IMPORTANT EU Project

We are pleased to share that the 1st Annual Meeting of the Horizon Europe Cancer Mission’s ‘Diagnosis and Treatment’ Cluster, took place in September 2024 in beautiful Barcelona, Spain—both in-person and virtually! The meeting brought together members from all 12 projects within the cluster, including our own Assoc. Prof. Antonios Valachis, chief investigator of the IMPORTANT project. This collaborative platform allowed us to: - Share progress updates across all projects - Explore the latest innovations in cancer research and treatment - Discuss citizen engagement in cancer care - Address inequalities in healthcare access Grateful to be part of such a group pushing the boundaries in cancer diagnosis and treatment #ImportantEUProject #HorizonEU #EUResearch #ResearchCollaboration #ClinicalTrials #BreastCancerResearch #Health

ESMO Webinar: Cracking the Code of Real-World Data in Oncology We’re pleased to announce that Prof. Antonis Valachis, Oncologist at Örebro University Hospital and Coordinator of the IMPORTANT EU Project will be co-chairing and speaking at the upcoming ESMO - European Society for Medical Oncology Real World Data and Digital Oncology Webinar! This session will dive into how real-world data is reshaping cancer treatment and practice. #ImportantEUProject #HorizonEU #EUResearch #ResearchCollaboration #ClinicalTrials #BreastCancerResearch #Health #Oncology #ESMO2024 #GeriatricOncology #IMPORTANTtrial

Last week, the IMPORTANT EU Project had the opportunity to engage with a large and diverse audience during its presence at #EuropeanResearchersNight in Cyprus, which included children, adolescents and adults of all ages. https://lnkd.in/dqRMhT6T The event was a huge success, with numerous paintings and heartfelt support messages collected for breast cancer patients. A big thank you to Eunomia Ltd Vasiliki Danilatou Christiana Markou for organizing the participation of the IMPORTANT project in the #EuropeanResearchersNight in Cyprus, helping us bring this important message to a wider audience. Special thanks to the medical students from the European University Cyprus Europa Donna Cyprus for their dedication in spreading awareness and providing information about the IMPORTANT trial. The #IMPORTANT project is a clinical trial focused on optimizing treatment for older patients with advanced breast cancer. This study compares tailored lower doses of CDK4/6 inhibitors with full doses to ensure the best outcomes for vulnerable and frail patients, aiming to improve both survival and quality of life. The IMPORTANT trial will provide critical evidence to help reshape clinical practice and enhance personalized care for older breast cancer patients. Through this research, we hope to make a significant impact on treatment strategies and overall patient well-being. #ImportantEUProject #HorizonEU #EUResearch #ResearchCollaboration #ClinicalTrials #BreastCancerResearch #Health #Oncology #ESMO2024 #GeriatricOncology #IMPORTANTtrial

Exciting Update from #ESMO2024 in Barcelona! We are pleased to share that the IMPORTANT project was presented by Dr. Laura Biganzoli from LHUTC Azienda USL Toscana Centro, Hospital of Prato, at the ESMO Congress 2024, held from September 13-17 in Barcelona! The IMPORTANT trial focuses on a critical population—patients aged 70 years and older with advanced HR-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer, who have not received prior therapy for advanced disease. 🔬 Key Highlights of the IMPORTANT Trial: -Target Population: Women aged 70+ with advanced HR-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer. -Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment (CGA): A self-administered geriatric tool ensures personalized treatment pathways based on patients’ fitness levels. -Randomization 1:1 between different CDK4/6 inhibitors and endocrine therapies. -Stratification Factors: Type of CDK4/6 inhibitor (palbociclib, abemaciclib, ribociclib), type of endocrine therapy (aromatase inhibitors, fulvestrant) and level of vulnerability (vulnerable vs. frail). The study ensures tailored treatment by assessing vulnerability or frailty, guiding decisions on the recommended or reduced dosing of CDK4/6 inhibitors combined with endocrine therapy. This is a significant advancement in optimizing treatment for older breast cancer patients and we’re excited about the potential impact! #ImportantEUProject #HorizonEU #EUResearch #ResearchCollaboration #ClinicalTrials #BreastCancerResearch #Health #Oncology #ESMO2024 #GeriatricOncology #IMPORTANTtrial Helena Hansson Nylund Anette Oskarsson Dr Theo Fotis laura biganzoli Azienda Usl Toscana centro Örebro University Region Örebro län Thanos Kosmidis Circular Economy Foundation Emanuela Risi Stavros Anagnostopoulos Soledad Ballesteros José Manuel Reales Avilés Christiana Markou Eunomia Ltd Jürgen Geisler MD, PhD, Samuel A. Fricker Susanne Dieroff Hay Kelly Mastoraki Iván Martínez Ballestero Gimon de Graaf Care Across University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland FHNW HeCOG-Hellenic Cooperative Oncology Group elena fountzila IMTA Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia (UNED) Kostas Lampropoulos Ioannis Basdekis

#IMPORTANT Project Update: Advancing Geriatric Assessment for Breast Cancer Treatment Significant progress is being made in the IMPORTANT project, which focuses on optimizing CDK4/6 inhibitor doses for older breast cancer patients. Recruitment is actively underway across six European countries, and comprehensive geriatric assessments (CGA) are being implemented to ensure personalized, safe treatments. 🌟 Why It Matters: The goal is to enhance care for older patients by reducing treatment-related risks and improving outcomes. 🔗 Stay Connected: Follow the journey as the IMPORTANT project works to transform #breastcancer treatment for older patients. Visit the website for more information: https://lnkd.in/dJqrjmWx #ImportantEUProject #HorizonEU #EUResearch #ResearchCollaboration #ClinicalTrials #BreastCancerResearch #Health

Exciting News from the IMPORTANT EU Project! 🌟 We are thrilled to announce that the Hospital Clínic de Barcelona enrolled its first patient for our #ClinicalTrial. This marks a significant milestone in our collective journey to combat #BreastCancer. Together, we can make a difference. Stay tuned for more updates on our progress!

#PublicationAlert: Happy to share our latest review article, where we discuss the challenges, as well as possible solutions, of clinical trials involving older patients. While the prevalence of older breast cancer patients rapidly increases, such patients still remain significantly underrepresented in clinical trials. Here, we addressed the barriers to recruitment of older patients and propose innovative solutions to design optimal clinical trials, illustrated through the paradigm of the IMPORTANT EU Project. Χαιρόμαστε με τη δημοσίευση του τελευταίου άρθρου της ομάδας μας, όπου συζητούμε τις προκλήσεις, αλλά και πιθανές λύσεις, σχετικά με τη συμμετοχή μεγαλύτερων-σε ηλικία- ασθενών σε κλινικές μελέτες. Συγκεκριμένα για τον καρκίνο του μαστού, ενώ ο αριθμός των νέων διαγνώσεων σε γυναίκες μεγαλύτερης ηλικίας, ολοένα και αυξάνεται, η εκπροσώπησή ασθενών μεγαλύτερης ηλικίας σε κλινικές μελέτες είναι ελλιπής. Αναγνωρίζοντας λοιπόν, τα εμπόδια στη στρατολόγηση μεγαλύτερων σε ηλικία ασθενών, προτείνουμε καινοτόμες λύσεις για τη βελτιστοποίηση του σχεδιασμού κλινικών μελετών, χρησιμοποιώντας ως παράδειγμα την μελέτη #IMPORTANT https://lnkd.in/dNP954Zx #ClinicalResearch #ClinicalTrials #BreastCancer

Exciting News from the IMPORTANT Project! We are happy to announce the publication of our latest paper: "Clinical trials in older patients with cancer – typical challenges, possible solutions and a paradigm of study design in breast cancer". Why This Matters: With the prevalence of older breast cancer patients rapidly increasing, they remain significantly underrepresented in clinical trials. This publication addresses the barriers to recruitment of older patients and proposes innovative solutions to design optimal clinical trials, illustrated through the paradigm of the #IMPORTANTtrial. 🔬 Key Innovations: 1. Individualized Shared Decision-Making: Tailoring the initial dose of CDK 4/6-inhibitors based on frailty status to enhance patient outcomes. 2. Optimized Recruitment Methodology: Leveraging multidisciplinary collaboration to improve trial participation among older and less tech-savvy patients. 3. Financial Model Innovation: Developing a model to optimize healthcare costs, reduce financial toxicity and manage side-effect toxicity for older patients. 4. Geriatric Cancer Registry: Establishing a comprehensive registry to advance research and clinical practice in geriatric oncology. 📈 Impact: Our goal is to deliver high-level evidence (level I) that can transform current clinical practices and improve the quality of life for older breast cancer patients. The combination of CDK 4/6-inhibitors and endocrine therapy, supported by mandatory comprehensive geriatric assessments (CGAs), represents a significant step forward in personalized cancer care. We invite you to read the full publication to explore the detailed strategies and innovations that the #IMPORTANT project brings to the forefront of clinical research. Together, we can pave the way for more inclusive, effective and patient-centered cancer treatments. https://lnkd.in/dhe8TaQJ #ImportantEUProject #HorizonEU #EUResearch #ResearchCollaboration #ClinicalTrials #BreastCancerResearch #Health