Cancers (Oct 2022)
Identification of Disparities in Personalized Cancer Care—A Joint Approach of the German WERA Consortium
- Florian Lüke,
- Florian Haller,
- Kirsten Utpatel,
- Markus Krebs,
- Norbert Meidenbauer,
- Alexander Scheiter,
- Silvia Spoerl,
- Daniel Heudobler,
- Daniela Sparrer,
- Ulrich Kaiser,
- Felix Keil,
- Christoph Schubart,
- Lars Tögel,
- Sabine Einhell,
- Wolfgang Dietmaier,
- Ralf Huss,
- Sebastian Dintner,
- Sebastian Sommer,
- Frank Jordan,
- Maria-Elisabeth Goebeler,
- Michaela Metz,
- Diana Haake,
- Mithun Scheytt,
- Elena Gerhard-Hartmann,
- Katja Maurus,
- Stephanie Brändlein,
- Andreas Rosenwald,
- Arndt Hartmann,
- Bruno Märkl,
- Hermann Einsele,
- Andreas Mackensen,
- Wolfgang Herr,
- Volker Kunzmann,
- Ralf Bargou,
- Matthias W. Beckmann,
- Tobias Pukrop,
- Martin Trepel,
- Matthias Evert,
- Rainer Claus,
- Alexander Kerscher
Affiliations
- Florian Lüke
- Department of Internal Medicine III, Hematology and Oncology, University Hospital Regensburg, 93053 Regensburg, Germany
- Florian Haller
- Institute of Pathology, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg, University Hospital Erlangen, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
- Kirsten Utpatel
- Comprehensive Cancer Center Ostbayern, 93053 Regensburg, Germany
- Markus Krebs
- Comprehensive Cancer Center Mainfranken, University Hospital Würzburg, 97080 Würzburg, Germany
- Norbert Meidenbauer
- Comprehensive Cancer Center Erlangen-EMN, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
- Alexander Scheiter
- Comprehensive Cancer Center Ostbayern, 93053 Regensburg, Germany
- Silvia Spoerl
- Comprehensive Cancer Center Erlangen-EMN, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
- Daniel Heudobler
- Department of Internal Medicine III, Hematology and Oncology, University Hospital Regensburg, 93053 Regensburg, Germany
- Daniela Sparrer
- Department of Internal Medicine III, Hematology and Oncology, University Hospital Regensburg, 93053 Regensburg, Germany
- Ulrich Kaiser
- Department of Internal Medicine III, Hematology and Oncology, University Hospital Regensburg, 93053 Regensburg, Germany
- Felix Keil
- Comprehensive Cancer Center Ostbayern, 93053 Regensburg, Germany
- Christoph Schubart
- Institute of Pathology, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg, University Hospital Erlangen, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
- Lars Tögel
- Institute of Pathology, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg, University Hospital Erlangen, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
- Sabine Einhell
- Department of Internal Medicine III, Hematology and Oncology, University Hospital Regensburg, 93053 Regensburg, Germany
- Wolfgang Dietmaier
- Comprehensive Cancer Center Ostbayern, 93053 Regensburg, Germany
- Ralf Huss
- Medical Faculty, Institute of Pathology and Molecular Diagnostics, University of Augsburg, 86156 Augsburg, Germany
- Sebastian Dintner
- Medical Faculty, Institute of Pathology and Molecular Diagnostics, University of Augsburg, 86156 Augsburg, Germany
- Sebastian Sommer
- Comprehensive Cancer Center Augsburg, 86156 Augsburg, Germany
- Frank Jordan
- Comprehensive Cancer Center Augsburg, 86156 Augsburg, Germany
- Maria-Elisabeth Goebeler
- Comprehensive Cancer Center Mainfranken, University Hospital Würzburg, 97080 Würzburg, Germany
- Michaela Metz
- Comprehensive Cancer Center Mainfranken, University Hospital Würzburg, 97080 Würzburg, Germany
- Diana Haake
- Comprehensive Cancer Center Mainfranken, University Hospital Würzburg, 97080 Würzburg, Germany
- Mithun Scheytt
- Comprehensive Cancer Center Mainfranken, University Hospital Würzburg, 97080 Würzburg, Germany
- Elena Gerhard-Hartmann
- Comprehensive Cancer Center Mainfranken, University Hospital Würzburg, 97080 Würzburg, Germany
- Katja Maurus
- Comprehensive Cancer Center Mainfranken, University Hospital Würzburg, 97080 Würzburg, Germany
- Stephanie Brändlein
- Comprehensive Cancer Center Mainfranken, University Hospital Würzburg, 97080 Würzburg, Germany
- Andreas Rosenwald
- Comprehensive Cancer Center Mainfranken, University Hospital Würzburg, 97080 Würzburg, Germany
- Arndt Hartmann
- Institute of Pathology, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg, University Hospital Erlangen, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
- Bruno Märkl
- Medical Faculty, Institute of Pathology and Molecular Diagnostics, University of Augsburg, 86156 Augsburg, Germany
- Hermann Einsele
- Bavarian Center for Cancer Research (BZKF), 91054 Erlangen, Germany
- Andreas Mackensen
- Comprehensive Cancer Center Erlangen-EMN, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
- Wolfgang Herr
- Department of Internal Medicine III, Hematology and Oncology, University Hospital Regensburg, 93053 Regensburg, Germany
- Volker Kunzmann
- Comprehensive Cancer Center Mainfranken, University Hospital Würzburg, 97080 Würzburg, Germany
- Ralf Bargou
- Comprehensive Cancer Center Mainfranken, University Hospital Würzburg, 97080 Würzburg, Germany
- Matthias W. Beckmann
- Comprehensive Cancer Center Erlangen-EMN, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
- Tobias Pukrop
- Department of Internal Medicine III, Hematology and Oncology, University Hospital Regensburg, 93053 Regensburg, Germany
- Martin Trepel
- Bavarian Center for Cancer Research (BZKF), 91054 Erlangen, Germany
- Matthias Evert
- Comprehensive Cancer Center Ostbayern, 93053 Regensburg, Germany
- Rainer Claus
- Medical Faculty, Institute of Pathology and Molecular Diagnostics, University of Augsburg, 86156 Augsburg, Germany
- Alexander Kerscher
- Comprehensive Cancer Center Mainfranken, University Hospital Würzburg, 97080 Würzburg, Germany
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers14205040
- Journal volume & issue
-
Vol. 14,
no. 20
p. 5040
Abstract
(1) Background: molecular tumor boards (MTBs) are crucial instruments for discussing and allocating targeted therapies to suitable cancer patients based on genetic findings. Currently, limited evidence is available regarding the regional impact and the outreach component of MTBs; (2) Methods: we analyzed MTB patient data from four neighboring Bavarian tertiary care oncology centers in Würzburg, Erlangen, Regensburg, and Augsburg, together constituting the WERA Alliance. Absolute patient numbers and regional distribution across the WERA-wide catchment area were weighted with local population densities; (3) Results: the highest MTB patient numbers were found close to the four cancer centers. However, peaks in absolute patient numbers were also detected in more distant and rural areas. Moreover, weighting absolute numbers with local population density allowed for identifying so-called white spots—regions within our catchment that were relatively underrepresented in WERA MTBs; (4) Conclusions: investigating patient data from four neighboring cancer centers, we comprehensively assessed the regional impact of our MTBs. The results confirmed the success of existing collaborative structures with our regional partners. Additionally, our results help identifying potential white spots in providing precision oncology and help establishing a joint WERA-wide outreach strategy.
Keywords