The German Cancer Consortium (DKTK) is a joint long-term initiative involving the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), participating German states and the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ). It was established as one of six German Health Research Centers (DZGs) in October 2012.

More than 950 researchers work within the DKTK, along with support staff. Around 350 of them are employed via the DKFZ.

An important task of the DKTK is promoting the next generation of researchers in the field of translational cancer research. For this reason, around 20 per cent of all DKTK employees are postgraduate students. The DKTK is financed via an institutional funding model. Since 2014, the DKTK’s annual budget has been EUR 27.8 million (90/10 financing). The total budget for the first research period (2012–2015) was EUR 80.5 million.