Dear patients,
Dear colleagues,
Dear friends of the NCT Heidelberg,
At the end of a challenging year, we pause to reflect on what was important to us in 2024 and what we would like to achieve in the future.
Our work at the NCT Heidelberg is centered around people – this fundamental focus on the well-being of our patients drives our daily work in the outpatient clinics, the day clinic, the laboratories and the offices. With extraordinary commitment across all professional groups, we have ensured that the NCT Heidelberg continues to be synonymous with patient care and innovative cancer research at the highest level. We know that the success story of the NCT Heidelberg is thanks to all our highly motivated and qualified employees, who go above and beyond the call of duty. We would like to express our heartfelt gratitude for this!
The NCT Heidelberg is characterised by a strong, trusting and beneficial cooperation with the patient representatives. We would like to express our sincere gratitude to all those involved for their commitment! The close collaboration with the patient representatives and the bilateral cooperation ensure that research projects are complemented by an additional important perspective.
The NCT Heidelberg is well prepared for future challenges. The spatial expansions with the new laboratory wing and the new office building create the basis for further success. We are confident that the NCT Heidelberg will continue to set standards in patient-oriented cutting-edge research and early clinical trials in the future.
It is a tradition to look back at the end of the year. Below you will find links to our most important topics and events from 2024. We have summarised them in the respective topics of research highlights, awards and prizes, winners of ‘Donations against Cancer’ 2024 and news from the One NCT.
We wish you and your families happy holidays and all the best for 2025!
The Managing Directorate NCT Heidelberg
Researchers at the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and the NCT Heidelberg have elucidated the molecular genetic background of a newly discovered rhabdomyosarcoma subtype that occurs in children and adults. The subtype is characterized by fusions of the TFCP2 gene with various partner genes. The research results suggest several potential therapeutic approaches that are to be clinically tested. The approach to research in the laboratory has emerged from the DKFZ/NCT/DKTK MASTER precision oncology program, in which the then-unknown sarcoma subtype had been repeatedly observed. Read more …
There are now very effective immunotherapies for malignant melanoma. When melanoma occurs within the eye, the tumor often spreads rapidly and is then incurable. A new immunotherapy for advanced uveal melanoma couples immune cells directly to tumor cells. A so-called T-cell engager, tebentafusp, is used. This enables the immune cells to specifically destroy the cancer cells, which can improve the survival time of patients. This was the result of an international study at the Heidelberg University Hospital (UKHD) and NCT Heidelberg. Read more …
Researchers at Heidelberg University Hospital, the DKFZ and the NCT Heidelberg have identified a genetic signature that is typical for certain tumor cells of glioblastomas. These particularly aggressive nerve cells network with each other and give the brain tumors their enormous resistance to therapies. Thanks to the genetic signature, the effect of new therapies can be better monitored in the future. It also reveals possible previously unknown weak points in the tumor cells. Read more …
The German-Speaking Myeloma Multicenter Group (GMMG), headquartered at the Myeloma Center of Heidelberg University Hospital, has been successfully conducting therapy studies for 28 years. In doing so, it has made a significant contribution to bringing research results into patient care in a timely manner. In a study, physicians from Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg University and the NCT Heidelberg have found that the antibody elotuzumab does not provide any added benefit over standard therapy for patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma who are eligible for stem cell transplantation. Read more …
How well do the algorithms used in AI-supported analysis of medical images solve their respective tasks? This depends to a large extent on the metrics used to evaluate their performance. An international consortium led by scientists from the DKFZ and the NCT Heidelberg has compiled the globally available knowledge about the specific strengths, weaknesses and limitations of the various validation metrics. With “Metrics Reloaded,” the researchers are now providing a widely available online tool to help users select the algorithm that is suitable for their task. Read more …
Researchers at the NCT Heidelberg and the DKFZ have determined which period between two consecutive colonoscopies provides the best early detection of colorectal cancer. According to their findings, the time interval between colonoscopies can possibly be extended to 15 years, beyond the previously recommended ten years, if the first examination is normal. In addition, a more precise recommendation can now be given for people with a family history of colorectal cancer: an eight-year interval. These results should help to develop a more personalized strategy for colorectal cancer screening. Read more …
A large international study led by researchers at the DKFZ, Heidelberg University Hospital (UKHD) and the NCT Heidelberg has yielded encouraging results: The genetic material of cancer cells with unknown tissue of origin contains numerous targets for targeted, already available drugs that were developed against other forms of cancer. These suppressed the disease significantly longer in patients than chemotherapy. Read more …
How exactly does the immune system recognize a cancer cell? Knowledge of the potential target structures for the immune cells is a basic requirement for the development of personalized cancer immunotherapies. Scientists from the DKFZ and the NCT Heidelberg have published a highly sensitive method based on mass spectroscopy to identify such tumor-specific “neoepitopes.” The analysis method is designed to detect these rare protein fragments and requires only the smallest amounts of sample material. Read more …
In recent months, researchers at the NCT Heidelberg, the Clinic for Radiooncology and Radiation Therapy at the Heidelberg University Hospital (UKHD), the Heidelberg Ion Beam Therapy Center (HIT) and the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) have successfully completed six groundbreaking clinical studies on heavy ion therapy with carbon ions and the MR-Linac. These are studies on sarcomas, lung and liver cancer, meningiomas, paranasal sinus tumors and prostate cancer, in which very positive results were shown. Read more …
In 2024, there were again a large number of awards and prizes given to employees at the NCT Heidelberg, a selection of which we present here. These awards not only honour individual achievements, but also highlight the teamwork and innovative strength at the NCT Heidelberg – a decisive contribution to the development of new therapies and the optimisation of patient care.
At the beginning of February, the fifth anniversary of the Nationale Dekade gegen Krebs (National Decade against Cancer) was celebrated in Berlin. A highlight of the anniversary celebration was the first-time awarding of young researcher prizes to young scientists who have excelled through particularly innovative and forward-looking work. Six prizewinners were selected from almost 120 applications at the ‘Future X Change’ conference.
Particularly noteworthy is the fact that a large proportion of the prizes went to researchers who work at the NCT Heidelberg or are closely associated with it through the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ). The prizewinners at a glance:
Nezha Suzanne Benabdallah (until the end of 2023 at the DKFZ) discovered fundamental mechanisms for therapies for soft tissue sarcomas.
Tilmann Hölting, assistant physician at NCT Heidelberg, is investigating new approaches for gene therapies for Ewing's sarcoma, a rare cancer in young people.
Daniel Michaeli, also an assistant physician at NCT Heidelberg, combines oncology with health economics research.
María Paula Roberti, deputy head of the Clinical Cooperation Unit Applied Tumor Immunology at the DKFZ and the NCT Heidelberg, is researching immunotherapies and the modulation of the intestinal microbiota in cancer therapy.
Christina Stengl, a doctoral student at the DKFZ, developed a model that investigates breathing effects during radiotherapy.
Jessica Hassel, Heidelberg University Hospital (UKHD) and NCT Heidelberg, and Christiane Bieber, UKHD, were awarded the Roemer Prize 2024. Their research project PEF-Immun (Participatory Decision Making for Immunotherapy in Metastatic Melanoma) developed a web-based decision aid that supports patients and doctors in equal decision-making.
The Roemer Prize, awarded by the Hans Roemer Foundation, honours excellent scientific work that integrates psychosomatic topics into medicine. PEF-Immun submitted a convincing manuscript of the results after four years of successful implementation and evaluation of the research project. Read more …
Lena Maier-Hein, head of the Department of Intelligent Medical Systems at the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and Managing director at the NCT Heidelberg, has been awarded two prestigious prizes in 2024. The awards recognise Lena Maier-Hein's research at the intersection of artificial intelligence (AI) and surgery, which is expected to make a significant contribution to the future of oncology treatments.
In April, she received the 2024 German Cancer Award in the category of translational research for her pioneering work in the development of AI-based imaging methods in oncological surgery. Lena Maier-Hein's research is transforming oncological surgery by using AI in intraoperative imaging. Her methods visualise both the structure and function of tissue in real time and optimise surgical procedures, improving the quality of treatment for cancer patients. Read more …
In October, Lena Maier-Hein was awarded the 2024 Baden-Württemberg State Research Prize for excellence in applied research. Her work sets new standards in the clinical application of AI and promotes the transfer of knowledge between science, medicine and industry. Read more …
Christoph Heilig vom DKFZ und dem NCT Heidelberg wurde im November mit dem Wissenschaftspreis 2024 der Arbeitsgemeinschaft Internistische Onkologie (AIO) ausgezeichnet. Der Preis würdigt seine Arbeit zu einem seltenen Sarkomtyp, dem TFCP2-fusionierten Rhabdomyosarkom, das vor allem Kinder und junge Erwachsene betrifft.
The interdisciplinary team from the laboratory, bioinformatics and clinic examined molecular analyses of tumour tissue and clinical courses of twelve patients. The results point to new therapeutic approaches beyond chemotherapy, including targeted inhibitors.
This research is an example of ‘reverse translation’, in which clinical observations are incorporated into basic research and the results are ultimately fed back into clinical practice to improve the treatment of rare cancers that are difficult to treat. Read more …
The German government has appointed Eva Winkler, Managing Director at the NCT Heidelberg and Head of the Section for Translational Medical Ethics at the NCT Heidelberg and UKHD, to the German Ethics Council. This committee advises parliament and the government on medical and bioethical issues and makes recommendations on controversial topics such as AI, genetic diagnostics and patient welfare.
Eva Winkler is not only an experienced medical ethicist, but also a specialist in haematology/oncology. Her work combines research and practice with ethical questions, in particular regarding the integration of new treatment approaches into patient care.
Her research interests include ethical aspects of research, clinical ethics and health policy, particularly in the context of modern technologies such as AI. With her appointment, the Ethics Council is strengthening its expertise in current medical and social challenges. Read more …
Every year, project teams at the NCT Heidelberg have the opportunity to apply for funding from the ‘Donations against Cancer’ programme. An interdisciplinary jury of experts from the fields, patient representatives and communication experts reviews the submitted applications and decides which research projects will be supported by donations. This year, the jury selected three projects each from the fields of ‘Translational Research’ and ‘Nursing and Counselling’.
MIRROR - Mobile Illustrator of Radiotherapy course for Review, data Orchestration, and Reflection
Dr. Kristina Giske, Dr. Martin Niklas
Radiotherapy is often complex and difficult for patients to understand, as a lot of information comes together. Currently, neither patients nor treating physicians, especially general practitioners, have easy access to all relevant data. Patients can usually only view their therapy plan on site and then lose access to it.
To improve this, the project team wants to develop a ‘digital twin’ – a browser-based software that allows patients to view all important information, such as image data or medical decisions, in a comprehensible way, regardless of location.
The prototype is being developed together with experts and a former patient to ensure a patient-centred solution. The aim is to make the therapy more transparent and to involve patients more closely so that they can decide for themselves when and how much information they want to receive. In the future, additional functions, such as a digital patient diary, are to be integrated to visualise the course of therapy even better.
AI-supported insights into patient decisions
Dr. Cindy Körner, Dr. Keno März, Dr. Katja Mehlis, PD. Dr. Markus Herrmann
Many cancer patients discontinue treatment, delay therapy decisions or hesitate to participate in clinical studies. Their reasons are often difficult to access, since traditional approaches such as discussions with doctors or exchanges in self-help groups usually only reach a limited, positively minded group. The project team wants to develop an AI-supported tool that identifies the most common reasons from posts in forums or blogs, such as why clinical studies are rejected.
First, relevant internet sources are compiled by the local patient research councils and the national committee. A locally executed Large Language Model (LLM) will then analyse the content of these sources, specifically looking for statements such as ‘Why was study participation rejected?’ The results will be structured in a database and evaluated using social science methods.
The findings can help to better understand obstacles to clinical studies, improve patient recruitment and ultimately result in more inclusive clinical research in the field of oncology. The tool could also be used in the future to answer other questions, such as why people opt out of early detection programs, contrary to evidence-based recommendations.
Defining safe-to-use antibiotics in immuno-oncology
Dr. Maria Paula Roberti, Dr. Dr. med. Conrad Rauber
Antibiotics can impair the effect of immunotherapies for cancer because they disrupt the balance of the intestinal flora. This is problematic because antibiotics are often vital in cancer therapy – for example, 50 percent of patients with bile duct cancer receive antibiotics in the first three months of immunotherapy. However, it is unclear which antibiotics affect the effectiveness of immunotherapy.
Our research has shown that certain immune cells, called α4β7 Tregs, are crucial for the success of immunotherapy. These cells bind to the protein MAdCAM-1 in the gut, which is regulated by healthy gut flora. However, antibiotics reduce MAdCAM-1, which directs the immune cells into the bloodstream and ultimately to the tumour, where they block the immunotherapy.
The project team aims to study the influence of antibiotics on MAdCAM-1 and α4β7 cells in both cell models and patients. The goal is to identify risks and develop new approaches such as faecal transplants to support immunotherapy.
Empowerment through Knowledge: explaining cancer-related fatigue with patient-centered video education in diverse languages
Patricia Blickle, Martina Schmidt, Imke Veit-Schirmer, Prof. Dr. Karen Steindorf
Cancer-related fatigue affects up to 90 percent of cancer patients and manifests itself in severe physical, emotional or mental exhaustion. It can significantly impair quality of life, however, it is often not sufficiently explained, which may lead to increased anxiety and stress and, consequently, make it more difficult to take effective action. Early education, preferably at the start of therapy, is therefore essential and is recommended by guidelines such as NCCN and ESMO.
The objective of the project team is to educate patients about fatigue, provide them with self-management techniques, and encourage them to utilise the support services available. Building on positive experiences with existing materials, the team aims to expand education through the creation of an animated video. It will explain fatigue in an understandable way, present strategies for coping, and provide contact points.
The video will be produced in German, English and another language to also reach refugees and non-native speakers. It will be developed with patient representatives and a professional company. Following evaluation and adaptation, it will be integrated into patient education to improve quality of life through better fatigue management.
‘Time out for families’ – establishment and evaluation of a psycho-oncological, family-therapeutic intervention for cancer patients and their families
Dr. sc. hum Miriam Grapp, Katrin Willig, Dr. rer. nat. Cindy Körner, Dr. med. Till Johannes Bugaj
When a parent develops cancer, the whole family is affected. Emotional stress and disrupted daily routines are why cancer is referred to as ‘we disease’. Support services are usually only available for individuals, but not for the whole family.
To close this gap, the Psychooncology Department at the NCT Heidelberg 2024 developed ‘Time Out for Families’. This two-day programme with overnight accommodation is aimed at families with a parent suffering from cancer, regardless of the situation of the illness. The aim is to recharge their batteries together, to experience themselves as a ‘family team’ and to exchange experiences with other affected families. In addition to activities for the whole family, there are age-specific workshops for children, teenagers and parents.
The pilot phase was made possible by donations and voluntary support. Now two further programmes are planned, accompanied by a scientific evaluation, in order to establish the offer in the long term.
CareTalk: Survey on the topic of language mediation in a palliative context
Dr. phil. Julia Thiesbonenkamp-Maag, Dr. med. Christina Gerlach, Bettina Fetzer
Breaking bad news is one of the most difficult conversational situations in medicine. Someone who is seriously ill with cancer needs someone who listens carefully and empathetically and can explain well what is happening. Language barriers often make care difficult. Translations are usually done by relatives or staff in clinics and surgeries, which is problematic: medical terms are not translated correctly, translations are distorted by politeness and pity or are not legally compliant.
The CareTalk project aims to overcome these barriers by using qualified interpreters and trained personnel. In phase 1, interpreting students will be asked what is necessary for adequate training in the field of medical translation. Patients, relatives and healthcare professionals will also be interviewed about their needs. In phase 2, training courses for interpreters and medical staff will be developed. In phase 3, the programme will be expanded to include multiple centres.
With practice-oriented training and qualitative research, CareTalk aims to set a new standard in transcultural palliative oncology and enable dignified care for all patients, regardless of their origin.
One NCT is picking up speed
It was a historic step for clinical translational cancer research in Germany: in 2023, the National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT) expanded from two to six locations. Heidelberg and Dresden were joined by the locations Berlin, SouthWest (Tübingen-Stuttgart, Ulm), WERA (Würzburg with the partners Erlangen, Regensburg, Augsburg) and West (Essen/Cologne). The term “One NCT” is used to describe the collaboration. One NCT stands for the fact that six excellent NCT locations, together with the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), form a particularly powerful whole.
Wie stark diese Zusammenarbeit Schwung aufnimmt und wie viel Energie sie freisetzt, war beispielsweise beim ersten Retreat des One NCT im November 2024 im neu erbauten, architektonisch eindrucksvollen Heidelberg Congress Center zu erleben. Über 350 Teilnehmer:innen, unter ihnen Forschende, Kliniker:innen, Patientenvertretende und Mitarbeiter:innen mit koordinierenden Aufgaben, profitierten vom direkten Austausch an zwei Konferenztagen. Neben Vorträgen im Plenum zeichnete sich das Treffen durch sehr intensive Workshops zu den Priority Research Themes (PRTs) and Priority Disease Areas (PDAs), also den Forschungsfeldern und Erkrankungsgebieten aus, die im One NCT priorisiert bearbeiteten werden. Zudem hatten die Teilnehmer:innen die Chance, sich zu ihrer konkreten Studienumsetzung persönlich beraten zu lassen und sich beim Science Bazaar in lockerer Atmosphäre zu Fachfragen auszutauschen. Die Bewertung des Retreats fiel allgemein ausgesprochen positiv aus und es war unübersehbar, dass von der Veranstaltung ein starker Impuls für die Zukunft des One NCT ausging.
RATIONALE: First cross-site NCT study starts
Scientifically motivated, non-commercial studies initiated and led by researchers, known as Investigator-Initiated Trials (IITs), play a central role in the One NCT. The cross-site exchange of expertise and knowledge is intended to drive innovative early clinical trials and give patients access to modern treatment approaches. The concept is bearing fruit – the first cross-site NCT study is now set to begin in 2025: RATIONALE, developed and led by the NCT Heidelberg and NCT/UCC Dresden, investigates the advantages of molecularly targeted treatment for patients with rare cancers at all six NCT locations. The researchers want to prove that progression-free survival for this patient group can be doubled compared to standard therapy. Methodically, RATIONALE relies on comprehensive molecular analyses. This means that the researchers examine genes and molecules of a tumor, identify the pathological changes, and develop personalized therapies based on their findings. Read more …
Patient participation at the core
A core element of the concept for the One NCT is the participation of patients as research partners. Working together as equals ensures that research projects are enriched by an additional important perspective. This can benefit both sides: research and the treated patients.
The NCT Heidelberg's specially established Patient Research Council supports researchers and physicians in developing and conducting NCT clinical trials to make them better from a patient's perspective. In addition, its members bring the patient perspective to NCT decision-making bodies, working groups and events.
A central task of One NCT is to empower patients to meaningfully support research projects from a patient's perspective. To provide the necessary background knowledge, the Patient and Expert Academy for Cancer Diseases (PEAK) offers practical seminars at the One NCT, in which researchers and patient representatives present and discuss. The NCT Heidelberg Patient Research Council is actively involved in designing the educational program. The good attendance at the PEAK seminar series shows that the structured information is important for interested patients. Originally initiated by the German Sarcoma Foundation, PEAK is now organized at One NCT and has been headed by Ulrike Schmollinger since mid-2024.
In September 2024, the third National Conference “Patients as Partners in Cancer Research” took place in Dresden, organized by the DKFZ and One NCT. The aim of the conference is to further establish patient participation in cancer research and to empower patients and their representatives in this topic. Patient representatives and scientists from all over Germany met under the motto “Learning, Changing, Cooperating.” The 170 participants were offered a wide range of formats for exchange and learning experiences, from lectures, panel discussions, and a science slam to workshops.