Towards a cancer mission in Horizon Europe: recommendations

Abstract

A comprehensive translational cancer research approach focused on personalized and precision medicine, and covering the entire cancer researchcare-prevention continuum has the potential to achieve in 2030 a 10-year cancer-specific survival for 75% of patients diagnosed in European Union (EU) member states with a well-developed healthcare system. Concerted actions across this continuum that spans from basic and preclinical research through clinical and prevention research to outcomes research, along with the establishment of interconnected high-quality infrastructures for translational research, clinical and prevention trials and outcomes research, will ensure that science-driven and social innovations benefit patients and individuals at risk across the EU. European infrastructures involving comprehensive cancer centres (CCCs) and CCC-like entities will provide researchers with access to the required critical mass of patients, biological materials and technological resources and can bridge research with healthcare systems. Here, we prioritize research areas to ensure a balanced research portfolio and provide recommendations for achieving key targets. Meeting these targets will require harmonization of EU and national priorities and policies, improved research coordination at the national, regional and EU level and increasingly efficient and flexible funding mechanisms. Long-term support by the EU and commitment of Member States to specialized schemes are also needed for the establishment and sustainability of trans-border infrastructures and networks. In addition to effectively engaging policymakers, all relevant stakeholders within the entire continuum should consensually inform policy through evidencebased advice.

Solving problems is smart, preventing them is wise: Lessons learned from the 2nd International DKFZ Conference on Cancer Prevention

“…Preventing cancer in the first place is thus of paramount importance in Europe. 6 Different factors contribute to this large burden, the distribution of which is not identical for all countries. Obesity, alcohol consumption and an unhealthy diet are among the top risks, but smoking always occupies the first place everywhere.…”

“…An estimated 3.91 million new cases and 1.93 million deaths from cancer occurred there in 2018, and these numbers are expected to rise in the future. Preventing cancer in the first place is thus of paramount importance in Europe 6 . Different factors contribute to this large burden, the distribution of which is not identical for all countries.…”

Repurposing approved drugs for cancer therapy

“…The first is adapting drugs used in other areas, for example anti-infectives or treatments for chronic diseases, for their observed cytostatic activity. 3 A second meaning is using drugs that were designed primarily to treat other illnesses to enhance the effects of chemotherapy or manage side effects. Examples of these two areas are shown below.…”

Face aux défis de prévention, la mobilisation des institutions françaises pour la recherche interventionnelle en santé des populations

“…La diversité des acteurs façonne les projets de RISP, témoigne de la richesse de cette recherche et lui confère une place privilégiée pour observer, analyser et intervenir au plus juste dans les différents contextes et populations. Même si ces interventions sont par elles-mêmes des systèmes complexes en interaction avec leur contexte ou « systèmes d’intervention » (4), la RISP fait des avancées considérables sur la compréhension des mécanismes ainsi mis en jeu, un élément clef pour leur transférabilité.…”