German Cancer Aid confirms Oncology Center of Excellence in Dresden

The German Cancer Aid continues to fund the Comprehensive Cancer Center (CCC) in Dresden. The CCC's interdisciplinary teams treat cancer patients according to clinical guidelines and the latest scientific findings. The teams also conduct innovative research to improve cancer care and provide access to new therapies and treatment methods. To support the CCC's continued operation in Dresden, the German Cancer Aid will provide a total of EUR 3.8 million over the next four years. These funds will support research projects, exercise therapy programs, and patient-centered initiatives. In 2025, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus Dresden treated over 22,000 oncology patients. During interdisciplinary medical conferences, also known as tumor boards, more than 20,000 treatment recommendations were made.

“This renewed funding confirms our commitment and our efforts to providing excellent oncology patient care in Dresden. It is a sign of appreciation and a mandate that reflects the outstanding work of a large, interdisciplinary team,” says Prof. Uwe Platzbecker, Chief Medical Officer at Dresden University Hospital. “We also see this as confirmation of our strategy of closely integrating high-quality research with excellent patient care. Our efforts to develop personalized therapies in oncology demonstrate the exceptional quality of our translational work,” adds Prof. Esther Troost, Dean of the TUD Faculty of Medicine.

The former University Cancer Center (UCC), now the National Center for Tumor Diseases Dresden (NCT/UCC), was founded in 2003. In 2007, the German Cancer Aid designated it as one of Germany’s leading cancer centers. Every four years, an international panel reviews the Comprehensive Cancer Centers. The review assesses achievements, findings, and evaluation results from research, clinical trials, and patient care structures, as well as national and international networking. The Dresden team particularly impressed the panel with projects focusing on the use of AI in diagnostics and data analysis, as well as on-site precision oncology research and molecular oncology approaches. Another success factor is its close collaboration with the Else Kröner Fresenius Center for Digital Health (EKFZ), which conducts pioneering research on the use of AI in diagnostics and therapy.

“Our goal is to take a holistic approach to oncology. We are increasingly focusing on personalized therapies, genetic analyses, and interdisciplinary collaboration. Prevention is also of great importance. We support patients even after successful treatment, helping them manage their day-to-day lives and maintain a healthy lifestyle. Funding as a Comprehensive Cancer Center is what makes these programs possible,” says Prof. Martin Bornhäuser, a member of the NCT/UCC Board of Directors.

“Through the Comprehensive Cancer Centers, the German Cancer Aid has established a unique network of cutting-edge oncology care in Europe. The continuous development of these centers brings us ever closer to our goal of ensuring that all people with cancer in Germany benefit from their expertise, regardless of where they are treated. The CCCs share their knowledge and innovations with their regions, strengthening cancer care at other hospitals and clinics as well,” says Gerd Nettekoven, Chairman of the German Cancer Aid.

German Oncology Excellence Centers

The German Cancer Aid currently funds 14 Oncology Centers of Excellence, including ten CCC consortia, at the following 29 university locations:

• Berlin
• Dresden
• Freiburg
• Mainz
• Aachen/Bonn/Cologne/Düsseldorf
• Essen/Münster
• Frankfurt/Marburg
• Göttingen/Hanover
• Hamburg/Kiel/Lübeck
• Heidelberg/Mannheim
• Leipzig/Jena
• Munich (Ludwig Maximilian University/Technical University)
• Tübingen-Stuttgart/Ulm
• Würzburg/Erlangen/Regensburg/Augsburg

Since 2007, the nonprofit organization has allocated a total of EUR 250 million to the program from public donations. The German Cancer Aid funds the Oncology Centers of Excellence for a period of four years. Afterward, they must reapply and undergo a thorough review by an international panel.

For more information, visit www.krebshilfe.de/onkologische-spitzenzentren

Media Contact

University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus Dresden
Annechristin Bonß, Press Officer
Tel. +49 351 458 4162
Email:

National Center for Tumor Diseases Dresden (NCT/UCC)
Anne-Stephanie Vetter
Staff Unit for Public Relations
Carl Gustav Carus Faculty of Medicine, TUD Dresden University of Technology
National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT/UCC) Dresden
Phone: +49 (0) 351 458 17903
Email: