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Mikhail-Lette M, Cordero L, Lievens Y, Al-Ibraheem A, Urbain JL, Chera B, Muylle K, Vaandering A, Rosa AA, Cerci JJ, Sathekge M, Minjgee M, Nansalmaa E, Erdenechimeg S, Ruiz RL, Scott A, Paez D, Giammarile F, Veduta A, Minoshima E, Vichare S, Abdel-Wahab M. Six country vignettes: Strengthening radiotherapy and theranostics. J Cancer Policy 2024; 40:100471. [PMID: 38556128 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcpo.2024.100471] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2023] [Revised: 03/11/2024] [Accepted: 03/16/2024] [Indexed: 04/02/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND For cancer patient populations worldwide, the synchronous scale-up of diagnostics and treatments yields meaningful gains in survival and quality of life. Among advanced cancer therapies, radiotherapy (RT) and theranostics are key to achieving practical, high-quality, and personalized precision medicine - targeting disease manifestations of individual patients and broad populations, alike. Aiming to learn from one another across different world regions, the six country vignettes presented here depict both challenges and victories in de novo establishment or improvement of RT and theranostics infrastructure. METHODS The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) convened global RT and theranostics experts from diverse world regions and contexts to identify relevant challenges and report progress in their own six countries: Belgium, Brazil, Costa Rica, Jordan, Mongolia, and South Africa. These accounts are collated, compared, and contrasted herein. RESULTS Common challenges persist which could be more strategically assessed and addressed. A quantifiable discrepancy entails personnel. The estimated radiation oncologists (ROs), nuclear medicine physicians (NMPs), and medical physicists (MPs for RT and nuclear medicine) per million inhabitants in the six collective countries respectively range between 2.69-38.00 ROs, 1.00-26.00 NMPs, and 0.30-3.45 MPs (Table 1), reflecting country-to-country inequities which largely match World Bank country-income stratifications. CONCLUSION Established goals for RT and nuclear medicine advancement worldwide have proven elusive. The pace of progress could be hastened by enhanced approaches such as more sustainably phased implementation; better multinational networking to share lessons learned; routine quality and safety audits; as well as capacity building employing innovative, resource-sparing, cutting-edge technologic approaches. Bodies such as ministries of health, professional societies, and the IAEA shall serve critical roles in convening and coordinating more innovative RT and theranostics translational research, including expanding nuanced global database metrics to inform, reach, and potentiate milestones most meaningfully. POLICY SUMMARY Aligned with WHO 25×25 NCDs target; WHA70.12 and WHA76.5 resolutions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miriam Mikhail-Lette
- International Atomic Energy Agency Department of Nuclear Sciences and Applications, Division of Human Health, Nuclear Medicine and Diagnostic Imaging Section, Vienna, Austria.
| | - Lisbeth Cordero
- International Atomic Energy Agency Department of Nuclear Sciences and Applications, Division of Human Health, Nuclear Medicine and Diagnostic Imaging Section, Vienna, Austria
| | - Yolande Lievens
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Ghent University Hospital and Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Akram Al-Ibraheem
- Department of Nuclear Medicine and PET/CT, King Hussein Cancer Center (KHCC), Amman, Jordan
| | - Jean-Luc Urbain
- Department of Radiology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, USA
| | - Bhishamjit Chera
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
| | | | - Aude Vaandering
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Université Catholique de Louvain, Saint-Luc University Hospital, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Arthur Accioly Rosa
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Oncoclínicas Salvador and Hospital Santa Izabel, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil
| | - Juliano Julio Cerci
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Quanta Diagnóstico e Terapia, Curitiba, Brazil
| | - Mike Sathekge
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, University of Pretoria and Steve Biko Academic Hospital, Pretoria, South Africa
| | | | | | | | - Rolando Loría Ruiz
- Radiation Therapy Center Siglo 21, Hospital México and Clínica Bíblica, Caja Costarricense de Seguro Social, San Jose, Costa Rica
| | - Andrew Scott
- Department of Molecular Imaging and Therapy, Austin Health, Melbourne, VIC, Australia; Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute, Melbourne, VIC, Australia; School of Cancer Medicine, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia; Department of Medicine, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Diana Paez
- International Atomic Energy Agency Department of Nuclear Sciences and Applications, Division of Human Health, Nuclear Medicine and Diagnostic Imaging Section, Vienna, Austria
| | - Francesco Giammarile
- International Atomic Energy Agency Department of Nuclear Sciences and Applications, Division of Human Health, Nuclear Medicine and Diagnostic Imaging Section, Vienna, Austria
| | - Anna Veduta
- International Atomic Energy Agency Department of Nuclear Sciences and Applications, Division of Human Health, Nuclear Medicine and Diagnostic Imaging Section, Vienna, Austria
| | - Erika Minoshima
- International Atomic Energy Agency Department of Nuclear Sciences and Applications, Division of Human Health, Nuclear Medicine and Diagnostic Imaging Section, Vienna, Austria
| | - Shrikant Vichare
- International Atomic Energy Agency Department of Nuclear Sciences and Applications, Division of Human Health, Nuclear Medicine and Diagnostic Imaging Section, Vienna, Austria
| | - May Abdel-Wahab
- International Atomic Energy Agency Department of Nuclear Sciences and Applications, Division of Human Health, Nuclear Medicine and Diagnostic Imaging Section, Vienna, Austria
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Wood L, Giles E, Cunningham L, Le H, Zientara N, Short M. Proton radiation therapy patient selection and impacts of COVID-19: A scoping review. J Med Radiat Sci 2024; 71 Suppl 2:37-46. [PMID: 37431794 PMCID: PMC11011594 DOI: 10.1002/jmrs.706] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2023] [Accepted: 06/24/2023] [Indexed: 07/12/2023] Open
Abstract
This scoping review aimed to determine whether the COVID-19 pandemic influenced any modifications to patient selection methods or prioritisation and services provided by proton therapy (PT) centres. This review was conducted based on the PRISMA methodology and Joanna Briggs Institute scoping review guidelines. A literature search was performed in Medline, Embase, Web of Science and Scopus, as well as grey literature. Keywords such as "COVID-19" and "Proton Therapy" were used. Articles published from 1 January 2020 in English were included. In total, 138 studies were identified of which 11 articles met the inclusion criteria. A scoping review design was chosen to capture the full extent of information published relating to the aim. Six of 11 articles included statements regarding treatment of COVID-19 patients. Three publications recommended deferred or alternative treatment, two indicated to treat urgent/emergency patients and one reported continuous treatment for infectious patients. Recurring impacts on PT provision included more frequent use of unconventional therapies, reduced referrals, delayed treatment starts and CT simulation, change in treatment target volumes and staffing limitations due to pandemic restrictions. Consequently, telehealth consults, remote work, reduction in patient visitors, screening procedures and rigorous cleaning protocols were recommended. Few publications detailed changes to patient selection or workflow methods during the pandemic. Further research is needed to obtain more detailed information regarding current global patient selection methods in PT, collecting this data could aid in future planning for PT in Australia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucy Wood
- Allied Health and Human PerformanceUniversity of South AustraliaAdelaideSouth AustraliaAustralia
| | - Eileen Giles
- Allied Health and Human PerformanceUniversity of South AustraliaAdelaideSouth AustraliaAustralia
| | - Lisa Cunningham
- Allied Health and Human PerformanceUniversity of South AustraliaAdelaideSouth AustraliaAustralia
| | - Hien Le
- Department of Radiation OncologyRoyal Adelaide HospitalAdelaideSouth AustraliaAustralia
| | - Nicole Zientara
- Liverpool Cancer Therapy CentreLiverpool HospitalSydneyNew South WalesAustralia
- Macarthur Cancer Therapy CentreCampbelltown HospitalSydneyNew South WalesAustralia
| | - Michala Short
- Allied Health and Human PerformanceUniversity of South AustraliaAdelaideSouth AustraliaAustralia
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Rine S, Lara ST, Bikomeye JC, Beltrán-Ponce S, Kibudde S, Niyonzima N, Lawal OO, Mulamira P, Beyer KMM. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on cancer care including innovations implemented in Sub-Saharan Africa: A systematic review. J Glob Health 2023; 13:06048. [PMID: 37976409 PMCID: PMC10656081 DOI: 10.7189/jogh.13.06048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has caused disruptions in the delivery and utilisation of cancer services. The impact of these interruptions is disproportionately borne by low- and middle-income countries in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). There are speculations of increased late-stage presentation and mortality as services are returning to the pre-pandemic state. This review aims to explore the extent to which the COVID-19 pandemic impacted cancer services across SSA and to identify innovations implemented across SSA to mitigate the impacts. Methods Using database-specific search strategies, a systematic literature search was conducted in PubMed, Ovid (MedLine), Web of Science, and African Index Medicus. Eligible studies included original research, reports, perspectives and summaries of national or regional outcomes published in the English language. The primary outcome was changes in the delivery and utilisation of cancer prevention and screening, diagnosis, treatment and follow-up services. The secondary outcome was to identify implemented innovations to mitigate the impact of the pandemic on service delivery. Results Out of the 167 articles identified in the literature search, 46 were included in the synthesis. A majority (95.7%) of the included articles described suspension and/or delay of screening, diagnosis, and treatment services, although two studies (4.3%) described the continuation of services despite the lockdown. Care was additionally impacted by transportation limitations, shortages of staff and personal protective equipment, disruption of the medication supply chain and patients' fears and stigma associated with contracting COVID-19. A major innovation was the use of telemedicine and virtual platforms for patient consultation and follow-up during the pandemic in SSA. Furthermore, drones and mobile applications were used for sample collection, medication delivery and scheduling of treatment. In some instances, medication routes and treatment protocols were changed. Conclusions The delivery and utilisation of cancer services decreased substantially during the pandemic. Cancer centres initiated innovative methods of care delivery, including telehealth and drone use, with long-term potential to mitigate the impact of the pandemic on service delivery. Cancer centres in SSA must explore sustainable, facility or country-specific innovations as services return to the pre-pandemic state. Registration The review was registered in PROSPERO with registration number CRD42022351455.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Rine
- Division of Epidemiology & Social Sciences, Institute for Health and Equity, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Shana T Lara
- Division of Epidemiology & Social Sciences, Institute for Health and Equity, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Jean C Bikomeye
- Division of Epidemiology & Social Sciences, Institute for Health and Equity, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Sara Beltrán-Ponce
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
| | | | | | - Olatunji O Lawal
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria
| | | | - Kirsten MM Beyer
- Division of Epidemiology & Social Sciences, Institute for Health and Equity, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
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Beltrán Ponce SE, Abunike SA, Bikomeye JC, Sieracki R, Niyonzima N, Mulamira P, Kibudde S, Ortiz de Choudens S, Siker M, Small C, Beyer KMM. Access to Radiation Therapy and Related Clinical Outcomes in Patients With Cervical and Breast Cancer Across Sub-Saharan Africa: A Systematic Review. JCO Glob Oncol 2023; 9:e2200218. [PMID: 36795990 PMCID: PMC10166435 DOI: 10.1200/go.22.00218] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/18/2023] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE To better understand the barriers to accessing standard-of-care radiation therapy (RT) for breast and cervical cancer in sub-Saharan Africa and their impact on outcomes. METHODS A comprehensive literature search was completed with a medical librarian. Articles were screened by title, abstract, and full text. Included publications were analyzed for data describing barriers to RT access, available technology, and disease-related outcomes, and further grouped into subcategories and graded according to predefined criteria. RESULTS A total of 96 articles were included: 37 discussed breast cancer, 51 discussed cervical cancer, and eight discussed both. Financial access was affected by health care system payment models and combined burdens of treatment-related costs and lost wages. Staffing and technology shortages limit the ability to expand service locations and/or increase capacity within existing centers. Patient factors including use of traditional healers, fear of stigma, and low health literacy decrease the likelihood of early presentation and completion of therapies. Survival outcomes are worse than most high- and middle-income countries and are affected by many factors. Side effects are similar to other regions, but these findings are limited by poor documentation capabilities. Access to palliative RT is more expeditious than definitive management. RT was noted to lead to feelings of burden, lower self-esteem, and worsened quality of life. CONCLUSION Sub-Saharan Africa represents a diverse region with barriers to RT that differ on the basis of funding, available technology and staff, and community populations. Although long-term solutions must focus on building capacity by increasing the number of treatment machines and providers, short-term improvements should be implemented, such as interim housing for traveling patients, increased community education to reduce late-stage diagnoses, and use of virtual visits to avoid travel.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sarah Adamma Abunike
- Division of Epidemiology & Social Sciences, Institute for Health and Equity, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI
| | - Jean C Bikomeye
- Division of Epidemiology & Social Sciences, Institute for Health and Equity, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI
| | - Rita Sieracki
- Medical College of Wisconsin Libraries, Milwaukee, WI
| | | | | | | | | | - Malika Siker
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI
| | - Christina Small
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI
| | - Kirsten M M Beyer
- Division of Epidemiology & Social Sciences, Institute for Health and Equity, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI
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Prodhan AHMSU, Islam DZ, Khandker SS, Jamiruddin MR, Abdullah A, Godman B, Opanga S, Kumar S, Sharma P, Adnan N, Pisana A, Haque M. Breast Cancer Management in the Era of Covid-19; Key Issues, Contemporary Strategies, and Future Implications. BREAST CANCER (DOVE MEDICAL PRESS) 2023; 15:51-89. [PMID: 36733464 PMCID: PMC9888303 DOI: 10.2147/bctt.s390296] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2022] [Accepted: 01/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
During the COVID-19 pandemic, several priority diseases were not getting sufficient attention. Whilst breast cancer is a fatal disease affecting millions worldwide, identification and management of these patients did not initially attract critical attention to minimize the impact of lockdown, post-lockdown, and other measures. Breast cancer patients' conditions may not remain stable without proper care, worsening their prognosis. Proper care includes the timely instigation of surgery, systemic therapy, and psychological support. This includes low-and middle-income countries where there are already concerns with available personnel and medicines to adequately identify and treat these patients. Consequently, there was a need to summarize the current scenario regarding managing breast cancer care during COVID-19 across all countries, including any guidelines developed. We systematically searched three scientific databases and found 76 eligible articles covering the medical strategies of high-income countries versus LMICs. Typically, diagnostic facilities in hospitals were affected at the beginning of the pandemic following the lockdown and other measures. This resulted in more advanced-stage cancers being detected at initial presentation across countries, negatively impacting patient outcomes. Other than increased telemedicine, instigating neo-adjuvant endocrine therapy more often, reducing non-essential visits, and increasing the application of neo-adjuvant chemotherapy to meet the challenges, encouragingly, there was no other significant difference among patients in high-income versus LMICs. Numerous guidelines regarding patient management evolved during the pandemic to address the challenges posed by lockdowns and other measures, which were subsequently adopted by various high-income countries and LMICs to improve patient care. The psychological impact of COVID-19 and associated lockdown measures, especially during the peak of COVID-19 waves, and the subsequent effect on the patient's mental health must also be considered in this high-priority group. We will continue to monitor the situation to provide direction in future pandemics.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Dewan Zubaer Islam
- Department of Microbiology, Jahangirnagar University, Dhaka, 1342, Bangladesh
| | - Shahad Saif Khandker
- Department of Biochemistry, Gonoshasthaya Samaj Vittik Medical College, Dhaka, 1344, Bangladesh
| | | | - Adnan Abdullah
- Unit of Occupational Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Defence Health, Universiti Pertahanan Nasional Malaysia, (National Defence University of Malaysia), Kuala Lumpur, 57000, Malaysia
| | - Brian Godman
- Department of Pharmacoepidemiology, Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, UK,Centre of Medical and Bio-Allied Health Sciences Research, Ajman University, Ajman, United Arab Emirates,Division of Public Health Pharmacy and Management, School of Pharmacy, Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University, Ga-Rankuwa, South Africa
| | - Sylvia Opanga
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Santosh Kumar
- Department of Periodontology and Implantology, Karnavati School of Dentistry, Karnavati University, Gandhinagar, Gujarat, India
| | - Paras Sharma
- Department of Pharmacognosy, BVM College of Pharmacy, Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, 474006, India
| | - Nihad Adnan
- Department of Microbiology, Jahangirnagar University, Dhaka, 1342, Bangladesh,Correspondence: Nihad Adnan, Department of Microbiology, Jahangirnagar University, Savar, Dhaka 1342, Bangladesh, Email ;Mainul Haque, The Unit of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine and Defence Health, Universiti Pertahanan, Nasional Malaysia (National Defence University of Malaysia), Kem Perdana Sugai Besi, Kuala Lumpur 57000, Malaysia, Tel +60109265543, Email
| | - Alice Pisana
- Department of Global Public Health, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Mainul Haque
- The Unit of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine and Defence Health, Universiti Pertahanan, Nasional Malaysia (National Defence University of Malaysia), Kuala Lumpur, 57000, Malaysia
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Vaidya JS, Vaidya UJ, Baum M, Bulsara MK, Joseph D, Tobias JS. Global adoption of single-shot targeted intraoperative radiotherapy (TARGIT-IORT) for breast cancer—better for patients, better for healthcare systems. Front Oncol 2022; 12:786515. [PMID: 36033486 PMCID: PMC9406153 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.786515] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2021] [Accepted: 06/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Micro abstractTargeted intraoperative radiotherapy (TARGIT-IORT) is delivered immediately after lumpectomy for breast cancer. We estimated its impact. At least 44,752 patients with breast cancer were treated with TARGIT-IORT in 260 centres in 35 countries, saving >20 million miles of travel and preventing ~2,000 non–breast cancer deaths. The TARGIT-IORT website (https://targit.org.uk/travel) provides maps and tools to find the nearest centre offering TARGIT-IORT and travel savings.BackgroundTargeted intraoperative radiotherapy (TARGIT-IORT) delivers radiotherapy targeted to the fresh tumour bed exposed immediately after lumpectomy for breast cancer. TARGIT-A trial found TARGIT-IORT to be as effective as whole-breast radiotherapy, with significantly fewer deaths from non–breast cancer causes. This paper documents its worldwide impact and provides interactive tools for clinicians and patients.MethodCentres using TARGIT-IORT provided the date of the first case and the total number of patients. We plotted these data on a customised Google Map. An interactive web-based tool provided directions to the closest centre. Using the data from the TARGIT-A trial, we estimated the total savings in travel miles, carbon footprint, and the number of non–breast cancer deaths that might be prevented.ResultsData from 242 (93%) of the 260 centres treating patients from 35 countries were available. From the first patient treated in 1998 to early 2020, at least 44,752 women with breast cancer have been treated with TARGIT-IORT. The TARGIT-IORT website (https://targit.org.uk/travel) displays the Google Map of centres with number of cases and an interactive tool for patients to find the nearest centre offering TARGIT-IORT and their travel savings. Scaling up to the already treated patients, >20 million miles of travel would have been saved and about 2,000 deaths prevented.ConclusionOne can ascertain the number of patients treated with a novel treatment. These data show how widely TARGIT-IORT has now been adopted and gives an indication of its beneficial worldwide impact on a large number of women with breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jayant Sharad Vaidya
- Division of Surgery and Interventional Science, University College London, London, United Kingdom
- *Correspondence: Jayant Sharad Vaidya, ;
| | - Uma Jayant Vaidya
- Medical Sciences Division Brasenose College, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Michael Baum
- Division of Surgery and Interventional Science, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Max Kishor Bulsara
- Division of Surgery and Interventional Science, University College London, London, United Kingdom
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Notre Dame, Fremantle, WA, Australia
| | - David Joseph
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Perth, WA, Australia
| | - Jeffrey S. Tobias
- Department of Clinical Oncology, University College London Hospitals, London, United Kingdom
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Dzobo K. What to Do for Increasing Cancer Burden on the African Continent? Accelerating Public Health Diagnostics Innovation for Prevention and Early Intervention on Cancers. OMICS-A JOURNAL OF INTEGRATIVE BIOLOGY 2021; 25:567-579. [PMID: 34399067 DOI: 10.1089/omi.2021.0098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
No other place illustrates the increasing burden of cancer than in Africa and in particular, sub-Saharan Africa. Many of the individuals to be diagnosed with cancer will be in low-resource settings in the future due to, for example, an increase in populations and aging, and high co-morbidity with infections with viruses such as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and human papillomavirus (HPV), as well as the presence of infectious agents linked to cancer development. Due to lack of prevention and diagnostic innovation, patients present with advanced cancers, leading to poor survival and increased mortality. HIV infection-associated cancers such as B cell lymphomas, Kaposi's sarcoma, and HPV-associated cancers such as cervical cancer are particularly noteworthy in this context. Recent reports show that a host of other cancers are also associated with viral infection and these include lung, oral cavity, esophageal, and pharyngeal, hepatocellular carcinoma, and anal and vulvar cancers. This article examines the ways in which diagnostic innovation empowered by integrative biology and informed by public health priorities can improve cancer prevention or early intervention in Africa and beyond. In addition, I argue that because diagnostic biomarkers can often overlap with novel therapeutic targets, diagnostics research and development can have broader value for and impact on medical innovation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin Dzobo
- International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), Cape Town Component, Cape Town, South Africa.,Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, Division of Medical Biochemistry, Department of Integrative Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
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