Oral Cancer Screening

A new global oral cancer screening network was launched on 29 September 2025 to connect researchers, clinicians, and public health professionals. The initiative, promoted by IARC’s Oral Cancer Team, addresses the urgent need for earlier detection of a disease that remains widespread and often diagnosed too late.

Risk Factors

Oral cancer continues to pose a serious health burden, particularly in countries with high tobacco and alcohol consumption, where survival rates remain unacceptably low. The network aims to harmonize approaches, promote collaborative studies, and provide training opportunities across diverse settings. A strong focus will be placed on building capacity in resource-limited regions, ensuring equity in participation.

Contribution

Participants will contribute to multicenter trials, share data, and refine screening methods that can be adapted to cultural and economic contexts. This initiative also strengthens advocacy by generating robust evidence for policymakers on effective early detection. IARC underlines that global cooperation is essential to improve prognosis and reduce disparities. By bringing together expertise from different parts of the world, the network intends to accelerate innovations in practice and policy. Its long-term goal is to make oral cancer screening more accessible, reliable, and impactful worldwide.