The Annual Meeting of the Network of Expertise (NoE) on Adolescents and Young Adults (AYA) with cancer took place in Paris on Nov 5th, bringing together task leaders, European partners, patient organizations, and professional societies. The agenda featured plenary sessions, focused breakout discussions for each strategic priority, a collective wrap-up, and a forward-looking exchange on future AYA initiatives at European level.
Participants reiterated the core mission of JANE2: moving from the preparatory work of the first Joint Action (JANE) to the implementation of a fully operational Network of Expertise supporting both national and European Oncology communities. The NoE aims to strengthen collaboration, integrate existing resources, address cross-cutting challenges such as rare and AYAs with cancer, and develop a sustainable model that can continue beyond the joint action funding period.
The strategic priorities for AYA patients focus on highlighting the objective of building a cohesive European framework that connects existing national initiatives, develops dedicated programs and clinical guidelines, enhances professional training, promotes research and access to clinical trials, and defines AYA-specific quality indicators. Strong governance and long-term sustainability were emphasized as essential preconditions for success. The approach seeks to embed national efforts within a broader, European “network of networks” to improve care pathways and outcomes for young people with cancer.
The collaboration with SIOPE, ENTYAC, CCI Europe, and Youth Cancer Europe reinforced the importance of multidisciplinary and the meaningful inclusion of ongoing initiatives and patient perspectives in all NoE activities. Their involvement is central to ensuring that the NoE remains comprehensive, evidence-informed, and patient centred.
