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Review
. 2025;103(9):834-847.
doi: 10.1159/000542451. Epub 2024 Nov 27.

Digitalization and Standardization Oncology Drug Therapy Plans with the Onkopti Database for Online Publication and Import into Software

Hartmut Link  1   2 , Axel Wickenkamp  3 , Annika Dresel  2 , Migle Link  2 , Cornelia Sibylle Link-Rachner  2 , Rolf Hendrik van Lengen  4 , Hartmut Link
Affiliations
Review

Digitalization and Standardization Oncology Drug Therapy Plans with the Onkopti Database for Online Publication and Import into Software

Hartmut Link et al. Oncology. 2025.

Abstract

Background: Oncological therapy is based on multidimensional therapy protocols. The requirements for standardized protocols and digitation are high. These protocols are created through several complex development stages to ensure standardized recording. The process involves analyzing original publications published in international journals and extracting key content. Standardized supportive therapy is then added, and compatibility with current guidelines and quality controls is checked.

Summary: The Onkopti® website is based on the WordPress content management system and provides protocols in a variety of formats, generated through the use of a relational SQL database (<ext-link ext-link-type="uri" xlink:href="http://www.onkopti.de" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">www.onkopti.de</ext-link>, <ext-link ext-link-type="uri" xlink:href="http://www.onkopti.com" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">www.onkopti.com</ext-link>, <ext-link ext-link-type="uri" xlink:href="http://www.oncopti.com" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">www.oncopti.com</ext-link>). It is continuously updated to include new therapeutic developments or changes to standard therapy. The protocols are stored in a relational database and can be exported to various application systems via a standardized XML format or other formats. The website and protocols are available in both German and English. As of January, 2025, there are over 2,700 protocols for parenteral and oral therapies for all oncological specialties.

Key messages: The digitalization of protocol selection, prescription, pharmacy preparation, hospital or practice information system documentation, billing, and prescription creation can accelerate, standardize, and streamline these processes. This optimization can significantly reduce personnel costs, resulting in cost savings, and improved quality.

Keywords: Actuality; Drug therapy safety; Efficiency; Personnel reduction; Time-saving.

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Conflict of interest statement

Hartmut Link – Last DOI update: August 27, 2024. Financial interests: Pharmacosmos, advisory board, and personal. SIGAL SMS GmbH: advisory board, personal. Takeda: advisory board, and personal. Teva: advisory board, personal. Teva, invited speaker, personal, vision plus Mailand, invited speaker, personal. Apogepha, advisory board, and personal. G1 Therapeutics, advisory board, personal. Lindis blood care: advisory board, personal. Octapharma: invited speaker, personal. Onkodin GmbH: ownership interest, Personal, onkopti.de. Viatris: licensing fees, institutional, Onkodin GmbH, onchemo.com. Biocon, Licencing Fees, Institutional, Onkodin GmbH, onchemo.com. AMGEN: research grant, no financial interest, institutional, study with German Cancer Society. MMF GmbH, Coordinating PI, financial interest, personal. Pharmacosmos: research grant, no financial interest, institutional, grant to German Cancer Society. Teva – Xcenda: Steering Committee member, financial interest, and personal. Takeda: research grant, no financial interest, institutional, Grant to AIO German Cancer Society. Non-financial interests: Onkodin GmbH, project lead, digitized oncological treatment protocols. Other: Ethics Committee at the Rhineland-Palatinate Medical Association, Mainz, Other, Expert Testimony. Axel Wickenkamp, Annika Dresel, Migle Link, Cornelia Link-Rachner, and Rolf H. van Lengen have no conflicts of interest to declare.

Figures

Fig. 1.
Fig. 1.
Online protocol, standard view, number 1920. Pola-R-CHP – Polatuzumab Vedotin 1.8/rituximab 375/cyclophosphamide 750/doxorubicin 50/prednisolone 100, diffuse large B-non-Hodgkin lymphoma, cycle 1–6 [2], see example on website: https://onkopti.de/diseases-protocols/?lang=en&view=2&pid=1920. Designation: name of the protocol from the substance names with dose information, usually in the order of application, possibly also the established protocol acronym or study name, main indication, cycle information, protocol number (PID), version number (V). Protocol acronym: abbreviations from substance names for the file name of the protocol, etc. Indication(s): disease(s), from publications, guidelines, approval; ICD-10-code. Classification of the therapy: standard, alternative, etc., according to guidelines, intensity, therapy phase and intention. Cycles: duration and number of cycles from publication. Sequences of protocols: therapy plan with different protocols, link to graphic on Onkopti® server. Risks: febrile neutropenia, neutropenia, anemia, thrombocytopenia, nausea and vomiting, and other relevant risks from publication. Therapy divided into color-coded sections: hydration, allergy prophylaxis, antiemetics, supportive therapy, antineoplastic therapy (oral, parenteral), hematopoietic growth factors, infection prophylaxis, etc. Possible changes in therapy, warnings etc. Relevant controls to be performed before and during therapy. Original indication from the study in the original publication. Author of the original publication. Origin of the protocol, study group, clinic, etc. from publication. Reference for literature used in the protocol link to PubMed and if available, directly to the original publication via Digital Object Identifier (DOI). Recommendations from medical professional societies.
Fig. 2.
Fig. 2.
Section of the Onkopti® database structure.
Fig. 3.
Fig. 3.
Onkopti® website protocol search for breast cancer, https://onkopti.de/protokollsuche/?lang=en.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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