Anniversary Oncology Days in Paris.

Abstract

On June 14-16 2023, the 45th meeting of the General Assembly of Organization of European Cancer Institutes (OECI) dedicated to the 120th anniversary of the award of the first Nobel Prize in Physics for the discovery of radioactivity to Marie Skłodowska-Curie was held in Paris hosted by the Institut Curie. More than 130 leading specialized institutions and organizations that focus their efforts on finding ways and optimizing coordination to improve the quality of cancer care in Europe attended the OECI Oncology Days and the General Assembly. The first plenary session, chaired by S. Oberst and J.-B. Burrion, was devoted to the issues of quality in oncology and the role of research and education in optimizing healthcare services. It was noted that today, in the field of providing medical services to cancer patients in European countries, there are significant differences in access to digital, research and innovation technologies. The efforts of the team in the field of accreditation and certification of cancer centers within the framework of the European Cancer Plan help to improve and build the capacity of the EU member states to improve the quality of healthcare services. The OECI is working to support, improve and integrate cancer patient care, research and education in cancer care as well as survivorship to minimize inequalities in access to quality health care. A separate session chaired by E. Jolly was devoted to the role of patient organizations in improving the quality of cancer care, research and education. The reports presented the best experiences of cooperation between cancer centers and patient organizations in Central and Eastern Europe, as well as models of increasing interaction between clinical research centers and patient organizations in the European Union and Japan. The OECI is making considerable efforts to create an optimal model of the pathway that a patient should follow from the moment of diagnosis to palliative care and long-term survival. Optimization of European standards for the provision of high-quality specialized medical care and the development of quality indicators and patient-reported outcomes will improve the ability of researchers and healthcare providers to combine their efforts. On the one hand, the patient pathway is a tool for improving the quality of medical services and patient care, and on the other hand, it guarantees cost control and takes into account the patient's experience to make the best decision by a multidisciplinary team. At the session chaired by M. Nilsert, the best practices of oncology care provided by OECI-certified centres in Toulouse, Helsinki, Stockholm (Karolinska) and Dublin were presented. It is convincingly proven that the certification procedure helps to optimize the quality of medical services, communication with patients, research and improve the quality of education. Considerable attention at the special session chaired by G. Apolone and G. Brunelli was devoted to the issues of quality of life as the basis of cancer care. The EUonQoL project coordinated the optimization of research, the role of stakeholders in this process and the need to create an appropriate network of cancer infrastructure to reduce cancer in Europe. Today, as part of the development of the European Model Cancer Control Plan and with the support of the EU Mission and Horizon Europe, the goal of bringing together opportunities for the provision of high-quality healthcare services, joint research and innovation is under realization. The priority goal is to create comprehensive cancer infrastructures that will provide opportunities for the efficient use of national resources of European countries and associated EU members for improving the quality of healthcare services. At the plenary session chaired by G. Ciliberto and P. Mahon, dedicated to the role of digitalization as a factor of modern European opportunities, cancer centers presented pilot programs and trainings that contribute to the development and implementation of new opportunities to address complex cancer problems. A significant role in optimizing the coordination of European cancer centers should be played by the development and implementation of modern technologies in the creation and implementation of modern information databases that will improve the quality of research and health care services. Attention is focused on the role of the state policy of the OECI countries in supporting the development of digitalization of cancer centers. A significant event of the 45th OECI General Assembly was the plenary session on the preparation of the Ukrainian oncology service on the way to the European Union, chaired by T. Philippe and V. Chekhun. In his address on behalf of the Vice Prime Minister of Ukraine for European Integration Olha Stefanishyna, the First Deputy Minister of Health of Ukraine Serhii Dubrov welcomed the participants of the OECI Oncology Days and General Assembly. Francois Braun, Minister of Health of France, addressed the participants with a greeting and confirmed the comprehensive support for Ukraine on its way to the EU. The presentation of V. Chekhun and O. Rossylna focused on the current structure of the Ukrainian Cancer Service and the legislative framework for its transformation in the frames of reforms in the Ukrainian healthcare sector. The report of the OECI President highlighted the active position of OECI on the implementation of European standards to increase accessibility and improve the quality of cancer care for patients. T. Philippe drew special attention to the need to transform and optimize the oncology infrastructure network on the way of Ukraine's European integration efforts. The Ukrainian delegation's presentation was received with much enthusiasm from the audience. The participants from Moldova insisted on continuous support to Ukrainian medicine and patients. It was stressed that Ukraine fights not only for their territory but also for freedom in all Europe. As part of the OECI Oncology Days, the scientific session "The Cell as a Therapy" chaired by T. Philippe and G. Apolone was held to present new perspectives on cancer treatment. Below is a brief program of this conference: - Overview of the status of cancer cell therapy: theoretical and practical issues. - CAR-T Cells in the field of hematology: comparison between Western Europe and Eastern Europe. - The future of CAR-T in the field of solid tumors. - CAR-T allogenic, NK cells, TIL: other possible chapters for cell therapy. On the final day of the OECI General Assembly, T. Philip summarized the results of his program as a President, presented a financial report on the activities of OECI, and transferred the powers to the newly elected President G. Apolone for the period 2023-2026.