From a purely statistical point of view, the likelihood that children with cancer can be cured is quite high: nowadays, four out of five patients can be treated successfully. “But we cannot be contented with that,” is the unanimous opinion of Profs. Stefan Pfister, Olaf Witt and Andreas Kulozik, the directors of the Hopp Children’s Tumour Center at NCT Heidelberg (KiTZ) founded by Heidelberg University Hospital and the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ). Together with nearly 200 other staff at KiTZ, Pfister, Witt and Kulozik are working hard to find new ways of treating children with cancer.

After traffic accidents, cancer is still the main cause of death in children in Germany. Every year, about 2000 children are newly diagnosed with cancer and every fifth child dies. These figures have remained unchanged for many years. The price paid by the children who survive is also high. In addition to acute adverse drug effects such as hair loss, nausea and mucosal bleeding, the long-term consequences can be severe: permanent organ damage, hormonal and neurological disorders, and the therapies can also be one of the factors likely to trigger future cancers.

It is therefore essential to create new therapies that are better tolerated and that also offer a chance of cure for the 20 percent of children with cancer for whom no suitable therapy is yet available. Olaf Witt, head of the “Translational Paediatric Oncology” programme at KiTZ is counting on state-of-the-art technologies in the field of personalised medicine: “We are looking for the molecular keys in children with cancer recurrence that will make individualised therapies possible.”

This was for the case for four-year-old Emma who was diagnosed with a rare brain tumour two years ago. Emma underwent surgery and was subsequently treated with chemotherapy. However, treatment was ineffective and the brain tumour came back. A team of researchers from the INFORM (Individualised Treatment For Relapsed Malignancies in Childhood) registry in Heidelberg analysed the genetic material of the girl’s tumour. The scientists discovered two new potential therapeutic targets and developed a combination therapy that specifically targeted the two modifications, and was thus adapted to the girl's specific requirements. Emma now takes two drugs that were originally approved for treating leukaemia. Although it is still too soon to talk of treatment success, for Emma and her parents, the individualised treatment approach provides a glimmer of hope.

KiTZ was established in Heidelberg in November 2016. Since then, joint tumour boards have been set up, joint seminars have been held and scientific symposia like the “1st KiTZ Symposium on Paediatric Oncology and Haematology” ensure the excellent cooperation between research and clinical practice. What KiTZ still does not have is a separate building to house the research and clinical spaces under one roof. “We need our own therapy and research centre so that we can combine medical and scientific expertise on paediatric cancer and blood disorders in one place. At the moment, everything is scattered across the Heidelberg University campus,” explains Stefan Pfister, director of the “Preclinical Paediatric Oncology” programme at KiTZ.

At the end of 2016, the Dietmar Hopp Foundation announced that it will provide sponsorship of 20 million euros, around half of the estimated cost of the construction of the new centre. Other sponsors have also pledged their support, and 75% of construction costs are now covered. The KiTZ founders are confident of finding more supporters to enable building work to start in early 2018. The new building is expected to be finished in 2021.

The advantages of a new building for paediatric oncology are obvious. The close proximity of research and clinical spaces and the close ties with the neighbouring children’s hospital and other hospitals that work with the Heidelberg University Hospital enable experts from different medical disciplines to work closely together. Pathways are becoming shorter and processes more efficient. This is especially important when it comes to translating scientific findings into clinical applications, which is the special focus of the “Translational Paediatric Oncology” programme at KiTZ.

The new KiTZ building will also facilitate the flow of information. “I am convinced that casual chats in the corridor play their part in turning brilliant ideas into brilliant research approaches,” says Pfister who runs the Paedriatric Neurooncology department at the DKFZ. He plans to further expand the preclinical scientific research area at KiTZ in coming years.

As soon as the KiTZ building is ready, the Department of Oncology and Haematology of the University Children's Hospital will also be moved there. “Children and adolescents with oncological and haematological diseases already receive the highest quality outpatient, inpatient and day care,” says Andreas Kulozik, medical director of the Department of Paediatric Oncology and Haematology and head of the Clinical Paediatric Oncology programme at KiTZ. “In the new building, we will be able to pool all our services under one roof, and this means that we will also be able to look after the young patients’ natural desire to run around and participate in leisure activities. The architects are therefore planning to incorporate space for exercise and music therapy for distraction and recovery inside and outside the building. “We are currently working on a holistic concept that meets the needs of children with cancer,” says Kulozik.