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Research group

CAYA Cancer Survivorship

Life after a overcoming cancer

The CAYA Cancer Survivorship Research Unit at the Hopp Children's Cancer Center and the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), funded by the Dietmar Hopp Foundation, investigates the long-term health consequences of cancer in children, adolescents, and young adults (CAYA).

The focus is on identifying and quantifying long-term and late effects, as well as analyzing their determinants across the entire lifespan. To this end, population-based data sources are utilized, and clinical, epidemiological, and molecular information is integrated. A particular goal is to translate this evidence into risk-adapted, evidence-based follow-up care concepts to sustainably improve the health and quality of life of survivors.

Spotlight - AG Ronckers

Improved survival rates following childhood cancer present new challenges due to long-term and late effects, which require evidence-based, risk-adapted follow-up care throughout the patient’s lifetime.

 

 

 

A key focus of our research is the study of secondary tumors as a serious long-term consequence of cancer diagnosed at a young age. We analyze incidence rates, risk factors, and underlying mechanisms, particularly in relation to prior exposure to cancer treatments. Our goal is to identify high-risk groups and develop strategies for early detection and risk-adapted follow-up care.

We are establishing and continuously expanding large, population-based cohorts of childhood, adolescent, and young adult cancer survivors with long-term follow-up. A central focus is on the systematic collection and harmonization of detailed treatment, clinical, and follow-up data, as well as on linking these data to cancer registries and other health data sources. These cohorts form the basis for robust epidemiological analyses, the quantification of risks across the entire lifespan, and the development of evidence-based follow-up care concepts.
 

 

We investigate the long-term health consequences of medical radiation exposure during childhood, adolescence, and young adulthood, particularly in the context of radiation therapy. Our focus is on dose-response relationships and organ-specific risks for long-term effects throughout the lifespan. The goal is to better understand radiation-related risks and to establish evidence-based foundations for prevention and follow-up care.

2026 - EJC Ped Oncol
Characterising childhood cancer survivors in Germany: A retrospective observational study on demographic, clinical, and healthcare utilization patterns 
Aleshchenko EA, Trocchi P, Apfelbacher Ch, Baust K, Calaminus G, Droege P, Horenkamp-Sonntag D, Ihle P, Klein M, Kuepper-Nybelen, Langer T, Luepkes Chr, Marschall U, Merzenich H, Ruhnke Th, Spix C, Swart E, Ronckers C

2026 - German Childhood Cancer Registry
Annual Report 2022 (1980-2021). Institute of Medical Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Informatics (IMBEI) at the University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, 2025. 
Ronckers CM, Spix C, Grabow D, Erdmann F. German Childhood Cancer Registry

2025 - J Clin Oncol. 2025 Nov;43(31):3403-3421
Colorectal-Specific Radiation Dose and Chemotherapy Risk for Subsequent Colorectal Malignancies in Childhood Cancer Survivors: A Childhood Cancer Survivor Study (CCSS) Report 
Owens CA, Ludmir EB, Liu Q, Qiu W, Gupta AC, Smith SA, Rigaud B, Brock KK, Bates JE, Meyers TG, Paulino AC, Peterson CB, Kry SF, Teepen JC, Ronckers CM, Neglia JP, Leisenring WM, Oeffinger KC, Nathan PC, Turcotte LM, Hodgson DC, Hudson MM, Robison LL, Moskowitz CS, Armstrong GT, Henderson TO, Yasui Y, Howell RM

2023 - Nat Med. 2023 Sep 11;29(9):2268–77
International Consortium for Pooled Studies on Subsequent Malignancies after Childhood and Adolescent Cancer. Subsequent female breast cancer risk associated with anthracycline chemotherapy for childhood cancer 
Wang Y, Ronckers CM, van Leeuwen FE, Moskowitz CS, Leisenring W, Armstrong GT, de Vathaire F, Hudson MM, Kuehni CE, Arnold MA, Demoor-Goldschmidt C, Green DM, Henderson TO, Howell RM, Ehrhardt MJ, Neglia JP, Oeffinger KC, van der Pal HJH, Robison LL, Schaapveld M, Turcotte LM, Waespe N, Kremer LCM, Teepen JC

2021 - J Clin Oncol . 2021 Sep 20;39(27):3012-3021
Personalized breast cancer risk prediction for childhood cancer survivors treated with chest radiation: A report from the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study and the Dutch Hodgkin Late Effects and LATER cohorts 
Moskowitz C, Ronckers CM, Chou JF, Smith SA, Novetsky Friedman D, Barnea D, Kok JL, de Vries S, Wolden SL, Henderson TO, van der Pal HJH, Kremer LCM, Neglia JP, Turcotte LM, Howell RM, Arnold MA, Schaapveld M, Aleman B, Janus C, Versluys B, Leisenring W, Sklar CA, Begg CB, Pike MC, Armstrong GT, Robison LL, van Leeuwen FE, Oeffinger KC

2019 - JAMA Oncology
DCOG-LATER Study Group. Histologically confirmed solid benign tumors among long-term childhood cancer survivors: A DCOG LATER record linkage study 
Kok JL, Teepen JC, van der Pal HJ, van Leeuwen FE, Tissing WJE, Neggers SJCMM, Loonen JJ, Louwerens M, Versluys B, van den Heuvel-Eibrink MM, van Dulmen-den Broeder E, Jaspers MMW, van Santen HM, van der Heiden-van der Loo M, Janssens GO, Maduro JH, Bruggink AH, Jongmans MC, Kremer LCM, Ronckers CM

2005 - Lancet 2005;365:2014-23
Second primary thyroid cancer after a first childhood malignancy: A report from the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study 
Sigurdson AJ, Ronckers CM, Mertens AC, Stovall M, Smith SA, Liu Y,  Berkow R, Sklar CA, Hammond S, Neglia JP, Meadows AT, Robison LL, Inskip PD

 

Team members
  • Cécile Ronckers, PhD (Group leader)
  • Julien Frick, MD (Physician scientist)
  • Franziska Teich, B.Sc. (Research assistant)
  • Petra Rössler (Secretary)
  • Heike Weis (Secretary)

Dr. Cecile Ronckers (PhD)

Head CAYA Cancer Survivorship

Postal address:

Berliner Str. 41
69120 Heidelberg

Germany