A Win for Transparency: ESCP Guidelines Now Open to Patients, Families, and Advocates
After sustained pressure from CCI Europe and other partners, the European Reference Network for Paediatric Cancer (ERN PaedCan), SIOP Europe, and the European Clinical Trial Groups (ECTG) have made all 27 European Standard Clinical Practice (ESCP) Guidelines publicly and freely accessible online.
The ESCP Guidelines provide clear, expert-endorsed recommendations aimed at improving survival and quality of life, while also helping to reduce inequalities in childhood cancer care across Europe. To further support accessibility, peer-reviewed summaries of the guidelines are also available on the website.
For the first time, patient organisations, families, and advocates can directly consult the ESCP Guidelines. This is an important shift toward greater transparency and shared understanding of recommended standards of care. Open access to the guidelines supports patients and families to:
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Discuss guideline-based care with healthcare teams, helping align treatment with the latest European expert recommendations
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Better understand recommended diagnostic and treatment approaches for childhood cancers
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Stay informed about evidence-based practices, including recommendations informed by major clinical trials or, for rare cancers, national registry data
Alongside the publication of the guidelines, a brief survey is available for patients and families to share feedback on their experience and observations. In addition, a dedicated ESCP-specific registry is planned to monitor implementation and impact on childhood cancer outcomes across Europe, including barriers such as feasibility of treatment at national level or challenges like drug shortages.
Find out more information here.