From Our CEO From across the pond
I’ve attended many scientific congresses over the years, but the recent gathering in Chicago for the Annual Meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) stood out in scale and energy: More than 40,000 clinicians, researchers, patient representatives, and industry leaders – unpacking the very latest clinical trials that will advance cancer treatment worldwide.
ECO has established great collaboration with ASCO and the Annual Congress was a prime opportunity to meet in person with the ASCO leadership to exchange on our respective initiatives and to discuss how to further expand our collaboration.
I was particularly eager to hear how ASCO is actively integrating artificial intelligence into the development of its clinical practice guidelines. To support this effort, it published ‘Principles for the Responsible Use of Artificial Intelligence in Oncology’, a manuscript addressing the ethical dimensions of AI, including concerns around bias, data privacy, transparency, liability, and equitable implementation. ASCO also launched a Community of Practice dedicated to AI, providing networking opportunities, educational materials, and practical guidance for implementation across clinical and research settings.
AI is also a high topic on the ECO’s agenda, with the ECO Digital Health Focused Topic Network currently leading the development of a report focussing on cross-cutting themes such as AI literacy and education, trust and ethics, and the pivotal role of data in the digitalization of cancer care. We briefed the ASCO leadership about these developments and exchanged on the transformative effect that AI is already generating in cancer care.
Another important topic that we discussed at length during the meeting is the growing workforce crisis. As some of you know, ASCO, ECO and the Clinical Oncology Society of Australia (COSA) have jointly drafted the paper ‘Principles for Advancing Healthy Work Environments and Cultures’. It is a promising start, focusing on practical solutions, and we hope it will be published soon.
The ASCO meeting also provided an opportunity to hear from a delegation of around 20 Ukrainian cancer care professionals, mostly oncologists and a few hematologists.
Our discussions focused on disrupted screening programmes and the implications of later diagnosis, and on interruptions of clinical trials and the impact on Ukrainian patients. On behalf of all Ukrainian professionals, the delegation expressed appreciation and a strong desire for more international education and training opportunities.
I shared that eight Ukrainian cancer centres are already involved in the INTERACT-EUROPE 100 EU-funded project, which is coordinated by ECO. This is allowing Ukrainian cancer professionals, early in their career, to benefit from the project’s state-of-the-art, inter-specialty cancer training.
Importantly too, the training programme includes a special module to teach cancer centres all over Europe how to better provide care for cancer patients displaced by war, with the experience of Ukrainian patients now captured in a training programme accessible to all.
In today’s rapidly shifting geopolitical environment, there is a palpable sense of uncertainty and unease. This ASCO meeting reminded us that, now more than ever, we must work together. We must share our perspectives and pool our expertise. We must remain focused on the ultimate goal: a better, longer life for people living with cancer.
With best wishes,
Elisabetta
