Early detection and prevention

The rapidly increasing incidence and mortality of cancer calls for a focused effort to increase the effect of cancer-prevention efforts. In the area of early detection, there are major differences in the preventive impact of implemented screening policies, even when solid, evidence-based international recommendations are issued. Studies are needed to determine why evidence-based interventions are not used and to investigate why effects are less than predicted by solid research on the subject. Currently, population-based screening is recommended only for three forms of cancer (cervical, breast and colorectal cancer) but, given the increasing cancer burden, efforts are required to facilitate the discovery of new biomarkers for screening, as well as the identification of barriers to implementation of new cancer screening discoveries. The creation of a network of excellence in research on Cancer Prevention (Cancer Prevention Europe) is likely to significantly contribute to progress in these areas. In the present review, some possible strategies to ensure progress are discussed, with specific examples from the cervical cancer screening area.