Research

Psychosocial Oncology

Up to half of all cancer patients experience clinical relevant distress while a third of all individuals suffer from a comorbid mental and behavioral disorder. Quality of Life could decline over the treatment-course and several essential questions might occur throughout the disease.
Psychooncology provides non-pharmacological interventions in order to faciliate mental well-being and provide support throughout all stages of the respective disease.
Clinican scientists of the Psychooncological Service not only provide support in clinical routine. Additionally, we contribute in national and international scientific efforts to improve our patients psychological well-being.

Research Focus

the research of the psychooncological team focusses on

  • (1) improving Quality of Life of cancer patients and their families. We aim to develop valid, patient-reported measurement tools to incorporate the patients‘ voices into cancer care and research.
  • (2) Investigating predictors for unplanned readmissions in outpatients by determining informal care-givers psychological burden as well as structural parameters.
  • (3) Providing tailored, supportive interventions focussing on the improvement of psychological outcomes and Quality of Life in cancer patients.

We are closely collaborating with the „NCT/UCC Core Unit: Outcome and health-services research“ (Dr. M. Eichler) and regularly contributing in national (e.g. S3-guideline „Psychooncology“ and „Soft Tissue Sarcoma“) and international studies and projects (EORTC).

Selected projects – Selection of Ongoing Studies:

  • PrePP (Prediction Readmission in Palliative Patients): Identifying risk factors for unplanned readmission in specialized outpatient palliative care; further information: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT05082389?term=PRePP&draw=2&rank=2
  • OPTI-Screen (DKH-funded): Optimized psycho-oncology care through an interdisciplinary care algorithm - from screening to intervention
  • OPUS: implementation and feasibility of an online support programme for patients under radiotherapy
  • LUPE (DKH-funded): longitudinal analysis of psycho-oncological care needs of cancer patients and their relatives
  • PRO-CTCAE-questionnaires: developing and validating patient-reported item-sets to report adverse events in different cancer entities
  • EORTC questionnaires: developing and validating patient-reported questionnaires to assess Quality of Life

Closed Projects – Selection of Closed Studies:

  • YonLife: providing tailored treatment recommendations in supportive sarcoma care
  • Corona and Cancer (WIBCE): Assessment of psychological distress, care situation as well as quality of life of cancer patients at the beginning of the COVID19 pandemic

A more detailed description of current projects can be derived from
https://www.nct-dresden.de/das-nctucc-dresden/abteilungen-und-forschungsgruppen/forschungsgruppe-patientenberichtete-angaben.html#Projekte

2023

Zapata Bonilla SA, Fried M, Singer S, Hentschel L, Richter S, Hohenberger P,
Kasper B, Andreou D, Pink D, Arndt K, Bornhäuser M, Schmitt J, Schuler MK,
Eichler M. Working situation and burden of work limitations in sarcoma patients:
results from the multi-center prospective PROSa study. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol.
2023 Jan 10. doi: 10.1007/s00432-022-04556-3. Epub ahead of print. PMID:
36624191.

2022

Büttner M, Singer S, Hentschel L, Richter S, Hohenberger P, Kasper B, Andreou
D, Pink D, Taylor K, Arndt K, Bornhäuser M, Schmitt J, Schuler MK, Eichler M.
Financial toxicity in sarcoma patients and survivors in Germany: results from
the multicenter PROSa study. Support Care Cancer. 2022 Jan;30(1):187-196. doi:
10.1007/s00520-021-06406-3. Epub 2021 Jul 11. PMID: 34247310; PMCID: PMC8636412.

Eichler M, Hentschel L, Singer S, Hornemann B, Hohenberger P, Kasper B,
Andreou D, Pink D, Jakob J, Arndt K, Kirchberg J, Richter S, Bornhäuser M,
Schmitt J, Schuler MK. Distress in soft-tissue sarcoma and gastrointestinal
stromal tumours patients-Results of a German multicentre observational study
(PROSa). Psychooncology. 2022 Oct;31(10):1700-1710. doi: 10.1002/pon.6009. Epub
2022 Aug 18. PMID: 35949152.

Zimmermann T, Dreismann L, Ginger V, Wenzel M, Hornemann B, Dietzsch F, Sura
C, Bornhäuser M, Mehnert-Theuerkauf A, Heyne S, Gockel I, Lordick F, Franzke A,
Weitz J, Vogel A. Study protocol: the OptiScreen-Study: optimized psycho-
oncological care-from screening to intervention. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol. 2022
Sep 27:1–12. doi: 10.1007/s00432-022-04368-5. Epub ahead of print. PMID:
36166092; PMCID: PMC9514185.

Jakob J, Hentschel L, Richter S, Kreisel I, Hohenberger P, Kasper B, Andreou
D, Pink D, Schmitt J, Schuler MK, Eichler M. Transferability of health-related
quality of life data of large observational studies to clinical practice -
comparing retroperitoneal sarcoma patients from the PROSa study to a TARPS-WG
cohort. Oncol Res Treat. 2022 Jun 14. doi: 10.1159/000525288. Epub ahead of
print. PMID: 35700716.

Fehm T, Stübs FA, Koch MC, Mallmann P, Dannecker C, Dietl A, Sevnina A,
Mergel F, Lotz L; Carolin C.Hack, Ehret A, Gantert D, Martignoni F, Cieslik JP,
Menke J, Ortmann O, Stromberger C, Oechsle K, Hornemann B, Mumm F, Grimm C,
Sturdza A, Wight E, Loessl K, Golatta M, Hagen V, Dauelsberg T, Diel I, Münstedt
K, Merz E, Vordermark D, Lindel K, Wittekind C, Küppers V, Lellé R, Neis K,
Griesser H, Pöschel B, Steiner M, Freitag U, Gilster T, Schmittel A, Friedrich
M, Haase H, Gebhardt M, Kiesel L, Reinhardt M, Kreißl M, Kloke M, Horn LC,
Wiedemann R, Marnitz S, Letsch A, Zraik I, Mangold B, Möckel J, Alt C, Wimberger
P, Hillemanns P, Paradies K, Mustea A, Denschlag D, Henscher U, Tholen R,
Wesselmann S, Beckmann MW. Diagnosis, Therapy and Follow-up of Cervical Cancer.
Guideline of the DGGG, DKG and DKH (S3-Level, AWMF Registry No. 032/033OL, May
2021) - Part 2 with Recommendations on Psycho-oncology, Rehabilitation, Follow-
up, Recurrence, Palliative Therapy and Healthcare Facilities. Geburtshilfe
Frauenheilkd. 2022 Feb 11;82(2):181-205. doi: 10.1055/a-1671-2446. PMID:
35197803; PMCID: PMC8855983.

Hentschel L, Wellesen A, Krause LC, von Havranek M, Kramer M, Hornemann B,
Bornhäuser M, Schuler U, Schütte K. Predicting unplanned hospital readmission in
palliative outpatients (PRePP) - study protocol of a longitudinal, prospective
study to identify informal caregiver-related and structural predictors. BMC
Palliat Care. 2022 May 2;21(1):62. doi: 10.1186/s12904-022-00955-y. PMID:
35501763; PMCID: PMC9059677.

Eichler M, Singer S, Hentschel L, Richter S, Hohenberger P, Kasper B, Andreou
D, Pink D, Jakob J, Grützmann R, Fung S, Wardelmann E, Arndt K, Heidt V, Bonilla
SAZ, Gaidzik VI, Jambor HK, Weitz J, Schaser KD, Bornhäuser M, Schmitt J,
Schuler MK. The association of Health-Related Quality of Life and 1-year-
survival in sarcoma patients-results of a Nationwide Observational Study
(PROSa). Br J Cancer. 2022 May;126(9):1346-1354. doi:
10.1038/s41416-022-01702-z. Epub 2022 Jan 20. PMID: 35058591; PMCID: PMC9042816.

Beckmann MW, Stübs FA, Koch MC, Mallmann P, Dannecker C, Dietl A, Sevnina A,
Mergel F, Lotz L, Hack CC, Ehret A, Gantert D, Martignoni F, Cieslik JP, Menke
J, Ortmann O, Stromberger C, Oechsle K, Hornemann B, Mumm F, Grimm C, Sturdza A,
Wight E, Loessl K, Golatta M, Hagen V, Dauelsberg T, Diel I, Münstedt K, Merz E,
Vordermark D, Lindel K, Wittekind C, Küppers V, Lellé R, Neis K, Griesser H,
Pöschel B, Steiner M, Freitag U, Gilster T, Schmittel A, Friedrich M, Haase H,
Gebhardt M, Kiesel L, Reinhardt M, Kreißl M, Kloke M, Horn LC, Wiedemann R,
Marnitz S, Letsch A, Zraik I, Mangold B, Möckel J, Alt C, Wimberger P,
Hillemanns P, Paradies K, Mustea A, Denschlag D, Henscher U, Tholen R,
Wesselmann S, Fehm T. Diagnosis, Therapy and Follow-up of Cervical Cancer.
Guideline of the DGGG, DKG and DKH (S3-Level, AWMF Registry No. 032/033OL, May
2021) - Part 1 with Recommendations on Epidemiology, Screening, Diagnostics and
Therapy. Geburtshilfe Frauenheilkd. 2022 Feb 11;82(2):139-180. doi:
10.1055/a-1671-2158. PMID: 35169387; PMCID: PMC8837407.

Lieb M, Wünsch A, Schieber K, Bergelt C, Faller H, Geiser F, Goerling U,
Hönig K, Hornemann B, Maatouk I, Niecke A, Stein B, Teufel M, Wickert M,
Büttner-Teleagă A, Erim Y, Weis J. Return to work after cancer: Improved mental
health in working cancer survivors. Psychooncology. 2022 Jun;31(6):893-901. doi:
10.1002/pon.5877. Epub 2022 Jan 11. PMID: 34989051.

2021

van Eck I, den Hollander D, Lidington E, Hentschel L, Eichler M, Salah S,
Singer S, Pinto M, Fauske L, Fiore M, Nixon I, Constantinidou A, Desar IME,
Bonenkamp JJ, van Houdt WJ, Reuvers MJP, Haas RLM, Bruland ØS, Kasper B, van der
Graaf WTA, Husson O. Health-Related Quality of Life Issues Experienced by
Thoracic and Breast Sarcoma Patients: A Rare and Understudied Group. J Clin Med.
2021 Nov 16;10(22):5334. doi: 10.3390/jcm10225334. PMID: 34830615; PMCID:
PMC8618823.

Eichler M, Pink D, Menge F, Jakob J, Hentschel L, Richter S, Hohenberger P,
Kasper B, Andreou D, Singer S, Grützmann R, Dmytrow DI, Arndt K, Tuchscherer A,
Reichardt P, Ahrens M, Kunitz A, Mohm J, Bornhäuser M, Schmitt J, Schuler MK.
Quality of life of GIST patients with and without current tyrosine kinase
inhibitor treatment: Cross-sectional results of a German multicentre
observational study (PROSa). Eur J Cancer Care (Engl). 2021 Nov;30(6):e13484.
doi: 10.1111/ecc.13484. Epub 2021 Aug 3. PMID: 34342924.

Lingelbach K, Piechnik D, Gado S, Janssen D, Eichler M, Hentschel L, Knopf D,
Schuler M, Sernatinger D, Peissner M. Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on
Psychological Well-Being and Mental Health Based on a German Online Survey.
Front Public Health. 2021 Jul 8;9:655083. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2021.655083. PMID:
34307274; PMCID: PMC8296300.

Büttner M, Singer S, Hentschel L, Richter S, Hohenberger P, Kasper B, Andreou
D, Pink D, Taylor K, Arndt K, Bornhäuser M, Schmitt J, Schuler MK, Eichler M.
Financial toxicity in sarcoma patients and survivors in Germany: results from
the multicenter PROSa study. Support Care Cancer. 2022 Jan;30(1):187-196. doi:
10.1007/s00520-021-06406-3. Epub 2021 Jul 11. PMID: 34247310; PMCID: PMC8636412.

Eichler M, Andreou D, Golcher H, Hentschel L, Richter S, Hohenberger P,
Kasper B, Pink D, Jakob J, Ashmawy H, Hettmer S, Tuchscherer A, Grube M, Heidt
V, Jentsch C, Pablik J, Wardelmann E, Kreitner KF, Kneser U, Tonus C, Wimberger
P, Schoffer O, Reichardt P, Wartenberg M, Eberlein-Gonska M, Bornhäuser M,
Schmitt J, Schuler MK. Utilization of Interdisciplinary Tumor Boards for Sarcoma
Care in Germany: Results from the PROSa Study. Oncol Res Treat.
2021;44(6):301-312. doi: 10.1159/000516262. Epub 2021 Apr 22. PMID: 33887740;
PMCID: PMC8220922.

Sodergren SC, Wheelwright SJ, Fitzsimmons D, Efficace F, Sprangers M, Fayers
P, Harle A, Schmidt H, Bottomley A, Darlington AS, Benson C, Bredart A,
Hentschel L, Arraras JI, Ioannidis G, Leahy M, Lugowska I, Nicolatou-Galitis O,
Petranovic D, Rohde GE, Vassiliou V, Johnson CD; EORTC Quality of Life Group.
Developing Symptom Lists for People with Cancer Treated with Targeted Therapies.
Target Oncol. 2021 Jan;16(1):95-107. doi: 10.1007/s11523-020-00769-z. PMID:
33165751.

2020

den Hollander D, Fiore M, Martin-Broto J, Kasper B, Casado Herraez A, Kulis
D, Nixon I, Sodergren SC, Eichler M, van Houdt WJ, Desar IME, Ray-Coquard I,
Piccinin C, Kosela-Paterczyk H, Miah A, Hentschel L, Singer S, Wilson R, van der
Graaf WTA, Husson O. Incorporating the Patient Voice in Sarcoma Research: How
Can We Assess Health-Related Quality of Life in This Heterogeneous Group of
Patients? A Study Protocol. Cancers (Basel). 2020 Dec 22;13(1):1. doi:
10.3390/cancers13010001. PMID: 33561018; PMCID: PMC7792589.

Eichler M, Hentschel L, Richter S, Hohenberger P, Kasper B, Andreou D, Pink
D, Jakob J, Singer S, Grützmann R, Fung S, Wardelmann E, Arndt K, Heidt V,
Hofbauer C, Fried M, Gaidzik VI, Verpoort K, Ahrens M, Weitz J, Schaser KD,
Bornhäuser M, Schmitt J, Schuler MK, The PROSa Study Group. The Health-Related
Quality of Life of Sarcoma Patients and Survivors in Germany-Cross-Sectional
Results of a Nationwide Observational Study (PROSa). Cancers (Basel). 2020 Nov
30;12(12):3590. doi: 10.3390/cancers12123590. PMID: 33266287; PMCID: PMC7759994.

Hentschel L, Richter S, Kopp HG, Kasper B, Kunitz A, Grünwald V, Kessler T,
Chemnitz JM, Pelzer U, Schuler U, Freitag J, Schilling A, Hornemann B, Arndt K,
Bornhäuser M, Schuler MK. Quality of life and added value of a tailored
palliative care intervention in patients with soft tissue sarcoma undergoing
treatment with trabectedin: a multicentre, cluster-randomised trial within the
German Interdisciplinary Sarcoma Group (GISG). BMJ Open. 2020 Aug
27;10(8):e035546. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2019-035546. PMID: 32859662; PMCID:
PMC7454199.

2019

Benter T, Roehr O, Moser L, Kiewe P, Hentschel L, Platzek I, Schuler MK.
Intrasplenic Pancreatic Pseudocyst after Chemoradiation of a Pancreatic
Adenocarcinoma Mimicking Progressive Disease: A Case Report and Review of the
Literature. Case Rep Oncol Med. 2019 Feb 14;2019:5808714. doi:
10.1155/2019/5808714. PMID: 30906608; PMCID: PMC6393913.

Sauer C, Weis J, Faller H, Junne F, Hönig K, Bergelt C, Hornemann B, Stein B,
Teufel M, Goerling U, Erim Y, Geiser F, Niecke A, Senf B, Weber D, Maatouk I.
Impact of social support on psychosocial symptoms and quality of life in cancer
patients: results of a multilevel model approach from a longitudinal multicenter
study. Acta Oncol. 2019 Sep;58(9):1298-1306. doi: 10.1080/0284186X.2019.1631471.
Epub 2019 Jul 9. PMID: 31284793.

Roick J, Esser P, Hornemann B, Mehnert A, Ernst J. Warum gerade ich? –
Subjektive Krankheitsursachen und Zusammenhänge zu sozialen Faktoren und
wahrgenommener Stigmatisierung bei Brust-, Prostata-, Darm- und
Lungenkrebspatienten [Why Me? - Causal Attributions and their Relation to Socio-
Economic Status and Stigmatization in Breast, Colon, Prostate and Lung Cancer
Patients]. Psychother Psychosom Med Psychol. 2020 Jan;70(1):22-31. German. doi:
10.1055/a-0851-6758. Epub 2019 Apr 3. PMID: 30943576

2018

Weis J, Hönig K, Bergelt C, Faller H, Brechtel A, Hornemann B, Stein B,
Teufel M, Goerling U, Erim Y, Geiser F, Niecke A, Senf B, Wickert M, Schmoor C,
Gerlach A, Schellberg D, Büttner-Teleaga A, Schieber K. Psychosocial distress
and utilization of professional psychological care in cancer patients: An
observational study in National Comprehensive Cancer Centers (CCCs) in Germany.
Psychooncology. 2018 Dec;27(12):2847-2854. doi: 10.1002/pon.4901. Epub 2018 Oct
19. PMID: 30276915.

Dittrich R, Kliesch S, Schüring A, Balcerek M, Baston-Büst DM, Beck R,
Beckmann MW, Behringer K, Borgmann-Staudt A, Cremer W, Denzer C, Diemer T, Dorn
A, Fehm T, Gaase R, Germeyer A, Geue K, Ghadjar P, Goeckenjan M, Götte M, Guth
D, Hauffa BP, Hehr U, Hetzer F, Hirchenhain J, Hoffmann W, Hornemann B, Jantke
A, Kentenich H, Kiesel L, Köhn FM, Korell M, Lax S, Liebenthron J, Lux M,
Meißner J, Micke O, Nassar N, Nawroth F, Nordhoff V, Ochsendorf F, Oppelt PG,
Pelz J, Rau B, Reisch N, Riesenbeck D, Schlatt S, Sender A, Schwab R, Siedentopf
F, Thorn P, Wagner S, Wildt L, Wimberger P, Wischmann T, von Wolff M, Lotz L.
Fertility Preservation for Patients with Malignant Disease. Guideline of the
DGGG, DGU and DGRM (S2k-Level, AWMF Registry No. 015/082, November 2017) -
Recommendations and Statements for Girls and Women. Geburtshilfe Frauenheilkd.
2018 Jun;78(6):567-584. doi: 10.1055/a-0611-5549. Epub 2018 Jun 25. PMID:
29962516; PMCID: PMC6018069.

2017

Schuler M, Richter S, Ehninger G, Bornhäuser M, Hentschel L. A cluster-
randomised, controlled proof-of-concept study to explore the feasibility and
effect of a patient-directed intervention on quality of life in patients with
advanced soft tissue sarcoma. BMJ Open. 2017 Jun 30;7(6):e014614. doi:
10.1136/bmjopen-2016-014614. PMID: 28667207; PMCID: PMC5734294.

Schuler M, Trautmann F, Radloff M, Hentschel L, Petzold T, Eberlein-Gonska
M, Ehninger G, Schmitt J. Implementation and first results of a tablet-based
assessment referring to patient-reported outcomes in an inpatient cancer care
unit. Z Evid Fortbild Qual Gesundhwes. 2017 Apr;121:64-72. doi:
10.1016/j.zefq.2017.03.007. Epub 2017 Apr 1. PMID: 28372924.

Schuler M, Schildmann J, Trautmann F, Hentschel L, Hornemann B, Rentsch A,
Ehninger G, Schmitt J. Cancer patients' control preferences in decision making
and associations with patient-reported outcomes: a prospective study in an
outpatient cancer center. Support Care Cancer. 2017 Sep;25(9):2753-2760. doi:
10.1007/s00520-017-3686-8. Epub 2017 Mar 29. PMID: 28357651.

2016

Schuler MK, Hentschel L, Kisel W, Kramer M, Lenz F, Hornemann B, Hoffmann J,
Richter S, Ehninger G, Bornhäuser M, Kroschinsky F. Impact of Different Exercise
Programs on Severe Fatigue in Patients Undergoing Anticancer
Treatment-A Randomized Controlled Trial. J Pain Symptom Manage. 2017
Jan;53(1):57-66. doi: 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2016.08.014. Epub 2016 Oct 12. PMID:
27744016.

Wermke M, Schuster C, Nolte F, Al-Ali HK, Kiewe P, Schönefeldt C, Jakob C,
von Bonin M, Hentschel L, Klut IM, Ehninger G, Bornhäuser M, Baretton G, Germing
U, Herbst R, Haase D, Hofmann WK, Platzbecker U. Mammalian-target of rapamycin
inhibition with temsirolimus in myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) patients is
associated with considerable toxicity: results of the temsirolimus pilot trial
by the German MDS Study Group (D-MDS). Br J Haematol. 2016 Dec;175(5):917-924.
doi: 10.1111/bjh.14345. Epub 2016 Oct 7. PMID: 27714772.

Schuler MK, Gerdes S, West A, Richter S, Busemann C, Hentschel L, Lenz F,
Kopp HG, Ehninger G, Reichardt P, Pink D. Efficacy and safety of Dexrazoxane
(DRZ) in sarcoma patients receiving high cumulative doses of anthracycline
therapy - a retrospective study including 32 patients. BMC Cancer. 2016 Aug
9;16:619. doi: 10.1186/s12885-016-2654-x. PMID: 27507014; PMCID: PMC4977890.

Schuler MK, Hentschel L, Göbel J, Balaian E, Hornemann B, Hoffmann J, Kramer
M, Kasten P, Bornhäuser M, Ehninger G, Platzbecker U. Effects of a home-based
exercise program on physical capacity and fatigue in patients with low to
intermediate risk myelodysplastic syndrome-a pilot study. Leuk Res. 2016
Aug;47:128-35. doi: 10.1016/j.leukres.2016.05.022. Epub 2016 May 27. PMID:
27326698.

Hentschel L, Rentsch A, Lenz F, Hornemann B, Schmitt J, Baumann M, Ehninger
G, Schuler M. A Questionnaire Study to Assess the Value of the Vulnerable Elders
Survey, G8, and Predictors of Toxicity as Screening Tools for Frailty and
Toxicity in Geriatric Cancer Patients. Oncol Res Treat. 2016;39(4):210-6. doi:
10.1159/000445365. Epub 2016 Mar 30. PMID: 27160741.

Schuler MK, Trautmann F, Radloff M, Schmädig R, Hentschel L, Eberlein-Gonska
M, Petzold T, Vetter H, Oberlack S, Ehninger G, Schmitt J. Implementation of a
mobile inpatient quality of life (QoL) assessment for oncology nursing. Support
Care Cancer. 2016 Aug;24(8):3391-9. doi: 10.1007/s00520-016-3163-9. Epub 2016
Mar 16. PMID: 26984243.

Trautmann F, Hentschel L, Hornemann B, Rentsch A, Baumann M, Ehninger G,
Schmitt J, Schuler M. Electronic real-time assessment of patient-reported
outcomes in routine care-first findings and experiences from the implementation
in a comprehensive cancer center. Support Care Cancer. 2016 Jul;24(7):3047-56.
doi: 10.1007/s00520-016-3127-0. Epub 2016 Feb 18. PMID: 26887586.