Personalised Cancer Prevention and the Transformation of European Health Systems

Abstract Cancer is among the leading causes of morbidity and mortality across Europe. To address this, the European Beating Cancer Plan plays a central role in shaping the EU cancer policy agenda. It strongly emphasises the potential of personalisation to improve prevention, early detection, and treatment. Identifying genetic predispositions could unlock new opportunities for personalised risk assessment and targeted prevention. Building on this, the Mission on Cancer, launched under Horizon Europe (2021-2027), complements these efforts by advancing research to better understand cancer biology, improve risk stratification, and develop tailored interventions. However, the impact of personalization depends on the readiness and resilience of health systems. Without well-organized and adaptable care models, the benefits of personalized medicine may fail to reach patients. Recognizing this, the EU has increasingly prioritized health systems research in the last ten years, notably through initiatives like the TO-REACH project, which from 2016 to 2021 laid the groundwork for a stronger focus on system transformation. This evolution culminated in the Partnership on Transforming Health and Care Systems (THCS), launched in 2023 and set to run for seven years, with the goal of promoting high-quality, inclusive, and sustainable care. In its Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda, THCS prioritizes prevention, including personalized prevention, by supporting research, implementation, and capacity-building to ensure these innovations are effectively integrated across health systems. The urgency of this transformation is heightened by rapid and disruptive innovations in digital health, which are fundamentally reshaping how care is organized and delivered. These advances offer tremendous opportunities but also require adaptable governance structures and a well-prepared healthcare workforce. Ultimately, aligning policy, research, and system innovation is essential to make personalized cancer care not only a scientific goal but a practical, scalable, and equitable reality throughout Europe.