IARC scientists lead educational session on new European Code Against Cancer 5th edition at ESMO Congress

Scientists from the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) led an educational session on the new European Code Against Cancer 5th edition (ECAC5) at the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Congress, which is taking place in Berlin, Germany, on 17–21 October 2025. The session took place on the morning of Sunday 19 October.

During the session, Dr Joachim Schüz, Head of the Environment and Lifestyle Epidemiology Branch (ENV) at IARC and co-Principal Investigator of the ECAC5, and Dr Carolina Espina, a scientist in ENV and the other co-Principal Investigator of the ECAC5, presented the new edition of the European Code Against Cancer and its role in cancer prevention to the scientific and oncology communities. Dr Philippe Roux, Head of the Cancer and Health in all Policies Unit at the Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety of the European Union (EU), also presented on the implications of the ECAC5 for prevention strategies.

Dr Elisabete Weiderpass, Director of IARC, and Dr Tanja Spanic, President of the European Breast Cancer Coalition (Europa Donna), chaired the session. Dr Weiderpass also contributed with a presentation on “The future of cancer prevention”. The ECAC5 is available to view in English on a new dedicated website. It is currently being translated into all official languages of the EU and will be officially launched for World Cancer Day 2026 and presented to all EU citizens.

Read more about the session

Visit the new ECAC5 website