Professor Mārcis Leja presents the TOGAS and EUCanScreen joint action projects at the Cancer Mission synergy event in Warsaw

Professor Leja's presentation was part of the first session dedicated to cancer prevention and early detection, emphasizing the urgent need for effective screening methods for gastric cancer detection. In March 2023, the University of Latvia's Clinical and Preventive Medicine Institute began implementing the TOGAS project. More than 20 partners from 14 European countries are collaborating to implement gastric cancer prevention measures in all member states, developing unified guidelines for gastric cancer screening implementation in European countries and recommendations for evaluating its effectiveness. To achieve this, three large-scale pilot studies have been initiated to develop various gastric cancer screening and early diagnostic methods. This is necessary because there is currently a lack of effective gastric cancer screening methods in Europe. Previous studies indicate that eradicating the bacteria H. pylori, which resides in the stomach and promotes gastric cancer development, could reduce the number of deaths caused by gastric cancer by up to 40%, making it crucial to find ways to implement this prevention in practice. Equally important is the European initiative aimed at early cancer detection.
EUCanScreen and the Joint Action for the implementation of cancer screening programs have been initiated to ensure that high-quality cancer screening programs are sustainably implemented in all EU member states. This applies not only to traditional screenings—breast, cervical, and colorectal cancer—but also to new programs recently recommended at the EU level: early detection of lung, prostate, and stomach cancer in at-risk groups. The main goal of EUCanScreen is to reduce the cancer burden and achieve equity in screening availability so that everyone, regardless of residence, has the opportunity to detect tumors in time when they can still be successfully treated. This ambitious project is coordinated by the Institute of Clinical and Preventive Medicine at the Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences of the University of Latvia, working together with Latvian expert teams (the Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, Rīga Stradiņš University, Pauls Stradiņš Clinical University Hospital) and partners in 29 countries. The initiative "Establishment of Cancer Mission Centers: Networks and Synergies" (ECHoS) aims to create a stable framework for improving cancer care and research through collaboration and citizen-centered solutions. The ECHoS project seeks to establish National Cancer Mission Centers (NVMC) in each EU member state and associated country, promoting the integration of European cancer mission policies. NVMC is essential for promoting a comprehensive, patient-centered approach to cancer care, addressing issues of prevention, treatment, and survival. By aligning cancer treatment priorities with national health strategies, NVMC aims to improve resource optimization and raise public awareness and engagement regarding cancer prevention and control. Emphasizing the importance of prevention and early detection, studies indicate that a significant portion of cancer cases (40% to 50%) could be preventable through lifestyle changes.
Early detection strategies are very important; for example, timely cancer screening affects treatment outcomes and improves survival rates. Detecting breast, cervical, and colorectal cancer at an early stage is associated with less invasive treatment methods and significantly reduces mortality rates.