Abstract 4021: Science, prevention, and fun: The educational revolution of the project Cancer School
Authors: Altair Filho M. Souza, Talita Aguiar, Andreia Juliana Rodrigues Caldeira
Journal: Cancer Research (2025)

Abstract Introduction: Cancer remains a leading cause of mortality worldwide, necessitating innovative strategies to enhance public understanding of its biology, risk factors, and prevention. The Cancer School project is part of the extension program “Laboratório de Educação Científica e Popularização da Ciência (LECPOP) from the State University of Goiás and seeks to bridge this gap by integrating science communication with educational tools that present complex topics like mutations and cancer in an accessible and engaging way. Leveraging social media (@cancerschooloficial) as a dissemination platform, the initiative has amassed over 10, 000 followers and achieves consistent engagement through interactive posts, stories, and videos, fostering a virtual community for cancer education. Methods: The project developed two essential educational tools: the Cromocel booklet and a board game. Cromocel features an engaging narrative led by characters Cromo, Alê, and Karcin to introduce concepts such as chromosome structure, mutations, and cancer progression. The board game, designed in the shape of a chromosome, includes themes like cancer biology, risk factors, and prevention. The development process involved 1) Defining educational objectives, 2) Conducting a literature review, 3) Designing prototypes, 4) Writing a question-and-answer script, and 5) Establishing gameplay rules. Both tools were piloted at the XIV National Research Meeting in Science Education (2023) in Caldas Novas, Goiás. Participants were invited to engage with the tools at an interactive stand and complete a short survey assessing the pedagogical effectiveness, engagement, and usability. Results: The pilot study included 20 participants: 2 K-12 students, five teachers, and 13 undergraduates. All participants reported enjoying the tools, with 70% identifying “prevention” as the most straightforward concept to understand, likely due to their relevance to everyday life. The project's social media presence amplified these efforts, with posts about the educational tools achieving an average engagement rate of 15%, demonstrating strong interest from a broad audience. Followers frequently interacted with content, asking questions and sharing posts, further expanding the initiative's reach. Conclusion: The Cancer School project demonstrates the potential of combining traditional educational tools with digital engagement to promote cancer literacy. The initiative successfully enhances public understanding of cancer biology and prevention strategies by integrating creative methodologies like booklets and games with social media outreach. These results highlight the value of active learning and digital platforms in science communication, offering a scalable model for addressing public health challenges. Citation Format: Altair Filho M. Souza, Talita Aguiar, Andreia Juliana Rodrigues Caldeira. Science, prevention, and fun: The educational revolution of the project Cancer School [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2025; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2025 Apr 25-30; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2025;85(8_Suppl_1):Abstract nr 4021.