1
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Abdel-Wahab M, Coleman CN, Eriksen JG, Lee P, Kraus R, Harsdorf E, Lee B, Dicker A, Hahn E, Agarwal JP, Prasanna PGS, MacManus M, Keall P, Mayr NA, Jereczek-Fossa BA, Giammarile F, Kim IA, Aggarwal A, Lewison G, Lu JJ, Guedes de Castro D, Kong FMS, Afifi H, Sharp H, Vanderpuye V, Olasinde T, Atrash F, Goethals L, Corn BW. Addressing challenges in low-income and middle-income countries through novel radiotherapy research opportunities. Lancet Oncol 2024; 25:e270-e280. [PMID: 38821101 PMCID: PMC11382686 DOI: 10.1016/s1470-2045(24)00038-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2023] [Revised: 01/17/2024] [Accepted: 01/18/2024] [Indexed: 06/02/2024]
Abstract
Although radiotherapy continues to evolve as a mainstay of the oncological armamentarium, research and innovation in radiotherapy in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs) faces challenges. This third Series paper examines the current state of LMIC radiotherapy research and provides new data from a 2022 survey undertaken by the International Atomic Energy Agency and new data on funding. In the context of LMIC-related challenges and impediments, we explore several developments and advances-such as deep phenotyping, real-time targeting, and artificial intelligence-to flag specific opportunities with applicability and relevance for resource-constrained settings. Given the pressing nature of cancer in LMICs, we also highlight some best practices and address the broader need to develop the research workforce of the future. This Series paper thereby serves as a resource for radiation professionals.
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Affiliation(s)
- May Abdel-Wahab
- Division of Human Health, International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna, Austria.
| | - C Norman Coleman
- Radiation Research Program, Division of Cancer Treatment and Diagnosis, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Jesper Grau Eriksen
- Department of Experimental Clinical Oncology, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Peter Lee
- Division of Human Health, International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna, Austria
| | - Ryan Kraus
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, AZ, USA
| | - Ekaterina Harsdorf
- Division of Human Health, International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna, Austria
| | - Becky Lee
- Department of Radiation Medicine, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA, USA; Department of Radiation Oncology, Summa Health, Akron, OH, USA
| | - Adam Dicker
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Ezra Hahn
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Radiation Medicine Program, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University of Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Jai Prakash Agarwal
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Tata Memorial Centre, Homi Bhabha National Institute, Mumbai, India
| | - Pataje G S Prasanna
- Radiation Research Program, Division of Cancer Treatment and Diagnosis, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Michael MacManus
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre and the Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Paul Keall
- Image X Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Nina A Mayr
- College of Human Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
| | - Barbara Alicja Jereczek-Fossa
- Department of Oncology and Hemato-oncology, University of Milan, Milan, Italy; Division of Radiotherapy, European Institute of Oncology, IRCCS, Milan, Italy
| | | | - In Ah Kim
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seoul, South Korea; Seoul National University, College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Ajay Aggarwal
- Department of Health Services Research and Policy, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK; Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Grant Lewison
- Institute of Cancer Policy, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Jiade J Lu
- Shanghai Proton and Heavy Ion Centre, Fudan University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | | | - Feng-Ming Spring Kong
- Department of Clinical Oncology, HKU-Shenzhen Hospital and Queen Mary Hospital, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
| | - Haidy Afifi
- Division of Human Health, International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna, Austria
| | - Hamish Sharp
- Institute of Cancer Policy, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Verna Vanderpuye
- National Center for Radiotherapy, Oncology and Nuclear Medicine, Korlebu Teaching Hospital, Accra, Ghana
| | | | - Fadi Atrash
- Augusta Victoria Hospital, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Luc Goethals
- Division of Human Health, International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna, Austria
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2
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Saito M, Tamamoto T, Kawashiro S, Umezawa R, Matsuda M, Tohyama N, Katsuta Y, Kanai T, Nemoto H, Onishi H. Current status of remote radiotherapy treatment planning in Japan: findings from a national survey†. JOURNAL OF RADIATION RESEARCH 2024; 65:127-135. [PMID: 37996096 PMCID: PMC10803164 DOI: 10.1093/jrr/rrad085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2023] [Revised: 09/04/2023] [Accepted: 10/14/2023] [Indexed: 11/25/2023]
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to investigate the status of remote-radiotherapy treatment planning (RRTP) in Japan through a nationwide questionnaire survey. The survey was conducted between 29 June and 4 August 2022, at 834 facilities in Japan that were equipped with linear accelerators. The survey utilized a Google form that comprised 96 questions on facility information, information about the respondent, utilization of RRTP between facilities, usage for telework and the inclination to implement RRTPs in the respondent's facility. The survey analyzed the utilization of the RRTP system in four distinct implementation types: (i) utilization as a supportive facility, (ii) utilization as a treatment facility, (iii) utilization as a teleworker outside of the facility and (iv) utilization as a teleworker within the facility. The survey response rate was 58.4% (487 facilities responded). Among the facilities that responded, 10% (51 facilities) were implementing RRTP. 13 served as supportive facilities, 23 as treatment facilities, 17 as teleworkers outside of the facility and 5 as teleworkers within the facility. In terms of system usage between supportive and treatment facilities, 70-80% of the participants utilized the system for emergencies or as overtime work for external workers. A substantial number of facilities (38.8%) reported that they were unfamiliar with RRTP implementation. The survey showed that RRTP utilization in Japan is still limited, with a significant number of facilities unfamiliar with the technology. The study highlights the need for greater understanding and education about RRTP and financial funds of economical compensation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masahide Saito
- Department of Radiology, University of Yamanashi, 1110 Shimokato, Chuo, Yamanashi 409-3898, Japan
| | - Tetsuro Tamamoto
- Department of Medical Informatics, Nara Medical University Hospital, 840 Shijyo-cho, Kashihara, Nara 634-8521, Japan
| | - Shohei Kawashiro
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Faculty of Medicine, Yamagata University, 2-2-2 Iida-Nishi, Yamagata, Yamagata 990-9585, Japan
| | - Rei Umezawa
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-1 Seiryo-machi, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi 980-8574, Japan
| | - Masaki Matsuda
- Department of Radiology, University of Yamanashi, 1110 Shimokato, Chuo, Yamanashi 409-3898, Japan
| | - Naoki Tohyama
- Division of Medical Physics, Tokyo Bay Makuhari Clinic for Advanced Imaging, Cancer Screening, and High-Precision Radiotherapy, 1-17 Toyosuna, Mihama-ku, Chiba, Chiba 261-0024, Japan
| | - Yoshiyuki Katsuta
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-1 Seiryo-machi, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi 980-8574, Japan
| | - Takayuki Kanai
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Tokyo Women's Medical University, 8-1, Kawada-Cho, Shinjuku-Ku, Tokyo 162-8666, Japan
| | - Hikaru Nemoto
- Department of Radiology, University of Yamanashi, 1110 Shimokato, Chuo, Yamanashi 409-3898, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Onishi
- Department of Radiology, University of Yamanashi, 1110 Shimokato, Chuo, Yamanashi 409-3898, Japan
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3
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Kyaw JYA, Rendall A, Gillespie EF, Roques T, Court L, Lievens Y, Tree AC, Frampton C, Aggarwal A. Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of the Association Between Radiation Therapy Treatment Volume and Patient Outcomes. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 2023; 117:1063-1086. [PMID: 37227363 PMCID: PMC10680429 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2023.02.048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2022] [Revised: 02/15/2023] [Accepted: 02/20/2023] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Evidence of a volume-outcome association in cancer surgery has shaped the centralization of cancer services; however, it is unknown whether a similar association exists for radiation therapy. The objective of this study was to determine the association between radiation therapy treatment volume and patient outcomes. METHODS AND MATERIALS This systematic review and meta-analysis included studies that compared outcomes of patients who underwent definitive radiation therapy at high-volume radiation therapy facilities (HVRFs) versus low-volume facilities (LVRFs). The systematic review used Ovid MEDLINE and Embase. For the meta-analysis, a random effects model was used. Absolute effects and hazard ratios (HRs) were used to compare patient outcomes. RESULTS The search identified 20 studies assessing the association between radiation therapy volume and patient outcomes. Seven of the studies looked at head and neck cancers (HNCs). The remaining studies covered cervical (4), prostate (4), bladder (3), lung (2), anal (2), esophageal (1), brain (2), liver (1), and pancreatic cancer (1). The meta-analysis demonstrated that HVRFs were associated with a lower chance of death compared with LVRFs (pooled HR, 0.90; 95% CI, 0.87- 0.94). HNCs had the strongest evidence of a volume-outcome association for both nasopharyngeal cancer (pooled HR, 0.74; 95% CI, 0.62-0.89) and nonnasopharyngeal HNC subsites (pooled HR, 0.80; 95% CI, 0.75-0.84), followed by prostate cancer (pooled HR, 0.92; 95% CI, 0.86-0.98). The remaining cancer types showed weak evidence of an association. The results also demonstrate that some centers defined as HVRFs are undertaking very few procedures per annum (<5 radiation therapy cases per year). CONCLUSIONS An association between radiation therapy treatment volume and patient outcomes exists for most cancer types. Centralization of radiation therapy services should be considered for cancer types with the strongest volume-outcome association, but the effect on equitable access to services needs to be explicitly considered.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Alice Rendall
- Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | | | - Tom Roques
- Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals, Norwich, United Kingdom
| | - Laurence Court
- University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Yolande Lievens
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Ghent University Hospital and Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Alison C Tree
- Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust and the Institute of Cancer Research, London, United Kingdom
| | | | - Ajay Aggarwal
- Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom; London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom.
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Jaffray DA, Knaul F, Baumann M, Gospodarowicz M. Harnessing progress in radiotherapy for global cancer control. NATURE CANCER 2023; 4:1228-1238. [PMID: 37749355 DOI: 10.1038/s43018-023-00619-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2021] [Accepted: 06/22/2023] [Indexed: 09/27/2023]
Abstract
The pace of technological innovation over the past three decades has transformed the field of radiotherapy into one of the most technologically intense disciplines in medicine. However, the global barriers to access this highly effective treatment are complex and extend beyond technological limitations. Here, we review the technological advancement and current status of radiotherapy and discuss the efforts of the global radiation oncology community to formulate a more integrative 'diagonal approach' in which the agendas of science-driven advances in individual outcomes and the sociotechnological task of global cancer control can be aligned to bring the benefit of this proven therapy to patients with cancer everywhere.
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Affiliation(s)
- David A Jaffray
- Departments of Radiation Physics and Imaging Physics, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA.
| | - Felicia Knaul
- Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA
| | | | - Mary Gospodarowicz
- Radiation Oncology, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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5
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Manson EN, Hasford F, Trauernicht C, Ige TA, Inkoom S, Inyang S, Samba O, Khelassi-Toutaoui N, Lazarus G, Sosu EK, Pokoo-Aikins M, Stoeva M. Africa's readiness for artificial intelligence in clinical radiotherapy delivery: Medical physicists to lead the way. Phys Med 2023; 113:102653. [PMID: 37586146 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmp.2023.102653] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2023] [Revised: 07/30/2023] [Accepted: 08/05/2023] [Indexed: 08/18/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND There have been several proposals by researchers for the introduction of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology due to its promising role in radiotherapy practice. However, prior to the introduction of the technology, there are certain general recommendations that must be achieved. Also, the current challenges of AI must be addressed. In this review, we assess how Africa is prepared for the integration of AI technology into radiotherapy service delivery. METHODS To assess the readiness of Africa for integration of AI in radiotherapy services delivery, a narrative review of the available literature from PubMed, Science Direct, Google Scholar, and Scopus was conducted in the English language using search terms such as Artificial Intelligence, Radiotherapy in Africa, Machine Learning, Deep Learning, and Quality Assurance. RESULTS We identified a number of issues that could limit the successful integration of AI technology into radiotherapy practice. The major issues include insufficient data for training and validation of AI models, lack of educational curriculum for AI radiotherapy-related courses, no/limited AI teaching professionals, funding, and lack of AI technology and resources. Solutions identified to facilitate smooth implementation of the technology into radiotherapy practices within the region include: creating an accessible national data bank, integrating AI radiotherapy training programs into Africa's educational curriculum, investing in AI technology and resources such as electronic health records and cloud storage, and creation of legal laws and policies to support the use of the technology. These identified solutions need to be implemented on the background of creating awareness among health workers within the radiotherapy space. CONCLUSION The challenges identified in this review are common among all the geographical regions in the African continent. Therefore, all institutions offering radiotherapy education and training programs, management of the medical centers for radiotherapy and oncology, national and regional professional bodies for medical physics, ministries of health, governments, and relevant stakeholders must take keen interest and work together to achieve this goal.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Odette Samba
- General Hospital of Yaoundé and University of Yaoundé I, Cameroon.
| | | | - Graeme Lazarus
- Inkosi Albert Luthuli Central Hospital, Durban, South Africa.
| | - Edem Kwabla Sosu
- School of Nuclear and Allied Sciences, University of Ghana, Ghana.
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6
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Rubagumya F, Mushonga M, Abdihamid O, Nyagabona S, Hopman W, Nwamaka L, Omar AA, Ndlovu N, Booth C, Aggarwal A, Brundage M, Vanderpuye V, de Moraes FY. Status of Peer Review in Radiation Oncology: A Survey of Cancer Centers in Sub-Saharan Africa. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 2023; 116:984-991. [PMID: 37453798 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2023.04.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2022] [Revised: 04/06/2023] [Accepted: 04/11/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Fidel Rubagumya
- Department of Oncology, Rwanda Military Hospital, Kigali, Rwanda; Division of Cancer Care and Epidemiology, Queen's University Cancer Research Institute, Kingston, Ontario, Canada; Departments of Oncology and; Public Health Sciences, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada.
| | - Melinda Mushonga
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Omar Abdihamid
- Garissa Cancer Center-Garissa County Referral Hospital, Garissa, Kenya
| | - Sarah Nyagabona
- Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Wilma Hopman
- Public Health Sciences, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada; Kingston Health Sciences Centre Research Institute, Kingston, Ontario, Canada
| | | | - Abeid Athman Omar
- Kenyatta University Teaching Research and Referral Hospital, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Ntokozo Ndlovu
- Parirenyatwa Hospital Radiotherapy Centre, Harare, Zimbabwe
| | - Christopher Booth
- Division of Cancer Care and Epidemiology, Queen's University Cancer Research Institute, Kingston, Ontario, Canada; Departments of Oncology and; Public Health Sciences, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada
| | - Ajay Aggarwal
- Institute of Cancer Policy, King's College London, London, United Kingdom; London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Michael Brundage
- Division of Cancer Care and Epidemiology, Queen's University Cancer Research Institute, Kingston, Ontario, Canada; Departments of Oncology and
| | | | - Fabio Ynoe de Moraes
- Division of Cancer Care and Epidemiology, Queen's University Cancer Research Institute, Kingston, Ontario, Canada; Departments of Oncology and
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7
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Zhou Y, Luo B, Sang J, Li C, Zhu M, Zhu Z, Dai J, Wang J, Chen H, Zhai S, Lu L, Liu H, Yu G, Ye J, Zhang Z, Huan J. A cloud-based consultation and collaboration system for radiotherapy: Remote decision support services for community radiotherapy centers. COMPUTER METHODS AND PROGRAMS IN BIOMEDICINE 2023; 229:107270. [PMID: 36516515 DOI: 10.1016/j.cmpb.2022.107270] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2021] [Revised: 11/08/2022] [Accepted: 11/24/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE This study aimed to establish a cloud-based radiotherapy consultation and collaboration system, then investigated the practicability of remote decision support for community radiotherapy centers using the system. METHODS AND MATERIALS A cloud-based consultation and collaboration system for radiotherapy, OncoEvidance®, was developed to provide remote services of LINAC modeling, simulation CT data import/export, target volume and organ-at-risk delineation, prescription, and treatment planning. The system was deployed on a hybrid cloud. A federate of public nodes, each corresponding to a medical institution, are managed by a central node where a group of consultants have registered. Users can access the system through network using computing devices. The system has been tested at three community radiotherapy centers. One accelerator was modeled. 12 consultants participated the remote radiotherapy decision support and 77 radiation treatment plans had been evaluated remotely. RESULTS All the passing rates of per-beam dose verification are > 94% and all the passing rates of composite beam dose verification are > 99%. The average downloading time for one set of simulation CT data for one patient from Internet was within 1 min under the cloud download bandwidth of 8 Mbps and local network bandwidth of 100 Mbps. The average response time for one consultant to contour target volumes and make prescription was about 24 h. And that for one consultant to design and optimize a IMRT treatment plan was about 36 h. 100% of the remote plans passed the dosimetric criteria and could be imported into the local TPS for further verification. CONCLUSION The cloud-based consultation and collaboration system saved the travel time for consultants and provided high quality radiotherapy to patients in community centers. The under-staffed community radiotherapy centers could benefit from the remote system with lower cost and better treatment quality control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yin Zhou
- Evidance Medical Technologies Inc, Suzhou, China.
| | - Binghui Luo
- Department of Radiation Oncology, the Affiliated Suzhou Science and Technology Town Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou, China
| | - Jiugao Sang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Rudong County People's Hospital, Rudong, Nantong, China
| | - Cheng Li
- Homology Medical Technologies Inc. Ningbo, China
| | - Meng Zhu
- Evidance Medical Technologies Inc, Suzhou, China
| | - Zhengfei Zhu
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China
| | - Jianrong Dai
- Department of Radiation Oncology, National Cancer Center/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Jianhua Wang
- Ningbo Medical Center, Li Huili Hospital, Ningbo, China
| | - Haibo Chen
- Department of Radiation Oncology, the Affiliated Suzhou Science and Technology Town Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou, China
| | - Shuwei Zhai
- Department of Radiation Oncology, the Affiliated Suzhou Science and Technology Town Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou, China
| | - Lina Lu
- Department of Radiation Oncology, the Affiliated Suzhou Science and Technology Town Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou, China
| | - Hui Liu
- Department of Radiation Oncology, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China
| | - Genhua Yu
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Zhebei Mingzhou Hospital, Huzhou, China
| | - Jin Ye
- Homology Medical Technologies Inc. Ningbo, China
| | - Zhen Zhang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China
| | - Jian Huan
- Department of Radiation Oncology, the Affiliated Suzhou Science and Technology Town Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou, China.
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8
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Kavuma A, Kibudde S, Schmidt M, Zhao T, Gay H, Li B, Michalski J, Hugo G, Vanchinbazar E, Minjgee M, Nansalmaa E, Ssewamala F, Velarde A, De Fella V, Ixquiac M, Henke L, van Rheenen J, Sun B. Remote Global Radiation Oncology Education and Training: A Pathway to Increase Access to High-Quality Radiation Therapy Services in Low- and Middle-Income Countries. Adv Radiat Oncol 2023; 8:101180. [PMID: 36846439 PMCID: PMC9947225 DOI: 10.1016/j.adro.2023.101180] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2022] [Accepted: 01/05/2023] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Purpose There is a vital need to train radiation therapy professionals in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) to develop sustainable cancer treatment capacity and infrastructure. LMICs have started to introduce intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT), which is the standard of care in high-income countries, because of improved outcomes and reduced toxicities. This work reports the efficacy of a complementary asynchronous plus synchronous virtual-training approach on improving radiation therapy professions' self-confidence levels and evaluating participants' attitudes toward asynchronous and synchronous didactic hands-on learning in 3 LMICs. Methods and Materials Training was provided to 37 participants from Uganda, Guatemala, and Mongolia, which included 4 theoretical lectures, 4 hands-on sessions, and 8 self-guided online videos. The 36-day training focused on IMRT contouring, site-specific target/organ definition, planning/optimization, and quality assurance. Participants completed pre- and postsession confidence surveys on a 0 to 10 scale, which was converted to a 5-point Likert rating scale to evaluate the training outcomes. The pros and cons of the 3 different training formats were compared. Results The participants included 15 (40.5%) radiation oncologists, 11 (29.7%) medical physicists, 6 (16.2%) radiation therapists, and 5 (13.5%) dosimetrists. Approximately 50% had more than 10 years of radiation therapy experience, 70.8% had no formal IMRT training, and only 25% had IMRT at their institutions. The average experience and confidence levels in using IMRT at baseline were 3.2 and 2.9, which increased to 5.2 and 4.9 (P < .001) after the theoretical training. After the hands-on training, the experience and confidence levels further improved to 5.4 and 5.5 (P < .001). After the self-guided training, the confidence levels increased further to 6.9 (P < .01). Among the 3 different training sessions, hands-on trainings (58.3%) were most helpful for the development of participants' IMRT skills, followed by theoretical sessions with 25%. Conclusions After completing the training sessions, Uganda and Mongolia started IMRT treatments. Remote training provides an excellent and feasible e-learning platform to train radiation therapy professionals in LMICs. The training program improved the IMRT confidence levels and treatment delivery. The hands-on trainings were most preferred.
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Affiliation(s)
- Awusi Kavuma
- Department of Radiation Therapy, Uganda Cancer Institute, Kampala, Uganda
- Corresponding author: Awusi Kavuma, DPhil
| | - Solomon Kibudde
- Department of Radiation Therapy, Uganda Cancer Institute, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Matthew Schmidt
- Department of Radiation Oncology, School of Medicine, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri
| | - Tianyu Zhao
- Department of Radiation Oncology, School of Medicine, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri
| | - Hiram Gay
- Department of Radiation Oncology, School of Medicine, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri
| | | | - Jeff Michalski
- Department of Radiation Oncology, School of Medicine, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri
| | - Geoffrey Hugo
- Department of Radiation Oncology, School of Medicine, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri
| | | | | | | | - Fred Ssewamala
- Brown School, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri
| | - Angel Velarde
- Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania & Center for Global Health, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Vicky De Fella
- Liga Nacional Contra el Cancer/Instituto de Cancerologia, Guatemala City, Guatemala
| | - Milton Ixquiac
- Liga Nacional Contra el Cancer/Instituto de Cancerologia, Guatemala City, Guatemala
| | - Lauren Henke
- Liga Nacional Contra el Cancer/Instituto de Cancerologia, Guatemala City, Guatemala
| | - Jacaranda van Rheenen
- Global Health Center, Institute for Public Health, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri
| | - Baozhou Sun
- Department of Radiation Oncology, School of Medicine, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri
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9
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Moya-Plana A, Tselikas L, Lambotte O, Temam S, De Baere T, Deutsch E, Barlesi F, Blanchard P, Levy A. Postgraduate oncology educational shifts during the COVID-19 pandemic: results of faculty and medical student surveys. ESMO Open 2022; 7:100451. [PMID: 35427841 PMCID: PMC8888032 DOI: 10.1016/j.esmoop.2022.100451] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2022] [Revised: 02/08/2022] [Accepted: 02/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has disrupted clinical practice, research and teaching. During peaks, virtual courses were implemented but these changes are poorly described, especially for oncology postgraduate students and faculty teachers. PATIENTS AND METHODS We administered two surveys from June 2021 to October 2021 to students and faculty teachers (250 and 80 responses, respectively) who registered at Gustave Roussy School of Cancer Sciences (Université Paris-Saclay) during 3 consecutive university years (October 2018 to October 2021), where a major shift to e-learning was associated with COVID-19 pandemic. RESULTS Most students were female (53%), attending physicians (50%), aged 30-39 years (54%) and 2020-2021 (66.4%) was the main year of training. Most faculty teachers were male (58%), aged 40-50 years (44%) and had participated in training for at least 3 years (83%). More than half of the students received 100% virtual training [55% versus 45% face-to-face/mixed teaching modalities; online (84%) versus remote teaching (16%)]. Only 34% of students declared >80% 'active listening' and only 16% of teachers considered e-learning to be more suitable (compared with face-to-face) for postgraduate education. Virtual teaching decreased student-teacher interactions as compared with mixed/face-to-face (lessons were sufficiently interactive for 54% students if virtual only teaching versus for 71% if other teaching modalities; P = 0.009). Teachers stated that virtual learning did not lead to any improvements in terms of attendance (68%), interaction (74%) and quality of teaching (68%). However, most faculty (76%) acknowledged that partial e-learning training should be maintained outside the pandemic, if it represents ≤50% of the whole teaching (teachers: 79% versus student: 66%; P = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS COVID-19 accelerated the transition toward novel practices. Students and faculty teachers agreed on the need for future mixed (≤50% e-learning) teaching modalities. Adequate formation and the use of codified best newer virtual practices are required.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Moya-Plana
- Department of Head and Neck Oncology, Gustave Roussy, Villejuif, France; Université Paris-Saclay, INSERM U981, Villejuif, France; Université Paris-Saclay, Faculté de Médecine, Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, France.
| | - L Tselikas
- Université Paris-Saclay, Faculté de Médecine, Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, France; Interventional Radiology, Department of Surgery and Anesthesiology, Gustave Roussy, Villejuif, France; Université Paris-Saclay, INSERM 1428 CIC Biotheris, Villejuif, France.
| | - O Lambotte
- Université Paris-Saclay, Faculté de Médecine, Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, France; Université Paris-Saclay, AP-HP, Hôpital Bicêtre, Clinical Immunology Department, Le Kremlin Bicêtre, France; Université Paris-Saclay, Inserm, CEA, Center for Immunology of Viral, Auto-immune, Hematological and Bacterial Diseases (IDMIT/IMVA-HB), UMR1184, Le Kremlin Bicêtre, France
| | - S Temam
- Department of Head and Neck Oncology, Gustave Roussy, Villejuif, France
| | - T De Baere
- Université Paris-Saclay, Faculté de Médecine, Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, France; Interventional Radiology, Department of Surgery and Anesthesiology, Gustave Roussy, Villejuif, France
| | - E Deutsch
- Université Paris-Saclay, Faculté de Médecine, Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, France; Department of Radiation Oncology, Gustave Roussy, Villejuif, France; Université Paris-Saclay, INSERM U1030, Molecular Radiotherapy, Villejuif, France
| | - F Barlesi
- Université Paris-Saclay, Faculté de Médecine, Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, France; Department of Medical Oncology, Gustave Roussy, Villejuif, France; Aix Marseille University, CNRS, INSERM, CRCM, Marseille, France
| | - P Blanchard
- Université Paris-Saclay, Faculté de Médecine, Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, France; Department of Radiation Oncology, Gustave Roussy, Villejuif, France
| | - A Levy
- Université Paris-Saclay, Faculté de Médecine, Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, France; Department of Radiation Oncology, Gustave Roussy, Villejuif, France; Université Paris-Saclay, INSERM U1030, Molecular Radiotherapy, Villejuif, France.
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Chung C, Jaffray DA. Cancer Needs a Robust "Metadata Supply Chain" to Realize the Promise of Artificial Intelligence. Cancer Res 2021; 81:5810-5812. [PMID: 34853038 PMCID: PMC9306309 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-21-1929] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2021] [Revised: 08/04/2021] [Accepted: 10/07/2021] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Profound advances in computational methods, including artificial intelligence (AI), present the opportunity to use the exponentially growing volume and complexity of available cancer measurements toward data-driven personalized care. While exciting, this opportunity has highlighted the disconnect between the promise of compute and the supply of high-quality data. The current paradigm of ad-hoc aggregation and curation of data needs to be replaced with a "metadata supply chain" that provides robust data in context with known provenance, that is, lineage and comprehensive data governance that will allow the promise of AI technology to be realized to its full potential in clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caroline Chung
- The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas.
| | - David A Jaffray
- The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
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11
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Stanway S, Lodge M, Sullivan R, Diprose K, Young AM, Crisp N, Lewis P, Eden T, Aggarwal A, Nadin A, Chinegwundoh F, Sirohi B, Byrne G, Cowan R. The UK's contribution to cancer control in low-income and middle-income countries. Lancet Oncol 2021; 22:e410-e418. [PMID: 34478677 DOI: 10.1016/s1470-2045(21)00380-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2021] [Revised: 06/04/2021] [Accepted: 06/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Cancer mortality rates in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs) are unacceptably high, requiring both collaborative global effort and in-country solutions. Experience has shown that working together in policy, clinical practice, education, training, and research leads to bidirectional benefit for LMICs and high-income countries. For over 60 years, the UK National Health Service has benefited from recruitment from LMICs, providing the UK with a rich diaspora of trained health-care professionals with links to LMICs. A grassroots drive to engage with partners in LMICs within the UK has grown from the National Health Service, UK academia, and other organisations. This drive has generated a model that rests on two structures: London Global Cancer Week and the UK Global Cancer Network, providing a high-value foundation for international discussion and collaboration. Starting with a historical perspective, this Series paper describes the UK landscape and offers a potential plan for the future UK's contribution to global cancer control. We also discuss the opportunities and challenges facing UK partnerships with LMICs in cancer control. The UK should harness the skills, insights, and political will from all partners to make real progress.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Mark Lodge
- UK Global Cancer Network, Manchester, UK; International Network for Cancer Treatment and Research, Oxford, UK
| | | | | | - Annie M Young
- UK Global Cancer Network, Manchester, UK; Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK
| | - Nigel Crisp
- House of Lords, Houses of Parliament, London, UK
| | - Philippa Lewis
- Department of Clinical Oncology, University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust, Bristol, UK
| | - Tim Eden
- World Child Cancer, London, UK; School of Medical Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Ajay Aggarwal
- Faculty of Public Health and Policy, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | | | | | | | - Ged Byrne
- Health Education England Global Engagement, London, UK; Department of Surgery, Manchester NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, UK
| | - Richard Cowan
- UK Global Cancer Network, Manchester, UK; School of Medical Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK; Department of Clinical Oncology, The Christie NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, UK
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