Prof. Dr. Hiltrud Beatrix Brauch
Affiliation
Margarete Fischer-Bosch-Institute of Clinical Pharmacology (IKP)
Deputy Head of the IKP
Section Head of the Department Breast Cancer Susceptibility and Pharmacogenomics
Auerbachstr. 112
D-70376 Stuttgart, Germany
Phone: +49 (0) 711 - 8101 3705
Fax: +49 (0) 711 - 859 295
e-mail: hiltrud.brauch(AT)ikp-stuttgart.de
Prof. Hiltrud Brauch came to the Dr. Margarete Fischer-Bosch-Institute of Clinical Pharmacology (IKP) in 1999 after completing her training in Molecular Genetics of Cancer and Habilitation in the field of Molecular Pathology. She has held positions of increasing responsibility at the National Cancer Institute (NCI), USA, the German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, the Technical University Munich (Klinikum rechts der Isar), the University of Hamburg, and the IKP Stuttgart.
During her postdoctoral training at the NCI, she was part of the team identifying the VHL Tumor Suppressor Locus and since then pursues a range of scientific interests including the Molecular Origin of Hereditary (VHL disease) and Sporadic Kidney Cancer. Within the last decade she has established a reputation within the field of Breast Cancer Susceptibility and Treatment Outcomes. At IKP she has expanded her research towards a strong focus on the Pharmacogenomics of Breast Cancer.
Prof. Brauch participates in a number of national and international research networks including the Gene Environment Interactions and Breast Cancer in Germany (GENICA), the Breast Cancer Association Consortium (BCAC) and the International Tamoxifen Consortium (ITPC). She coordinated the 5FP EU European Marie Curie PhD training site Stuttgart/Tübingen “Fighting Breast Cancer”, and teaches at the University of Tübingen. Currently she coordinates the 7FP EU Initial Training Network Fighting Drug Failure, which establishes the first European Curriculum in the field of Pharmacogenomics for young investigators.
Scientific accomplishments include more than 150 peer reviewed publications, including more than 115 original research articles.
Academic Education and Professional Career
- 1975 - 1981
Study of Chemistry, University Fridericiana Karlsruhe (TH) , Germany - 1981 - 1985
Dissertation, Institute of Immunology and Serology, Ruprecht Karls University Heidelberg, Germany - 1985 - 1989
Visiting Fellow, Laboratory of Immunobiology (LIB)-National Cancer Institute (NCI)-National Institutes of Health (NIH), Frederick Cancer
Research and Development Cancer (FCRDC), Frederick, MD, USA - 1989 - 1990
Scientist, LIB, PRI-Inc. NCI-FCRDC, Frederick, MD, USA - 1990 - 1992
Scientist, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Germany - 1992 - 1996
Section Head, Laboratory of Molecular Pathology, Institute of Pathology and Pathological Anatomy, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University Munich, Germany
Habilitation and Venia Legendi in Molecular Pathology - 1996 - 1999
Head of Research Laboratory and Gynecological Diagnostics, Womens Hospital Eppendorf, University of Hamburg, Germany
Venia Legendi in Molecular Biology - 1999 -
Section Head Molecular Mechanisms of Origin and Treatment of Breast Cancer, Dr. Margarete Fischer-Bosch-Institute of Clinical Pharmacology Stuttgart - 2000
Venia Legendi in Molecular Pathology - 2006
Extraordinary Professorship at the University Tübingen Medical School - Since 2008
Deputy Head of the Dr. Margarete Fischer-Bosch-Institute of Clinical Pharmacology Stuttgart, Section Head of Breast Cancer Susceptibility and Pharmacogenomics, Dr. Margarete Fischer-Bosch-Institute of Clinical Pharmacology Stuttgart, Germany
Fellowship
- 1985
Forgarty international Visiting Fellowship, Program of Collaborative Research Experience in the United States, The National Institutes of Health (NIH), USA
Contents and Research Group
Can breast cancer risk, disease and drug treatment outcome be explained by genetic variation?
The high morbidity and mortality rates among breast cancer patients are mainly attributed to the lack of known risk factors as well as lack of efficient and non-toxic anti-cancer drugs. To improve women’s health and in particular to improve the quality of life of breast cancer patients, efficient approaches must include strategies for breast cancer prevention and improvement of individual drug therapy and response. My research team, therefore, focuses on the translation of basic research findings towards breast cancer prevention and the improvement of drug therapy, particular endocrine treatment. This involves laboratory and clinical investigations with defined patient collections, including case-control and treatment cohorts by way of candidate gene approaches, which currently focus on variations of drug metabolizing enzymes. This translational research involves a high degree of interdisciplinary collaboration among scientists with clinical, research and statistical expertise for the complex evaluation of clinical and laboratory data obtained via high-throughput molecular analyses.
Major projects
- Genetic Variation and Breast Cancer Risk
- Pharmacogenomics of Tamoxifen and other Endocrine Treatment
- Target Identification for Breast Cancer Therapy
- Clinical Sample Collections and Biobanking
- Pharmacogenomic Curriculum Fighting Breast Cancer
Group Members
Research Scientists
- Christina Justenhoven, PhD
- Werner Schroth, PhD
- Reiner Hoppe, PhD
Medical Doctor
- Lisa Bacchus, MD
ITN Project Manager
- Lisa Willers
PhD Student
- Lydia Antoniadou
Former PhD Students trained within Marie Curie Program
- Malgorzata Jaremko, PhD 2007 (current appointment: Mount Sinai, New York)
- Zsuzanna Szabo, 2007 (current appointment: Maternity, University Debrecin)
- Matjaz Rokavec, PhD 2008 (current appointment: Scripps, Florida)
- Irena Andonova, PhD 2009 (current appointment: University Sofia)
- Sandra Margarida Caldas Amaral, PhD 2010, (current appointment: University Lisboa)
- Stefan Bozhanov (current appointment: University Sofia)
Diploma Students
- Sibylle Kugler (University Ulm), 2008
- Anke Rüdel (University Konstanz), 2009
Study Nurse
- Jasmin Happele
Technicians
- Sandra Brod
- Silke Dauser
Networks and Collaboration
Research
- Since 1999
Coordinator and Principle Investigator (PI) of the Research Network: The Interdisciplinary Study Group on Gene ENvironment Interactions and Breast CAncer in Germany (GENICA) for the identification of breast cancer susceptibility genes - 2005 - 2009
Head of the Steering Committee and PI within the MARIE-GENICA Consortium for the identification of constitutional factors predictive for the risk to develop breast cancer following hormone replacement therapy (MARIE: MAmmakarzinom Risikofaktoren-Erhebung) - Since 2005
Project Leader within the Network: Improvement of Breast Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment Tübingen-Stuttgart - Since 2005
Member of the International Breast Cancer Association Consortium (BCAC) for the identification of breast cancer susceptibility genes - Since 2007
Member of the Steering Committee International Tamoxifen Pharmacogenomics Consortium - Since 2007
Member of the Scientific Advisory Board of the VHL Family Alliance Germany (Verein für von der von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) Erkrankung betroffene Familien e.V.)
European Marie Curie Actions
- 2001 - 2005
5FP: Coordinator Marie Curie Training Site Stuttgart/Tübingen: "Fighting Breast Cancer" - PhD Training Program - Since 2009
7FP: Coordinator of PEOPLE-Initial Training Network (ITN) "FightingDrugFailure" - PhD and young investigator training within dedicated research project
Professional Memberships
Societies
American Association of Cancer Research (AACR)
AACR-Molecular Epidemiology Group (MEG)
AACR-Women in Cancer Research (WICR)
American Society of Human Genetics (ASHG)
Gesellschaft für Biochemie und Molekularbiologie (GBM
Editorial Board
Pharmacogenetics and Genomics
Conference Organization
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Conference Pharmacogenomics & Personalized Medicine
Extramural Funding
Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung (BMBF)
European Union (5 FP, 7 FP)
Selected peer-reviewed publications
Breast Cancer Pharmacogenomic
Schroth et al. Association Between CYP2D6 Polymorphisms and Outcomes Among Women With Early Breast Cancer Treated With Tamoxifen. Journal of the American Medical Association 302:1429-1436, 2009
Rokavec et al. A Polymorphism in the TC21 Promoter Associates with an unfavorable tamoxifen treatment outcome in Breast Cancer. Cancer Research 68:9799-808, 2008
Amaral et al. The Promoter C Specific ERa Isoform is Associated with Tamoxifen Outcome in Breast Cancer. Breast Cancer Research and Treatment 2008 Nov [Epub ahead of print] 118:323-331, 2009
Abraham Kaipparettu et al. Estrogen-mediated Down-regulation of CD24 in Breast Cancer Cells. International Journal of Cancer 2008; 123:66-72
Schroth et al. Breast Cancer Treatment Outcome with Adjuvant Tamoxifen in Relation to Patient CYP2D6 and CYP2C19 Genotypes Journal of Clinical Oncology 33:5187-5193, 2007
Jaremko et al. A Polymorphism of the DNA Repair enzyme XRCC1 is associated with treatment prediction in anthracycline and cyclophosphamide/methotrexate/5-fluorouracil-based chemotherapy of patients with primary invasive breast cancer Pharmacogenetics and Genomics 17:529-538, 2007
Jaremko et al. MALDI-TOF MS and TaqMan assisted SNP genotyping of DNA isolated from formalin-fixed and paraffin embedded tissues (FFPET) Human Mutation 25:232-238, 2005
Abraham et al. Prevalence of CD44+/CD24-/low cells in breast cancer may not be associated with clinical outcome but may favor distant metastasis. Clinical Cancer Research 11:1154-59, 2005
Reviews
Brauch et al. Pharmacogenomics of Tamoxifen Therapy Clinical Chemistry 55:1170-1782, 2009
Brauch H and Jordan VC Targeting of Tamoxifen to Enhance Antitumour Action for the Treatment and Prevention of Breast Cancer: the "Personalised" Approach? European Journal of Cancer 45: 2274-2283, 2009
Brauch et al. Clinical Relevance of CYP2D6 Genetics for Tamoxifen Response in Breast Care 3: 43-50, 2009
Breast Cancer Susceptibility
The MARIE-GENICA Consortium on Genetic Susceptibility for Menopausal Hormone Therapy Related Breast Cancer. Postmenopausal Estrogen Monotherapy Associated Breast Cancer Risk is Modified by CYP17A1_-34_T>C Polymorphism Breast Cancer Research and Treatment 2009 Aug 12. [Epub ahead of print]
MARIE-GENICA Consortium on Genetic Susceptibility for Menopausal Hormone Therapy Related Breast Cancer Genetic polymorphisms in phase I and phase II enzymes and breast cancer risk associated with menopausal hormone therapy in postmenopausal women The Breast Cancer Res Treat 2009 May 8. [Epub ahead of print]
Milne et al. Risk of estrogen receptor positive and negative breast cancer and SNP rs13387042 on 2q35. Journal of the National Cancer Institute 101: 1012-1018, 2009 Epub 2009 Jun 30
Ahmed et al. Newly discovered breast cancer susceptibility loci on 3p24 and 17q23.2. Nat Genet. 2009 May;41(5):585-90. Epub 2009 Mar 29.
Justenhoven et al. The CYP1B1_1358_GG Genotype is Associated with Estrogen Receptor-Negative Breast Cancer. Breast Cancer Research and Treatment 2008; 111:171-177
Justenhoven et al., Breast Cancer: A Candidate Gene Approach across the Estrogen Metabolic Pathway Breast Cancer Research and Treatment 108: 137-149, 2008 [Epub ahead of print 2007 Jun 23, 2007]
Rokavec et al. A Novel Polymorphism in the Promoter Region of ERBB4 is Associated with Breast and Colorectal Cancer Risk Clinical Cancer Research 13:7506-7514, 2007
Easton et al. Genome-wide association study identifies breast cancer susceptibility loci Nature 447: 1087-1093, 2007 [Epub ahead of print]
Cox et al. A common coding variant in CASP8 is associated with breast cancer risk. Nature Genetics 39:352-358, 2007