Europe can achieve its goal of eliminating cancers caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV) by delivering 3 key policies: universal HPV vaccination; reliable data systems to track vaccine uptake and impact; and greater access to HPV and cervical cancer screening.

These are just three of the recommendations emerging from today’s high-level event at the European Parliament: Accelerating Progress Towards the EU’s Goal of Eliminating HPV Cancers.

HPV is a common sexually transmitted virus in women and men. It is responsible for an estimated 100,000 cancer cases in men and women per year in Europe.

Europe’s ambitious Beating Cancer Plan is focused on halting the spread of HPV and the six cancers it causes: cervical, vaginal, anal, vulval, penile, and head and neck. 

Today’s event, organised by the European Cancer Organisation (ECO) and hosted by MEP Tilly Metz as part of the activities of the European Parliament Intergroup on Cancer and Rare Diseases, convened key policymakers, experts, and health leaders to take stock of current efforts and explore what else is needed to save millions of European lives.

‘It would be a missed opportunity not to act on preventable cancers. With strong political commitment, we can eliminate cancers caused by HPV and show what’s possible when evidence, equity and ambition come together. This is not just a health opportunity, it’s a responsibility to act and set the standard globally,’ said MEP Tilly Metz.

‘Thanks to the Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan we’ve made enormous progress. To eliminate HPV-related cancers across Europe we now need to accelerate efforts on several fronts, especially in reducing persistent inequalities and ensuring that no community or population is left behind. Vaccination, screening, and accurate data are our tools, but political will is what will finally get us across the finish line,’ said Prof. Daniel Kelly, OBE.

Initiatives such as Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan and the EU Research Mission on Cancer are achieving tangible results in the elimination of HPV-related cancer. For example, universal vaccination is increasingly being implemented across the EU. Just three months ago, Bulgaria extended HPV vaccination to all boys and young adults, not just girls. 

Many challenges and huge inequalities, however, remain: 

• Vaccination rates remain sub-optimal in many of the Member States.
• Although the EU recommends HPV testing as the preferred method for cervical cancer screening, several Member States have yet to adopt it as the primary screening tool.

Achieving full alignment across the EU will require stronger political commitment and sustained investment in the next EU multiannual budget.

Key highlights of today’s event include:

• The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) will reveal significant disparities in HPV prevention and control across Europe. They will also outline upcoming initiatives to accelerate HPV elimination efforts in EU Member States, including news on the rollout of a new Vaccine-Preventable Cancers Dashboard required by the European Commission for 2024.
• A recent study will be unveiled highlighting the substantial economic burden of HPV-related diseases and the strong return on public investment in prevention. Cervical cancer, the most preventable cancer globally and the first with the potential for full elimination, imposes wide-ranging economic costs across Europe. The study estimates potential savings by 2060 if WHO elimination targets are met.
• The European Parliamentary Forum for Sexual and Reproductive Rights (EPF) and the European Cancer Organisation (ECO) will outline the forthcoming update of the HPV Elimination Atlas, featuring new indicators. The revised Atlas is set for launch later this year.

More information on ECO’s efforts to eliminate HPV cancers across Europe, raise awareness and push for political action can be found here.

Source: European Cancer Organisation