Cancer affects millions of people worldwide and is one of the most common causes of death. Despite major advances in therapy, such as the development of more targeted and less burdensome treatments, cancer remains one of the greatest challenges of modern medicine. Intensive interdisciplinary research is needed to further improve the chances of finding a cure. Our aim is to develop new diagnostic procedures, personalized therapies and innovative treatment approaches in order to increase the precision and effectiveness of therapy and improve patients' quality of life.

The Mannheim Comprehensive Tumor Campus (MCTC) connects the Mannheim Cancer Center (MCC) and the DKFZ-Hector Cancer Institute at the UMM (DHKI).

In the MCC, the certified oncological organ centers as well as the clinics, institutes and scientific facilities of the UMM, which provide services in the field of oncology in patient care, research and teaching, work together on an interdisciplinary basis. The task of the MCC is to further develop cancer medicine and thus improve the care for patients with cancer.

The DHKI is a cooperative institute comprising the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) Heidelberg, the Medical Faculty Mannheim of Heidelberg University and the University Medical Center Mannheim. The institute promotes cooperation between cancer research and cancer medicine and accelerates transfer of cutting-edge research into medical application, in particular because it specifically takes up research results from DKFZ and the Medical Faculty Mannheim and translates them into innovative diagnostics and therapies. The DHKI was founded in 2019 and is funded by the Hector Foundation II.

With the MCTC, the two institutes are working together to further develop cancer medicine in Mannheim. Improvements in the diagnosis, therapy and prevention of cancer, and basic research as well as translational and clinical research in the field of cancer medicine are to be driven forward and also to attract national and international visibility. At the same time, the Comprehensive Tumor Campus will allow comprehensive, patient-oriented and interdisciplinary treatment of cancer patients in accordance with quality-assured medical and scientific standards.

The MCTC focuses in particular on the following areas:

Coordinating and intensifying basic, translational and clinical research

An important aspect of this task is the care for as many patients as possible within the framework of clinical trials – especially Investigator Initiated Trials – in order to ensure the success of translational cancer research. The MCTC's research focuses are broadly based in the Medical Faculty, represented in most of the clinics at the University Medical Centre Mannheim and closely interlinked with the DKFZ in Heidelberg.

Interdisciplinary care for tumor patients

The MCTC ensures the standardized diagnosis, treatment and aftercare as well as palliative care for tumor patients treated at the UMM in accordance with binding guidelines. And it pursues the goal of optimizing the comprehensive care of these tumor patients. This also includes measures for cancer prevention, quality management and quality assurance, as well as the implementation of certification measures.

Further development of a regional competence network in oncology

In order to be able to guarantee valid standards and guidelines for diagnostics, therapy, aftercare and palliative care within its catchment area, the Mannheim Comprehensive Tumor Campus aims to expand cooperation with regional partners – including private practices and self-help groups – to form a regional competence network in oncology.