European Cancer Organisation Welcomes Launch of SANGUINE Stakeholder Forum Report

 

With 237 recognised subtypes of blood cancers, including lymphomas and 109 myeloid tumours, the complexity of diagnosis and care is immense. Hematological malignancies are especially difficult to detect due to their non-specific symptoms and long diagnostic pathways.

As a member of the consortium behind the EU-funded SANGUINE project, the European Cancer Organisation (ECO) hosted the Stakeholder Forum ‘Uniting Forces: Addressing Needs in Blood Cancer Care’ last October. The forum brought together policymakers, healthcare professionals, researchers, and patient representatives to explore the latest developments and their potential impact on enhancing blood cancer care.

The discussions are now captured in the newly published SANGUINE Stakeholder Forum Report, available now.

The report also features an array of concrete policy recommendations, including:

• Early Detection: Adopt risk-adapted diagnostic pathways tailored to symptom clusters and high-risk groups, supported by investment in rapid diagnostic centres.
• Quality of Care: Embed the Essential Requirements for Quality Cancer Care (ERQCC) into national cancer control strategies and accreditation systems to guarantee access to high-quality services.
• Awareness & Communication: Co-create targeted awareness campaigns with patients and clinicians to improve recognition of symptoms and reduce delays in diagnosis.
• Policy Integration: Ensure blood cancers are fully represented in European and national cancer strategies, with dedicated funding and regular multi-stakeholder policy dialogues.

At the heart of SANGUINE is the development of the HemaChip, an innovative tool designed to be quick, minimally invasive, cost-effective, and highly sensitive in screening and monitoring blood cancers. This is one of many examples showing how EU-funded projects are advancing cancer care and health system resilience. 

As Europe navigates a new political climate, reenergised investment and support for such initiatives will be essential. The forthcoming negotiations on the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) for 2028-2034 will play a decisive role in determining whether projects like SANGUINE can be sustained to achieve lasting impact.

The SANGUINE Stakeholder Forum Report sets out a roadmap for early detection, quality care, awareness, and stronger policy frameworks for blood cancers. With sufficient resources and strong political commitment, the EU has the opportunity to position itself as a global leader in health and innovation, while delivering better outcomes for the millions of people currently living with cancer.

To learn more about the SANGUINE project, visit the official website.