The Deutsche Krebsregister e.V. (DKR), or German Cancer Registries, is an association that serves as the central representative and coordinating body for the comprehensive, population-based cancer registration efforts across all federal states in Germany. It was formerly known as the Association of Population-based Cancer Registries in Germany (GEKID).
Its primary objective is to promote and ensure the methodological uniformity and comparability of cancer data collected by the individual state registries (which include both epidemiological and clinical data).
Key functions of the DKR include:
- Standardization: Defining content standards and coordinating cross-registry tasks to ensure data quality and comparability.
- Research & Evaluation: Promoting the scientific use of cancer registry data for research and evaluating the quality of oncological care (e.g., through its CancerQualityHub).
- Representation: Acting as the central point of contact for national and international partners, including European Joint Actions, and representing the registries within the German National Cancer Plan.
In essence, the DKR is crucial for providing the high-quality, standardized data necessary to assess the cancer burden in Germany, improve treatment standards, and advance cancer research.