Tumor center

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The aim of a tumor center is to coordinate the care of cancer patients in a region and to ensure diagnostics and therapy that correspond to the state of medical knowledge .

On the one hand, this means that the various disciplines that care for tumor patients in an interdisciplinary manner work together as smoothly as possible and, for example, meet regularly for case discussions (consultations).

Most tumor centers also offer advice centers for patients and relatives. There are around 45 tumor centers in Germany. The term tumor center is not protected. Furthermore, advanced training is to ensure that new knowledge is quickly disseminated among employees. Deutsche Krebshilfe has been a leader since 2007 with its program for the promotion and initiation of 'Oncological Top Centers' in Germany with the aim of providing comprehensive patient care at the highest medical level and according to the latest oncological knowledge. So far, the German Cancer Aid Foundation has invested more than 127 million euros in the funding program from donations from the population.

Cancer registry

The status of a tumor center recognized by the umbrella association “Arbeitsgemeinschaft der Deutschen Tumorzentren eV” includes maintaining a clinical cancer registry . In the clinical cancer registry, data from cancer patients in the relevant region are collected, evaluated and presented to doctors and institutions, as well as to the public in a suitable form. In this way, for example, special risk factors or deficits in diagnostics, care and therapy can be uncovered and measures to improve the situation can be initiated. This type of nationwide cancer registration is not yet guaranteed in the Federal Republic of Germany.

Cancer prevention

In a broader sense, prevention is also one of the areas of responsibility. Research into the development of cancer is an essential part of any prevention . The international network, organized in the International Agency for Research on Cancer , builds on the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ with an affiliated regional clinic network) in Heidelberg.

Comprehensive Cancer Center

In addition to the concept of the tumor center, the concept of the comprehensive cancer center has been reintroduced in Germany since around 2004, following the US model . Historically, this was the template for the German tumor centers in the 1970s. In this respect, the task definition is relatively similar to that of the tumor centers. The focus here is on the one hand on a more institutionalized cooperation in joint facilities of different medical specialties (e.g. outpatient departments). On the other hand, more clinical research is to be promoted. Research results from previous basic research and standards that have already been established elsewhere should benefit cancer patients in Germany more quickly. The Comprehensive Cancer Center (CCC) network connects the 14 top oncology centers in order to develop synergies and coordinate standards.

Largest oncological top center in NRW

The largest oncological top center in the Federal Republic of Germany has been under construction since May 2019 on the initiative of the German Cancer Aid Foundation in the most populous state of North Rhine-Westphalia through the merger of the four university hospitals in Aachen, Bonn, Cologne and Düsseldorf into a so-called oncological top center (Comprehensive Cancer Center), said Krebshilfe CEO Gerd Nettkoven known. The association is funded by the German Cancer Aid with 6 million euros for four years. Over 200 specialist clinics and institutes will work together as the "Center for Integrated Oncology - CIO Aachen Bonn Cologne Düsseldorf (ABCD)" in order to ensure the best possible cancer care for those affected in the large region, but also to quickly incorporate the latest, innovative findings from cancer research to transfer clinical practice, explained Nettekoven. The exemplary model could in the future also have a lasting impact on the care and research landscape in oncology in other regions of Germany. "This leads to a considerable further development of cancer medicine and patient care at the highest level".

Top oncological centers

By 2013, the German Cancer Aid had recognized twelve university tumor centers in Germany as top oncological centers . This was done along the lines of the American Comprehensive Cancer Centers. Since 2016, up to 14 centers have been supported annually. The funds from donations made available for a period of up to four years total three million euros per peak center.

Since April 2018, all of the top oncological centers funded by the German Cancer Aid in Germany as well as two university cancer centers have been working together in the “National Network Genomic Medicine” (nNGM) in Cologne with the aim of providing all patients with advanced lung cancer nationwide with “access to molecular diagnostics and innovative therapies “To secure.

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ www.ccc-netzwerk.de , accessed on July 18, 2017
  2. ↑ https://www.krebshilfe.de/informieren/presse/pressemitteilungen/aktuelle-meldung/meilenstein-fuer-die-versorgung-von-krebspatienten-in-nrw/ , accessed on May 10, 2019
  3. ↑ a b Top oncological centers. June 17, 2019, accessed November 12, 2019 .
  4. ↑ https://www.krebshilfe.de/informieren/ueber-uns/geschaeftsbericht/ , 2016 page 41/42, accessed on July 18, 2017
  5. ↑ http://ngm-cancer.com/aerzte/projektstart-fuer-das-nationale-netzwerk-genomische-medizin-nngm-ab-dem-01-04-2018/ , accessed on April 20, 2018

literature

  • Hilke Stamatiadis-Smidt, Harald zur Hausen , Otmar D. Wiestler (Ed.): Topic cancer . 3rd edition Springer, Berlin 2006, 263 pages, ISBN 3540257926 (scientifically tested articles from the DKFZ Heidelberg, addresses of all centers)

Web links