JA PCM

Personalised cancer medicine (PCM) using personal medical history, physiological status, genomic profiling combined with technologies like imaging are key in cancer management, from prevention to end-of-life care, and in some conditions already a standard practice. Significant inequalities in access to PCM persist across and within Member States, driven by uneven availability and high costs of diagnostics and treatments, limited skills and knowledge, insufficient clinical trials, uneven uptake of evidence-based interventions and inconsistent approval of targeted therapies. Strong partnerships between healthcare systems and public health programs are essential to close this implementation gap and reduce disparities. The key aim of this Joint Action (JA) Joint Action Personalised Cancer Medicine is to extend access to and knowledge of PCM in Europe.

The JA partners recognise that a person-centred, comprehensive approach across the entire lifespan is needed, addressing not only the disease but the full continuum from healthy individuals to cancer patients and survivors. Therefore, the JA will address the patient journey through three arms:

• Personalised prevention and early detection.
• Personalised 'medicine'.
• Personalised follow-up and tertiary prevention.

The workplan will be supported by several dedicated pilot applications and transversal activities. Topics addressed by the pilots are pathway, access and implementation of risk-informed cancer prevention, polygenic risk score application, cancer genetic predisposition across the patient journey, molecular tumour boards, innovative shared risk treatment models with evidence generation, liquid biopsy testing and digital innovation for remote monitoring. Transversal activities include EQA (External Quality Assessments) for liquid biopsy, education and training, ELSI (Ethical, Legal and Social Implications), HTA (Health Technology Assessment), data and access. The outcomes will be evaluated by using an 'Intervention Readiness Assessment tool'. The JA will conclude with the 'PCM in Europe' roadmap and sustainability plan, aligning with other initiatives in the European Beating Cancer Plan (EBCP).

Specific aims are:

• Ensuring equitable access to PCM across the cancer pathway.
• Sharing data and best practices (e.g., digital tools, molecular diagnostics, liquid biopsy, molecular tumor board).
• Building knowledge and capacity among healthcare professionals, patients, and the public.