The European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) is a unique pan-European non-profit clinical cancer research organisation established in 1962 operating as an international association under Belgium law. It develops, conducts, coordinates and stimulates high-quality translational and clinical trial research to improve the survival and quality of life of cancer patients. This is achieved through the development of new drugs and other innovative approaches, and the testing of more effective therapeutic strategies, using currently approved drugs, surgery and/or radiotherapy in clinical trials conducted under the auspices of a vast network of clinical cancer researchers supported by 220 staff members based in Brussels. The EORTC has the expertise to conduct large and complex trials especially specific populations such as the older patient and rare tumours.

Mission, achievements, and network

The EORTC's mission is to increase people's survival and quality of life by testing new therapeutic strategies based on existing drugs, surgery and radiotherapy. The EORTC also helps develop new drugs and approaches in partnership with the pharmaceutical industry and in patients' best interests. ''EORTC achievements'' In order to adapt to the changing landscape of clinical trial design, the EORTC has developed a number of platforms, which will facilitate more cost effective and efficient trials and gather important information to provide better treatment and care to cancer patients and survivors. These platforms include SPECTA-molecular screening of patients, SUCARE- evaluating quality assurance in surgical oncology, E²-RADIATE- evaluating quality assurance in radiation oncology and the YOU (Your Outcome Updates) protocol that will gather data on long term long-term medical, psychological and socio-economic outcomes of patients treated in clinical trials. ''Its network'' The EORTC research network consists of over 5,500 collaborators from all disciplines involved in cancer treatment and research in more than 930 institutions in 27 countries. Its research spans the entire spectrum from translational and preclinical research to large, prospective, multi-centre, phase III clinical trials that evaluate new cancer therapies and/or treatment strategies as well as patient quality of life. Currently, the EORTC is conducting 167 studies, and thousands of patients (85% from within the EU) participate in EORTC clinical trials. 25,000 patients continue to be followed on a yearly basis, and the EORTC clinical study database now contains outcome data for over 190,000 cancer patients. Alongside the EORTC scientific and clinical programme, the EORTC collaborates with a number of international organisations, including the US National Cancer Institute, National Cancer Institute Canada, and other countrywide groups. Also a number of academic societies such as European Society for Therapeutic Radiation Oncology, European Society of Surgical Oncology, European Society of Medical Oncology and European Society of Paediatric Oncology. In order to follow changing regulatory requirements, the EORTC regularly converses with the US Food and Drug Administration and the European Medicines Evaluation Agency.

Figures

* Over 700 universities or affiliated hospitals in 27 countries * Over 3500 collaborators (Medical Oncologists, Radiation Oncologists, Organ Specialists, Surgical Oncologists, Imaging Specialists) * Over 198,000 patients in the EORTC database

Results

The EORTC has designed new benchmark treatments, in particular for: * Improving the survival of patients with

testicular cancer Testicular cancer is cancer that develops in the testicles, a part of the male reproductive system. Symptoms may include a lump in the testicle, or swelling or pain in the scrotum. Treatment may result in infertility. Risk factors include an u ...

Hodgkin's lymphoma Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) is a type of lymphoma, in which cancer originates from a specific type of white blood cell called lymphocytes, where multinucleated Reed–Sternberg cells (RS cells) are present in the patient's lymph nodes. The condition wa ...

leukemia Leukemia ( also spelled leukaemia and pronounced ) is a group of blood cancers that usually begin in the bone marrow and result in high numbers of abnormal blood cells. These blood cells are not fully developed and are called ''blasts'' or ' ...

(child or adult),

gastrointestinal stromal tumor Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) are the most common mesenchymal neoplasms of the gastrointestinal tract. GISTs arise in the smooth muscle pacemaker interstitial cell of Cajal, or similar cells. They are defined as tumors whose behavior is ...

brain tumor A brain tumor occurs when abnormal cells form within the brain. There are two main types of tumors: malignant tumors and benign (non-cancerous) tumors. These can be further classified as primary tumors, which start within the brain, and seconda ...

, etc. * Avoiding a

laryngectomy Laryngectomy is the removal of the larynx and separation of the airway from the mouth, nose and esophagus. In a total laryngectomy, the entire larynx is removed (including the vocal folds, hyoid bone, epiglottis, Thyroid cartilage, thyroid and cr ...

for 42% of patients with larynx cancer * Carrying out surgery which is less mutilating in the case of

breast cancer Breast cancer is cancer that develops from breast tissue. Signs of breast cancer may include a lump in the breast, a change in breast shape, dimpling of the skin, milk rejection, fluid coming from the nipple, a newly inverted nipple, or a re ...

* Improving the

quality of life Quality of life (QOL) is defined by the World Health Organization as "an individual's perception of their position in life in the context of the culture and value systems in which they live and in relation to their goals, expectations, standards ...

for patients (ambulatory care, fertility preservation, etc.) * Effectively controlling

infections An infection is the invasion of tissue (biology), tissues by pathogens, their multiplication, and the reaction of host (biology), host tissues to the infectious agent and the toxins they produce. An infectious disease, also known as a transmiss ...

for patients with

, etc.

Funding

''EORTC Cancer Research Fund (ECRF)'' The EORTC Cancer Research Fund (ECRF) was created in 1976 to collect the necessary funds for the EORTC to function with the cooperation of national cancer leagues involved in the fight against cancer (Germany, Belgium, Denmark, France, Hong Kong, Norway, The Netherlands, The UK, Switzerland, Sweden, etc.).

Princess Dina Mired of Jordan Princess Dina Mired (born Dina Mohammad Khalifeh on 12 October 1965) is a Jordanian humanitarian and health activist. She is a leading global advocate for Cancer Control and Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs). She was the President of the Union for ...

is the Honorary President and Count Diego du Monceau de Bergendal chairs the Board of Directors of the ECRF. ''Transparent and diversified financing'' EORTC research is supported by the EORTC Cancer Research Fund (ECRF), the National Cancer Institute (NCI) of the United States of America, Fonds Cancer (FOCA), and the Belgian National Lottery. The

European Commission The European Commission (EC) is the executive of the European Union (EU). It operates as a cabinet government, with 27 members of the Commission (informally known as "Commissioners") headed by a President. It includes an administrative body o ...

provides support only for selected projects. Partnerships with the

pharmaceutical industry The pharmaceutical industry discovers, develops, produces, and markets drugs or pharmaceutical drugs for use as medications to be administered to patients (or self-administered), with the aim to cure them, vaccinate them, or alleviate symptoms. ...

have been set up within the framework of special studies approved by an independent peer review committee. Nevertheless, more than 70% of clinical studies led by the EORTC focus on

drugs A drug is any chemical substance that causes a change in an organism's physiology or psychology when consumed. Drugs are typically distinguished from food and substances that provide nutritional support. Consumption of drugs can be via inhalat ...

that have already been commercialized or on combined strategies such as

radiotherapy Radiation therapy or radiotherapy, often abbreviated RT, RTx, or XRT, is a therapy using ionizing radiation, generally provided as part of cancer treatment to control or kill malignant cells and normally delivered by a linear accelerator. Radia ...

and

surgery Surgery ''cheirourgikē'' (composed of χείρ, "hand", and ἔργον, "work"), via la, chirurgiae, meaning "hand work". is a medical specialty that uses operative manual and instrumental techniques on a person to investigate or treat a pat ...

and consequently these studies require financial support from other sources. Additional contributions and sponsorship are vital to cover these scientific activities where the main goal is to effectively promote European cancer clinical research.

Main scientific events and methodology courses

* EORTC Groups Annual Meeting (EGAM), ''biyearly conference'' * EORTC - NCI - AACR Symposium on Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics, ''biyearly conference'' *European Breast Cancer Conference - EBCC as part of EBC Council, ''biyearly conference'' *Clinical Trial Statistics for non Statisticians, ''yearly course'' * A One-Day Journey through EORTC Activities, ''yearly course'' * Course dedicated to Patients and Caregivers interested in Cancer Clinical Research, ''biyearly course'' * EORTC - ESMO - AACR Workshop on Methods in Clinical Cancer Research (MCCR), ''yearly course''

References

External links

* {{Authority control Cancer organisations based in Belgium European medical and health organizations