Shaping Europe’s cancer landscape

LIH Dr Backes appointed to European Network of Cancer Registries steering committee

• Cancer
• Public Health Expertise
• Department of Precision Health

Dr Claudine Backes, Scientific Director of the Luxembourg National Cancer Registry at the Luxembourg Institute of Health, has been nominated to the European Network of Cancer Registries (ENCR) steering committee, emphasizing her dedication to collaborative cancer research in Europe. Dr Backes’ appointment acknowledges her expertise and highlights her role in shaping the future of cancer data collection, fostering collaboration, and contributing to impactful cancer control efforts in Europe.

In recent development, Dr Claudine Backes, Scientific Director of the Luxembourg National Cancer Registry at the Luxembourg Institute of Health, has been nominated as a member of the steering committee of the European Network of Cancer Registries (ENCR), underscoring the Institute’s dedication to contributing to collaborative cancer research efforts across Europe.

The ENCR, established under the Europe Against Cancer Programme of the European Commission, plays a pivotal role in cancer registration in Europe. Comprising almost 200 population-based cancer registries across European countries, the network collects data on all new cancer cases, providing crucial information on individual records with varying geographical coverage, ranging from national to regional and local areas.

Dr Backes’ appointment to the steering committee is particularly noteworthy as the committee, newly appointed for the period 2024-2026, plays a crucial role in promoting collaboration between cancer registries, defining data collection standards, providing training for registry personnel, and disseminating the latest information on indicators that quantify cancer burden across Europe. The ENCR also supports the European Cancer Information System (ECIS) web application permitting the exploration of geographical patterns and temporal trends of incidence, mortality and survival data across Europe for the major cancer entities. The purpose of the web application is to support research as well as public-health decision-making in the field of cancer and to serve as a point of reference and information for European citizens.

The ENCR, in operation since 1990, has been a collaborative effort initiated by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), Association of Nordic Cancer Registries (ANCR), International Association of Cancer Registries (IACR), and Latin Language Registry Group (GRELL). Over the years, it has received support from various entities, including the European Commission and Cancéropôle Rhone-Alpes.

The network aims to improve the quality, comparability, and availability of cancer incidence data, create a basis for monitoring cancer incidence and mortality in the European Union, provide regular information on the burden of cancer in Europe, and promote the use of cancer registries in cancer control, healthcare planning, and research.

This position allows us to shape the future of cancer data collection, improve its quality and comparability, and ultimately enhance our understanding of cancer incidence and mortality in Europe,

commented Dr Backes.

“By promoting collaboration between cancer registries and standardized data collection, we aim to create a solid foundation for monitoring cancer trends, informing healthcare planning, and driving impactful research initiatives. It’s a commitment to improving the overall landscape of cancer control in Europe, and I am excited to contribute to this vital mission.“

Dr Backes’ appointment is a testament to her expertise and commitment to advancing cancer research and control. As a member of the ENCR Steering Committee, she will contribute to shaping the direction of cancer data collection and dissemination, ultimately playing a crucial role in the fight against cancer in Europe.