Press releases

The 2023 annual report of the Mecklenburg-Vorpommern Cancer Registry with information on the cancers treated in the state is now available online at
www.kkr-mv.de/home/forschung-und-datennutzung/jahresberichte/ can be accessed. The annual report contains analyses of the twelve most common malignant solid tumour diseases and the three most common blood and lymphatic cancers for the diagnosis years 2019-2021. Analyses of sarcomas and gastrointestinal stromal tumours have been included as additional chapters. In addition to the presentation of clinical case numbers, there are analyses of tumour-related therapies and the absolute survival of cancer patients.
The Mecklenburg-Vorpommern Cancer Registry regularly publishes annual reports for regular, state-specific analyses of the registry data.
The evaluation format has been harmonised among all federal states within the Clinical Cancer Registry according to §65c SGB V.

Joint press release from 24 November 2023

Linked health insurance data prove the effectiveness and quality of the nationwide network of specialised centres with hospitals and practices

 

Berlin. The networked personalised care of patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer as part of the national Network for Genomic Medicine (nNGM) has significantly improved the survival rate of treated patients compared to a control group. This is shown by an evaluation study of the University Medicine Greifswald and the University Hospital Cologne, funded by the AOK-Bundesverband, the results of which have now been published in the journal ‘The Lancet Regional Health - Europe’ (DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lanepe.2023.100788). According to the study, a median survival of 10.5 months was achieved with treatment in the nNGM, compared to just 8.7 months in the control group from standard care.

 

In this nationwide network, specialised centres work together with hospitals and oncology practices throughout Germany in the molecular pathological diagnosis and treatment of lung cancer patients. In the nNGM centres, patients' tumour samples are examined using state-of-the-art molecular diagnostics. This means that all relevant mutations can be analysed in a single test, sparing patients further sampling and the associated risks. Experts experienced in the field of precision medicine then advise the cooperating clinics and doctors in private practice on the best possible therapy for the individual patient based on the findings.

 

Network promotes treatment with personalised medicines

‘The results of our evaluation study show impressively clearly the benefits that this networked personalised care has for patients,’ emphasises Professor Jürgen Wolf, Medical Director of the Centre for Integrated Oncology (CIO) at the University Hospital of Cologne and spokesperson for the nNGM. ‘Our data show that treatment in the network leads to significantly better results and can promote the rapid implementation of the latest scientific findings in clinical practice,’ report Professor Reinhard Büttner, Director of the Institute of Pathology at the University Hospital of Cologne, and Professor Christof von Kalle, Director of the Study Centre at the Berlin Institute of Health, both members of the nNGM coordination team. According to the results of the evaluation study, the patients who benefited most were those who were eligible for targeted treatment. Of these, 79 per cent (nNGM) and 66 per cent (control group) were still alive after one year. According to the study, patients in the nNGM were treated with targeted drugs in the first line significantly more often (8.4 per cent) than patients in the control group (5.1 per cent). This higher proportion of patients receiving personalised treatment plays a significant role in the survival benefit of the overall group of patients treated in the nNGM.

 

80 per cent of patients with statutory health insurance have access to network care

The Genomic Medicine Network initiated by the University Hospital of Cologne in North Rhine-Westphalia was launched in 2013. With the help of project funding from German Cancer Aid, the network was rolled out nationwide a few years later in 2018. Since then, it has been supported by all AOKs and most other statutory health insurance funds as part of care contracts. The AOK Rheinland/Hamburg, which was founded in 2014 as

21-06-2023

On 21 June, the ceremonial laying of the foundation stone of the new health research building ‘William B. Kannel Center for Community Medicine’ at Greifswald University Medicine took place. Minister of Science Bettina Martin, Prof Dr Uwe Reuter, Chairman of the Medical Board of Greifswald University Medicine, Prof Dr Wolfgang Hoffmann, Director of the Institute of Community Medicine (ICM), Heiko Miraß, Parliamentary State Secretary for Western Pomerania and Eastern Mecklenburg, and Stefan Wenzl, Head of Department at the Ministry of Finance of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, laid the foundation stone for the new building, which will cost around 64.2 million euros. A time capsule was hammered into the foundation stone and then mortared in place. The time capsule contains a certificate of the laying of the foundation stone, a daily newspaper, construction plans, coins and the ICM anniversary brochure. The laying of the foundation stone was also attended by the District Administrator of Vorpommern-Greifswald, Michael Sack, the Lord Mayor of the University and Hanseatic City of Greifswald, Dr Stefan Fassbinder, and the Vice-Rector for Research, Digitisation and Transfer at the University of Greifswald, Prof. Dr Ralf Schneider. The ‘William B. Kannel Center for Community Medicine’ will unite all six departments of the ICM under one roof as an interdisciplinary centre for health research. Construction work on the project, which is being funded by the federal and state governments, began in October 2022. Completion is planned for the end of 2026. The research building will then offer space for around 380 employees on a usable area of 7,488 m2 and enable the daily examination of over 170 people. ‘I am delighted that the new flagship of Greifswald University Medicine is now gradually becoming a reality. Cutting-edge health research will find its new home here. An energetically sustainable home. Highly efficient building technology, special insulation materials and heat recovery systems are being installed here. And we are installing a photovoltaic system with 88 modules, which will enable annual CO2 savings of around 23 tonnes,’ said Dr Heiko Geue, the Finance Minister responsible for state construction. Minister of Science Bettina Martin stated: ‘With its excellent work over the past 20 years, the Institute of Community Medicine has achieved a unique position and a high reputation both nationally and internationally. With the new ‘William B. Kannal Centre’, this important research work will now be taken to an even higher level and strongly positioned for the future. The building on the central campus of University Medicine, in the immediate vicinity of the institutes and clinics, brings the various disciplines together in one location. This greatly improves both the research conditions and the transfer into clinical and therapeutic practice.’ ‘Twenty years ago, community medicine researchers began collecting data on the state of health and preventive and curative healthcare of the population. Even then, they were already focussing on a topic whose importance was once again impressively demonstrated to us by the coronavirus pandemic. Pioneering work has also been done here in the collection and processing of health data. The new William B. Kannel Centre for Community Medicine will provide excellent conditions for continuing this Greifswald success story,’ says Prof Dr Katharina Riedel, Rector of the University of Greifswald. Prof. Dr. Uwe Reuter, Chairman of the Board and Medical Director of Greifswald University Medicine, explains: ‘The research focus on Community Medicine at Greifswald University Medicine has been recognised nationally and internationally for many years. We are very grateful to the state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and the federal government for supporting our successful work with the new building that is being constructed here. This will enable us to further strengthen public health. We are living up to our company motto and working together with people towards a healthy future.’ The State Building and Property Office (SBL) Greifswald, part of the Ministry of Finance, is responsible for the construction project. Further information can be found on the SBL Greifswald website.

Ministry of Finance Mecklenburg-Vorpommern; Institute for Community Medicine