Saving lives through early detection of lung cancer: ESR and ERS launch European Lung Cancer Screening Alliance

The European Society of Radiology (ESR) and the European Respiratory Society (ERS) proudly launched the European Lung Cancer Screening Alliance (ELCSA) at today’s European Cancer Screening and Early Detection Policy Summit held in Brussels. The summit was convened by the three EU co-funded projects PRAISE-U, SOLACE, and TOGAS that have piloted and paved the way for national screening programmes for prostate, lung and gastric cancers respectively, implementing the EU’s reshaped agenda on cancer screening under the Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan. The establishment of ELCSA reaffirms the collaborative commitment of the ESR and the ERS to jointly advance lung cancer screening in the EU and to sustain the efforts of the SOLACE project, the EU co-funded project under the EU4Health Programme, titled Strengthening the Screening of Lung Cancer in Europe that draws to a close in March. Official launch of ELCSA with representatives from ESR and ERS with key roles in SOLACE: Dr. Anna Kerpel-Fronius , Assoc. Prof. Helmut Prosch, Prof. Joanna Chorostowska-Wynimko, Prof. Ildiko Horvath ELCSA brings together clinical societies, researchers, patient representatives, and policymakers who share a common goal of improving early detection of lung cancer. Professor Andrea Rockall, Chair of the ESR Board of Directors, said: “Imaging is essential in the early diagnosis of lung cancer screening and I am pleased that our partnership with the ERS is taken to the next level with the establishment of the alliance, which will allow us to foster the rollout of lung cancer screening programmes for Europe’s population at risk.” “ELCSA’s mission is to support the implementation of evidence-based, low-dose CT screening at both national and European levels. The SOLACE project has shown that lung cancer screening in Europe is feasible and effective and that underserved populations can be successfully engaged. It is now time to move from pilots to national programmes and ELCSA is here to support this step”, states Assoc. Prof. Helmut Prosch from Medical University Vienna, the ESR’s ELCSA co-chair for the first three-year term. The alliance promotes collaboration across disciplines, including radiology, pulmonology, oncology, surgery, and public health. Education and awareness will form important parts of its work, helping to share best practices and implementation strategies. It also supports research aimed at improving risk selection, imaging pathways, and screening quality. Through advocacy and policy engagement, the alliance contributes to European cancer prevention initiatives. The ELCSA stakeholder forum will ensure an inclusive approach and allow broad engagement and exchange to achieve ELCSA’s ultimate goal to reduce lung cancer mortality and improve outcomes for high-risk populations across Europe. Follow SOLACE for updates on ELCSA and engagement opportunities on LinkedIn @SOLACE-project