Malignant tumors of the urogenital tract represent one of the 3 most common types of cancer worldwide with more than 120,000 new cases each year alone in Germany. All tumors affecting the male and female urinary tract, as well as the male reproductive tract, are referred to as urogenital tumors. These include carcinomas of the kidneys, ureter, bladder, prostate, testicles, and penis.

The choice of treatment depends on organ and tissue type as well as on the degree of cancer spread. About half of the cases is diagnosed at a local stage and can be treated locally (surgery, radiation therapy) with the goal of curing the disease (curative). In cases of metastatic disease or relapse, a cure is often no longer possible. Germ cell tumors are an exception, as in these cases high cure rates can be achieved even after metastasis has occurred. If the illness is advanced, then an attempt is made with chemotherapy or targeted therapy to control the disease for as long as possible. Often multimodal approaches are taken to treat urogenital tumors, i. e., optimal results are obtained when surgery is followed by subsequent radiation therapy and/or chemotherapy.

The Urogenital Tumor Center consists of experts from all disciplines that are involved in treating urogenital tumors. All patients receive detailed advice about multimodal treatment approaches and individual treatment plans are established. In situations for which there are no established therapeutic standards we consider individualized treatment concepts. One of the goals of the Urogenital Tumor Center is to be able to offer most patients treatment within the scope of controlled clinical studies.

In principle, all modern possibilities of diagnosing and treating these diseases are available at the Heidelberg Urogenital Tumor Center.

The form of diagnostics and the type of treatment for patients with a urogenital tumor are precisely defined at NCT. The definition (standard operating procedure, SOP) is established by the specialists of the Heidelberg Urogenital Tumor Center and is updated at least once a year in line with the current international level of knowledge at the time.

Patients are comprehensively consulted in our specialist clinics. Every week the Urogenital Tumor Center holds interdisciplinarily tumor board meetings.

Examination methods/diagnostics

The Medical Oncology Department, nephrology, nuclear medicine, pathology, radiology (DKFZ), radiology (UKHD), radiation oncology and urology contribute to the diagnostic evaluation.

• Imaging (CT, MRT, sonography, PSMA-PET-CT, FDG-PET-CT, PET-MRT, PSMA-scintigraphy, bone scan)
• Cystoscopy, ureterorenoscopy
• Biopsy, guided biopsy

Therapeutic procedures

• Tumor resection, robot-assisted surgery, cryoablation, HiFU
• Precision radiation therapy (IMRT; IGRT; ion beam therapy, e.g., with protons; MRI-guided radiation therapy; adaptive radiation therapy) and combined treatment approaches, e.g., chemoradiotherapy
• Systemic chemotherapy and/or immunotherapy

Aftercare

The department responsible for primary treatment coordinates aftercare following the completion of treatment.