CANCER PREVENTION at WORK

Cancer Prevention at Work (CPW) is an EU-funded project comprised of 19 European organisations that addresses the implementation of surveillance protocols targeting major infection-related cancers into primary occupational health surveillance programs.

CANCER PREVENTION at WORK

Cancer Prevention at Work (CPW) is an EU-funded project comprised of 19 European organisations that addresses the implementation of surveillance protocols targeting major infection-related cancers into primary occupational health surveillance programs.

About the project

The Cancer Prevention at Work project is working for the incorporation of cancer-related infection surveillance in ongoing primary occupational health surveillance programs. The three pilot studies include the workers from the sector of industry and promoting inclusivity, gender equality, gender equity, and disabilities.

We are assessing the efficacy and cost-effectiveness of incorporating Helicobacter pylori (Hp), Hepatitis C virus (HCV), and Human Papillomavirus (HPV) prevention into on-going occupational surveillance schemes, by engaging with local and regional-level stakeholders.

About the project

Project objectives

Incorporating Hp, HCV and HPV infection prevention into the schemes of ongoing occupational surveillance programs in selected European regions.

Pilot studies

Conduct a series of pilot studies in four European countries for assessing the effectiveness of incorporating primary prevention interventions related to three major carcinogenic infections into existing occupational surveillance programs.

HCV

Mission Cancer “Prevention and early detection” Cluster

Get actively involved in the Mission Cancer “Prevention and Early Detection” Cluster, collaborating with the other projects funded under the same call with the objective of maximising overall impact.

Identification of implementation barriers and facilitators

Identify socio-cultural and behavioural barriers, bottlenecks and facilitators for the implementation of occupation-based cancer prevention interventions.

» Barriers to participation

Cost-effectiveness Assessment

Assess the cost-effectiveness of incorporating primary cancer prevention interventions in ongoing occupational schemes and their potential scale-up to other sectors and Member States.

» Infectious disease and cancer screening

Project objectives

Incorporating Hp, HCV and HPV infection prevention into the schemes of ongoing occupational surveillance programs in selected European regions.

Pilot studies

Conduct a series of pilot studies in four European countries for assessing the effectiveness of incorporating primary prevention interventions related to three major carcinogenic infections into existing occupational surveillance programs.

HCV

Mission Cancer “Prevention and early detection” Cluster

Get actively involved in the Mission Cancer “Prevention and Early Detection” Cluster, collaborating with the other projects funded under the same call with the objective of maximising overall impact.

Identification of implementation barriers and facilitators

Identify socio-cultural and behavioural barriers, bottlenecks and facilitators for the implementation of occupation-based cancer prevention interventions.

» Barriers to participation

Cost-effectiveness Assessment

Assess the cost-effectiveness of incorporating primary cancer prevention interventions in ongoing occupational schemes and their potential scale-up to other sectors and Member States.

» Infectious disease and cancer screening

We will engage with representatives of relevant stakeholder groups for assessing the implementation of specific interventions for preventing infection related cancers as part of the primary occupational health surveillance programmes.

Approach

Chronic infections are responsible for an estimated 13% of human cancers, from which HP, HCV, and HPV represent 75%. Including non-occupational related health surveillance in primary occupational prevention programs can help reducing the burden of these cancers.

Pilot study on Helicobacter pylori (Hp)

Hp screening and eradication as primary prevention of stomach cancer within occupational health surveillance programs.

HP Clinical Study

Helicobacter pylori (HP) emerges as a pivotal player in the realm of cancer burden, its significance underscored by its classification as a Group 1 carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer. This classification stems from HP's link to non-cardia gastric cancer and its specific association with mucosal-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma of the stomach. The scope of HP's influence extends further, as it's responsible for prevalent diseases like gastritis and peptic ulcers. Beyond the gastronomic realm, Hp-positive subjects are more likely to experience extra-gastric conditions such as syderopenic anaemia and thrombocytopenic purpura, amplifying the urgency for robust prevention measures.

Despite its profound impact, HP remains a subject that has not received systematic investigation within any population. Both in general population and occupational health settings, HP testing is conspicuously absent. This clinical study is the first of its kind to address this critical gap and extends beyond individual workers to encompass their households and leverages the periodic nature of occupational health visits to implement effective follow-up mechanisms, ensuring the efficacy of primary interventions.

Pilot study on Hepatitis C virus (HCV)

HCV screening and treatment as primary prevention of liver cancer within occupational health surveillance programs.

HCV Clinical Study

Liver cancer risk is a serious concern, with Hepatitis B and C infections at its core. In the EU/EAA, 3.9 million people are grappling with chronic HCV infection. While vaccination isn't an option for Hepatitis C, effective treatment is. This makes screening and treatment essential strategies for cancer prevention. However, action plans to diagnose and raise awareness about HBV and HCV infections in the European Region face challenges. By 2017, only six EU nations achieved this target. The COVID-19 pandemic has magnified the importance of timely HCV management. Delayed treatment could lead to 45,000 additional HCC cases and 72,000 more liver-related deaths globally by 2030. Our clinical study aligns with the "Total Worker Health" concept and focuses on unexplored primary prevention programs for HCV-caused liver cancer. We're reaching out to workers from various sectors along with their households.

Pilot study on Human Papillomavirus (HPV)

Vaccination as primary prevention of HPV infection and its complications, within occupational health surveillance programs.

HPV Clinical Study

This study targets cervical and other HPV-caused cancers into ongoing occupational health surveillance systems, which offers a unique vantage point for addressing HPV-related cancer prevention directly. Widespread HPV vaccine use dramatically reduces the number of women who will develop cervical cancer, and upcoming vaccines hold even more promise against cervical precancer and cancer. This focus does not compromises secondary prevention via cervical cancer screening—a proven public health strategy for at-risk women. By collaborating with medical experts, this initiative strives to lower cancer incidence linked to HPV infection by raising awareness and encouraging participation in preventive activities, notably HPV vaccination, in middle-income European countries.

Within this project, Worker Health Programs aims to empower occupational health service (OHS) workers to address vaccine hesitancy by enhancing their communication skills. In a personalized approach, the pilot phase tailors strategies within selected companies. This approach will be mainly innovative in countries where test and treatment of Hp and HCV, and HPV vaccination, have not yet been implemented.

Expected impact

We expect to contribute to the control and prevention of stomach, liver, cervical, and oropharyngeal cancers by assessing the implementation of HP, HCV, and HPV infections prevention into occupational health surveillance programs targeting workers from different types of industries and occupations.