A new modelling tool designed to accelerate the elimination of cervical cancer in low- and lower-middle-income countries (LMICs) was launched this week in Lyon, France.
The Elimination Planning Tool (EPT), co-developed by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) and the University of Sydney with support from Cancer Research UK, aims to help countries strategically allocate resources and tailor interventions based on national data. The tool provides localised modelling to support decision-making, track progress, and guide long-term planning for prevention, screening, and treatment.
The EPT builds on the original modelling that informed the World Health Organization’s (WHO) 2020 global strategy to eliminate cervical cancer, which set the “90-70-90” targets for 2030: vaccinate 90% of girls aged 9–15, screen 70% of women with a high-performance test at least twice in their lifetime, and ensure 90% of women with cervical disease receive appropriate care.
“The EPT strengthens countries’ ability to plan their elimination pathways in ways that are evidence-based and adapted to their unique healthcare contexts,” said Dr Isabelle Soerjomataram, Deputy Branch Head of Cancer Surveillance at IARC and co-lead of the tool’s development. “It’s not about discovering new technologies—vaccination, screening, and treatment already work. What matters is how they are implemented optimally in each country.”
Cervical cancer is largely preventable and highly treatable when detected early, yet it remains one of the leading causes of cancer death among women in many low-income countries. In 2022 alone, 94% of global cervical cancer deaths occurred in LMICs, according to IARC data.
IARC estimates that current efforts are on track to save 12.5 million lives, a number that could rise to 62 million by 2100 if WHO’s elimination targets are fully met by all countries.
“The EPT provides a clear benchmarking system and helps secure renewed political commitment to sustaining services critical to this global goal,” said Dr Elisabete Weiderpass, Director of IARC.
The launch event, held during the IARC Governing Council meeting, marks a new phase of integrating cervical cancer elimination strategies into national cancer control plans using country-specific data.
Prof Karen Canfell AC, who leads the University of Sydney’s development team, said the EPT is already in use across the Indo-Pacific region through the Elimination Partnership in the Indo-Pacific for Cervical Cancer (EPICC) initiative, funded by the Australian Government and the Minderoo Foundation.
“The idea of disease elimination can feel overwhelming,” she noted. “But with the EPT, countries can visualise a pathway that is feasible, evidence-based, and tailored to their circumstances, while tracking progress toward both interim and long-term targets.”
Cary Adams, CEO of the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC), joined partners at the launch in Lyon and underscored the tool’s practical value for governments.
“The EPT offers real-world, actionable guidance for countries working to expand cervical cancer services,” said Adams. “It helps clarify what is possible and where resources can have the greatest impact.”
UICC, a partner in the EPICC initiative, is working closely with civil society organisations in the region through its Cancer Advocates programme. The initiative focuses on enhancing national advocacy efforts, improving access to treatment and palliative care, and supporting sustainable scale-up of cervical cancer services.
The EPT is expected to play a vital role in supporting LMICs as they work toward meeting global targets and saving millions of lives from a preventable disease.
