Institute for Obstetrics and Gynecology -
Prof. Dr. Dr. Manfred Kaufmann

Expertise

gene expression analysis of malignant gynecological tumors
differentiation of biological markers of breast cancer
endocrine mediated regulatory mechanisms of breast cancer
methylation analysis
gene expression inhibition of different genes (PLK1 [polo-like kinase 1], cyclin B1, Her2/neu and many more) via siRNA

Resources and Abilities

broad spectrum of molecular techniques to analyze nucleic acids and proteins (northern-, Southern- and Western-blot, PCR, cloning)
2D gel electrophoresis
DNA chip analysis
highly selective PCR analysis for the detection of methylation patterns
proliferation assays
transfection assays (siRNA, antisense oligos, plasmids)
transformation
kinase assays
immunofluorescence/ immunohistochemistry
(Co)-immune precipitation
FACScan-analysis
Animal Models:
- human xenograft experiments in skid mice followed by molecular biological analysis of tumors/organs
- generation of transgenic mice

Staff

Prof. Dr. Klaus Strebhardt
PD Dr. Birgit Spänkuch
OÄ PD Dr. Christine Solbach
Prof. Dr. Regine Gätje
OA PD Dr. Achim Rody
Dr. Uwe Holtrich
Dr. Thomas Karn

Publications 2007-2008 (excerpt)

Ruckhäberle E, Karn T, Hanker L, Gätje R, Metzler D, Holtrich U, Kaufmann M, Rody A. Prognostic relevance of glucosylceramide synthase (GCS) expression in breast cancer. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol (2008) Jun 17:Epub ahead of print.
von Minckwitz G, Kümmel S, Vogel P, Hanusch C, Eidtmann H, Hilfrich J, Gerber B, Huober J, Costa SD, Jackisch C, Loibl S, Mehta K, Kaufmann M; German Breast Group. Neoadjuvant vinorelbine-capecitabine versus docetaxel-doxorubicin-cyclophosphamide in early nonresponsive breast cancer: phase III randomized GeparTrio trial. J Natl Cancer Inst (2008) 100:542-551.
von Minckwitz G, Kümmel S, Vogel P, Hanusch C, Eidtmann H, Hilfrich J, Gerber B, Huober J, Costa SD, Jackisch C, Loibl S, Mehta K, Kaufmann M; German Breast Group. Intensified neoadjuvant chemotherapy in early-responding breast cancer: phase III randomized GeparTrio study. J Natl Cancer Inst (2008) 100:552-562.
von Minckwitz G, Sinn HP, Raab G, Loibl S, Blohmer JU, Eidtmann H, Hilfrich J, Merkle E, Jackisch C, Costa SD, Caputo A, Kaufmann M; German Breast Group. Clinical response after two cycles compared to HER2, Ki-67, p53, and bcl-2 in independently predicting a pathological complete response after preoperative chemotherapy in patients with operable carcinoma of the breast. Breast Cancer Res (2008)10:R30.
Rody A, Karn T, Ruckhäberle E, Müller V, Gehrmann M, Solbach C, Ahr A, Gätje R, Holtrich U, Kaufmann M. Gene expression of topoisomerase II alpha (TOP2A) by microarray analysis is highly prognostic in estrogen receptor (ER) positive breast cancer. Breast Cancer Res Treat (2008) Mar 14:Epub ahead of print.
Ruckhäberle E, Rody A, Engels K, Gaetje R, von Minckwitz G, Schiffmann S, Grösch S, Geisslinger G, Holtrich U, Karn T, Kaufmann M. Microarray analysis of altered sphingolipid metabolism reveals prognostic significance of sphingosine kinase 1 in breast cancer. Breast Cancer Res Treat (2007) Dec 4:Epub ahead of print.
Kaufmann M, von Minckwitz G, Bear HD, Buzdar A, McGale P, Bonnefoi H, Colleoni M, Denkert C, Eiermann W, Jackesz R, Makris A, Miller W, Pierga JY, Semiglazov V, Schneeweiss A, Souchon R, Stearns V, Untch M, Loibl S. Recommendations from an international expert panel on the use of neoadjuvant (primary) systemic treatment of operable breast cancer: new perspectives 2006. Ann Oncol (2007) (12):1927-1934.
Gaetje R, Holtrich U, Engels K, Kourtis K, Cikrit E, Kissler S, Rody A, Karn T, Kaufmann M. Expression of membrane-type 5 matrix metalloproteinase in human endometrium and endometriosis. Gynecol Endocrinol (2007) 23:567-573.
Wiegratz I, Kissler S, Engels K, Strey C, Kaufmann M. Umbilical endometriosis in pregnancy without previous surgery. Fertil Steril (2008) 90:199.e17-20.
Kaufmann M, Graf E, Jonat W, Eiermann W, Vescia S, Geberth M, Conrad B, Gademann G, Albert US, Loibl S, von Minckwitz G, Schumacher M; German Adjuvant Breast Cancer Study Group (GABG). A randomised trial of goserelin versus control after adjuvant, risk-adapted chemotherapy in premenopausal patients with primary breast cancer - GABG-IV B-93. Eur J Cancer (2007) 43:2351-2358.
Martin BT, Kleiber K, Wixler V, Raab M, Zimmer B, Kaufmann M, Strebhardt K. FHL2 regulates cell cycle-dependent and doxorubicin-induced p21Cip1/Waf1 expression in breast cancer cells., Cell Cycle (2007) 6:1779-1788.
Gaetje R, Holtrich U, Karn T, Cikrit E, Engels K, Rody A, Kaufmann M. Characterization of WNT7A expression in human endometrium and endometriotic lesions. Fertil Steril. (2007) 88:1534-1540.
Kaufmann M, Jonat W, Hilfrich J, Eidtmann H, Gademann G, Zuna I, von Minckwitz G. Improved overall survival in postmenopausal women with early breast cancer after anastrozole initiated after treatment with tamoxifen compared with continued tamoxifen: the ARNO 95 Study. J Clin Oncol (2007) 25:2664-2670.
Rody A, Karn T, Solbach C, Gaetje R, Munnes M, Kissler S, Ruckhäberle E, Minckwitz GV, Loibl S, Holtrich U, Kaufmann M. The erbB2+ cluster of the intrinsic gene set predicts tumor response of breast cancer patients receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy with docetaxel, doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide within the GEPARTRIO trial. Breast (2007) 16:235-240.
Spänkuch B, Kurunci-Csacsko E, Kaufmann M, Strebhardt K. Rational combinations of siRNAs targeting Plk1 with breast cancer drugs. Oncogene (2007) 26:5793-5807.
Rody A, Holtrich U, Gaetje R, Gehrmann M, Engels K, von Minckwitz G, Loibl S, Diallo-Danebrock R, Ruckhäberle E, Metzler D, Ahr A, Solbach C, Karn T, Kaufmann M. Poor outcome in estrogen receptor-positive breast cancers predicted by loss of plexin B1. Clin Cancer Res (2007) 13:1115-1122.
Loibl S, Schwedler K, von Minckwitz G, Strohmeier R, Mehta KM, Kaufmann M. Venlafaxine is superior to clonidine as treatment of hot flashes in breast cancer patients--a double-blind, randomized study. Ann Oncol (2007) 18:689-693.
Gaetje R, Holtrich U, Engels K, Kissler S, Rody A, Karn T, Kaufmann M. Endometriosis may be generated by mimicking the ontogenetic development of the female genital tract. Fertil Steril. (2007) 87:651-656.
Rody A, Karn T, Gätje R, Ahr A, Solbach C, Kourtis K, Munnes M, Loibl S, Kissler S, Ruckhäberle E, Holtrich U, von Minckwitz G, Kaufmann M. Gene expression profiling of breast cancer patients treated with docetaxel, doxorubicin, and cyclophosphamide within the GEPARTRIO trial: HER-2, but not topoisomerase II alpha and microtubule-associated protein tau, is highly predictive of tumor response. Breast (2007) 16:86-93.