Treatment optimisation: making cancer treatment accessible and sustainable in Europe

Brussels, 24 September 2025 – Today, various stakeholders gathered in the European Parliament in Brussels to discuss the challenges and solutions for optimising cancer treatment in Europe. This event was organised by EORTC, hosted by Mrs T Metz (Greens) and co-hosted by Mrs R Jerkovic (S&D).

Delegates agreed on the seriousness of the overuse of anti-cancer drugs. Optimal doses, treatment durations, sequences, and combinations of new anti-cancer drugs are often not identified at the time of marketing authorisation. Therefore, patients are experiencing unnecessary side effects and healthcare budgets are pressured by avoidable costs.

To address this situation, independent clinical research beyond market access must be facilitated. The role of the academic sector is needed to generate independent evidence that will guide clinicians to the optimal use of anti-cancer drugs. Treatment optimisation clinical trials, such as those focusing on treatment de-escalation, are key.

The EORTC EVOLVE clinical trial, which aims to validate treatment de-escalation in bladder cancer, is a strong example of treatment optimisation research that will be made possible through financial contribution from member states.

Denis Lacombe, MD, CEO of EORTC indicates: “At a time when access to anti-cancer treatments is a major challenge, in part due to rising costs in healthcare, treatment optimisation could be part of the solutions to improve quality of life, address management of side effects and ultimately contribute to optimised healthcare”.

As a key result of the event, EORTC, together with Cancer Patients Europe (CPE), launched a new White Paper at the European Parliament. It calls for broad support to improve health outcomes across Europe.

EORTC invites all stakeholders to endorse the White Paper here: https://cancerpatientseurope.org/treatment-optimisation-call-to-action-2025/.

Both the European Parliament and member states are actively working to create a supportive legal framework for treatment optimisation research. The ongoing reform of the EU pharmaceutical legislation will be a crucial milestone in this effort.

About EORTC

The European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) is a non-governmental, non-profit organisation, which unites clinical cancer research experts, throughout Europe, to define better treatments for cancer patients to prolong survival and improve quality of life. Spanning from translational to large, prospective, multi-centre, phase III clinical trials that evaluate new therapies and treatment strategies as well as patient quality of life, its activities are coordinated from EORTC Headquarters, a unique international clinical research infrastructure, based in Brussels, Belgium.