From Data Harmonisation to Artificial Intelligence: EUCanScreen Modernises Cancer Screening Across Europe

Cancer constitutes a significant part of disease statistics in Europe, and many cancer cases can be detected early, reducing both the medical and financial burden on countries and societies. The European Union (EU) co-funded project “Implementation of cancer screening programmes (EUCanScreen)” was developed to introduce effective cancer prevention and early detection across European countries, using harmonised, evidence-based screening methods, with a particular focus on reducing inequalities between European countries. EUCanScreen has successfully completed the first one and a half years of project implementation, marking an important step in strengthening and modernising cancer screening programmes across Europe.

Launched under the EU4Health Programme, EUCanScreen brings together public health authorities, policymakers, research institutions, and stakeholders from 25 EU Member States, as well as Norway, Moldova, Ukraine, and Iceland. The project aims to assure sustainable implementation of high-quality, evidence-based screening programmes for breast, cervical, and colorectal cancer, and to develop recommendations for lung, prostate, and stomach cancer screening and implementation, in line with European guidelines and the objectives of the Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan.

So far EUCanScreen has:

• Established strong governance and coordination structure at European and national levels, as well as fostered collaboration and knowledge exchange among national screening authorities, stakeholders, experts, and related European projects.
• Created a basis for data harmonisation along European cancer screening programmes by creating common data models for three traditional screening programmes (breast, cervical and colorectal), enabling programme monitoring and research.
• Piloted a barrier assessment tool in eight Eastern and Central European to identify implementation challenges in organised screening programmes, started a large systematic review and data analyses on individual barriers to screening participation, and developed a European memorandum calling for improved cancer screening for people with intellectual disabilities.
• Collected survey data across European countries on legislation and practices related to screening for gender minorities and selected migrant background groups for testing culturally adapted interventions.
• Evaluated the broader use of artificial intelligence (AI) in screening and developed a knowledge base to inform future AI guidelines.
• Deployed surveys on innovative invitation strategies, self-sampling in cervical screening, and patient experience in screening.
• Developed a risk-based conceptual framework to facilitate personalised screening across Europe.
• Calibrated on country-specific data models for breast, cervical and colorectal cancer, and for lung, gastric and prostate cancer, as well as conducted a preliminary analysis on how to adapt cervical cancer screening to HPV vaccinated cohorts.
• Developed and implemented training programmes for specialists, including physicians, radiologists, endoscopists, gynecologists, and screening professionals.
• Established regional training centres – for mammography in Riga and for LDCT in Budapest.

EUCanScreen continues to build on these foundations to further support countries in expanding screening coverage, quality assurance, monitoring and evaluation, with a strong emphasis on reducing inequalities and improving citizen health outcomes.

Co-funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or HADEA. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.