The word cancer refers to a whole group of serious, complex illnesses whose common characteristic is uncontrolled somatic cell reproduction. About 450,000 people annually are diagnosed with cancer in Germany, of whom over half die from the disease. The course of the disease is often drawn out and the poor prognosis adds to the serious psycho-social and socioeconomic effects for patients and their families. Our research aims to significantly improve cancer prevention, early recognition, diagnosis and treatment. To this end, researchers analyse signalling pathways between tumour cells, explore the genetic roots of the disease and identify risk factors that lead to cancer.

A key focus of the programme is on the development and application of innovative diagnostic and therapeutic methods based on molecular, cell biological, immunological and radiophysical findings and technology. The programme also addresses the role of the immune system in cancer and examines the links between infections and cancer. Medical engineering also plays an important part in cancer research – new imaging processes and innovative radiation treatment strategies make diagnosis and therapy more precise. An excellent example of successful research transfer was the market introduction of a preventive vaccine against human papillomavirus, which plays a part in causing cervical cancer. The basic research which led to the development of this vaccine, which is now used worldwide, was conducted at the German Cancer Research Center.