This study is intended to describe the cancer-related hospitalisations in the thirty French University and Regional Hospitals (CHR&U). The analysis is carried out on the years 2001 and 2002 databases and uses a relevant PMSI (Medicalisation Program Information System, the French DRG) data analysis program, which is an adapted version of the DAC (Cancer Activity Description) analysis program. Cases are selected from cancer-related diagnoses and procedures. The results provided have been classified according to paediatric and adult populations, to the organ anatomical localisations and to the different types of care : one-day hospitalisations or hospitalisations of more than one day, medical or surgical care, cares which include chemotherapy, radiation therapy or palliative procedures. Cancer-related hospitalisations amount to almost 25 % of the total CHR&U hospitalisations and add up to over a million stays per year. One-day hospitalisations amount to 25% of the cancer-related stays and essentially consist in radiation therapy (50% within the adult category) and for chemotherapy (30%). 26% of the hospitalisations of more than one day are surgical. This study is a first descriptive analysis of cancer-related hospital activity in CHR&U. The next stage will see this analysis applied to patients, using the anonymous patient identification number contained in the PMSI coding.