Specialized tumour diagnostics helps seriously ill patients
MHH and Göttingen conclude a CCC-N contract with the AOK Lower Saxony
Status: February 18, 2021
The cancer centers of the Hannover Medical School (MHH) and the University Medical Center Göttingen (UMG), which cooperate under the umbrella of the Comprehensive Cancer Center Lower Saxony (CCC-N) as an oncological center of excellence, are working together with the AOK Lower Saxony as part of a new care contract: Specialized tumour diagnostics are intended to provide further treatment options for patients with severe cancer at an advanced stage.
Patients insured with AOK Niedersachsen can now be enrolled in a special treatment program at both medical universities under certain conditions. Experts examine the tumor samples of those affected with the aim of identifying specific characteristics of the tumor. A specialist conference of both Facilities or Institutions then discusses the molecular pathological findings in an interdisciplinary cross-location Molecular Tumor Board (SMTB). Together, they discuss possible new treatment options and develop individual treatment recommendations.
Patients from other Clinical Departments will also gradually benefit from this expertise and these special examinations. Patients outside the MHH and UMG do not have to travel far for these diagnostics, as only the tumor samples need to be sent to the sites. This will create a nationwide network that will give patients access to specialized tumor diagnostics via their local Clinical Department or oncology specialist practice. Further treatment options can be found for patients with severe cancer for whom there is no guideline treatment or for whom previous treatment has been unsuccessful.
The AOK Lower Saxony thus offers its insured patients with tumour diseases in a very advanced stage extended molecular pathological tumour diagnostics and personalized therapy recommendations above and beyond standard care.
As an oncological center of excellence, the CCC-N of MHH and UMG has the necessary clinical and medical-scientific expertise as well as the necessary infrastructure to set up specialized, interdisciplinary tumor boards (MTB) in order to realize cross-site cooperation.
"Advanced-stage cancer patients are in a very stressful situation. Thanks to the new project of MHH, UMG and AOK Niedersachsen, affected patients receive more differentiated diagnostics and therapy recommendations based on this," explains Dr. Jürgen Peter, Chairman of the Board of AOK Niedersachsen. "With the help of specialized centers, the care of seriously ill patients in Lower Saxony will be improved. At the same time, by establishing a network between university hospitals and local physicians, we ensure that our policyholders receive the best possible treatment regardless of where they live."
"With our molecular tumor board, we want to identify any remaining treatment options in an interdisciplinary team of oncologists, pathologists, molecular biologists, bioinformaticians and IT experts," explains Prof. Dr. Volker Ellenrieder, Director of the Clinical Department of Gastroenterology, Gastrointestinal Oncology and Endocrinology at the University Medical Center Göttingen and spokesperson for the CCC Lower Saxony.
"The cross-site Molecular Tumor Board explicitly does not compete with the basic care of standard molecular tests, which are already being carried out by institutes of pathologists in private practice. This is in line with the strategy of the National Cancer Plan, which was jointly initiated in 2008 by the Federal Ministry of Health, the German Cancer Society, German Cancer Aid and the Association of German Tumor Centers," assures Prof. Dr. Philipp Ströbel, Director of the Institute of Pathology at the University Medical Center Göttingen.
"The new possibilities of molecular pathology offer opportunities for medical progress, but we must not lose sight of patient protection," emphasizes Prof. Dr. Jörg Haier, Managing Director of the Comprehensive Cancer Center at Hannover Medical School. "We will therefore carefully document and evaluate all information in order to gain new scientific insights into the possible applications of molecular-targeted therapy."
SERVICE:
For further information, please contact:
Hannover Medical School
Administrative Unit Communications
Stefan Zorn, Head
Phone 0511 / 532-6772
kommunikation@mh-hannover.de
www.mhh.de
Rebekka Hoffmann
AOK Niedersachsen
Press and Public Relations Staff
Tel. 0541 / 348-65121