biostudies-literatureUnknown13Roxo L<h4>Objectives</h4>Cancer incidence has been increasing in Europe, with stark disparities between Western and Eastern regions. Cancer primary prevention (CPP) is a cost-effective strategy tackling lifestyle and risk factor exposure, but its implementation goes beyond the actions of the governments. This study aims to characterize stakeholders' role in CPP, using a penta-helix approach, with the objective of shedding a new light in the Iron Curtain of Cancer Cases.<h4>Methods</h4>We followed a mixed-methods approach, with quantitative and qualitative data from CPP stakeholders from the public sector, academia/research, private sector, media and civil society. Snowball sampling was used to distribute a survey where participants (<i>n</i> = 110) were asked which sector was the main driver of Frontiers in public health1550712https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC12307402biostudies-literatureCharacterizing stakeholders in cancer primary prevention in European countries: an exploration of challenges and opportunities using a penta-helix framework.PMC12307402Roxo LPetrov IKriachkova LZakharov SCristina Garcia AMilasevic NGeanta MNerau VPopescu RVillani LSemenov VBoccia SVojvodic ISantos ASousa-Uva MBoata AVolintiru C4P-CAN WP2 study teamLeite AGirvalaki CKuzmanoska MHasardzhiev SMilena Zaharia RBabamova MRibeiro OfalseCharacterizing stakeholders in cancer primary prevention in European countries: an exploration of challenges and opportunities using a penta-helix framework.<h4>Objectives</h4>Cancer incidence has been increasing in Europe, with stark disparities between Western and Eastern regions. Cancer primary prevention (CPP) is a cost-effective strategy tackling lifestyle and risk factor exposure, but its implementation goes beyond the actions of the governments. This study aims to characterize stakeholders' role in CPP, using a penta-helix approach, with the objective of shedding a new light in the Iron Curtain of Cancer Cases.<h4>Methods</h4>We followed a mixed-methods approach, with quantitative and qualitative data from CPP stakeholders from the public sector, academia/research, private sector, media and civil society. Snowball sampling was used to distribute a survey where participants (<i>n</i> = 110) were asked which sector was the main driver of 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z20252026-03-31T10:37:46.093Z2025-08-24T03:07:27.629ZS-EPMC123074024074037810.3389/fpubh.2025.1550712