German Cancer Society

The German Cancer Society includes about 8,000 individual scientific members organized in 25 working groups, 16 regional cancer societies and 35 sponsors from research-based pharmaceutical industries, scientific publishers and health insurances. All our members are active in the research and treatment of cancer with the aim to address our joint goal: the fight against cancer. The society is not only open to clinical experts of all relevant medical specialties, but also to basic researchers, medical technicians, nurses, psychologists and many other professional groups working in the field of oncology.

As a nonprofit organization, we finance ourselves through membership fees, project-based funding, donations and income from asset management. Our office is located in Berlin.

Orga­ni­za­tion

The German Cancer Society is a non-profit organization divided into three sections:

Section A includes 16 cancer societies that operate independently in each federal state of Germany and focus on supporting cancer patients at a regional level.

Section B comprises medical experts and members of non-academic professions who are active in the research, treatment and control of cancer. This section includes 25 working groups in the fields of experimental and clinical cancer research.

Companies, corporations and other organizations, that wish to promote the aims of the German Cancer Society, may become a member of Section C of the German Cancer Society.

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Our Topics

Certification

Certified Cancer Centres by the German Cancer Society are tumour-specific networks of inpatient and outpatient facilities in which all medical specialties involved in the treatment of cancer patients work closely together and guarantee continuity of care. In Germany there are more than 2000 Certified Cancer Centres. Futhermore, there are more than 190 European Cancer Centres (ECCs). ECCs are are based on the quality principles applied to certified centres and demonstrate their particular expertise in oncological treatment.

ecc-cert.org

Guideline Program in Oncology

The German Cancer Society, the Association of the Scientific Medical Societies in Germany and the German Cancer Aid jointly launched the German Guideline Program in Oncology in 2008. The program aims to foster the development, implementation and evaluation of evidence based clinical practice guidelines in oncology. As guidelines represent an important instrument for quality assurance and quality management in oncology, they are intended to be used in a targeted and sustained way in everyday medical care.

More on our German website

Knowledge Management

The knowledge management of the German Cancer Society researches, evaluates and extracts specialised publications in the field on cancer. Findings and information are edited for different target groups and projects. In addition, the department develops innovative and user-orientated solutions for the management of large amounts of information and its structured presentation, including with design thinking, UX design and AI.

More on our German website

Health Services Research

The Health Services Research Department of the German Cancer Society evaluates the implementation and effectiveness of new health care under routine conditions. Health Service Research is therefore essential in further developing the care of cancer patients. Certified Cancer Centres of the German Cancer Society are well suited to conduct health services research, providing various uniform documentation standards and an infrastructure that enables research.

More on our German website

Health Policy

As the largest oncological learned society in Germany, the German Cancer Society provides expert input on health policy: we are involved in committees and working groups, host events on political issues and provide position papers and written statements. Our aim is to improve the overall quality of cancer treatment. Along with other stakeholders, we are part of the Federal Government’s National Cancer Plan and the National Decade Against Cancer.

More on our German website

Journals of the German Cancer Society

Journal of Cancer Research

The Journal of Cancer Research and Clinical Oncology primarily publishes original papers. It also includes reviews, editorials and guest articles on current and controversial issues in oncology. The section "Letters to the Editor" is a forum for the rapid exchange of comments and information regarding contributions and current issues. Session reports provide updated information on the latest results of major congresses.

link.springer.com/journal/432

Die Onkologie

This German speaking journal focuses on evidence-based knowledge of high relevance for the daily work in oncology. The interdisciplinary journal addresses oncologists working in practices and clinics. The topics addressed in the journal are planned by an independent board of editors.

www.springermedizin.de/die-onkologie/7953196

FORUM

FORUM, a magazine for members of the German Cancer Society, is published in German six times a year. Each edition is dedicated to a certain topic in cancer medicine. In addition, it includes medical, occupational and socio-political topics, supplemented by contributions from the regional cancer societies, scientific working groups, supporting members (Section C) and from the coordinating office.

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Our Scientific Congresses

German Cancer Congress

The conferences and events of the German Cancer Society promote scientific exchange and provide medical education in oncology. The oldest and largest German-speaking congress for cancer diagnostics and therapy is the German Cancer Congress (Deutscher Krebskongress) hosted by the German Cancer Society together with the German Cancer Aid (Deutsche Krebsstiftung). The German speaking congress takes place every two years in Berlin - the next German Cancer Congress will take place in February 2026.

AEK International Cancer Congress

The AEK International Cancer Congress is an englisch speaking congress in Germany hosted by the working group "Abteilung Experimentelle Krebsforschung (AEK)" of the German Cancer Society. It takes place every two years and is funded by the German Cancer Society and the German Cancer Aid. The AEK International Cancer Congress has a tradition of presenting particularly unpublished work at the forefront of cancer science. The Congress is intended to be a forum at which all participants can discuss and present their smost exciting science. The next AEK International Cancer Congress will take place in 2027.