News
published at: 27.05.2026
Milestone in leukemia research: Dresden long-term study shows potential to significantly influence the course of blood cancer
With the publication of the long-term data from the RELAZA2 study, a research program developed over many years by Dresden University Medicine for the treatment of leukemia patients, has reached an important milestone. The results demonstrate the potential of early, minimal residual disease (MRD)-guided therapy to delay or possibly prevent relapses. RELAZA2 is considered the world’s first MRD-triggered prospective study in myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML).
published at: 21.05.2026
Fiona Kolbinger receives 2026 Jung Career Advancement Award for Medical Research
In recognition of her work on AI-supported cancer surgery, Clinician Scientist Dr. Fiona Kolbinger, MD, PhD, receives the 2026 Jung Career Advancement Award today in Hamburg, endowed with 210,000 euros. The Jung Foundation for Science and Research presents a total of three medical awards, endowed with more than 500,000 euros.
published at: 26.05.2026
New Therapeutic Approach Improves Outcomes in Advanced Bladder Cancer
An international study shows significant benefits of combining targeted therapy with immunotherapy compared to standard chemotherapy.
published at: 29.04.2026
MDS Therapy: Dresden Team Demonstrates Tasquinimod’s Potential for Improved Blood Formation and Treatment of Bone Damage
Researchers at Dresden University Hospital may have discovered a new therapeutic approach for treating myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS). In a recent study, the team headed by Prof. Manja Wobus and Dr. Katja Sockel demonstrated that the anti-inflammatory drug tasquinimod improves blood formation—which is impaired in MDS—and reduces bone damage in preclinical models. Their findings address two central and closely related clinical issues associated with MDS. The corresponding study on the preclinical efficacy of tasquinimod in myelodysplastic syndromes was recently published in the journal “HemaSphere,” a specialist journal for hematology.
published at: 05.03.2026
RELAX study from Dresden: Innovative combination therapy shows promising efficacy in aggressive leukemia
Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a particularly aggressive form of blood cancer that usually progresses rapidly if swift and intensive treatment is not applied. Although the disease can often be contained by chemotherapy (remission), it returns in many patients. A permanent cure is often only possible with a stem cell transplant - provided that the leukemia can be sufficiently contained beforehand. A new Germany-wide study led by the Dresden University Medicine has shown that the combination of intensive chemotherapy and the substance venetoclax can significantly improve the success rate of treatment of aggressive acute leukemia. This has been confirmed by the results of RELAX, with remission in 75% of the cases compared to the past attempts yielding an only 40 percent remission rate. The study was published today, March 4, in the renowned journal The Lancet Haematology.
published at: 25.02.2026
Better treatment for blood cancer: study starts in Dresden and Kiel
Better treatment for blood cancer: study starts in Dresden and KielAt the beginning of 2026, RELEVANT (ETAL-5), currently Germany’s largest study on allogeneic stem cell transplantation for patients suffering from Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) or Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS), was launched. For many of these diseases, stem cell transplantation is currently the only curative treatment option. The study, led by researchers from Dresden and Kiel, aims to improve treatment options and long-term survival for older patients or patients with preexisting comorbidities.
published at: 04.03.2026
High-quality care: NCT/UCC Dresden certified as a nutritional medicine center
Nutrition is an essential part of cancer treatment, as it has a significant influence on the course of the disease, the tolerability of the therapy and the quality of life. Structured, nutritional therapy by qualified specialists helps to prevent malnutrition, can improve the patients’ response to therapies, reduce side effects, strengthen the immune system and improve their general well-being.
published at: 12.02.2026
International Childhood Cancer Day on February 15: New care models and research for children with cancer: Dresden launches pioneering projects in Saxony
On the occasion of International Childhood Cancer Day (ICCD) on February 15, the Pediatric Oncology Center at the National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT/UCC) Dresden is drawing attention to two new, pioneering care projects that have been launched in Saxony. The goal is to enable children and adolescents with cancer, as well as their families, to access to the best possible university-level care regardless of where they live.
published at: 04.02.2026
World Cancer Day on February 4: Dresden University Medicine sets benchmarks in the treatment of rare brain tumors
World Cancer Day on February 4 provides an opportunity to focus on rare tumor diseases such as primary brain tumors. Owing to their location, these tumors pose particular challenges for patients, their families, and the healthcare system. Diagnosis is complex and treatment highly specialized, as as these tumors arise in close proximity to the brain, cranial nerves, sensory organs, and major central blood vessels. In Germany, there are only 20 to 25 new cases per 100,000 inhabitants each year; nevertheless, the functional impact of primary brain tumors can be severe.
published at: 22.12.2025
Dresden study uncovers new key mechanism in cancer cells
A study by the Mildred Scheel Early Career Center group led by Dr. Mohamed Elgendy at the TUD Faculty of Medicine provides fundamental insights into cancer biology. Published in the renowned journal Nature Communications, the study shows for the first time that the protein MCL1 not only inhibits programmed cell death, but also plays a central role in tumor metabolism.
published at: 15.12.2025
NCT/UCC Dresden: Ten years of cutting-edge research for better cancer therapies and individualized patient care
The National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT/UCC) Dresden has been combining scientific innovation and modern patient care under one roof for the last ten years. Experts from the fields of medicine, research and technology cooperate closely to significantly improve the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. Thanks to strong ties with the University Cancer Center (UCC), founded in 2003, and the interplay of clinical expertise, high-tech infrastructure and interdisciplinary research, NCT/UCC represents a center in Dresden that has set high standards throughout Germany.
published at: 27.11.2025
PROSa+ Study on Long-Term Effects in Sarcoma Survivors Begins Recruitment
The PROSa+ study is the first study in Germany to focus on the quality of life and healthcare experiences of long-term survivors of sarcoma. Recruitment will begin in December 2025. Individuals whose sarcoma diagnosis dates back at least five years are invited to participate in the nationwide survey.
published at: 22.10.2025
Safe use of large language models in oncology: Researchers from EKFZ for Digital Health contribute to new international guidelines
Under the leadership of Prof. Jakob N. Kather, Professor of Clinical Artificial Intelligence at EKFZ for Digital Health, TUD, and Dresden University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus (NCT/UCC), an international expert panel has developed guidelines for the safe use of large language models (LLMs) in oncology. Prof. Stephen Gilbert and Dr. med. Isabella Wiest, EKFZ for Digital Health, also contributed their expertise. The initiative was convened under the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) as part of its “Real World Data & Digital Health Task Force”. The new framework aims to help patients, clinicians and institutions to adopt AI language tools responsibly.
published at: 08.09.2025
Long-term effects of cancer: Research from Dresden and Leipzig shows ways to provide tailored follow-up care for young people
A review analyzes over 13,000 publications covering this topic. From this, scientists extracted 32 recommendations for long-term, efficient, and tailored follow-up care for young patients.
published at: 04.07.2025
Understandable Scientific Figures: Helena Jambor Publishes Checklist for Researchers
Dr. Helena Jambor, a molecular biologist at the University of Applied Sciences of the Grisons in Chur and the Faculty of Medicine at TU Dresden with the NCT/UCC Dresden, has now developed a practice-oriented checklist to help researchers design clear and effective scientific figures. The accompanying paper and the checklist were recently published in the journal Nature Cell Biology.
published at: 04.07.2025
NCT Supports First Study of a Novel TCR-T Cell Therapy – Clinical Trial to Begin in 2027
The NCT is supporting a promising new treatment approach for patients with advanced solid tumors. A newly developed TCR-T cell therapy will undergo its first clinical testing in the multicenter ToMA4TA1 trial starting in 2027.
published at: 04.07.2025
Only Site in Saxony: NCT/UCC Dresden Offers Personalized mRNA Vaccine for Pancreatic Cancer
As part of a clinical trial, the National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT/UCC) Dresden is now offering patients with pancreatic cancer (pancreatic carcinoma) the opportunity to participate in an innovative treatment using a personalized mRNA-based cancer vaccine following surgery.
published at: 10.06.2025
Long-term survival after cancer: German Cancer Aid funds Dresden clinical trial on late effects of sarcomas with EUR 900,000
So far, there is little scientific knowledge about the life situation of long-term sarcoma survivors. Researchers under the leadership of the National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT/UCC) Dresden want to close this gap by conducting the “PROSa+” clinical trial and by systematically recording the needs and risks of this patient group.
published at: 06.05.2025
Help for families with rare diseases: Researchers at Dresden University Medicine use new method for human-genetic diagnosis
An interdisciplinary research group at the National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT/UCC) Dresden, a joint institution of the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), the Faculty of Medicine at TUD, University Hospital Dresden, and the Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, has been able to make a human genetic diagnosis for a family using an innovative sequencing method. The study “Long-read genome and RNA sequencing resolve a pathogenic intronic germline LINE-1 insertion in APC” by Dresden University Medical Center has now been published in npj Genomic Medicine.
published at: 25.04.2025
Research success at Dresden University Hospital: New cell therapy shows promising results in advanced tumor diseases
An international research group led by scientists from the National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT/UCC) in Dresden has now succeeded for the first time in a phase 1 clinical trial in testing a novel cell therapy approach that also shows promise for solid tumors. The results were now published in the renowned journal Nature Medicine.
