Country Profiles and the OCEAN Project
In February 2021, the EU launched the Beating Cancer Plan, which includes the development of an EU Network of Comprehensive Cancer Centers (CCCs) to ensure that 90% of eligible patients receive optimal treatment by 2030 (Flagship 10).
Recognising the need to better understand how care and research are delivered for children and adolescents across Europe, SIOP Europe launched the OCEAN project. This project maps existing care structures, identify inequalities, and provide country-specific profiles to enhance access to care and research.
The OCEAN project had three key objectives:
· Mapping care availability through a survey conducted by national teams.
· Analyzing inequalities in access to clinical trials from 2010 to 2022.
· Creating individual Paediatric Cancer Country Profiles.
Findings from 38 European countries, including 27 EU member states and 11 non-EU countries, revealed significant disparities in care and research access.
Recent OCEAN Publication
At the beginning of this year, the OCEAN project’s findings were finally published in a paper, entitled “Differences in care delivery for children and adolescents with cancer in Europe – Results from the SIOPE OCEAN project,” in the European Journal of Cancer Paediatric Oncology (EJCPO).
Read the full paper here.
London Global Cancer Week 2024 Speech
During the London Global Cancer Week 2024, Professor Gilles Vassal, SIOPE’s Policy Lead and Board Member, introduced the Childhood Cancer Country Profiles in the session “Every Facility, Every Country: SIOP Global Mapping of Paediatric Oncology Services.” He emphasized that paediatric cancer care delivery cannot simply be modeled on adult oncology and requires dedicated infrastructures and policies.
Key points from his intervention included the necessity of specialized childhood cancer centers rather than relying solely on CCCs for adults, the expansion of twinning programs and sustained support for ERN PaedCan, increased clinical trial opportunities across all member states, and the strengthening of cross-border access to care, research, and innovation.
You can watch the full intervention on SIOP’s YouTube channel here.
Launch of the European Country Cancer Profiles 2025
The highlight of this year’s developments is the launch of the European Cancer Inequalities Registry (ECIR) Country Cancer Profiles 2025, where for the first time, special attention has be drawn towards childhood cancer. At the dedicated event, Prof. Gilles Vassal underscored the urgent need to address disparities in access to care and research, as highlighted by the OCEAN project.
This inclusion marks a significant step toward recognizing and reducing inequalities in paediatric oncology across Europe. The 2025 Profiles aim to drive policy changes and improve outcomes for children and adolescents with cancer highlighting the persistent inequalities in childhood cancer care and research.
You can further explore the ECIR & Country Cancer Profiles 2025 here.