University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE) | Cancer Care

UKE traces its origins to a hospital opened in Eppendorf in 1889. It is now a public university medical centre associated with the University of Hamburg, combining patient care, medical education and research. Cancer services sit within a broad hospital infrastructure rather than operating as an isolated treatment facility.

Its University Cancer Center Hamburg brings together specialties involved in cancer diagnosis and management. These include pathology, diagnostic imaging, surgery, medical oncology, haematology and radiation oncology. Multidisciplinary tumour boards can review findings and recommend a treatment sequence, although the relevant board and referral pathway depend on the diagnosis.

UKE is a large, multispecialty institution with inpatient, outpatient and research services. Its cancer structure includes certified organ cancer centres. Certification generally concerns defined organisational and quality requirements; it does not guarantee an individual outcome. Patients should check the current certification and scope of the particular service they will use.

The Martini-Klinik, a specialist prostate cancer clinic associated with UKE, is a notable part of this landscape. UKE is also known for hepatobiliary surgery and complex cancer care supported by specialist departments. Institutional size and procedural volume are useful context, but neither replaces an assessment of suitability for a particular patient.

Prostate cancer is a prominent specialty, particularly through Martini-Klinik and its very high volume of radical prostatectomy procedures. A prostate cancer assessment should nevertheless consider whether surgery, radiotherapy, active surveillance or systemic treatment is appropriate. Breast cancer care involves diagnostic assessment, surgery and medical treatment, with treatment selection informed by stage, hormone receptor status and other relevant tumour characteristics.

Liver cancer care draws on hepatobiliary surgery and multidisciplinary evaluation. Primary liver tumours, bile duct cancers and cancers that have spread to the liver require different pathways; operability also depends on liver function and disease distribution. Blood cancer services address conditions such as leukaemias, lymphomas and myeloma through haematology and oncology teams. Patients should ask which programme covers their precise diagnosis, especially for rare subtypes, relapsed disease or treatments requiring highly specialised infrastructure.

Surgery is a major component of UKE's cancer services. Prostate and hepatobiliary operations are particularly relevant to this profile, alongside surgery delivered through other organ-specific teams. Whether an operation is appropriate depends on staging, fitness, expected benefit and alternatives. A high procedural workload does not mean surgery is the preferred option for every patient.

Systemic treatment can include chemotherapy, hormone therapy, targeted drugs and immunotherapy, depending on the cancer. Immunotherapy is not suitable for all diagnoses or disease stages and may require biomarker testing. Patients should establish whether a proposed drug is standard treatment, an off-label option or available only through a study.

Precision oncology uses tumour characteristics, including molecular findings where appropriate, to inform treatment selection. Testing can identify a relevant therapy or trial, but it may also produce no actionable result. Existing pathology and sequencing reports should be reviewed before repeating tests, with attention to sample quality and whether additional tissue is necessary.

Radiotherapy may form part of a combined treatment plan. Proton therapy is an access option noted in this profile, not confirmation of an on-site UKE proton facility or routine availability. Ask whether it requires referral elsewhere, why it is preferred over other radiotherapy techniques and how authorisation and treatment coordination would work.

UKE participates in academic oncology research and clinical trials across cancer types. Around 350 active oncology trials is an indicative figure supplied for this profile, rather than an independently verified, real-time recruitment total. An active study may be following existing participants rather than accepting new ones. The portfolio may also include studies that do not offer an experimental drug or procedure.

International patients need assessment against a particular trial protocol, usually involving diagnosis, stage, previous treatment, laboratory results, general fitness and sometimes molecular markers. A study team must confirm recruitment status and whether cross-border participation is feasible. Ask about screening visits, mandatory biopsies, treatment allocation and follow-up requirements. Trial participation is voluntary and does not guarantee benefit. Sponsor funding may cover some study-specific activities without covering all routine care, travel or accommodation expenses.

Before arranging travel, request a review by the team responsible for the specific cancer. Send a concise treatment history and ask whether the initial request is being handled as a second opinion, a diagnostic assessment or a treatment referral. Obtain confirmation of the receiving department, the documents still required and whether the proposed plan remains provisional until an examination or pathology review.

Compare the recommendation with advice from the treating team at home, particularly where travel could interrupt current treatment. Clarify the likely sequence of appointments without assuming a fixed timetable, and arrange funding before booking non-refundable travel. Agree who will manage side effects, prescriptions and urgent problems after departure. A written discharge summary and direct communication with the home oncologist can support continuity of care.

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

Location: Hamburg, Germany

Email: international@uke.de

Phone: +49 40 7410 0

Website: https://www.uke.de

Languages supported: German, 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.