Empowering of Oncology Patients and Informal Caregivers: Analysis of an Interdisciplinary Seminar Model for Breast Cancer and Gyneco-Oncological Patients.

Introduction: The interdisciplinary empowerment seminar aims to familiarize patients and informal caregivers (ICs) with supportive measures, focusing on understanding disease, therapy, and side effect management.

Methods: The seminar, conducted in two courses over 1-month intervals prior to chemotherapy, included lectures, supportive materials, Q and A sessions, and individual discussions with experts in nutrition, exercise, psycho-oncology, and complementary medicine. Evaluation is based on a self-developed questionnaire and questionnaires on QoL (EORTC-QLQ-C30, BR23, CX24, OV28), anxiety and depression (HADS-D) at week 0, 5, 9, and 12.

Hormone Receptor and HER2 Status Switch in Non-pCR Breast Cancer Specimens after Neoadjuvant Therapy.

Introduction: This project aimed to identify the frequency of a switch of hormone receptor (HR) and/or HER2 status after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) for early breast cancer.

Methods: Tumor samples from patients without pathological complete response (non-pCR) were evaluated. Pathological complete response (pCR) was defined as no invasive tumor in breast and lymph nodes (ypT0/is ypN0).

Intelligent Vacuum-Assisted Biopsy to Identify Breast Cancer Patients With Pathologic Complete Response (ypT0 and ypN0) After Neoadjuvant Systemic Treatment for Omission of Breast and Axillary Surgery.

Purpose: Neoadjuvant systemic treatment (NST) elicits a pathologic complete response in 40%-70% of women with breast cancer. These patients may not need surgery as all local tumor has already been eradicated by NST. However, nonsurgical approaches, including imaging or vacuum-assisted biopsy (VAB), were not able to accurately identify patients without residual cancer in the breast or axilla.

ERANET JTC 2011: Submission and Activation of an International Academic Translational Project in Advanced Breast Cancer. Experience From the ET-FES Study.

Academic research is important to face unmet medical needs. The Oncological community encounters many hurdles in setting up multicenter investigator-driven trials mainly due to administrative complexity. The purpose of a network organization at a multinational level is to facilitate clinical trials through standardization, coordination, and education for drug development and regulatory approval.

COVID-19 vaccination in patients with breast cancer and gynecological malignancies: A German perspective.

Introduction: The side effects of systemic cancer therapy and the lack of clinical data on safety and efficacy of COVID-19 vaccination in cancer patients cause uncertainty among the patients about whether to get vaccinated or not. Here, we evaluated attitude towards and effects of COVID-19 vaccination in patients with breast and gynecological cancer undergoing systemic cancer therapy.

Methods: Since March 15th, 2021, cancer patients who received one of the approved COVID-19 vaccines were routinely interviewed about immediate and late side effects.

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.

Molecular Prognostic Factors for Distant Metastases in Premenopausal Patients with HR+/HER2- Early Breast Cancer.

Molecular factors that drive metastasis in premenopausal patients with hormone receptor positive (HR+), human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 negative (HER2-), early breast cancer (EBC) are largely unknown. To identify markers/signatures contributing to metastasis, we analyzed molecular changes in tumors from premenopausal patients who developed metastasis (M1) and who did not (M0). Ninety-seven premenopausal patients with HR+/HER2- EBC were included (M1, = 48, median distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS): 54 (7-184) months; M0, = 49, median follow-up: 149 (121-191) months).

Heterogeneity of bone metastases as an important prognostic factor in patients affected by oestrogen receptor-positive breast cancer. The role of combined [18F]Fluoroestradiol PET/CT and [18F]Fluorodeoxyglucose PET/CT.

Purpose: To assess the prognostic role of different inter and intralesional expression (heterogeneity) of oestrogen receptor (ER) in bone metastases, as identified by the combined use of [18F]FES PET/CT and [18F]FDG PET/CT in patients with oestrogen receptor-positive (ER+) metastatic breast cancer (BC).

Methods: We analysed patients with a new diagnosis of bone metastases who were candidates for first-line systemic endocrine therapy. Before starting therapy, patients underwent baseline [18F]FES PET/CT and [18]FDG PET/CT.

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).

Metastatic Breast Cancer: Is There a Differential Therapy Efficacy between Visceral and Non-Visceral Metastatic Breast Cancer?

Purpose: Differential efficacy of newly registered therapies in subgroups of metastatic breast cancer (MBC) is an important consideration for subsequent use in clinical practice. Unfortunately, such subgroup analyses often are exploratory and rarely statistically adequately powered and may thus be misleading. This analysis aimed to explore a potentially different treatment response to i.

CDK4/6 Inhibitors Expand the Therapeutic Options in Breast Cancer: Palbociclib, Ribociclib and Abemaciclib.

The majority of patients with metastatic breast cancer (MBC) have hormone receptor-positive HER2-negative disease. For this subgroup, endocrine therapy is the key therapeutic option. Recently, therapeutic options have been expanded by introduction of the inhibitors of cyclin-dependent kinases 4/6 (CDK4/6i).

Prognostic impact of residual disease in simultaneous additional excision specimens after one-step breast conserving therapy with negative final margin status in primary breast cancer.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was the evaluation of risk factors for local recurrence after breast conserving surgery (BCS) with special focus on the impact of residual disease in specimens of simultaneous additional excisions (AE) from the tumor cavity on patients' outcome in patients with negative final margin status after one-step BCS.

Methods: This study was designed as a single center retrospective cohort study. Patients with primary non-metastatic breast cancer treated by one-step BCS with pathologically confirmed negative resection status between 1990 and 2006 were included.

Evaluation of Reproductive Concerns and Biographical Impact of Breast Cancer in Young Patients.

Background: This study evaluates interventions offered to young breast cancer (BC) patients, including fertility preservation, genetic testing, and counseling for parenthood concerns, and analyzes the effect of BC on biographical issues.

Methods: Women who were diagnosed with BC at the age of 18-40 years and who underwent treatment at the Breast Center, Ludwig-Maximilian University (LMU) in Munich between 2006 and 2013, were eligible for this study. Patients received a self-developed questionnaire which covered the following topics: fertility preservation, family planning, genetic testing, parenthood concerns and children's needs, partnership status, and employment situation.

Evaluation of an interdisciplinary palliative care inhouse training for professionals in gynecological oncology.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of a pilot interdisciplinary inhouse training in palliative care (PC) for gynecological oncologists.

Methods: Competencies of participants from a gynecological university department were evaluated taking part in an interdisciplinary PC course in a pre and post design. The multiprofessional course covered basic principles of PC, symptom management and communication taught by PC specialists.

The safety of palbociclib for the treatment of advanced breast cancer.

Despite improvements in the diagnosis and management of early stage breast cancer, about one third of the patients still progress to metastatic disease. Most of the patients with metastatic breast cancer have a hormone receptor positive and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 negative subtype with a median survival of more than 3 years. For these patients, endocrine therapy with its favorable toxicity profile is the current standard of care.

Local Resection of Primary Tumor in Upfront Stage IV Breast Cancer.

Background: This study aimed to identify the association of local surgery of the primary tumor in metastatic breast cancer (MBC) patients with overall survival (OS) and prognostic factors.

Patients And Methods: Patients with primary MBC (1990-2006) were included in our retrospective analysis (n = 236). 83.

West German Study Group Phase III PlanB Trial: First Prospective Outcome Data for the 21-Gene Recurrence Score Assay and Concordance of Prognostic Markers by Central and Local Pathology Assessment.

Purpose: The 21-gene Recurrence Score (RS) assay is a validated prognostic/predictive tool in early hormone receptor-positive breast cancer (BC); however, only a few prospective outcome results have been available so far. In the phase III PlanB trial, RS was prospectively used to define a subset of patients who received only endocrine therapy. We present 3-year outcome data and concordance analysis (among biomarkers/RS).