Definitions of the designation categories are:
- Cancer Units are defined as a clinical facilities or hospital departments covering at least radiotherapy and medical or surgical oncology. Additionally they have a formalized collaboration with other hospital specialties.
- Clinical Cancer Centre is characterized by the clinical capacity covering a sufficient degree of all medical, surgical and radiotherapy services and occasionally a limited degree of clinical research.
- Cancer Research Centre is characterized by the capacity in cancer research focusing on one or more areas in the field of fundamental and translational oncology.
- Comprehensive Cancer Centre (CCC) is probably the hardest category to define as many different interpretations on a CCC already exist. Based on available information and many definitions on the concept of a CCC, the following features are considered to be essential for this particular category:
- A highly innovative character and multidisciplinary approach using the potential of basic, translational and clinical research and clinical facilities and activities, organized in a sufficiently identifiable entity,
- A direct provision of an extensive variety of cancer care tailored to the individual patient's needs and directed towards learning and improving the professional, organizational and relational quality of care,
- Broad activities in the area of prevention, education, and external dissemination of knowledge and innovation. In order to accentuate the differences with other cancer centres, a CCC separates itself in the following points:
- High level of infrastructure, expertise and innovation in the field of oncology research,
- Maintenance of an extensive network including all aspects of oncology treatment and research,
- Related to an academic/university centre or is an academic centre.
