Euromelanoma 2024: advancing skin cancer prevention and public awareness initiatives
Major advances in skin cancer prevention, early detection and public education were presented at the Euromelanoma Conference 2024.
The 2024 Euromelanoma conference highlighted significant advancements in skin cancer prevention, early detection, and public outreach. This year's event presented cutting-edge research, new public health campaigns, and Euromelanoma’s expanding role as a political and scientific advocate for skin cancer prevention.
The Euromelanoma conference at EADV 2024
Prof. Mariano Suppa (Brussels, Belgium) opened the session by revisiting Euromelanoma's mission: to build a pan-European network of dermatologists aimed at reducing skin cancer incidence through education, screening, and prevention. Established in 1999, Euromelanoma has become the largest skin cancer prevention campaign in Europe, now coordinating over 30 countries. The initiative’s goals include creating educational materials, managing a European-wide skin cancer database, and developing common strategies for prevention and early diagnosis.
The 2024 campaign, titled "Learn to Live", focused on the experiences of patients after a skin cancer diagnosis. The campaign featured videos and social media outreach, including testimonials from patients and healthcare professionals to promote holistic post-diagnosis care. Euromelanoma’s website has been upgraded using the WordPress platform, allowing for easier management and enhanced public engagement. Social media initiatives have also been bolstered, with tailored posts created for specific countries.
Public, scientific, and political outreach
Euromelanoma continues its outreach on three levels: public, scientific, and political. Public awareness campaigns have become more dynamic through social media platforms, while the Euromelanoma database has produced 36 peer-reviewed publications, particularly on sunbed use and skin cancer risk. This research informs both the scientific community and public health policymakers.
Politically, Euromelanoma has expanded its influence by engaging lawmakers and attending high-profile events such as the European Cancer Organization Annual Summit. These efforts aim to enhance skin cancer prevention policies across Europe, reinforcing the importance of public health strategies targeting skin cancer, especially in high-risk populations.
Chemoprevention of skin cancer
Dr. Carmen Orte Cano (Brussels, Belgium) provided a comprehensive update on chemoprevention, a proactive approach aimed at preventing or delaying skin cancer development through the use of pharmacological agents. Her talk centered on the latest available treatments, their efficacy in randomized clinical trials, and their practical application in everyday clinical settings.
Chemoprevention can be understood in two primary ways:
- primary prevention, where the aim is to prevent the onset of premalignant lesions such as actinic keratoses (AK).
- secondary prevention, focused on halting or reversing early carcinogenesis in existing lesions before they develop into full-blown cancers, particularly in high-risk groups such as immunosuppressed patients or those with multiple non-melanoma skin cancers (NMSC).
To be ideal, a chemopreventive agent must be both effective and well-tolerated, with minimal side effects, given its use in asymptomatic individuals. Long-term adherence is often difficult in prevention strategies, especially with topical treatments, and the development of long-term studies with large sample sizes remains challenging. Despite these obstacles, several promising agents have emerged.
Key Chemopreventive Agents:
Nicotinamide (vitamin B3) has been widely studied and demonstrated to reduce the incidence of NMSC, particularly squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). Clinical trials have shown a significant reduction in SCC occurrence among patients who received 500 mg twice daily, with minimal side effects. However, its protective effects dissipate once the treatment is stopped.
Nicotinamide works by enhancing DNA repair and reducing UV-induced immunosuppression, making it a favorable option for high-risk individuals, such as those with a history of multiple skin cancers.
Acitretin has shown efficacy in reducing SCC occurrence, particularly in organ transplant recipients who are at high risk for skin cancer due to immunosuppressive therapies. However, its long-term use is limited by adverse effects, including mucocutaneous dryness and hyperlipidemia.
Isotretinoin, a retinoid commonly used for acne, has not shown significant benefits in chemoprevention, according to the data presented.
- COX-2 Inhibitors and Aspirin
Celecoxib, a COX-2 inhibitor, showed promise in reducing SCC risk, but its cardiovascular side effects have raised concerns about its use in routine chemoprevention. There are mixed results for aspirin, with limited data supporting its role in reducing skin cancer risk.
A chemotherapy agent, capecitabine has been explored for its potential in preventing NMSC, particularly in high-risk organ transplant patients. However, its significant toxicity profile limits its use in the broader population.
According to the updated 2023 European guidelines, nicotinamide is recommended for high-risk immunocompetent patients, especially those with a history of multiple SCCs. The recommended dose is 500 mg twice daily, and the agent must be used chronically to maintain its protective effects. However, the use of retinoids and COX-2 inhibitors remains controversial due to their side effects, and no current agents are approved for melanoma prevention.
Dr. Orte Cano concluded by emphasizing the need for further research, particularly large-scale, long-term trials, to fully understand the potential of chemopreventive agents, especially in melanoma risk reduction.
Insights from the EUSCAP Project
The EUSCAP (European Skin Cancer Risk Factors Platform) project, presented by Dr. Katharina Wunderlich (Brussels, Belgium), is an ambitious initiative designed to collect and analyze risk factors associated with skin cancer across Europe. The platform includes data from over 700 patients and aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of skin cancer epidemiology and risk in different populations.
The study focused on patients with high-frequency basal cell carcinoma (BCC), defined as individuals who develop more than nine BCCs within three years. These patients represent a small subset of the population, and the project seeks to uncover why they are at such elevated risk.
Key risk factors identified include:
- History of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC): patients with high-frequency BCC were significantly more likely to have a history of SCC, aligning with previous studies linking multiple skin cancer types.
- Superficial BCC subtype: these patients more frequently presented with superficial BCCs, primarily located on the trunk and extremities, rather than the head or face.
- Lower incidence of nasal BCCs: interestingly, patients with high-frequency BCC were less likely to have cancers on the nose, suggesting potential differences in tumor biology or environmental exposures.
Euromelanoma 2025: a new campaign for a new generation
Looking ahead to 2025, Euromelanoma is preparing to launch a bold new campaign with the theme "Our Children Have a Skin Cancer Problem". This provocative message is designed to capture public attention by highlighting alarming data from the Globocan Cancer Tomorrow projections, which estimate a 40% increase in skin cancer incidence over the next 25 years.
The campaign’s goal is to focus on children, emphasizing the long-term risks of childhood sun exposure. Key messages include data showing that one blistering sunburn in childhood doubles the risk of developing melanoma in adulthood. In addition to public awareness efforts, Euromelanoma will also launch a policy lobbying campaign targeting EU policymakers, advocating for stronger regulations and public health initiatives to protect future generations from skin cancer.
Public Awareness Campaign
The campaign will feature digital posters and animations targeted at parents, encouraging them to protect their children’s skin during the summer holidays. Social media will play a significant role in disseminating the message, with Euromelanoma partnering with schools to educate both children and parents on the importance of sun protection.
Policy Advocacy
Euromelanoma will also present a policy prescription to EU lawmakers, calling for stricter regulations on sunbed use, enhanced public health campaigns, and funding for skin cancer prevention initiatives. This initiative will be supported by a special supplement in the JEADV Journal, detailing the latest research on skin cancer incidence and prevention strategies.
The 2025 campaign represents a dual-front approach, combining public awareness efforts with political advocacy aimed at changing skin cancer-related policies. By engaging the public and influencing policymakers, Euromelanoma aims to flatten the rising incidence curve of skin cancer and ensure that children are better protected against the harmful effects of UV radiation.
The Euromelanoma 2024 conference underscored the critical need for a multifaceted strategy to combat skin cancer through ongoing public education, research, and policy change. With the launch of the 2025 campaign, Euromelanoma is poised to lead a proactive approach in addressing the skin cancer crisis, particularly for future generations. The commitment to understanding the epidemiology of skin cancer through initiatives like EUSCAP and the promotion of effective chemoprevention strategies will be essential in the fight against this prevalent disease.
By fostering collaboration among dermatologists, researchers, and policymakers, Euromelanoma continues to pave the way for innovative solutions and effective interventions that can significantly reduce the burden of skin cancer in Europe and beyond.
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