Following the enactment of the Higher Education Law No. 2547, the "CANCER INSTITUTE" was established within the Rectorate of Hacettepe University by the Decree Law No. 41 on July 20, 1982.

The Institute commenced its activities immediately in the Fall Semester of the 1982-1983 Academic Year at the Hacettepe Central Campus. Initially consisting of three departments and ten associated subfields, the Institute now offers graduate and doctoral education in six programs.