Bucharest, July 03, 2023 –

The Cancer Prevention at Work (CPW) Project onset in May 2023. This European Union action, funded under the Horizon Europe Research and Innovation Framework, Mission Cancer Programme, is a 4-year research project addressing the incorporation of preventive primary surveillance of infection-related cancers in ongoing occupational health programs in Europe.

The project is bringing together a consortium of 19 partners from 7 European countries with expertise in medical sciences, economics, psychology, social behaviour, communications and engagement, for developing 3 major clinical pilot studies in stomach cancer screening and eradication of Helicobacter Pylori (HP), liver cancer screening and treatment of Hepatitis C virus (HCV), and primary vaccination programs as prevention of Human Papillomavirus (HPV). In parallel, CPW is developing studies for understanding the behavioural and sociocultural barriers and facilitators for companies and workers to implement the interventions, as well as an analysis on the cost-effectiveness of including them into ongoing primary occupational programs.

In 2018, chronic infections represent a major cause of worldwide cancer diagnosis, associated with 13% of global human infection-attributable cancer cases. Helicobacter Pylori, Human Papillomavirus and Hepatitis C virus were responsible for 75% of the cases [De Martel et al., 2020]. In the European Union, occupational prevention programs are mandatory for the surveillance of work-related health threats. The CPW framework considers these schemes as a relevant opportunity for incorporating prevention protocols for non-occupational related diseases that are affecting the lives of workers, their families, and the communities and that represent critical global health challenges.

A relevant aspect of the project is the identification and assessment of the psychological, social, and behavioural limitations associated with the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of infection-related cancers, which will be used as a reference for defining adequate strategies to facilitate adherence in collaboration with key local actors and Europe-wide stakeholders through co-creation processes.

❝The efficacy of primary cancer prevention programmes in real-life has been insufficient, due to factors related to local context, such as organization and digitalization of healthcare services, resources, cultural, and geographical situations. The Cancer Prevention at Work research is addressing the different geographic, economic and cultural settings that will allow the incorporation of non-occupational related major cancer threat prevention protocols in the framework of occupational health surveillance programs❞, Prof. Paolo Boffetta, UNIBO, Project Coordinator.

The CPW project action is part of the Cancer Mission ‘Prevention and early detection’ cluster, which stimulates synergies between EU-funded projects under the same scope with shared objectives for generating greater impact.

The project had its first meeting on June 22 and 23 in Bologna, Italy, where all partners presented and discussed project strategies and activities for this upcoming period. Between the topics of discussion, partners agreed on the different needs and relevance for the implementation of stakeholder-engagement strategies and the actions to be taken for building up the pilot studies.

For more information about the Cancer Prevention at Work Project, visit and follow the social media networks.

For more information about the Cancer Prevention at Work Project, visit and follow the social media networks.

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Project Coordinator
University of Bologna, Italy.
Prof. Paolo Boffetta
Ph.D. Alessandra Cataneo

Communications Manager
Ángel Honrado, WeDo | Project Intelligence made easy, Spain.

References:
de Martel, C., Georges, D., Bray, F., Ferlay, J., & Clifford, G. M. (2020). Global burden of cancer attributable to infections in 2018: a worldwide incidence analysis. The Lancet. Global health, 8(2), e180–e190. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2214-109X(19)30488-7

EU MISSIONS – CANCER: Concrete solutions for our greatest challenges: https://research-and-innovation.ec.europa.eu/system/files/2023-02/ec_rtd_eu-missions-cancer-leaflet-en.pdf

Collatuzzo, G., Fiorini, G., Vaira, B., Violante, F. S., Farioli, A., Boffetta,P. (2021). The role of the occupational physician in controlling gastric cancer attributable to Helicobacter pylori infection: A review. Preventive Medicine Reports, Volume 24, 101527, ISSN 2211-3355. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pmedr.2021.101527.