The EU Cancer Mission and Japan’s National Cancer Centre came together at the Expo 2025 in Osaka for a joint event titled “Fighting Cancer: How the EU Cancer Mission and Japan’s National Cancer Centre Address the Challenge.” Held at the EU Pavilion, the event brought to light how shared commitment, innovation and patient engagement can transform the global response to cancer.
Youth voices lead the way
At the heart of the discussion was a shared priority: improving quality of life during and after cancer – especially for adolescents and young adults (AYAs). Survivors from both Europe and Japan shared personal stories that revealed striking similarities in their experiences. These exchanges highlighted the importance of building a global AYA community that offers peer support, fosters learning and strengthens advocacy.
“We (AYA) think differently, ask different questions and imagine different solutions.”
Through powerful testimonies, young participants spoke openly about turning their experience with cancer into a driving force for change. They stressed the need to be seen as individuals, not just as patients. They emphasised the critical role of research to develop better, less toxic treatments, and argued for greater patient involvement, including in the design and implementation of clinical trials.
Their voices were echoed by researchers and healthcare professionals, who called for continued investment in high-quality research, along with more structured collaboration between Japan and the EU to support mutual learning and drive patient-centred innovation.
Engagement beyond the conference room
Participants also heard about the EU Cancer Mission’s citizen focused outreach efforts, including the EU Cancer Mission Bus Roadshow, which brought cancer prevention and awareness directly to communities in Lithuania, Poland and Romania. With over 16,500 visitors and 11 million reached via media, the roadshow proved how localised engagement can inspire behavioural change and strengthen public health efforts.
The Dialogue with Young Cancer Survivors, launched in 2023, continues to shape research and policy. It has already informed a Horizon Europe topic on understanding and managing late effects in AYAs and led to the inclusion of a platform to boost mental health of young cancer survivors in the EU’s Comprehensive approach to mental health.
Shared vision, global momentum
The event also proved a strong alignment between the EU’s and Japan’s cancer strategies. Both are placing research and innovation at the centre of cancer control – recognising them as key enablers to deliver real, lasting impact for patients.
The EU Cancer Mission aims to improve the lives of over 3 million people by 2030 through prevention, early detection, treatment and long-term support. Japan’s own comprehensive 10-year strategy reflects many of the same priorities, with an emphasis on R&I, equity and the development of scalable, patient-centric solutions.
There is clear interest on both sides to enhance cooperation in cancer research, particularly in tackling refractory and rare cancers, including those affecting children, adolescents and young adults. This cooperation could open interesting perspectives to bring together critical mass in expertise, funding and data to accelerate discovery and delivery.
A unified path forward
As the session closed, a shared belief emerged among participants from both continents: international cooperation is essential to advance cancer research and care. By breaking down barriers, pooling knowledge and elevating patient voices, groundwork for a new era of collaborative cancer research is being laying down.
