes.
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In recent years, new targeted therapies have been developed to treat patients with hormone receptor-positive (HR+)/human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative (HER2-) breast cancer. Some of these therapies have not just become the new therapy standard but also led to significantly longer overall survival rates. The cyclin-dependent kinase 4 and 6 inhibitors (CDK4/6i) have become the therapeutic standard for first-line therapy.

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With more effective therapies for patients with advanced breast cancer (aBC), therapy sequences are becoming increasingly important. However, some patients might drop out of the treatment sequence due to deterioration of their life status. Since little is known about attrition in the real-world setting, this study assessed attrition in the first three therapy lines using a real-world registry.

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Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related mortality among women in Germany and worldwide. This retrospective claims data analysis utilizing data from AOK Baden-Wuerttemberg, a major statutory German health insurance provider, aimed to construct and assess a real-world data breast cancer disease model. The study included 27,869 female breast cancer patients and 55,738 age-matched controls, analyzing data from 2010 to 2020.

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Background: The GENEVIEVE study, comparing neoadjuvant cabazitaxel versus paclitaxel in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) and luminal B/human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-negative breast cancer (BC), previously reported significant differences in pathological complete response (pCR) rates. Effects on long-term outcome are unknown.

Patients And Methods: GENEVIEVE randomized patients with cT2-3, any cN or cT1, cN+/pN+, centrally confirmed TNBC or luminal B/HER2-negative BC (latter defined as estrogen/progesterone receptor-positive and >14% Ki-67-stained cells) to receive either cabazitaxel 25 mg/m q3w for four cycles or paclitaxel 80 mg/m weekly for 12 weeks.

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