West German Cancer Center (WTZ), University Hospital Essen

Founded in 1967, the Westdeutsches Tumorzentrum at University Hospital Essen was among the first German Cancer Aid Oncology Centers of Excellence and became a National Center for Tumor Diseases site (NCT West, with Cologne) in 2023. It operates the West German Proton Therapy Centre Essen (WPE), Europe's largest university-based proton facility, treating many paediatric patients. The dermato-oncology group under Dirk Schadendorf has led melanoma immunotherapy and adjuvant trials, and the nuclear medicine department under Ken Herrmann is a high-volume theranostics centre for PSMA and somatostatin-receptor radioligands. Other strengths include sarcoma, uveal melanoma, stem cell transplantation and neuro-oncology.