German Cancer Consortium (DKTK)

The German Cancer Consortium (DKTK) was founded in 2012 to translate promising new findings from cancer research into clinical practice as quickly as possible. It is a long-term joint initiative of the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), and the participating German states. At seven partner sites across Germany, research institutes and university hospitals work closely with the DKFZ.

At the DKTK partner site Frankfurt/Mainz, Goethe University Frankfurt, University Hospital Frankfurt, and the University Medical Center of Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz collaborate with complementary strengths in translational cancer research. Frankfurt makes key contributions to molecularly targeted therapies, while Mainz is a national and international leader in immunotherapy, promoted at the UCT Mainz in close cooperation with the biotech industry and non-university partners such as TRON, HI-TRON and the PKZI. 

Scientists and clinicians at the site follow a clear path: they unravel cancer mechanisms, develop molecular diagnostics to determine their relevance for individual patients, and use this knowledge to create new therapies (drug-based, molecular, immunological, and radiation-based). These new approaches are tested in clinical trials to continuously improve cancer diagnosis and treatment.

DKTK Mainz Spokesperson

Matthias Theobald

 

Prof. Dr. med. Matthias Theobald 
Director of the Department of Internal Medicine III, Hematology & Medical Oncology


E-Mail

DKTK Projects Mainz

The focus of Mainz for the DKTK is based on contributions to the tumor immunology/therapy program. In addition, Mainz participated in and continues to participate in different projects of the DKTK Joint Funding Program.

  • DKTK Molecularly Aided Stratification for Tumor ERadication (DKTK MASTER)
  • Impact of mutational pathways on immune environment, neoantigens and tumor rejection for the development of comprehensive biomarker panels and combinatorial approaches in cancer immunotherapy (ImmuNEO MASTER) 
  • Chimeric antigen receptor-engineered natural killer cells as a universal cellular therapeutic for adoptive cancer immunotherapy (UniCAR NK cells)
  • SI Individualized surgical oncology of gastrointestinal tumors (SI Surgery)
  • SI Joint Imaging Platform (SI JIP)
  • Molecular Tumor Board Alliance (MTBA)
  • Clinical development of lead NEOantigen-specific T cell receptor for Adoptive T cell therapy of solid tumors (NEO-ATT) 
  • Anatomical Resection of liver MetAstases iN patIents with RAS-mutated colorectal cancer (ARMANI): A randomized, multicenter, controlled trial 
  • Characterization of the osteo-hematopoietic niche during malignant evolution (CHOICE)
  • Treatment of prostate carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma of the lung with a novel bispecific PSMAxCD3 antibody 
  • Cross-institutional, prospective, open label, single group, molecularly stratified phase I study of combined CRAF and MEK inhibition in advanced-stage malignancies harboring BRAF mutations with impaired kinase activity (SORATRAM)
  • INFORM/MASTER-PRO
  • Individualized Therapy for Relapsed Malignancies in Childhood (INFORM)
  • Anti-tumor immune responses induced by CAR-NK cell therapy in combination with checkpoint blockade in patients with glioblastoma (CAR2-BRAIN) 
  • Multidimensional Analysis of Response and Resistance to PARP Inhibition in Advanced-Stage MaliGnanciEs (MARRIAGE) 
  • Exploiting liquid biopsies to advance cancer precision medicine (EXLIQUID) 
  • Monitoring the immune modulating effects of combinatorial targeted and immune checkpoint inhibitor treatment (MIMETIC)
  • TME Modulation & Enhanced Antitumor Immunity (ASTRON)

School of Oncology

The School of Oncology is designed for the training of scientists and clinicians in translational oncology. In addition to a cross-disciplinary training program within the partner site Frankfurt/Mainz and the DKTK in general, junior researchers will be integrated into an active scientific community. Annual retreats and summer schools, further training seminars and workshops as well as lecture series and exchange programs, which all focus on translational oncology, are available for the School of Oncology fellows to keep up a continuous insight into translational cancer research and clinical oncology.  
 

Interested in becoming a School of Oncology fellow?

If you are a clinician and haven't finished your residency yet, or if you are a scientist with a medical background (up to 6 years after obtaining your doctorate), you can apply by getting in contact with the School of Oncology coordinator in Mainz.

DKTK School of Oncology

Since 2016, a total of 10 fellows from the UCT Mainz have participated in the DKTK School of Oncology program, contributing to and benefiting from this nationwide network for young researchers in translational cancer medicine. 

The Autumn Call 2026 for applications for the DKTK School of Oncology Fellowship is open now! Application deadline: September 20, 2026

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DKTK Retreat

DKTK Rhein-Main Cancer Retreat

The annual DKTK Rhein-Main Cancer Retreat, jointly organized by the UCT Frankfurt and UCT Mainz, offers a platform for scientific exchange and collaboration within the DKTK partner sites. The event provides an update on current research projects from various groups and the ongoing work of the DKTK School of Oncology fellows, who will present their research in dedicated sessions.