NEWS

Cancer is not one disease. It takes many forms, affects patients differently and demands answers that are grounded in strong evidence.

For more than 60 years, EORTC has pursued a simple but powerful mission: to improve the lives of people with cancer through independent, international clinical research. This World Cancer Day, we reflect on what that mission has delivered in real terms: treatments that work better, care that takes patients’ needs into account, and decisions guided by what truly benefits them.

Every advance in cancer care begins with a clear question.

Does this treatment work? For whom does it work best? How does it affect survival and quality of life?

Clinical cancer studies are carefully planned to test new treatments, refine existing ones and deepen our understanding of cancer biology. From surgery and radiotherapy to systemic therapies, progress in modern oncology is built on well-designed clinical research.

Since 1962, EORTC has enrolled around 220,000 patients into independent clinical studies across cancer types. Many of these studies have informed clinical practice internationally, shaping guidelines and influencing care beyond Europe, including in the United States, Canada, and Australia.

These trials do more than advance science. They help patients avoid unnecessary toxicity, improve survival and quality of life, and contribute to more efficient use of healthcare resources, all without commercial interests driving the agenda.

To mark World Cancer Day, we highlight a powerful story featuring Betty, a breast cancer survivor, and Professor Martine Piccart, a leading oncologist, past EORTC President and long-standing contributor to EORTC clinical research.

Diagnosed in 2009, Betty joined MINDACT, an EORTC-led academic study that asked a crucial question: could genomic testing identify women who could safely avoid chemotherapy?

Based on traditional clinical assessments, Betty would normally have received chemotherapy. But MINDACT evaluated her tumour biology differently and showed she didn’t need it to remain safely treated.

“Normally, I should have had chemotherapy,” Betty recalls, “but the study proposed not to do it.”

Avoiding chemotherapy spared her months of difficult side effects. And her experience reflects something much bigger: MINDACT changed international treatment guidelines, helping thousands of women avoid overtreatment while maintaining excellent outcomes.

This is practice-changing research reshapes care, influences global standards and improves patients’ daily lives.

EORTC continues to push the boundaries of what is possible in clinical cancer research. Today, clinicians, researchers and patient representatives across disciplines and regions are working together to design the next generation of studies that refine treatments, reduce unnecessary harm and ensure progress reaches all patients, including those with rare or understudied cancers.

Yet independent clinical research faces growing challenges. Regulatory frameworks do not always reflect the realities of public-health-driven trials. Navigating this complexity and defending the value of non-commercial research is essential if progress is to continue.

This global perspective guides EORTC as it strengthens international collaborations and continues shaping the future of cancer care.

We invite you to share Betty’s story and help raise awareness of the vital role clinical cancer research plays in improving lives.

To discover how EORTC research has transformed cancer care for more than six decades, explore the EORTC Impact page, which highlights key breakthroughs and the patient stories behind them.

And to all those who support and believe in independent clinical research: a huge thank you. Your engagement helps ensure that progress in cancer care continues to advance for patients, their families and loved ones.

You can also help support EORTC’s game-changing clinical research to unleash scientific breakthrough and transform cancer patients’ lives. Learn how to GET INVOLVED, or Make a Contribution Now.