Institut Curie, Paris: Cancer Care for International Patients

Institut Curie’s origins lie in the early twentieth-century research associated with Marie Curie and the Institut du Radium. It subsequently developed into an institution linking laboratory investigation with cancer treatment. Today, it is a private, non-profit foundation recognised as serving the public interest in France, with both a hospital group and a research centre.

Rather than being a single hospital building, Institut Curie operates across several locations in the Paris region. Paris and Saint-Cloud house hospital services, while Orsay is associated with its proton therapy centre. The relevant site should be confirmed during referral, particularly when assessments and treatment may involve different departments.

Its clinical and research work spans several cancer disciplines, with established referral expertise in breast cancer, eye cancers and childhood malignancies. Specialist teams can bring together pathology, imaging, surgery, radiotherapy and medical oncology to plan care. The institution’s research role supports access to investigational approaches, but treatment recommendations still depend on individual benefit, risks and available evidence.

Breast cancer is a major focus, including localised disease, recurrent or metastatic cancer and situations requiring complex multidisciplinary assessment. Ocular oncology includes uveal melanoma, which develops within the eye, and retinoblastoma, a childhood cancer of the retina. These diagnoses require different pathways, with decisions balancing cancer control, preservation of the eye and vision where feasible, and longer-term surveillance.

Paediatric oncology encompasses specialist treatment and research for children with cancer, including selected rare tumours. SIREDO brings together care, innovation and research for cancers affecting children, adolescents and young adults, many of which are rare. Other rare-cancer referrals depend on the tumour type and relevant team expertise. Patients should ask whether their precise diagnosis, rather than simply the broader category of ‘rare cancer’, is managed by the receiving service.

Surgery forms part of care for many solid tumours, sometimes alongside radiotherapy or systemic treatment. The operation proposed depends on tumour location, extent and the patient’s health. In breast cancer, discussions may include breast-conserving surgery, mastectomy and reconstruction where appropriate. Ocular and paediatric operations require disease-specific assessment rather than a standard surgical pathway.

Radiotherapy options include conventional techniques and proton therapy at Orsay. Protons can reduce radiation exposure to some surrounding tissues in selected situations, making them relevant to certain eye tumours and paediatric cancers. They are not automatically preferable for every cancer, and suitability requires specialist planning and comparison with other approaches.

Systemic treatment can include chemotherapy, endocrine therapy, targeted medicines and immunotherapy where indicated. Precision oncology uses features such as molecular alterations to inform treatment selection, but testing does not always identify an actionable option. Some treatments are established care; others are available only within studies. Supportive care, symptom management and rehabilitation should be discussed alongside the anticancer plan.

Institut Curie has a substantial clinical research portfolio, with around 300 active oncology trials cited as an indicative scale of activity. The figure can change and should not be interpreted as a verified live recruitment count. Studies may examine new medicines, combinations, treatment strategies or diagnostic approaches. An active trial may be closed to new participants or limited to specific cohorts.

International patients need review against the requirements of an individual study. These may include cancer subtype, molecular findings, previous therapies, organ function, age and ability to attend scheduled visits. Eligibility may require further tests after initial record review, and a place cannot be guaranteed. Ask about recruitment status, consent language, funding arrangements and which procedures require attendance in France. Trial participation does not necessarily mean that all related care or travel is funded.

Before travelling, seek a documented assessment of whether Institut Curie can offer an appropriate consultation or treatment pathway. Confirm which site will provide care, whether additional pathology review is needed and whether any assessment can occur remotely. Avoid interrupting current treatment solely while awaiting a possible appointment; coordinate plans with the treating team at home.

Request a written estimate and clarify payment or insurer authorisation requirements before committing to travel. Consider accommodation near the actual treatment site, accompanying-family needs and repeated visits. Agree who will manage complications, prescriptions and follow-up after departure, and how reports will be shared with clinicians in the home country.

Contact details below come from the hospital's own published international patient information.

Location: Paris, France

Email: international.patients@curie.fr

Phone: +33 1 44 32 40 00

Website: https://www.curie.fr

Languages supported: French, English, Russian, Arabic

Remote second opinion: Available

Always confirm current contact details on the hospital's own website before sending medical records, and never send documents to an address you have not verified.