Strengthening the screening of Lung Cancer in Europe

ongoing

Lung cancer is the second most diagnosed cancer among males and the third among females in EU Member States and the leading cause of cancer death in both sexes. Several randomized trials from US and Europe have demonstrated the capability of low dose computed tomography (LDCT) to detect lung cancer early and significantly reduce mortality. Since the US have rolled out LDCT screening in 2013, several adjustments were needed to overcome difficulties of nationwide implementation, esp. regarding recruitment. Due to the heterogeneous landscape of lung cancer care in Europe, it is not realistic to believe that screening criteria and conditions from the highly scientific lung cancer screening trials are 1:1 transferrable to the real-world conditions in 27 different countries of the European Union. Backed by the expertise and network of all relevant European societies and stakeholders, SOLACE will assess the current state of play, needs and best practice of Lung Cancer Screening (LCS) in EU member states and produce a comprehensive guideline and implementation package covering all steps of the lung cancer screening pathway: evidence-based guidelines, technical papers, SOPs, documents regarding quality assurance, methodology, benefit-harm balance, cost-effectiveness. This package will be used to showcase de novo implementation. Moreover, SOLACE will design, plan and roll-out three pilot projects in 10 member states with more than 12000 participants to address key issues to increase participation: gender aspects, inequalities regarding hard-to-reach populations (social, ethnic, geographical) and higher risk individuals. Quality assurance, cost-effectiveness analysis with dedicated models for different healthcare systems, harms (radiation exposure, overdiagnosis, complications). SOLACE will establish the European Lung Cancer Screening Alliance (ELCSA) serving as a long-lasting interdisciplinary platform as a backbone for sustained implementation in all member states.