Hettmer Simone

Prof. Dr. Hettmer Simone

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Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

25Years (2002-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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9 August 2021 in Cancer Discovery
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
CTCornelis M. van Tilburg
Cornelis M. van Tilburg
EPElke Pfaff
Elke Pfaff
KPKristian W. Pajtler
Kristian W. Pajtler
KLKarin Langenberg
Karin Langenberg
PFPetra Fiesel
Petra Fiesel
OWOlaf Witt
Olaf Witt
INFORM is a prospective, multinational registry gathering clinical and molecular data of relapsed, progressive, or high-risk pediatric patients with cancer. This report describes long-term follow-up of 519 patients in whom molecular alterations were evaluated according to a predefined seven-scale target prioritization algorithm. Mean turnaround time from sample receipt to report was 25.4 days. The highest target priority level was observed in 42 patients (8.1%). Of these, 20 patients received matched targeted treatment with a median progression-free survival of 204 days [95% confidence interval (CI), 99–not applicable], compared with 117 days (95% CI, 106–143; P = 0.011) in all other patients. The respective molecular targets were shown to be predictive for matched treatment response and not prognostic surrogates for improved outcome. Hereditary cancer predisposition syndromes were identified in 7.5% of patients, half of which were newly identified through the study. Integrated molecular analyses resulted in a change or refinement of diagnoses in 8.2% of cases. Significance: The pediatric precision oncology INFORM registry prospectively tested a target prioritization algorithm in a real-world, multinational setting and identified subgroups of patients benefiting from matched targeted treatment with improved progression-free survival, refinement of diagnosis, and identification of hereditary cancer predisposition syndromes. See related commentary by Eggermont et al., p. 2677 . This article is highlighted in the In This Issue feature, p. 2659

1 July 2020 in Cancer Discovery
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
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MCMatthew Clarke
Matthew Clarke
AMAlan Mackay
Alan Mackay
BIBritta Ismer
Britta Ismer
JPJessica Pickles
Jessica Pickles
RTRuth G. Tatevossian
Ruth G. Tatevossian
CJChris Jones
Chris Jones
Infant high-grade gliomas appear clinically distinct from their counterparts in older children, indicating that histopathologic grading may not accurately reflect the biology of these tumors. We have collected 241 cases under 4 years of age, and carried out histologic review, methylation profiling, and custom panel, genome, or exome sequencing. After excluding tumors representing other established entities or subgroups, we identified 130 cases to be part of an “intrinsic” spectrum of disease specific to the infant population. These included those with targetable MAPK alterations, and a large proportion of remaining cases harboring gene fusions targeting ALK (n = 31), NTRK1/2/3 (n = 21), ROS1 (n = 9), and MET (n = 4) as their driving alterations, with evidence of efficacy of targeted agents in the clinic. These data strongly support the concept that infant gliomas require a change in diagnostic practice and management. Significance: Infant high-grade gliomas in the cerebral hemispheres comprise novel subgroups, with a prevalence of ALK, NTRK1/2/3, ROS1, or MET gene fusions. Kinase fusion–positive tumors have better outcome and respond to targeted therapy clinically. Other subgroups have poor outcome, with fusion-negative cases possibly representing an epigenetically driven pluripotent stem cell phenotype. See related video: https://vimeo.com/438254885 See related commentary by Szulzewsky and Cimino, p. 904. This article is highlighted in the In This Issue feature, p. 890

1 February 2010 in Nature Medicine
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
HSHettmer Simone
Hettmer Simone
AWAmy J Wagers
Amy J Wagers

21 June 2019 in Pediatric Blood & Cancer
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Journal Article
Closed access
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MYMarielle E. Yohe
Marielle E. Yohe
CHChristine M. Heske
Christine M. Heske
ESElizabeth Stewart
Elizabeth Stewart
PAPeter C. Adamson
Peter C. Adamson
NANabil Ahmed
Nabil Ahmed
DLDavid M. Langenau
David M. Langenau

11 December 2020 in Pediatric Blood & Cancer
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
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ERErin R. Rudzinski
Erin R. Rudzinski
AKAnna Kelsey
Anna Kelsey
CVChristian Vokuhl
Christian Vokuhl
CLCorinne M. Linardic
Corinne M. Linardic
JSJanet Shipley
Janet Shipley
GBGianni Bisogno
Gianni Bisogno

8 March 2021 in Cancers
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
RHRouven Hoefflin
Rouven Hoefflin
ALAdriana Lazarou
Adriana Lazarou
MHMaria Elena Hess
Maria Elena Hess
MRMeike Reiser
Meike Reiser
JWJulius Wehrle
Julius Wehrle
NBNikolas von Bubnoff
Nikolas von Bubnoff
Molecular precision oncology faces two major challenges: first, to identify relevant and actionable molecular variants in a rapidly changing field and second, to provide access to a broad patient population. Here, we report a four-year experience of the Molecular Tumor Board (MTB) of the Comprehensive Cancer Center Freiburg (Germany) including workflows and process optimizations. This retrospective single-center study includes data on 488 patients enrolled in the MTB from February 2015 through December 2018. Recommendations include individual molecular diagnostics, molecular stratified therapies, assessment of treatment adherence and patient outcomes including overall survival. The majority of MTB patients presented with stage IV oncologic malignancies (90.6%) and underwent an average of 2.1 previous lines of therapy. Individual diagnostic recommendations were given to 487 patients (99.8%). A treatment recommendation was given in 264 of all cases (54.1%) which included a molecularly matched treatment in 212 patients (43.4%). The 264 treatment recommendations were implemented in 76 patients (28.8%). Stable disease was observed in 19 patients (25.0%), 17 had partial response (22.4%) and five showed a complete remission (6.6%). An objective response was achieved in 28.9% of cases with implemented recommendations and for 4.5% of the total population (22 of 488 patients). By optimizing the MTB workflow, case-discussions per session increased significantly while treatment adherence and outcome remained stable over time. Our data demonstrate the feasibility and effectiveness of molecular-guided personalized therapy for cancer patients in a clinical routine setting showing a low but robust and durable disease control rate over time.