CHUV — Lausanne University Hospital | Cancer Care

CHUV is the university hospital serving Lausanne and the canton of Vaud, with an academic relationship with the University of Lausanne. Its history is rooted in cantonal hospital care and the development of university medicine. Today, cancer care sits within a large general hospital rather than a separate oncology-only institution.

This setting brings oncology and haematology together with surgery, diagnostic imaging, pathology, radiotherapy and other specialist services. Patients with complex disease may need several departments, including intensive care, infectious diseases or rehabilitation. The services involved depend on the cancer, proposed treatment and other health conditions.

CHUV is part of the Swiss Cancer Center Léman network, which connects cancer research and clinical expertise across the Lake Geneva region. Its partnership with the Ludwig Institute supports translational research: work intended to move laboratory findings towards clinical testing. Cell therapy manufacturing is an important part of this research environment, but manufacturing capability alone does not establish treatment availability for an individual patient.

Blood cancers and lymphoma are important areas of specialist care. Assessment may involve detailed pathology, immunophenotyping and molecular testing to distinguish diseases that require very different treatments. For some relapsed or resistant blood cancers, cellular therapy assessment may be relevant. CAR-T eligibility depends on the specific diagnosis, previous treatments, general health and applicable approval or study criteria.

Melanoma is associated with CHUV's immunotherapy research, including work on tumour-infiltrating lymphocytes. This should be distinguished from standard melanoma treatment: a research programme does not imply that TIL therapy is routinely available to every patient. Breast cancer care requires assessment of stage, hormone receptors, HER2 status and other relevant features to guide surgery, radiotherapy and systemic treatment. These highlighted programmes are not an exhaustive list of the cancers managed at the hospital.

Treatment planning is multidisciplinary and may combine surgery, radiotherapy and systemic medicines. The balance depends on whether the aim is cure, long-term disease control or symptom relief. A referral for an advanced treatment should still include review of established options, supportive care and the patient's preferences.

Immunotherapy includes medicines that help the immune system recognise or attack cancer. It is appropriate for selected cancers and clinical situations, but can cause inflammatory side effects affecting organs such as the lungs, bowel or endocrine glands. Patients need clear advice about urgent symptoms and access to assessment during and after treatment.

CAR-T uses modified immune cells and is principally relevant to selected blood cancers. It involves eligibility assessment, cell collection, manufacturing, preparatory treatment and subsequent monitoring. Serious complications can include cytokine release syndrome and neurological effects. TIL approaches use immune cells obtained from tumour tissue and follow a different pathway; their availability and research status must be checked separately.

Precision oncology uses tumour characteristics, sometimes including genomic findings, to inform treatment choices. Testing may identify an established targeted medicine, suggest a trial or reveal no actionable finding. Access also depends on clinical suitability, regulatory status and funding. Neither a molecular match nor access to sophisticated testing guarantees benefit.

CHUV's oncology research portfolio is described as including around 220 active clinical trials. This figure is indicative, not a verified live recruitment count, and the number changes as studies open, pause or close. An active study may be in follow-up rather than accepting new participants. Relevant areas include early-phase immunotherapy, cellular therapies and diagnosis-specific studies.

Early-phase trials primarily investigate safety, dosing and biological activity, sometimes alongside preliminary measures of effectiveness. They should not be assumed to offer better outcomes than standard treatment. Eligibility commonly depends on tumour type, biomarkers, previous therapies, organ function and the time since recent treatment.

International patients should ask for diagnosis-specific trial review before travelling. The research team must confirm an available place, protocol eligibility, screening requirements and whether participation from abroad is feasible. Travel frequency, unscheduled assessments, treatment of complications and responsibility for costs should be clarified during informed consent.

Start with a concise medical summary from the treating oncologist, including the diagnosis, stage, treatment history, current condition and reason for seeking CHUV input. Ask whether records can be reviewed before an in-person visit and whether pathology or imaging needs reassessment. Do not interrupt effective treatment at home while awaiting a decision unless the treating teams agree.

Compare the proposed pathway with care available locally, including its likely benefit, burdens and uncertainty. Request a written financial estimate and clarify insurer authorisation, accommodation, accompanying-person needs and follow-up responsibilities. Cellular therapies and trials may require a longer stay near the hospital than a routine consultation. Agree who will manage urgent problems both in Switzerland and after returning home.

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

Location: Lausanne, Switzerland

Email: international@chuv.ch

Phone: +41 21 314 11 11

Website: https://www.chuv.ch

Languages supported: French, English, German, Italian

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.