Cancer treatment in Germany: University Hospital Ulm

Medical tourists who are looking for a quality cancer treatment in Germany can seek second opinion and innovative therapy at the University Hospital of Ulm (state Baden-Württemberg).

The University Hospital Ulm is considered one of the largest and the youngest academic medical centers in Baden-Württemberg.

For 35 years of glorious history, this hospital has earned a reputation as a first-class center for cancer care, research and teaching.

With 29 specialized clinics and 15 institutes, the University Hospital Ulm (Universitatsklinikum Ulm, UKU) provides German patients and medical tourist from around the world with medical care at the highest professional level.

Every year, about 50,000 inpatients and 300,000 outpatients are treated there, including several thousands of cancer patients.

In 2012, the clinic opened a state-of-the-art complex of Surgery and Dermatology providing maximum quality and comfort for the patients. More than 5,500 employees work in several locations of the clinic to ensure that top-quality medical care.

One of the best hospitals in Germany

In October 2018, Focus-Gesundheit for the seventh time published the comparison of German hospitals and specialists in different regions and clinical areas. In the largest independent hospital ranking in Germany, the “Focus” magazine provides objective data for patients and physicians.

The University Hospital Ulm was named #17 among 1,100 hospitals and clinics in Germany. Thus, for the second time the UKU is named in the top 20 best medical institutions across the country.

The hospital performed particularly well in leukemia treatment. The UKU Department of Internal Medicine III is among the best in this category. The rating also shows that 86% of all patients are satisfied with their treatment. Only very few clinics in Germany score better. The Ulm Clinic for General and Visceral Surgery has been included in the list of recommended medical institutions. The Clinics for Accident, Hand, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and the Department of Internal Medicine III were also included in the list.

Breast cancer surgery and colon cancer treatment in Germany – all these areas of modern medicine are represented in the UKU at the highest technical and professional level.

“Even being a relatively young medical institution, we are now one of the leading German hospitals. The basis for this good result is our highly qualified and committed personnel,” explains Professor Dr. med. Udo Kaisers.

The secret of UKU success is not only in motivated professionals. The hospital applies the latest technical advances in surgery, medical imaging and cancer treatment. Quality of services and patient safety are always put in the first place, which attracts people from all over the world.

“Transparency is a very important factor for us. By disclosing our quality data, we meet the patients' need for comprehensive information and do not shy away from comparison with competitors,” says Oliver Mayer, Head of the UKU Quality and Risk Management Unit.

The Focus editorial team recommends the following cancer centers of the UKU:

• Breast cancer: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology (Prof. Wolfgang Janni)
• Colon cancer treatment: Department of Internal Medicine I (Prof. Thomas Seufferlein)
• Prostate cancer: Department of Urology and Pediatric Urology (Prof. Christian Bolenz)
• Brain cancer surgery: Clinic for Neurosurgery (Prof. Christian Rainer Wirtz)
• Leukemia: Department of Internal Medicine III (Prof. Hartmut Döhner)
• Radiotherapy: Department of Radiation Therapy and Radiation Oncology

As in the previous year, the Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin was named #1 in Germany. It is followed by the University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus in Dresden and the University Hospital Heidelberg in second and third place.

The Comprehensive Cancer Center Ulm (CCCU) is the Integrative Tumor Center of the University Hospital and Faculty of Medicine. CCCU provides interdisciplinary care of the highest level for patients with malignant tumors, incorporating the latest oncological research and the opportunity to participate in Phase 1-3 studies. The CCC Ulm is one of 15 similar centers. It has been certified by German Cancer Society (Deutschen Krebsgesellschaft) and is sponsored by German Cancer Aid (Deutsche Krebshilfe).

Brain cancer treatment: UKU Department of Neurosurgery

This is one of the largest neurosurgery departments with two federal locations in Ulm (Baden-Württemberg) and Günzburg (Bavaria). They offer a wide range of innovative neurosurgical procedures, as well as clinical research and training of top-class neurosurgeons. In addition to intensive experimental basic research, local specialists conduct clinical trials for the development of new brain cancer therapies. Their efforts are aimed at removing the tumor tissue as completely as possible without impairing the function of the individual brain areas.

For this purpose, modern techniques like magnetic resonance imaging, ultrasound imaging, and intraoperative motor function monitoring with electrodes are used. Innovative neuronavigation provides better orientation and surgical planning. Thus, the brain tumors can be accurately visualized and resected without causing neurological damage.

The most commonly treated types of tumors include brain metastases, meningiomas (tumors of the meninges) and gliomas (brain tumors). Thanks to close interdisciplinary cooperation within the department, effective complex treatment and aftercare are guaranteed in each case.

Colon and gastric cancer treatment: Internal Medicine I

The focus of their work is the diagnosis and treatment of malignant tumors of the gastrointestinal tract. Working closely with the Clinical Trial Secretariat, local doctors can include their patients in promising studies, giving a chance even in the most difficult GI cancer cases.

The Department of Internal Medicine I treats the following types of cancer:

• Colorectal cancer
• Esophageal and gastric cancer
• Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)
• Neuroendocrine tumors of the gastrointestinal tract
• Cholangiocellular carcinoma
• Pancreatic cancer

Each clinical case is discussed by a team of experienced professionals from different areas of medicine, including gastroenterologists, abdominal surgeons, and medical oncologists.Treatment concepts meet the current national and international standards, including conventional chemotherapy, antibody-based immunotherapy, and innovative treatments like signaling pathway and cell-cycle inhibitors.



Specialized outpatient clinic cares for patients who need medical treatment of gastrointestinal tumors. The Medical Oncology Day Clinic primarily provides chemotherapy and complex examinations that can be completed within one day.

A supportive treatment with psycho-oncological care, nutritional therapy, pain therapy and outpatient palliative care (SAPV) is an integral part of their cancer treatment cycle.

Lung cancer treatment and research: Internal Medicine II

The Department of Internal Medicine II focuses on Cardiology, Pulmonology, Emergency Medicine, and Sports and Rehabilitation Medicine. Diagnosis and treatment of lung cancer is one of the priorities of the Department. All clinical cases are discussed with the best experts in the field of thoracic surgery, pulmonology, medical oncology, pathology and radiation oncology.

Histological examination and determination of tumor stage (staging) can be performed on an outpatient or inpatient basis. Thanks to the collaboration with the Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, all examinations including PET / CT, high-performance bronchoscopy using cryoprobes and endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS) are performed under one roof.

In addition to clinical routine, they individually test the tissue samples for genetic alterations (EGFR, ALK and other mutations). Via the "Next-Generation Sequencing" (NGS) technology available in the Clinic, additional molecular markers can be identified quickly.

Personalized drug therapy can be provided either on an outpatient basis in the Medical Oncology Day Clinic or in the specially equipped M3B pulmonology ward.

Comprehensive state-of-the-art cancer treatment under one roof is the main advantage of University Hospital Ulm. Today it is a hospital, without which it is impossible to imagine the medical and scientific map of Germany.

© Analytical reviews and oncology news by K. Mokanov: clinical pharmacist and professional medical translator