Gastric cancer is the fourth most common cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide and is the fifth most frequently diagnosed cancer. It accounts for over 1 million new cases and almost 800,000 deaths globally per year. Altogether, 136,000 new cases were diagnosed in Europe in 2020, accounting for 12.8% of global cases. Considering that the population is ageing globally and in Europe, the absolute number of new cases is expected to grow. In Europe, the annual number of new cases of gastric cancer in 2040 is expected to be 169,000, with 124,000 related deaths.

Gastric cancer is usually detected at an advanced stage when patients undergo tests to investigate related symptoms. This results in a dismal prognosis and poor survival rates. In Western populations, five-year survival rates are as low as 25-30%, and in Europe even 19-30%. Early detection is crucial to facilitate minimally invasive treatment modalities (mainly endoscopic resection)and, thus, lower mortality and morbidity. In Japan, where a screening program has been running for decades, the 10-year survival rate has recently reached 58.9%.

TOGAS (TOwards GAstric Cancer Screening Implementation in the European Union) is a European co-funded project that aims to improve and foster health in the European Union by decreasing the burden caused by gastric cancer. The project’s general objective is to provide the missing evidence-based knowledge to recommend the appropriate implementation of gastric cancer screening across the EU.

Various methods and expertise will be employed to establish effective European gastric cancer screening strategies. three pilot studies targeting distinct aspects of gastric cancer screening and early detection across different European countries will be conducted within TOGAS.

To aid participants involved in these pilot studies, DiCE has developed specialized educational booklets customised to suit the unique characteristics of each study. Furthermore, these booklets contain comprehensive information about gastric cancer prevention, signs, and symptoms.

Crafted with input from both patients and field experts, these booklets will undergo translation into national languages before distribution among the pilot study participants. This initiative ensures accessible and tailored resources to support individuals involved in European studies.

You can download them here.

Author:
Marianna Vitaloni