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Pancreatic Cancer Europe

PCE

Pancreatic Cancer Europe is a European multi-stakeholder platform which aims at bringing together experts from all over Europe including academics, physicians, politicians, patient groups, journalists and industry with a common interest and willingness to improve care for patients with pancreatic cancer.

Lobbying Activity

Meeting with Vlad Vasile-Voiculescu (Member of the European Parliament)

17 Jan 2025 · Introductory Meeting

Meeting with Nicolás González Casares (Member of the European Parliament, Shadow rapporteur)

21 Nov 2023 · Pancreatic cancer

Response to Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan

3 Mar 2020

According to the estimates provided by the International Agency for Research on Cancer, pancreatic cancer affects 132.000 Europeans every year and kills 128.000[i]. The main challenges around pancreatic cancer are the delays in diagnosis and the high mortality. The lack of research and European registries, and poor political consideration impair the progress in the control of this cancer. Pancreatic Cancer Europe (PCE) welcomes the roadmap of the European Commission and would like to offer the following observations and propositions: Prevention PCE fully supports the measures proposed in regard to the reduction of exposure to risk factors and the increased uptake of digital tools. Prevention through enhanced prediction capacities is also crucial for PCE. Research therefore needs to be fostered with funding streams that are consistent with the seriousness of the disease. The Cancer Plan should support measures and allocation of funds to more research on Pancreatic cancer. PCE also values the approach proposed by the EC in regard to the involvement of civil society. The fight against cancer can only be won through a collective effort giving citizens the ability to manage their health. Early detection and diagnosis Pancreatic cancer is often diagnosed too late and survival chances are directly correlated with early diagnosis. Early detection and diagnosis for cancers with few known biomarkers – including pancreatic cancer – need to benefit from increased funding in order to offer the same chances of diagnosis for all patients. Promoting exchanges of best practices at the European level and creating an environment that can lead to the inception of a European research community based off the expertise of key researchers in major European excellence centres could also be instrumental in finding new tests to diagnose pancreatic cancer better and earlier. Identifying high-risk populations is also one of the major challenges to which increased funding for research could answer. PCE also wishes to see more enticing measures for the development of a well annotated biobank of samples to facilitate access to research material. Treatment and care PCE thanks the EC for its inclusion of the “neglected” cancers in the scope of the specific focus for the incentivisation of innovation in treatment. Pancreatic cancer being a ‘neglected cancer’ and recognised as such by the Innovative Partnership for Action Against Cancer, it is highly encouraging to see that is it increasingly considered in EU policies and plans. The current dynamic, within iPAAC, surrounding the standards for Comprehensive Cancer Care Networks, is also encouraging and could be taken further for the benefit of patients. Quality of life for cancer patients, survivors and carers The promotion of quality of life for patients, survivors, carers and anyone brought to manage the disease, through psychological support or pain management, is essential to relieve them from the distress the disease can occur. Multidisciplinary clinics should be included in the plan, as cancer related complications and comorbidities. PCE can only applaud the integration of this approach in the roadmap of the EC, especially since pancreatic cancer, because of its low survival rate, has tremendous impact on EU citizens exposed to it, directly or indirectly. Knowledge, data and scientific evidence One of the founding objectives of PCE was to push for the creation of a registry for pancreatic cancer called the Pancreatic Cancer Overall Survival Registry (PancreOS). The Beating Cancer Plan could feature helping measures dedicated to support the creation of registries at national level and to facilitate the emergence of coordinating, overarching structures at EU level. The ambition of PancreOS can only be attained with policy instruments that can support its legal and financial development as well as provide a reasonable compliance framework. [i] GLOBOCAN 2018, IARC, World Health Organisation.
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