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What is driving sarcoma research—and how can patients actively contribute to it? With these questions in mind, a team from the Deutsche Sarkom-Stiftung (German Sarcoma Foundation, DSS) visited the National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT) Heidelberg, the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), the Hopp Children's Cancer Center (KiTZ), and the Heidelberg Ion Beam Therapy Center (HIT). Eighteen committed patient representatives, including Markus Wartenberg, deputy chairman of the DSS and spokesperson for the Patient Research Council at the NCT, took the opportunity to engage in direct dialogue with experts from research and clinical practice.

The focus of the visit was to gain a comprehensive insight into current sarcoma research. Stefan Fröhling, Executive Director at NCT Heidelberg and Head of the Department of Translational Medical Oncology at DKFZ, presented current clinical studies and research approaches. Afterwards, the guests were given insights into preclinical work with sarcoma cells and so-called minitumors in the laboratory of Heike Peterziel (Drug Screening Unit, DKFZ/KiTZ).

Priya Chudasama, leader of the Precision Sarcoma Research Group at DKFZ, together with her team member Wenxin Chao and Veronica Teleanu, from Translational Medical Oncology at NCT Heidelberg, shared scientific and personal perspectives on therapeutic approaches, tumor boards, and clinical issues in technical discussions. The day was rounded off with tours of the NCT Heidelberg and the Heidelberg Ion Beam Therapy Center (HIT), where Katharina Weusthof and Hanna Waldsperger from the Department of Radiation Oncology explained modern concepts of particle therapy.

The visit highlighted the critical role of translational research for patients and sparked meaningful conversations about ongoing patient-partnered initiatives within two major consortia funded by the National Decade Against Cancer. Stefan Fröhling presented recent developments from the HEROES-AYA consortium and the PAMSARC study, while Priya Chudasama introduced the newly launched DECIPHER-M consortium. These consortia demonstrate a sustained commitment to meaningful patient engagement, with continuous support from DSS.

The personal exchange on site was greatly appreciated by all participants – in particular the openness of the researchers and the opportunity to ask individual questions. The visit was a successful example of active cooperation between science, clinics, and patient representatives – in the spirit of research-based, patient-oriented cancer medicine.

Photos (Fynn Hein/Tanja Jutzi):

• Markus Wartenberg welcomes the team from the German Sarcoma Foundation
• Heike Peterziel shows tumor models under the microscope in the laboratory
• Wenxin Chao, Priya Chudasama, and Veronica Teleanu answer questions from patient representatives about sarcoma research
• Stefan Fröhling guides the group through the NCT Heidelberg
• Katharina Weusthof and Hanna Waldsperger show the gantry irradiation station in the HIT
• Group photo of the German Sarcoma Foundation