Comprehensive Cancer Center Munich - University Hospital of Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich

About the Comprehensive Cancer Center Munich at University Hospital of Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich

The Comprehensive Cancer Center Munich (CCC Munich) at the University Hospital of Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich is one of the most reputable cancer centers in Germany and throughout Europe, where patients with malignant diseases undergo comprehensive diagnostics and effective treatment based on the very latest medical advances. The center has 3,500 beds to accommodate patients. The medical facility is certified in accordance with the DIN EN ISO standards and requirements of the German Cancer Society, and also works with the assistance of the German Cancer Aid (Deutsche Krebshilfe). The CCC Munich unites many specialized centers, each of which is responsible for treating a particular group of cancers, thanks to which patients receive interdisciplinary medical care, and there is always the opportunity to involve doctors from related disciplines in the therapeutic process. The best German specialists are at the patients' disposal, with excellent technical resources and working together to overcome oncology and give patients the opportunity to live a full life. Great importance is attached to the psychological support of patients aimed at combating depressive states. The center is headed by Prof. Dr. med. Volker Heinemann.

Breast cancer is the most common type of oncology in women. The first-line therapy is usually a surgical resection of the malignant tumor. Depending on the stage of the oncological process, surgeons perform breast-conserving and radical interventions. First of all, the possibility of breast-conserving surgery is considered, and a radical intervention is the last-line option. The specialists working at the center are rightfully proud of their professional skills, so patients can be sure that the operation will be performed as best as possible. After a mastectomy (breast removal), a woman is offered modern plastic surgery to restore the appearance of her breast, in particular, breast reconstruction with silicone implants and DIEP flap reconstructive plastic surgery. Surgical treatment is complemented by conservative methods such as chemotherapy, hormone therapy, targeted therapy, antibody therapy, or immunotherapy. Physicians work with radiation therapists to determine the best type of radiation therapy (if clinically indicated): intraoperative radiation, deep inspiration breath hold (DIBH), irradiation with the Catalyst™ non-contact monitoring system for left-sided cancer to protect the heart, brachytherapy for liver metastases, and stereotactic radiosurgery for brain and lung metastases caused by breast cancer.

Of particular interest to the center's doctors is the treatment of colon cancer, which is one of the three most lethal types of oncology. In the treatment of this oncological disease, the center has been awarded the quality certificate from the German Cancer Society (DKG) and also has the status of the Center of Excellence for Colon Cancer, certified in accordance with the standards of the German Society for General and Visceral Surgery (DGAV). A team of colon cancer specialists provides all modern treatment options for this complex type of cancer. In most cases, it is impossible to do without the surgical removal of the malignant tumor and the adjacent affected tissues. Depending on the stage of the oncological process, the surgeons at the center perform both sparing laparoscopic and classical open interventions. In some cases, doctors can perform robot-assisted surgery using the da Vinci surgical system. The operation usually does not guarantee the total destruction of all malignant cells in the patient's body, so doctors additionally use various types of conservative therapy: chemotherapy, including in combination with hyperthermia, antibody therapy, radiation therapy, chemoradiotherapy, etc. Since colon cancer is most often diagnosed at its advanced stages, patients often have liver metastases. The specialists use radiofrequency ablation, selective internal radiation therapy, intra-arterial chemotherapy, or interstitial brachytherapy to suppress them.

The Comprehensive Cancer Center Munich holds a leading position in the medical arena in Germany and Europe in oncology and therefore provides medical care to patients with all types of cancer known in modern medicine, including malignant tumors of the reproductive system in men and women, kidneys, bladder, central and peripheral nervous systems, gastrointestinal organs, endocrine glands, and lungs, as well as patients with bone and soft tissue sarcomas, leukemias, and lymphomas. The center is also one of the few in Germany with vast experience in the diagnostics and treatment of patients with cancer of unknown primary and rare types of malignant tumors. Each clinical case of oncology is unique, so the center's specialists always take a responsible approach to prescribing certain types of therapy, assessing their benefits and side effects. In addition to the main treatment, qualified psycho-oncologists work with patients.

The center also regularly treats children with cancers, so there is a specially trained team for the management of young patients, and tremendous clinical experience has been accumulated in the field of cancer treatment in children. Therapeutic options are almost the same as those used in the treatment of adults and most often include surgery, chemotherapy, and/or radiation therapy. Art therapists, music therapists, physiotherapists, psychologists, and other specialists work with children to facilitate the therapeutic process, which is usually quite exhausting for a child. Doctors always strive to elaborate the most effective treatment regimen, while it is important for them to ensure the proper development of the child's body upon the completion of therapy.

The center specializes in the diagnostics and treatment of the following cancers:

• Breast cancer
• Gynecologic cancers
  • Uterine cancer
  • Cervical cancer
  • Ovarian cancer
  • Endometrial cancer
  • Vaginal cancer
  • Vulvar cancer
• Male reproductive cancers
  • Prostate cancer
  • Penile cancer
  • Testicular cancer
• Urinary tract cancers
  • Kidney cancer
  • Bladder cancer
  • Ureteral cancer
• Gastrointestinal cancers
  • Colon cancer
  • Stomach cancer
  • Colorectal cancer
  • Pancreatic cancer
  • Liver cancer and liver metastases
  • Gallbladder and bile duct cancers
• Endocrine cancers
  • Thyroid cancer
  • Parathyroid cancer
  • Adrenal cancer
  • Pituitary cancer
  • Neuroendocrine tumors
• Bone and soft tissue cancer (sarcomas)
• Malignant head and neck tumors
  • ENT cancers
    • Nasal cavity and paranasal sinus cancers
    • Oral cavity and oral mucosal cancers
    • Throat cancer
    • Laryngeal cancer
    • Salivary gland cancer
    • Head and neck skin cancer
  • Oral and maxillofacial cancers
    • Lower and upper jaw cancers
    • Lip cancer
    • Tongue cancer
• Thoracic cancers
  • Lung cancer
  • Pleural cancer
  • Tracheal cancer
  • Mediastinal cancers
• Brain and spinal cord cancers
• Malignant blood diseases
  • Leukemia
  • Myeloproliferative syndrome
  • Multiple myeloma
• Childhood cancers
  • Leukemias
  • Lymphomas
  • Sarcomas
  • Brain and spinal cord tumors
  • Kidney cancer
  • Liver cancer
  • Retinoblastoma
• Other malignant diseases

The therapeutic options offered at the center are as follows:

• Surgical treatment
  • Minimally invasive surgery
  • da Vinci robotic surgery
  • Laser interventions
  • Endoscopic interventions
  • Open surgery
• Conservative treatment
  • Chemotherapy
  • Radiation therapy, including innovative stereotactic radiosurgery
  • Hormone therapy
  • Antibody therapy
  • Immunotherapy
  • Targeted therapy
  • Photodynamic therapy
  • Radiofrequency and laser ablation
  • Bone marrow transplant
• Other methods of surgical and conservative treatment