Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41530754›Full record

ArticleBMC medicine2026

Supplementary biomarker testing in molecular tumor boards increases actionable therapy recommendations: a prospective real-world study of 658 patients.

Alexander Scheiter, Simon Mellin, Felix Keil, Johannes Meier, Daniel Heudobler, Christina Brummer, Sabine Einhell, Benjamin Zwicker, Elena Wutzlhofer, Frederik Hierl and 34 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMC medicine, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

44 authors.

Alexander Scheiter *Institute of Pathology, University of Regensburg, 93053, Regensburg, Germany. Alexander.Scheiter@klinik.uni-regensburg.de.ORCID 0000-0001-6734-261X
Simon Mellin *Institute of Pathology, University of Regensburg, 93053, Regensburg, Germany.
Felix KeilInstitute of Pathology, University of Regensburg, 93053, Regensburg, Germany.ORCID 0000-0002-0651-5916
Johannes MeierBavarian Center for Cancer Research / BZKF, Bavaria, Germany.ORCID 0000-0003-0482-9951
Daniel HeudoblerBavarian Center for Cancer Research / BZKF, Bavaria, Germany.
Christina BrummerDepartment of Internal Medicine III, Hematology and Oncology, University Hospital Regensburg, 93053, Regensburg, Germany.
Sabine EinhellDepartment of Internal Medicine III, Hematology and Oncology, University Hospital Regensburg, 93053, Regensburg, Germany.
Benjamin ZwickerDepartment of Internal Medicine III, Hematology and Oncology, University Hospital Regensburg, 93053, Regensburg, Germany.
Elena WutzlhoferInstitute of Pathology, University of Regensburg, 93053, Regensburg, Germany.
Frederik HierlInstitute of Pathology, University of Regensburg, 93053, Regensburg, Germany.
Sophie KlemmInstitute of Pathology, University of Regensburg, 93053, Regensburg, Germany.
Elena LüftlInstitute of Pathology, University of Regensburg, 93053, Regensburg, Germany.
Tom SchneiderInstitute of Pathology, University of Regensburg, 93053, Regensburg, Germany.
Markus PerlDepartment of Internal Medicine III, Hematology and Oncology, University Hospital Regensburg, 93053, Regensburg, Germany.
Margit Klier-RichterInstitute of Pathology, University of Regensburg, 93053, Regensburg, Germany.
Alexander ImmelBavarian Center for Cancer Research / BZKF, Bavaria, Germany.
Till KaltofenDepartment of Surgery, University Hospital Regensburg, 93053, Regensburg, Germany.ORCID 0000-0003-1137-211X
Matthias GrubeDepartment of Internal Medicine III, Hematology and Oncology, University Hospital Regensburg, 93053, Regensburg, Germany.
Elisabeth BumesDepartment of Neurology and Wilhelm Sander-NeuroOncology Unit, University Hospital Regensburg, 93053, Regensburg, Germany.ORCID 0000-0001-6915-3206
Stephan SeitzDepartment of Gynecology and Obstetrics, University Medical Centre Regensburg, 93053, Regensburg, Germany.
Christian SchulzDepartment of Pneumology, University Hospital Regensburg, 93053, Regensburg, Germany.
Sebastian HaferkampDepartment of Dermatology, University Hospital Regensburg, 93053, Regensburg, Germany.
Konstantin DrexlerDepartment of Dermatology, University Hospital Regensburg, 93053, Regensburg, Germany.
Anja TroegerDepartment of Pediatric Hematology, Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation, University Hospital of Regensburg, 93053, Regensburg, Germany.
Felix StegerDepartment of Radiotherapy, Regensburg University Medical Center, 93053, Regensburg, Germany.
Sophie Schlosser-HupfDepartment of Internal Medicine I, University Hospital Regensburg, 93053, Regensburg, Germany.
Hauke Christian TewsDepartment of Internal Medicine I, University Hospital Regensburg, 93053, Regensburg, Germany.
Arne KandulskiDepartment of Internal Medicine I, University Hospital Regensburg, 93053, Regensburg, Germany.ORCID 0009-0005-9065-8395
Kristina WohlfartDepartment of Surgery, University Hospital Regensburg, 93053, Regensburg, Germany.
Ramona ErberInstitute of Pathology, University of Regensburg, 93053, Regensburg, Germany.
Ines SchönbuchnerDepartment of Clinical Human Genetics, University Hospital Regensburg, 93053, Regensburg, Germany.
Davor LesselDepartment of Clinical Human Genetics, University Hospital Regensburg, 93053, Regensburg, Germany.
Marco J SchnabelDepartment of Urology, Caritas St. Josef Medical Center, University of Regensburg, 93053, Regensburg, Germany.
Anja M SedlmeierBavarian Center for Cancer Research / BZKF, Bavaria, Germany.
Monika Klinkhammer-SchalkeTumour Center - Institute for Quality Management and Health Services Research, University of Regensburg, 93053, Regensburg, Germany.
Julia MaurerBavarian Center for Cancer Research / BZKF, Bavaria, Germany.
Diego F CalvisiInstitute of Pathology, University of Regensburg, 93053, Regensburg, Germany.
Tobias PukropBavarian Center for Cancer Research / BZKF, Bavaria, Germany.
Ulrich KaiserDepartment of Internal Medicine III, Hematology and Oncology, University Hospital Regensburg, 93053, Regensburg, Germany.
Daniela HirschInstitute of Pathology, University of Regensburg, 93053, Regensburg, Germany.ORCID 0000-0001-8883-922X
Wolfgang DietmaierInstitute of Pathology, University of Regensburg, 93053, Regensburg, Germany.
Matthias EvertInstitute of Pathology, University of Regensburg, 93053, Regensburg, Germany.
Florian Lüke *Bavarian Center for Cancer Research / BZKF, Bavaria, Germany.
Kirsten Utpatel *Institute of Pathology, University of Regensburg, 93053, Regensburg, Germany.

Funding

BZKF MTB QUANTIFY
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundMolecular tumor boards (MTBs) are essential for selecting therapies for patients with rare and advanced cancers. We hypothesized that integrating biomarkers beyond targeted DNA/RNA next-generation sequencing (NGS) could increase actionable findings. Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-low status has emerged as a critical biomarker in breast cancer, with potential relevance across other tumor types. Homologous recombination deficiency (HRD) is pivotal for the application of Poly(ADP-Ribose)-Polymerase (PARP) inhibitors in ovarian and breast cancer, although its role in other malignancies remains unclear. Antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) are expanding precision oncology, with promising biomarkers like Trop-2, Nectin-4, and folate receptor alpha (FRα) showing potential across multiple tumor entities.

methodsTumors were analyzed using the TSO500® panel, enabling tumor mutational burden (TMB) readout. HER2 status was assessed via immunohistochemistry (IHC) and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), alongside antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) IHC, microsatellite instability (MSI) polymerase chain reaction (PCR), mismatch repair (MMR) IHC, programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) IHC, and HRD analysis. Cases were discussed weekly, and outcomes were systematically tracked. Data analysis evaluated the benefit of additional biomarker assessments.

resultsAmong 658 patients, 329 received therapy recommendations, 182 based on supplementary biomarker analyses. One hundred recommendations were implemented, with 37% attributed to supplementary diagnostics. Among 64 response-evaluable patients, the clinical benefit rate (complete response + partial response + stable disease) was 45.3%. HER2-low status notably expanded targeted therapy options across tumor types, with similar implementation rates for HER2-low and HER2-amplified tumors. HRD analysis refined stratification in tumors with mutations in homologous recombination repair (HRR) genes beyond BRCA1/2, including PALB2, ATM, and CHEK2. ADC IHC supported 20 recommendations and two therapy implementations.

conclusionsThe integration of additional biomarker assessments into MTB workflows enhances precision oncology by expanding the pool of patients eligible for targeted therapies.

Indexed as

Biomarkers, TumorNeoplasmsAdultAgedErb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine KinasesFemaleHigh-Throughput Nucleotide SequencingHumansMiddle AgedPrecision MedicineProspective StudiesBiomarkers, TumorErb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine KinasesAntibody–drug conjugates (ADC)BiomarkersHER2-lowHomologous recombination deficiency (HRD)Microsatellite instability (MSI)Molecular tumor board (MTB)Next-generation sequencing (NGS)PD-L1Precision oncologyTumor mutational burden (TMB)

Identifiers

PMID41530754
PMCPMC12849312

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