Centro di Riferimento Oncologico (CRO) was founded in 1984 and is a public, non-profit institute. It was given the official recognition as a "National Cancer Institute" by the Italian Ministry of Health in 1990.

It is devoted to cancer-patients care by identifying specific interdisciplinary treatments. They also care about the periodic patients` follow up-assuring an adequate support for physical and psychological rehabilitation.

In 1997, CRO became full UICC member.