M.J. (Maartje) Hooning, PhD

Professional development

Already as a medical student I was captivated by breast cancer research during my research internship at the Netherlands Cancer Institute. In 1990 I obtained my medical degree at the University of Amsterdam. After a period of clinical activities I took my MSc in clinical epidemiology, followed by a PhD project focusing on cancer epidemiology (""Late effects of breast cancer treatment""). Since 2006 I am working as a senior scientist at the department of Medical Oncology of the Erasmus MC, Rotterdam. As Group leader I am coordinating the research group “Epidemiology of Hereditary Cancer” in close collaboration with dr. Agnes Jager.

Current research interests and goals

Research making use of integrated information on genotype, hormonal/lifestyle factors, tumour characteristics, treatment and outcome will result in valid risk assessment and prognostic models. Such models will provide essential tools for optimized counseling and treatment choice in members of high risk breast and ovarian cancer families.

My main research activities focus on epidemiological studies in (hereditary) breast and ovarian cancer patients. I am active member of the Steering Committee of the HEBON working group (Netherlands Collaborative Group on Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer) and representative for the Rotterdam Breast Cancer Study in the international Breast Cancer Association Consortium (BCAC).

In 1990 I obtained my medical degree at the University of Amsterdam. After a period of clinical activities I took my MSc in clinical epidemiology, followed by a PhD project focusing on cancer epidemiology at the Netherlands Cancer Institute in Amsterdam ("Late effects of breast cancer treatment"). Since 2006 I am working as a senior scientist at the department of Medical Oncology of the Erasmus MC, Rotterdam. As Group leader I am coordinating the research group “Epidemiology of Hereditary Cancer”.

Akdeniz D, Schmidt MK, Seynaeve CM, McCool D, Giardiello D, van den Broek AJ, Hauptmann M, Steyerberg EW, Hooning MJ. Risk factors for metachronous contralateral breast cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Breast. 2018 Dec 6;44:1-14.

van den Broek AJ, van 't Veer LJ, Hooning MJ, Cornelissen S, Broeks A, Rutgers EJ, Smit VT, Cornelisse CJ, van Beek M, Janssen-Heijnen ML, Seynaeve C, Westenend PJ, Jobsen JJ, Siesling S, Tollenaar RA, van Leeuwen FE, Schmidt MK. Impact of Age at Primary Breast Cancer on Contralateral Breast Cancer Risk in BRCA1/2 Mutation Carriers. J Clin Oncol. 2016 Feb 10;34(5):409-18.

Heemskerk-Gerritsen BA, Seynaeve C, van Asperen CJ, Ausems MG, Collée JM, van Doorn HC, Gomez Garcia EB, Kets CM, van Leeuwen FE, Meijers-Heijboer HE, Mourits MJ, van Os TA, Vasen HF, Verhoef S, Rookus MA*, Hooning MJ*; Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer Research Group Netherlands. Breast cancer risk after salpingo-oophorectomy in healthy BRCA1/2 mutation carriers: revisiting the evidence for risk reduction. J Natl Cancer Inst. 2015 Mar 18;107(5).

Drooger JC, Hooning MJ, Seynaeve C, Baaijens M, Obdeijn AIM, Sleijfer S, Jager A. Diagnostic and therapeutic ionizing radiation and the risk of first and secondary primary breast cancer, with special attention for BRCA1 and BRCA2 germline mutation carriers. Cancer Treat Rev. 2015 Feb;41(2):187-96.

Heemskerk-Gerritsen BAM, Rookus MA, Aalfs CM, Ausems MG, Collée JM, Jansen L, Kets CM, Keymeulen KB, Koppert LB, Meijers-Heijboer HE, Mooij TM, Tollenaar RA, Vasen HF, Hebon, Hooning MJ*, Seynaeve C*. Improved overall survival after contralateral risk-reducing mastectomy in BRCA1/2 mutation carriers with a history of unilateral breast cancer: A prospective analysis. Int J Cancer. 2015 Feb 1;136(3):668-77.

PhD project co-supervised:

B.A.M. Heemskerk-Gerritsen: Breast cancer risk-reducing strategies in BRCA1/2 mutation carriers. Promotor: Prof.dr. J. Verweij; Co-promotores: dr. M.J. Hooning, dr. C. Seynaeve. Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, September 3, 2014.

PI for HEBON Treatment (Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer Research Netherlands) in national HEBON Steering Committee, since 2009

PI for the Rotterdam Breast Cancer Study (RBCS), on behalf of the Working Party on Hereditary Cancer, in the Breast Cancer Association Consortium (BCAC), since 2009.

• Risk prediction, screening and therapy of breast cancer in women from CHEK2 c.1100delC families in the Netherlands. KWF, 2017
• Favorable and unfavorable effects of risk-reducing salpingo-oophorectomy (RRSO) in women at high genetic risk of ovarian cancer. KWF, 2016
• The sequel to the Angelina Jolie effect: the impact of bilateral risk-reducing mastectomy on survival and cancer-related anxiety in BRCA1/2 mutation carriers. Pink Ribbon, 2016
• Risk management of contralateral breast cancer: development and validation of an online decision aid for physicians and patients. Alpe d’HuZes/KWF, 2014
• Risk of contralateral breast cancer in BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation carriers: impact of adjuvant systemic treatment. Pink Ribbon, 2012
• Evaluation of the effect of contralateral prophylactic mastectomy on survival in BRCA1/2 mutation carriers. Pink Ribbon, 2008, 2010
• HEBON research facility for individuals tested for BRCA1/2 mutations. Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research, 2009

Participating in research groups:

• Breast Cancer
• Genomics and Proteomics
• ACE: Academisch Borstkanker Centrum 
• ACE: Gynaecologische tumoren

Participating in research projects:

• Prognosis of BRCA1/2-associated breast cancer. Co-PIs: A. Jager (EMC), M.K. Schmidt (NKI), B.A.M. Heemskerk-Gerritsen (EMC); 2018
• Risk prediction, screening and therapy of breast cancer in women from CHEK2 c.1100delC families in the Netherlands. Co-PIs: M.A. Adank (NKI), M.K. Schmidt (NKI), A. Hollestelle (EMC); KWF, 2017
• Favorable and unfavorable effects of risk-reducing salpingo-oophorectomy (RRSO) in women at high genetic risk of ovarian cancer. Co-PIs: F.E. van Leeuwen (NKI), A. Maas (Radboud UMC Nijmegen); KWF, 2016
• The sequel to the Angelina Jolie effect: the impact of bilateral risk-reducing mastectomy on survival and cancer-related anxiety in BRCA1/2 mutation carriers. Co-PI: B.A.M. Heemskerk-Gerritsen (EMC); Pink Ribbon, 2016
• Risk management of contralateral breast cancer: development and validation of an online decision aid for physicians and patients. Co-PIs: M.K. Schmidt (NKI), E. Steyerberg (LUMC/EMC); Alpe d’HuZes/KWF, 2014