Barcelona – Keeping track and memory of everything that oncologists have built in Europe over the years, from the discovery of tamoxifen and adriamycin, to quadrantectomy in breast cancer, to the key figures who have changed the paradigm of cancer research and treatment. Facts, ideas and people told as a ‘living encyclopedia’ with the Oncopedia project of the European School of Oncology presented today in a press briefing at the Congress of the European Society of Medical Oncology (ESMO), underway in Barcelona.
More than 30 entries on tumors and biographies
The Oncopedia project, which began two years ago and will reach its first phase of completion in 2026, documents the history of Europe’s contribution to advances in cancer care. It provides information on how these contributions came about and what difference they have made to patients. Online at www.oncopedia.wiki, where the content is published and continually updated, readers will find more than 30 entries and lemmas on tumor types and interventions, biographies of key figures, and the role of cancer centers, institutes, and organizations that have contributed to the progress and history of European oncology.
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A story with roots in Europe
Many of the innovations we know of originated and were demonstrated in the Old Continent. Some examples? Quadrantectomy in breast cancer, the discovery of tamoxifen and adriamycin, the clinical development of carboplatin, gamma knife radiosurgery in brain tumors and metastases, the dawn of bone marrow transplantation.
Oncopedia offers insights into where these contributions originated and what difference they have made for patients, listening, where possible, to the testimonies of those involved. “The European School of Oncology has chosen to focus Oncopedia on European contributions because this is our core community and we want to tell our story. We want to raise awareness of the role of European researchers in the fight against cancer,” explains Alberto CostaCeo, European School of Oncology.
A European ‘album’ of leading oncologists
Oncopedia gives voice to various figures in the field, people like Georges Mathé, Umberto Veronesi, Louis Denis, Hilary Calvert, Gianni Bonadonna, Börje Larsson, Robert Pinedo. “The most important discoveries have been made both in Europe and the United States, often through mutual interaction. The enormous American investments in oncology research could, however, lead to the wrong assumption of a preponderance of North American results in the fields of surgery, radiotherapy, medical oncology and translational research. This is not always true,” he emphasizes. Silvio Monfardinihead of the Oncopedia project. Some factors may in fact explain why innovations originated differently in Europe than in the United States. “Many European countries,” Monfardini continues, “have public health systems in which clinical research has a particular nature and location, unlike the United States, where there is greater emphasis on centralized and industry-driven research. Outlining the European history of oncology as a somewhat separate context is extremely relevant.”
Italian pride
“We are proud that the person responsible for this important international initiative is Prof. Monfardini, who was also President of Aiom and one of the founders of our scientific society – states Francis PerronePresident of Aiom (Italian Association of Medical Oncology). – Thanks to innovation and research, medical oncology has made great strides in recent decades. In terms of treatments, decisive results have been obtained and this initiative aims to demonstrate the work of researchers and clinicians who treat people affected by cancer every day. Oncopedia represents a valuable tool for knowledge, as well as constituting a dutiful tribute to the researchers who have made the history of our profession”.