Following the collaborative efforts of SIOPE and ESMO since 2014, the dedicated Working Group on Cancer in Adolescents and Young Adults (AYA) is a joint venture between the two societies. This Working Group aims to promote education in issues that are specific to this age population, to increase awareness amongst the medical and paediatric oncology communities and to enhance knowledge on AYA-related issues. Working Group members are working to define specific educational and scientific programmes in the field, as well as to optimise approaches to prevention, diagnosis, treatment and long term follow-up for teenagers and young adults.
This initiative is in line with one of the SIOPE Strategic Plan’s objective to address the specific needs of adolescents and young adults in cooperation with adult oncology, and our Society found in ESMO a partner sharing the same concerns. Although cancer in AYA is rare, it is a substantial cause of death in this population, and outcomes are often poorer than in younger patients with the same cancer. Several contributing factors have been identified: the type of tumours, their biology and sensitivity to current therapies, as well as the low participation of AYA in clinical trials. AYA have specific and unmet needs, and their position between adult and children’s services in healthcare systems does not allow for the best possible provision of care or dedicated research that could improve their quality of survival.
The Working group has already implemented the first concrete initiatives on this topic:
- The SIOPE contribution to a number of ESMO e-learning modules on paediatric haemato-oncology;
- A joint ESMO-SIOPE symposia and a poster presentation at the ESMO Congress 2016;
- The ESMO-SIOPE Survey on AYA Care.
2017 Updates
The AYA working group was created to increase awareness amongst the medical and paediatric oncology communities and enhance knowledge on specific cancer issues to this population. A survey was carried out to map the status and needs, exploring health care providers' practice patterns, knowledge and available services regarding AYA cancer care. This survey revealed important under-provision and inequity of AYA cancer care across Europe. Improving care using education and research focused on AYA is a growing priority for both ESMO and SIOPE.- Results of the ESMO/SIOPE survey: The care of adolescents and young adults with cancer. Published on September 2017.
- ESMO 2017 Press Release: Study Identifies Factors that Limit Work Ability of Young Adult Cancer Survivors.
- Report on ESMO-SIOPE European Landscape project key results: Mapping the status and needs in AYA cancer care.