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Kim HY, Mullaert J, Tondreau A, Park B, Rouzier R. Development of a model to predict the age at breast cancer diagnosis in a global population. Sci Rep 2024; 14:13845. [PMID: 38879675 PMCID: PMC11180172 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-53108-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2023] [Accepted: 01/27/2024] [Indexed: 06/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Knowing the mean age at diagnosis of breast cancer (BC) in a country is important for setting up an efficient BC screening program. The aim of this study was to develop and validate a model to predict the mean age at diagnosis of BC at the country level. To develop the model, we used the CI5plus database from the IARC, which contains incidence data for 122 selected populations for a minimum of 15 consecutive years from 1993 to 2012 and data from the World Bank. The standard model was fitted with a generalized linear model with the age of the population, growth domestic product per capita (GDPPC) and fertility rate as fixed effects and continent as a random effect. The model was validated in registries of the Cancer Incidence in Five Continents that are not included in the CI5plus database (1st validation set: 1950-2012) and in the most recently released volume (2nd validation set: 2013-2017). The intercept of the model was 30.9 (27.8-34.1), and the regression coefficients for population age, GDPPC and fertility rate were 0.55 (95% CI: 0.53-0.58, p < 0.001), 0.46 (95% CI: 0.26-0.67, p < 0.001) and 1.62 (95% CI: 1.42-1.88, p < 0.001), respectively. The marginal R2 and conditional R2 were 0.22 and 0.81, respectively, suggesting that 81% percent of the variance in the mean age at diagnosis of BC was explained by the variance in population age, GDPPC and fertility rate through linear relationships. The model was highly accurate, as the correlations between the predicted age from the model and the observed mean age at diagnosis of BC were 0.64 and 0.89, respectively, and the mean relative error percentage errors were 5.2 and 3.1% for the 1st and 2nd validation sets, respectively. We developed a robust model based on population age and continent to predict the mean age at diagnosis of BC in populations. This tool could be used to implement BC screening in countries without prevention programs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ha Young Kim
- Department of Health Sciences, College of Medicine, Hanyang University, Seoul, Korea
- Institut Curie, PSL Research University, INSERM, U900, Saint Cloud, France
| | - Jimmy Mullaert
- Institut Curie, PSL Research University, INSERM, U900, Saint Cloud, France
| | - Ambre Tondreau
- Institut Curie, PSL Research University, INSERM, U900, Saint Cloud, France
| | - Boyoung Park
- Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, Hanyang University, Seoul, Korea
| | - Roman Rouzier
- Institut Curie, PSL Research University, INSERM, U900, Saint Cloud, France.
- Department of Surgery, Centre François Baclesse, Caen, France.
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An J, Steffen AD, Collins EG, Molina Y, Li X, Ferrans CE. Act or Wait? Presentation Delay in Symptomatic Breast Cancer in China. Cancer Nurs 2024:00002820-990000000-00258. [PMID: 38857168 DOI: 10.1097/ncc.0000000000001361] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND In Western countries, factors contributing to breast cancer presentation delay have been identified, but little is known about presentation delay in China, where culture and healthcare systems are quite different. OBJECTIVE To describe the delay interval among newly diagnosed breast cancer patients in China and to identify factors influencing delay, including the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS Using a cross-sectional design, we recruited 154 participants within 3 months of pathological diagnosis of breast cancer. Data were collected using standardized scales and open-ended questions. RESULTS We found 44.8% of participants delayed ≥1 month, and 24.7% delayed ≥3 months before presentation, after self-discovery of symptoms. Logistic regression analysis showed that factors associated with longer delay (≥1 month) included preferring female physicians for breast examination, fewer negative emotions (afraid, anxious, distressed) regarding breast symptoms, more competing priorities, believing folk therapy can help treat lumps, and visiting a secondary or tertiary hospital instead of primary healthcare providers (P < .05 for all). Interaction tests showed perceived seriousness of symptoms significantly predicted delay of ≥1 month only when perceived healthcare access or trust in physicians was low. Patients (14%) reported delaying due to fear of COVID-19 infection and inability to leave home. CONCLUSIONS Presentation delays were substantial and multilevel barriers to timely presentation were identified, which would be expected to contribute to later-stage cancer at diagnosis. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE Findings suggest that nursing interventions and improved health policies are urgently needed in China, including breast cancer education to increase awareness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinghua An
- Author Affiliations: Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, New Brunswick (Dr An); College of Nursing (Drs An, Steffen, Collins, and Ferrans) and School of Public Health (Dr Molina), University of Illinois at Chicago; and School of Nursing, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Shaanxi, China (Dr Li)
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Subedi R, Houssami N, Nickson C, Nepal A, Campbell D, David M, Yu XQ. Factors influencing the time to diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer among women in low- and middle-income countries: A systematic review. Breast 2024; 75:103714. [PMID: 38522173 PMCID: PMC10973645 DOI: 10.1016/j.breast.2024.103714] [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: 01/03/2024] [Revised: 03/08/2024] [Accepted: 03/16/2024] [Indexed: 03/26/2024] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Shorter time from symptoms recognition to diagnosis and timely treatment would be expected to improve the survival of patients with breast cancer (BC). This review identifies and summarizes evidence on time to diagnosis and treatment, and associated factors to inform an improved BC care pathways in Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs). METHODS A systematic search was conducted in electronic databases including Medline, Embase, PsycINFO and Global Health, covering publications between January 1, 2010, and November 6, 2023. Inclusion criteria encompassed studies published in English from LMICs that reported on time from symptoms recognition to diagnosis and/or from diagnosis to treatment, as well as factors influencing these timelines. Study quality was assessed independently by two reviewers using a standard checklist. Pre-contact, post-contact and treatment intervals and delays in these intervals are presented. Barriers and facilitators for shorter time to diagnosis and treatment found by individual studies after adjusting with covariates are summarized. RESULTS The review identified 21 studies across 14 countries and found that BC cases took a longer time to diagnosis than to treatment. However, time to treatment also exceeded the World Health Organization (WHO) recommended period for optimal survival. There was inconsistency in terminology and benchmarks for defining delays in time intervals. Low socioeconomic status and place of residence emerged as frequent barriers, while initial contact with a private health facility or specialist was commonly reported as a facilitator for shorter time to diagnosis and treatment. CONCLUSIONS Guidelines or consensus recommendations are essential for defining the optimal time intervals to BC diagnosis and treatment. Our review supported WHO's Global Breast Cancer Initiative recommendations. Increasing public awareness, strengthening of healthcare professional's capacities, partial decentralization of diagnostic services and implementation of effective referral mechanisms are recommended to achieve a shorter time to diagnosis and treatment of BC in LMICs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ranjeeta Subedi
- School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia; The Daffodil Centre, University of Sydney, a joint venture with Cancer Council NSW, Sydney, Australia.
| | - Nehmat Houssami
- School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia; The Daffodil Centre, University of Sydney, a joint venture with Cancer Council NSW, Sydney, Australia
| | - Carolyn Nickson
- The Daffodil Centre, University of Sydney, a joint venture with Cancer Council NSW, Sydney, Australia; Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | | | - Denise Campbell
- The Daffodil Centre, University of Sydney, a joint venture with Cancer Council NSW, Sydney, Australia
| | - Michael David
- The Daffodil Centre, University of Sydney, a joint venture with Cancer Council NSW, Sydney, Australia; School of Medicine and Dentistry, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Australia
| | - Xue Qin Yu
- School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia; The Daffodil Centre, University of Sydney, a joint venture with Cancer Council NSW, Sydney, Australia
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Zewdie A, Kassie TD, Anagaw TF, Mazengia EM, Gelaw SS, Fenta ET, Eshetu HB, Kebede N, Bogale EK. Advanced-stage breast cancer diagnosis and its determinants in Ethiopia: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Womens Health 2024; 24:284. [PMID: 38734607 PMCID: PMC11088059 DOI: 10.1186/s12905-024-03133-9] [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: 11/03/2023] [Accepted: 05/06/2024] [Indexed: 05/13/2024] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Worldwide, breast cancer is the primary cause of illness and death. Unless early detected and treated breast cancer is a life-threatening tumor. Advanced-stage presentation is greatly linked with short survival time and increased mortality rates. In Ethiopia nationally summarized evidence on the level of advanced-stage breast cancer diagnosis is scarce. Therefore, this systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to determine the pooled prevalence of advanced-stage breast cancer diagnosis and its determinants in Ethiopia. METHOD By following PRISMA guidelines, a systematic review and meta-analysis were carried out. To include relevant publications, a broad literature search was conducted in the African Online Journal, PubMed, Google Scholar, and Embase which are published until last search date; June 15, 2023. To prevent further duplication this review was registered in PROSPERO database with ID no of CRD42023435096. To determine the pooled prevalence, a weighted inverse variance random effect model was applied. I2 statistics and the Cochrane Q-test were computed to determine heterogeneity. To evaluate publication bias, a funnel plot, and Egger's regression test were used. RESULT A total of 924 articles were sought and finally 20 articles were included in this review. The pooled prevalence of advanced-stage breast cancer diagnosis in Ethiopia was 72.56% (95%CI; 68.46-76.65%). Use of traditional medicine as first choice (AOR = 1.32, 95% CI: (1.13-1.55)), delay of > 3 months in seeking care (AOR = 1.24, 95% CI: (1.09-1.41)), diagnosis or health system delay of > 2 months (AOR = 1.27, 95% CI: (1.11-1.46)), rural residence (AOR = 2.04, 95% CI: (1.42 - 2.92)), and chief complaint of a painless breast lump (AOR = 2.67, 95% CI: (1.76-4.06)) were significantly associated to advanced-stage diagnosis. CONCLUSION In Ethiopia, more than two-thirds of breast cancer cases are diagnosed at an advanced stage. Use of traditional medicine before diagnostic confirmation, delay in seeking care, health system delay, rural residence, and chief complaint of painless breast lump were positively associated with an advanced-stage diagnosis. Policymakers and program designers give great focus to those delays so as to seek and access modern diagnosis and treatment as early as possible specifically focusing on those who are rurally residing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amare Zewdie
- Department of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Science, Wolkite University, Wolkite, Ethiopia.
| | - Tadele Derbew Kassie
- Department of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Science, Debre Markos University, Debre Markos, Ethiopia
| | - Tadele Fentabel Anagaw
- Health Promotion and Behavioural science department, College of medicine and health science, Bahir Dar University, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia
| | - Elyas Melaku Mazengia
- Department of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Science, Debre Markos University, Debre Markos, Ethiopia
| | - Sintayehu Shiferaw Gelaw
- Department of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Science, Debre Markos University, Debre Markos, Ethiopia
| | - Eneyew Talie Fenta
- Department of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Injibara University, Injibara, Ethiopia
| | - Habitu Birhan Eshetu
- Department of Health Promotion and Health Behaviour, Institute of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, PO.Box.196, Gondar, Ethiopia
| | - Natnael Kebede
- Department of Health Promotion, School of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Wollo University, Dessie, Ethiopia
| | - Eyob Ketema Bogale
- Health Promotion and Behavioural science department, College of medicine and health science, Bahir Dar University, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia
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Gyeltshen T, Teh HS, Loo CE, Hing NYL, Lim WY, Subramaniam S, Wong WJ, Wong ZSY, Hwong WY. Factors influencing presentation delay among cancer patients: a cross-sectional study in Malaysia. BMC Public Health 2024; 24:1260. [PMID: 38720253 PMCID: PMC11077827 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-024-18643-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2023] [Accepted: 04/17/2024] [Indexed: 05/12/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cancer represents a significant global public health challenge, with escalating incidence rates straining healthcare systems. Malaysia, like many nations, has witnessed a rise in cancer cases, particularly among the younger population. This study aligns with Malaysia's National Strategic Plan for Cancer Control Programme 2021-2025, emphasizing primary prevention and early detection to address cancer's impact. Therefore, we aim to describe the timeliness of cancer care for symptom presentation, socio-demographic, patient, as well as organizational-related factors among patients in Malaysia diagnosed with breast, colorectal, nasopharyngeal, and cervical cancer. METHODS This cross-sectional study enrolled adult cancer patients diagnosed with breast, cervical, colorectal, or nasopharyngeal cancer from 2015 to 2020 in seven public hospitals/oncology centres across Malaysia. Data were collected through patient-administered surveys and medical records. Presentation delay, defined as the duration between symptom onset and the patient's first visit to a healthcare professional exceeding 30 days, was the primary outcome. Statistical analysis included descriptive statistics and chi-square tests. RESULTS The study included 476 cancer patients, with breast cancer (41.6%), colorectal cancer (26.9%), nasopharyngeal cancer (22.1%), and cervical cancer (9.5%). Over half (54.2%) experienced presentation delays with a median interval of 60 days. Higher proportions of presentation delay were observed among nasopharyngeal cancer patients, employed patients with lower socioeconomic statuses, and those without family history of cancer. Most patients self-discovered their first cancer symptoms (80%), while only one-third took immediate action for medical check-ups. Emotional and organizational factors, such as long waiting times during doctor's visits (47%), were potential barriers to seeking cancer care. CONCLUSION This study highlights the significant problem of presentation delay among cancer patients in Malaysia. The delay is influenced by various factors encompassing sociodemographic characteristics, health-seeking behaviours, and healthcare system-related issues. A comprehensive approach addressing both individual barriers and institutional obstacles is imperative to mitigate this presentation delay and improve cancer outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tshewang Gyeltshen
- Graduate School of Public Health, St. Luke's International University, Tokyo, Japan
- Division of Surveillance and Policy Evaluation, National Cancer Center Institute for Cancer Control, Tokyo, 104-0045, Japan
- Ministry of Health, Royal Government of Bhutan, Thimphu, Bhutan
| | - Hoon Shien Teh
- Centre for Clinical Epidemiology, Institute for Clinical Research, National Institutes of Health, Ministry of Health, Shah Alam, Malaysia.
| | - Ching Ee Loo
- Centre for Clinical Epidemiology, Institute for Clinical Research, National Institutes of Health, Ministry of Health, Shah Alam, Malaysia
| | - Nicholas Yee Liang Hing
- Centre for Clinical Epidemiology, Institute for Clinical Research, National Institutes of Health, Ministry of Health, Shah Alam, Malaysia
| | - Wei Yin Lim
- Centre for Clinical Epidemiology, Institute for Clinical Research, National Institutes of Health, Ministry of Health, Shah Alam, Malaysia
| | - Shridevi Subramaniam
- Centre for Clinical Epidemiology, Institute for Clinical Research, National Institutes of Health, Ministry of Health, Shah Alam, Malaysia
| | - Wen Jun Wong
- Centre for Clinical Epidemiology, Institute for Clinical Research, National Institutes of Health, Ministry of Health, Shah Alam, Malaysia
| | - Zoie Shui-Yee Wong
- Graduate School of Public Health, St. Luke's International University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Wen Yea Hwong
- Centre for Clinical Epidemiology, Institute for Clinical Research, National Institutes of Health, Ministry of Health, Shah Alam, Malaysia
- Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
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de Ligt KM, Koppert LB, de Rooij BH, van de Poll-Franse LV, Velikova G, Cardoso F. Seizing the moment: The time for harnessing electronic patient-reported outcome measures for enhanced and sustainable metastatic breast cancer care is now. Breast 2024; 74:103676. [PMID: 38359564 PMCID: PMC10877629 DOI: 10.1016/j.breast.2024.103676] [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: 10/20/2023] [Revised: 12/11/2023] [Accepted: 01/31/2024] [Indexed: 02/17/2024] Open
Abstract
The sustainability of healthcare systems is under pressure. Unlike care for many other chronic diseases, cancer care has yet to empower patients in effectively self-managing both the medical and emotional consequences of their condition, including adapting to changes in lifestyle and work, which is essential to achieve optimal health and recovery. Although proposed as a potential solution for sustainable healthcare and support for optimal health and recovery already decades ago, practical implementation of digital care lags behind. We believe electronic patient reported outcome measures (ePROMs) could play an important role in creating sustainable healthcare, both to guide complex treatment pathways and to empower survivors to self-manage consequences of diagnosis and treatment. That is, ePROMs can be used for screening and monitoring of symptoms, but also for treatment decision-making and to facilitate communication about quality of life. We therefore see opportunities for improvements in quality of care, quality of life, and survival of cancer patients, as well as research opportunities, as ePROMs collection can lead to better understanding of care needs. The '10 Actions for Change report' of the Advanced Breast Cancer Global Alliance stresses a critical need for improvement of care for metastatic breast cancer (MBC) patients. We therefore in this paper focus on MBC care and research.
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Affiliation(s)
- K M de Ligt
- Division of Psychosocial Research and Epidemiology, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Plesmanlaan 121, 1066 CX, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
| | - L B Koppert
- Department of Surgical Oncology, Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, Dr. Molewaterplein 40, 3015 GD, Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
| | - B H de Rooij
- Department of Research and Development, Netherlands Comprehensive Cancer Organisation, Godebaldkwartier 419, 3511 DT, Utrecht, the Netherlands; Department of Medical and Clinical Psychology, Center of Research on Psychological and Somatic Disorders (CoRPS), Tilburg University, Warandelaan 2, 5037 AB, Tilburg, the Netherlands.
| | - L V van de Poll-Franse
- Division of Psychosocial Research and Epidemiology, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Plesmanlaan 121, 1066 CX, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Department of Research and Development, Netherlands Comprehensive Cancer Organisation, Godebaldkwartier 419, 3511 DT, Utrecht, the Netherlands; Department of Medical and Clinical Psychology, Center of Research on Psychological and Somatic Disorders (CoRPS), Tilburg University, Warandelaan 2, 5037 AB, Tilburg, the Netherlands.
| | - G Velikova
- Leeds Institute of Medical Research at St James's, University of Leeds, St James's University Hospital, Woodhouse Lane, LS2 9JT, Leeds, United Kingdom; Leeds Cancer Centre, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, St James's University Hospital, Beckett St, Harehills, LS9 7LP, Leeds, United Kingdom.
| | - F Cardoso
- Breast Unit, Champalimaud Clinical Center/Champalimaud Foundation, Avenida Brasília s/n, 1400-038, Lisbon, Portugal.
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Ebrahimpour-Koujan S, Benisi-Kohansal S, Azadbakht L, Fallah M, Esmaillzadeh A. Adherence to HEI-2010 and odds of breast cancer according to the menopause status: Evidence from Middle Eastern Country. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0300986. [PMID: 38547194 PMCID: PMC10977784 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0300986] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2023] [Accepted: 03/07/2024] [Indexed: 04/02/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Majority of earlier studies have assessed the association between individual healthy eating index-2010 (HEI-2010) and the odds of breast cancer (BC). However, no study has been conducted on the effect of compliance with HEI-2010 and the odds of BC in the Iranian population with a large sample size. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the relationship between the HEI-2010 and the odds of BC in the Iranian population. METHOD This population-based case-control study included 350 newly diagnosed cases of BC and 700 healthy controls randomly selected from adult women. HEI-2010 was examined using validated questionnaires. The adherence to HEI-2010 among the participants was divided into four categories. The general characteristics of the participants in the quartiles of the HEI score for categorical variables and continuous variables were evaluated using chi-square and one-way analysis of variance, respectively. Also, using logistic regression analysis, dietary intakes were evaluated in HEI score quartiles. Also, confounding variables were adjusted in different models. RESULT People with the highest HEI score had 60% lower odds of BC (OR: 0.40; 95% CI: 0.27, 0.57) than those with the lowest score among post-menopause women. After controlling for age and energy intake, individuals with the highest HEI score were 78% less likely to have BC compared with those with the lowest score (OR: 0.22; 95% CI: 0.14, 0.33). Adjustments for other potential confounders including demographic factors made the association stronger (OR: 0.21; 95% CI: 0.13, 0.32). This association remained significant even after taking BMI into model (OR: 0.27; 95% CI: 0.17, 0.43). CONCLUSION Finally, in this study we found an association between HEI-2010 and odds of breast cancer. This association was particularly seen in postmenopausal women. No significant association was found between adherence to HEI-2010 and odds of BC among pre-menopausal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soraiya Ebrahimpour-Koujan
- Department of Clinical Nutrition, School of Nutritional Sciences and Dietetics, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Department of Community Nutrition, School of Nutritional Sciences and Dietetics, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Sanaz Benisi-Kohansal
- Department of Community Nutrition, School of Nutritional Sciences and Dietetics, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Leila Azadbakht
- Department of Community Nutrition, School of Nutritional Sciences and Dietetics, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Maryam Fallah
- Department of Clinical Nutrition, School of Nutritional Sciences and Dietetics, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Ahmad Esmaillzadeh
- Department of Community Nutrition, School of Nutritional Sciences and Dietetics, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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Al-Balas M, Al-Balas H, AlAmer Z, Al-Taweel G, Ghabboun A, Al Bzoor F, Abumkarab S, Bakr TA, Eleiwat B. Clinical outcomes of screening and diagnostic mammography in a limited resource healthcare system. BMC Womens Health 2024; 24:191. [PMID: 38515093 PMCID: PMC10956363 DOI: 10.1186/s12905-024-03007-0] [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: 08/19/2023] [Accepted: 02/28/2024] [Indexed: 03/23/2024] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Breast cancer is a significant public health concern in Jordan. It is the most common cancer among Jordanian women. Despite its high incidence and advanced stage at time of diagnosis, the uptake of breast cancer screening in Jordan is low. This study aims to compare clinical outcomes of both screening and diagnostic mammogram among women in Jordan. METHODS A retrospective cohort of 1005 women who underwent mammography in breast imaging unit in a tertiary hospital in Jordan. It aimed to investigate outcomes of screening and diagnostic mammography. recall rates, clinical manifestations and cancer rates were investigated. RESULTS A total of 1005 participants were involved and divided into screening group (n = 634) and diagnostic group (n = 371). Women in the diagnostic group were more likely to be younger, premenopausal, smokers with higher BMI. Among the screening group, 22.3% were labeled with abnormal mammogram, 26% recalled for ultrasound, 46 patients underwent tissue biopsy and a total of 12 patients had a diagnosis of breast carcinoma. Among the diagnostic group, the most commonly reported symptoms were a feeling of breast mass, mastalgia and nipple discharge. Abnormal mammogram was reported in 50.4% of women, a complementary ultrasound was performed for 205 patients. A diagnostic Tru-cut biopsy for 144 patients and diagnostic excisional biopsy for 17 patients were performed. A total of 131 had a diagnosis of carcinoma. CONCLUSION With the high possibility of identifying a carcinoma in mammography among symptomatic women and low uptake of screening mammogram, efforts to increase awareness and improve access to screening services are crucial in reducing the burden of breast cancer in Jordan.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mahmoud Al-Balas
- Department of General Surgery, Urology and Anesthesia, The Hashemite University, Zarqa, 13133, Jordan.
| | - Hamzeh Al-Balas
- Department of General Surgery, Urology and Anesthesia, The Hashemite University, Zarqa, 13133, Jordan
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Eremici I, Borlea A, Dumitru C, Stoian D. Breast Cancer Risk Factors among Women with Solid Breast Lesions. Clin Pract 2024; 14:473-485. [PMID: 38525715 PMCID: PMC10961805 DOI: 10.3390/clinpract14020036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2024] [Revised: 03/10/2024] [Accepted: 03/12/2024] [Indexed: 03/26/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Breast cancer is the most frequent malignancy in women worldwide and one of the most curable cancers if diagnosed at an early stage. Female patients presenting solid breast lesions are greatly predisposed to breast cancer development, and as such, effective screening of high-risk patients is valuable in early-stage breast cancer detection. OBJECTIVES The aim of our study was to identify the most relevant demographic, reproductive and lifestyle risk factors for breast cancer among women with solid breast lesions living in western Romania, namely the urban region consisting of Timisoara and the rural surrounding regions. METHODS From January 2017 to December 2021, 1161 patients with solid breast lesions, as detected by sonoelastography, were divided into two groups: patients with benign lesions (1019, 87.77%) and patients with malignant nodules (142, 12.23%). The malignancy group was confirmed by a histopathological result. Variables including age, BMI, menarche, menopause, years of exposure to estrogen, number of births, breastfeeding period, use of oral combined contraceptives, smoker status, family medical history and living area (rural-urban) were recorded. RESULTS It was evidenced by our study that the main risk factors for malignancy were elevated age (OR = 1.07, 95% CI 1.05-1.08), BMI (OR = 1.06, 95% CI 1.02-1.10), living area (rural) (OR = 1.86, 95% CI 1.13-2.85) and family medical history (negative) (OR 3.13, 95% CI 1.43-8.29). The other proposed risk factors were not found to be statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS Age and BMI were observed to be the most significant factors for breast cancer risk increase, followed by living in a rural area. A family history of breast cancer was shown to be inversely correlated with cancer risk increase.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ivana Eremici
- PhD School, Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
| | - Andreea Borlea
- Department of Internal Medicine II, Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
| | - Catalin Dumitru
- Obstetrics and Gynecology Department, Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, Romania;
| | - Dana Stoian
- Department of Internal Medicine II, Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
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Gashu C, Aguade AE. Assessing the survival time of women with breast cancer in Northwestern Ethiopia: using the Bayesian approach. BMC Womens Health 2024; 24:120. [PMID: 38360619 PMCID: PMC10868057 DOI: 10.1186/s12905-024-02954-y] [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: 04/25/2023] [Accepted: 02/05/2024] [Indexed: 02/17/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Despite the significant weight of difficulty, Ethiopia's survival rate and mortality predictors have not yet been identified. Finding out what influences outpatient breast cancer patients' survival time was the major goal of this study. METHODS A retrospective study was conducted on outpatients with breast cancer. In order to accomplish the goal, 382 outpatients with breast cancer were included in the study using information obtained from the medical records of patients registered at the University of Gondar referral hospital in Gondar, Ethiopia, between May 15, 2016, and May 15, 2020. In order to compare survival functions, Kaplan-Meier plots and the log-rank test were used. The Cox-PH model and Bayesian parametric survival models were then used to examine the survival time of breast cancer outpatients. The use of integrated layered Laplace approximation techniques has been made. RESULTS The study included 382 outpatients with breast cancer in total, and 148 (38.7%) patients died. 42 months was the estimated median patient survival time. The Bayesian Weibull accelerated failure time model was determined to be suitable using model selection criteria. Stage, grade 2, 3, and 4, co-morbid, histological type, FIGO stage, chemotherapy, metastatic number 1, 2, and >=3, and tumour size all have a sizable impact on the survival time of outpatients with breast cancer, according to the results of this model. The breast cancer outpatient survival time was correctly predicted by the Bayesian Weibull accelerated failure time model. CONCLUSIONS Compared to high- and middle-income countries, the overall survival rate was lower. Notable variables influencing the length of survival following a breast cancer diagnosis were weight loss, invasive medullar histology, comorbid disease, a large tumour size, an increase in metastases, an increase in the International Federation of Gynaecologists and Obstetricians stage, an increase in grade, lymphatic vascular space invasion, positive regional nodes, and late stages of cancer. The authors advise that it is preferable to increase the number of early screening programmes and treatment centres for breast cancer and to work with the public media to raise knowledge of the disease's prevention, screening, and treatment choices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chalachew Gashu
- Department of Statistics, College of Natural and Computational Science, Oda Bultum University, Chiro, Ethiopia.
| | - Aragaw Eshetie Aguade
- Department of Statistics, College of Natural and Computational Science, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia
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11
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Quang DT, Luong Thi T, Nguyen Di K, Vu Thi Quynh C, Nguyen Thi Hoa H, Phan Ngoc Q. Illuminating the breast cancer survival rates among Southeast Asian women: A systematic review and meta-analysis spanning four decades. Curr Probl Cancer 2024; 48:101062. [PMID: 38309146 DOI: 10.1016/j.currproblcancer.2024.101062] [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: 12/03/2023] [Revised: 12/27/2023] [Accepted: 01/16/2024] [Indexed: 02/05/2024]
Abstract
In Southeast Asia, breast cancer is the most prevalent cancer among women and ranks as the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths. This systematic review and meta-analysis, encompassing 27 observational cohort studies with a minimum one-year follow-up period, aimed to examine temporal trends in breast cancer survival rates. Among the subset of five out of eleven Southeast Asian nations with available data, our analysis revealed pooled survival rates of 88.8 % at 1 year, 73.8 % at 3 years, 70.8 % at 5 years, and 49.3 % at 10 years for breast cancer patients. The mean age at diagnosis was 50.77±10.07 years, with 52.81 % of patients presenting with positive lymph nodes. Notably, stages I and II remained predominant even five years post-diagnosis. Although an overall amelioration in survival rates transpired over the preceding four decades, a noticeable exception pertained to the 3-year rate, demonstrating limited improvement. These findings underscore the pressing need for enhanced research efforts, particularly in countries within the region that lack survival data, to enable accurate estimations. Furthermore, our review also emphasizes the crucial need for future comprehensive, well-designed studies to delve into the factors behind survival rate disparities in Southeast Asia and the younger age at diagnosis compared to other regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Duc Tran Quang
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Dong Nai Technology University, Nguyen Khuyen Street, Trang Dai Ward, Bien Hoa City, Vietnam.
| | - Thanh Luong Thi
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Dong Nai Technology University, Nguyen Khuyen Street, Trang Dai Ward, Bien Hoa City, Vietnam
| | - Khanh Nguyen Di
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Dong Nai Technology University, Nguyen Khuyen Street, Trang Dai Ward, Bien Hoa City, Vietnam
| | - Chi Vu Thi Quynh
- The University of Danang, School of Medicine and Pharmacy, 41 Le Duan, Hai Chau, Danang 550000, Vietnam
| | - Huyen Nguyen Thi Hoa
- College of Health Sciences, VinUniveristy, Vinhomes Ocean Park, Gia Lam District, Hanoi, Vietnam
| | - Quang Phan Ngoc
- The Center Service For Technology Science Of Medi-Phar. Thai Binh University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 373 Ly Bon Street Thai Binh city, Vietnam
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12
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Lopez-Gonzalez L, Sanchez Cendra A, Sanchez Cendra C, Roberts Cervantes ED, Espinosa JC, Pekarek T, Fraile-Martinez O, García-Montero C, Rodriguez-Slocker AM, Jiménez-Álvarez L, Guijarro LG, Aguado-Henche S, Monserrat J, Alvarez-Mon M, Pekarek L, Ortega MA, Diaz-Pedrero R. Exploring Biomarkers in Breast Cancer: Hallmarks of Diagnosis, Treatment, and Follow-Up in Clinical Practice. MEDICINA (KAUNAS, LITHUANIA) 2024; 60:168. [PMID: 38256428 PMCID: PMC10819101 DOI: 10.3390/medicina60010168] [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: 12/12/2023] [Revised: 01/02/2024] [Accepted: 01/09/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024]
Abstract
Breast cancer is a prevalent malignancy in the present day, particularly affecting women as one of the most common forms of cancer. A significant portion of patients initially present with localized disease, for which curative treatments are pursued. Conversely, another substantial segment is diagnosed with metastatic disease, which has a worse prognosis. Recent years have witnessed a profound transformation in the prognosis for this latter group, primarily due to the discovery of various biomarkers and the emergence of targeted therapies. These biomarkers, encompassing serological, histological, and genetic indicators, have demonstrated their value across multiple aspects of breast cancer management. They play crucial roles in initial diagnosis, aiding in the detection of relapses during follow-up, guiding the application of targeted treatments, and offering valuable insights for prognostic stratification, especially for highly aggressive tumor types. Molecular markers have now become the keystone of metastatic breast cancer diagnosis, given the diverse array of chemotherapy options and treatment modalities available. These markers signify a transformative shift in the arsenal of therapeutic options against breast cancer. Their diagnostic precision enables the categorization of tumors with elevated risks of recurrence, increased aggressiveness, and heightened mortality. Furthermore, the existence of therapies tailored to target specific molecular anomalies triggers a cascade of changes in tumor behavior. Therefore, the primary objective of this article is to offer a comprehensive review of the clinical, diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic utility of the principal biomarkers currently in use, as well as of their clinical impact on metastatic breast cancer. In doing so, our goal is to contribute to a more profound comprehension of this complex disease and, ultimately, to enhance patient outcomes through more precise and effective treatment strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Lopez-Gonzalez
- Department of Surgery, Medical and Social Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Alcalá, 28801 Alcala de Henares, Spain; (L.L.-G.); (A.M.R.-S.); (S.A.-H.); (R.D.-P.)
- Ramón y Cajal Institute of Sanitary Research (IRYCIS), 28034 Madrid, Spain; (O.F.-M.); (C.G.-M.); (L.G.G.); (M.A.-M.); (L.P.); (M.A.O.)
| | - Alicia Sanchez Cendra
- Oncology Service, Guadalajara University Hospital, 19002 Guadalajara, Spain; (A.S.C.); (C.S.C.); (E.D.R.C.); (J.C.E.)
| | - Cristina Sanchez Cendra
- Oncology Service, Guadalajara University Hospital, 19002 Guadalajara, Spain; (A.S.C.); (C.S.C.); (E.D.R.C.); (J.C.E.)
| | | | - Javier Cassinello Espinosa
- Oncology Service, Guadalajara University Hospital, 19002 Guadalajara, Spain; (A.S.C.); (C.S.C.); (E.D.R.C.); (J.C.E.)
| | - Tatiana Pekarek
- Department of Medicine and Medical Specialities, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Alcalá, 28801 Alcala de Henares, Spain; (T.P.); (L.J.-Á.)
| | - Oscar Fraile-Martinez
- Ramón y Cajal Institute of Sanitary Research (IRYCIS), 28034 Madrid, Spain; (O.F.-M.); (C.G.-M.); (L.G.G.); (M.A.-M.); (L.P.); (M.A.O.)
- Department of Medicine and Medical Specialities, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Alcalá, 28801 Alcala de Henares, Spain; (T.P.); (L.J.-Á.)
| | - Cielo García-Montero
- Ramón y Cajal Institute of Sanitary Research (IRYCIS), 28034 Madrid, Spain; (O.F.-M.); (C.G.-M.); (L.G.G.); (M.A.-M.); (L.P.); (M.A.O.)
- Department of Medicine and Medical Specialities, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Alcalá, 28801 Alcala de Henares, Spain; (T.P.); (L.J.-Á.)
| | - Ana María Rodriguez-Slocker
- Department of Surgery, Medical and Social Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Alcalá, 28801 Alcala de Henares, Spain; (L.L.-G.); (A.M.R.-S.); (S.A.-H.); (R.D.-P.)
| | - Laura Jiménez-Álvarez
- Department of Medicine and Medical Specialities, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Alcalá, 28801 Alcala de Henares, Spain; (T.P.); (L.J.-Á.)
- Department of General and Digestive Surgery, General and Digestive Surgery, Príncipe de Asturias Universitary Hospital, 28805 Alcala de Henares, Spain
| | - Luis G. Guijarro
- Ramón y Cajal Institute of Sanitary Research (IRYCIS), 28034 Madrid, Spain; (O.F.-M.); (C.G.-M.); (L.G.G.); (M.A.-M.); (L.P.); (M.A.O.)
- Unit of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Department of System Biology (CIBEREHD), University of Alcalá, 28801 Alcala de Henares, Spain
| | - Soledad Aguado-Henche
- Department of Surgery, Medical and Social Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Alcalá, 28801 Alcala de Henares, Spain; (L.L.-G.); (A.M.R.-S.); (S.A.-H.); (R.D.-P.)
- Ramón y Cajal Institute of Sanitary Research (IRYCIS), 28034 Madrid, Spain; (O.F.-M.); (C.G.-M.); (L.G.G.); (M.A.-M.); (L.P.); (M.A.O.)
| | - Jorge Monserrat
- Ramón y Cajal Institute of Sanitary Research (IRYCIS), 28034 Madrid, Spain; (O.F.-M.); (C.G.-M.); (L.G.G.); (M.A.-M.); (L.P.); (M.A.O.)
- Department of Medicine and Medical Specialities, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Alcalá, 28801 Alcala de Henares, Spain; (T.P.); (L.J.-Á.)
| | - Melchor Alvarez-Mon
- Ramón y Cajal Institute of Sanitary Research (IRYCIS), 28034 Madrid, Spain; (O.F.-M.); (C.G.-M.); (L.G.G.); (M.A.-M.); (L.P.); (M.A.O.)
- Department of Medicine and Medical Specialities, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Alcalá, 28801 Alcala de Henares, Spain; (T.P.); (L.J.-Á.)
- Immune System Diseases-Rheumatology, Oncology Service an Internal Medicine (CIBEREHD), University Hospital Príncipe de Asturias, 28806 Alcala de Henares, Spain
| | - Leonel Pekarek
- Ramón y Cajal Institute of Sanitary Research (IRYCIS), 28034 Madrid, Spain; (O.F.-M.); (C.G.-M.); (L.G.G.); (M.A.-M.); (L.P.); (M.A.O.)
- Oncology Service, Guadalajara University Hospital, 19002 Guadalajara, Spain; (A.S.C.); (C.S.C.); (E.D.R.C.); (J.C.E.)
- Department of Medicine and Medical Specialities, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Alcalá, 28801 Alcala de Henares, Spain; (T.P.); (L.J.-Á.)
| | - Miguel A. Ortega
- Ramón y Cajal Institute of Sanitary Research (IRYCIS), 28034 Madrid, Spain; (O.F.-M.); (C.G.-M.); (L.G.G.); (M.A.-M.); (L.P.); (M.A.O.)
- Department of Medicine and Medical Specialities, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Alcalá, 28801 Alcala de Henares, Spain; (T.P.); (L.J.-Á.)
- Cancer Registry and Pathology Department, Principe de Asturias University Hospital, 28806 Alcala de Henares, Spain
| | - Raul Diaz-Pedrero
- Department of Surgery, Medical and Social Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Alcalá, 28801 Alcala de Henares, Spain; (L.L.-G.); (A.M.R.-S.); (S.A.-H.); (R.D.-P.)
- Ramón y Cajal Institute of Sanitary Research (IRYCIS), 28034 Madrid, Spain; (O.F.-M.); (C.G.-M.); (L.G.G.); (M.A.-M.); (L.P.); (M.A.O.)
- Department of General and Digestive Surgery, General and Digestive Surgery, Príncipe de Asturias Universitary Hospital, 28805 Alcala de Henares, Spain
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Kasgri KA, Abazari M, Badeleh SM, Badeleh KM, Peyman N. Comprehensive Review of Breast Cancer Consequences for the Patients and Their Coping Strategies: A Systematic Review. Cancer Control 2024; 31:10732748241249355. [PMID: 38767653 PMCID: PMC11107334 DOI: 10.1177/10732748241249355] [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: 09/22/2023] [Revised: 03/29/2024] [Accepted: 04/04/2024] [Indexed: 05/22/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Women with breast cancer usually face multiple short-term and long-term problems in dealing with their acute and chronic symptoms during and after cancer treatment. However, serious gaps remain in addressing these issues in clinical and public health practice. METHODS According to the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, we conducted a systematic literature search from 2000-2021 in electronic databases, including Medline, PubMed, Embase, Scopus, Web of Knowledge, and Google Scholar databases using predefined keywords. RESULTS The review identified several significant and interconnected problems in breast cancer patient's treatment and supportive care. The results revealed that these issues are very common among breast cancer patients, and specific attention and serious measures are needed to address these problems. Despite implementing different protocols and programs for covering and addressing these problems, serious gaps still exist in supporting breast cancer patients during clinical and follow-up care. CONCLUSION Developing innovative and holistic approaches and programs based on the multifactorial assessment of symptoms are suggested for addressing and covering the multidimensional requirements of this population. Consequently, thorough evaluation, education, treatment, and referrals should be provided for the most common sequelae of these patients by including appropriate medication, exercise, counselling, occupational therapy, and complementary therapies. The present study provides a more comprehensive source of information about breast cancer patient's medical and supportive needs in comparison with individual studies on symptom experiences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kobra A. Kasgri
- Department of Midwifery, Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
| | - Morteza Abazari
- Department of Pharmaceutical Nanotechnology, School of Pharmacy, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran
| | - Safa M. Badeleh
- Department of Food and Drug Control, School of Pharmacy, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran
| | - Kosar M. Badeleh
- Department of Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Sari Branch, Sari, Iran
| | - Nooshin Peyman
- Department of Health Education and Health Promotion, Faculty of Health, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
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14
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Pesapane F, Tantrige P, Rotili A, Nicosia L, Penco S, Bozzini AC, Raimondi S, Corso G, Grasso R, Pravettoni G, Gandini S, Cassano E. Disparities in Breast Cancer Diagnostics: How Radiologists Can Level the Inequalities. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 16:130. [PMID: 38201557 PMCID: PMC10777939 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16010130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2023] [Revised: 12/21/2023] [Accepted: 12/25/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Access to medical imaging is pivotal in healthcare, playing a crucial role in the prevention, diagnosis, and management of diseases. However, disparities persist in this scenario, disproportionately affecting marginalized communities, racial and ethnic minorities, and individuals facing linguistic or cultural barriers. This paper critically assesses methods to mitigate these disparities, with a focus on breast cancer screening. We underscore scientific mobility as a vital tool for radiologists to advocate for healthcare policy changes: it not only enhances diversity and cultural competence within the radiology community but also fosters international cooperation and knowledge exchange among healthcare institutions. Efforts to ensure cultural competency among radiologists are discussed, including ongoing cultural education, sensitivity training, and workforce diversification. These initiatives are key to improving patient communication and reducing healthcare disparities. This paper also highlights the crucial role of policy changes and legislation in promoting equal access to essential screening services like mammography. We explore the challenges and potential of teleradiology in improving access to medical imaging in remote and underserved areas. In the era of artificial intelligence, this paper emphasizes the necessity of validating its models across a spectrum of populations to prevent bias and achieve equitable healthcare outcomes. Finally, the importance of international collaboration is illustrated, showcasing its role in sharing insights and strategies to overcome global access barriers in medical imaging. Overall, this paper offers a comprehensive overview of the challenges related to disparities in medical imaging access and proposes actionable strategies to address these challenges, aiming for equitable healthcare delivery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Filippo Pesapane
- Breast Imaging Division, IEO European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, 20141 Milan, Italy; (A.R.); (L.N.); (S.P.); (A.C.B.); (E.C.)
| | - Priyan Tantrige
- King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London SE5 9RS, UK;
| | - Anna Rotili
- Breast Imaging Division, IEO European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, 20141 Milan, Italy; (A.R.); (L.N.); (S.P.); (A.C.B.); (E.C.)
| | - Luca Nicosia
- Breast Imaging Division, IEO European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, 20141 Milan, Italy; (A.R.); (L.N.); (S.P.); (A.C.B.); (E.C.)
| | - Silvia Penco
- Breast Imaging Division, IEO European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, 20141 Milan, Italy; (A.R.); (L.N.); (S.P.); (A.C.B.); (E.C.)
| | - Anna Carla Bozzini
- Breast Imaging Division, IEO European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, 20141 Milan, Italy; (A.R.); (L.N.); (S.P.); (A.C.B.); (E.C.)
| | - Sara Raimondi
- Molecular and Pharmaco-Epidemiology Unit, Department of Experimental Oncology, IEO European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, 20141 Milan, Italy; (S.R.); (S.G.)
| | - Giovanni Corso
- Department of Oncology and Hemato-Oncology, University of Milan, 20122 Milan, Italy; (G.C.); (R.G.); (G.P.)
- Division of Breast Surgery, IEO European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, Via Ripamonti, 435, 20141 Milan, Italy
- European Cancer Prevention Organization (ECP), 20122 Milan, Italy
| | - Roberto Grasso
- Department of Oncology and Hemato-Oncology, University of Milan, 20122 Milan, Italy; (G.C.); (R.G.); (G.P.)
- Applied Research Division for Cognitive and Psychological Science, IEO European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, 20141 Milan, Italy
| | - Gabriella Pravettoni
- Department of Oncology and Hemato-Oncology, University of Milan, 20122 Milan, Italy; (G.C.); (R.G.); (G.P.)
- Applied Research Division for Cognitive and Psychological Science, IEO European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, 20141 Milan, Italy
| | - Sara Gandini
- Molecular and Pharmaco-Epidemiology Unit, Department of Experimental Oncology, IEO European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, 20141 Milan, Italy; (S.R.); (S.G.)
| | - Enrico Cassano
- Breast Imaging Division, IEO European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, 20141 Milan, Italy; (A.R.); (L.N.); (S.P.); (A.C.B.); (E.C.)
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de Ligt KM, de Rooij BH, Koppert LB, van de Poll-Franse LV, Velikova G, Cardoso F. Patient-Reported Outcome Measures to Improve the Care Continuum for Patients With Metastatic Breast Cancer: Opportunities and Implications for Nursing Practice. Semin Oncol Nurs 2023; 39:151510. [PMID: 37833113 DOI: 10.1016/j.soncn.2023.151510] [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: 07/10/2023] [Revised: 09/08/2023] [Accepted: 09/14/2023] [Indexed: 10/15/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Albeit treatable, metastatic breast cancer (MBC) remains incurable. To achieve remaining life years lived well, extended survival should be balanced with optimal health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and timely initiated supportive, palliative, and end-of-life care. The Advanced Breast Cancer (ABC) Global Alliance identified 10 urgent and actionable goals for the decade between 2015 and 2025 to achieve substantial improvement in the lives of patients living with ABC, including MBC. Enhancements are needed for HRQoL, research, quality of care, and survival. We explore the potential of patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) in addressing these gaps and aim to describe opportunities and current initiatives for improving the MBC care continuum through PROMs. DATA SOURCES Narrative description of recent literature on MBC and PROMs. CONCLUSION We believe PROMs can make valuable contributions to seven of the 10 goals described: 1) enhancing the understanding of MBC through high-quality data collection, 2) improving HRQoL and raising consideration of survival versus HRQoL, 2) prolonging survival, 4) increasing referral to nonclinical support services, 5) supporting patient-healthcare provider communication, 6) encouraging improvements in healthcare access, and 7) supporting meeting patients' informational needs. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE Maximizing the benefits of PROMs requires effective implementation. Because nurses and nurse practitioners are at the forefront of care, they can offer a comprehensive understanding of patients' needs and play a crucial role in facilitating the integration of PROMs into routine care for MBC patients and ultimately optimizing patients' outcomes and life years and months left.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelly M de Ligt
- Division of Psychosocial Research and Epidemiology, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
| | - Belle H de Rooij
- Department of Research and Development, Netherlands Comprehensive Cancer Organisation, Utrecht; Department of Medical and Clinical Psychology, Center of Research on Psychological and Somatic Disorders (CoRPS), Tilburg University, Tilburg, The Netherlands
| | - Linetta B Koppert
- Department of Surgical Oncology, Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Lonneke V van de Poll-Franse
- Division of Psychosocial Research and Epidemiology, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam; Department of Research and Development, Netherlands Comprehensive Cancer Organisation, Utrecht; and Department of Medical and Clinical Psychology, Center of Research on Psychological and Somatic Disorders (CoRPS), Tilburg University, Tilburg, The Netherlands
| | - Galina Velikova
- Leeds Institute of Medical Research at St James's and Leeds Cancer Centre, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, St James's University Hospital, Leeds, United Kingdom
| | - Fatima Cardoso
- Breast Unit, Champalimaud Clinical Center/Champalimaud Foundation, Lisbon, Portugal
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16
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Pace LE, Fata AM, Cubaka VK, Nsemgiyumva T, Uwihaye JDD, Stauber C, Dusengimana JMV, Bhangdia K, Shulman LN, Revette A, Hagenimana M, Uwinkindi F, Rwamuza E. Patients' experiences undergoing breast evaluation in Rwanda's Women's Cancer Early Detection Program. Breast Cancer Res Treat 2023; 202:541-550. [PMID: 37646967 DOI: 10.1007/s10549-023-07076-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2023] [Accepted: 08/07/2023] [Indexed: 09/01/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE There is urgent need for interventions to facilitate earlier diagnosis of breast cancer in low- and middle-income countries where mammography screening is not widely available. Understanding patients' experiences with early detection efforts, whether they are ultimately diagnosed with cancer or benign disease, is critical to optimize interventions and maximize community engagement. We sought to understand the experiences of patients undergoing breast evaluation in Rwanda's Women's Cancer Early Detection Program (WCEDP). METHODS We conducted in-person semi-structured interviews with 30 patients in two districts of Rwanda participating in the WCEDP. Patients represented a range of ages and both benign and malignant diagnoses. Interviews were recorded, transcribed, translated, and thematically analyzed. RESULTS Participants identified facilitators and barriers of timely care along the breast evaluation pathway. Community awareness initiatives were facilitators to care-seeking, while persistent myths and stigma about cancer were barriers. Participants valued clear clinician-patient communication and emotional support from clinicians and peers. Poverty was a major barrier for participants who described difficulty paying for transport, insurance premiums, and other direct and indirect costs of hospital referrals in particular. COVID-19 lockdowns caused delays for referred patients. Although false-positive clinical breast exams conferred financial and emotional burdens, participants nonetheless voiced appreciation for their experience and felt empowered to monitor their own breast health and share knowledge with others. CONCLUSION Rwandan women experienced both benefits and burdens as they underwent breast evaluation. Enthusiasm for participation was not reduced by the experience of a false-positive result. Reducing financial, logistical and emotional burdens of the breast diagnostic pathway through patient navigation, peer support and decentralization of diagnostic services could improve patients' experience.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lydia E Pace
- Brigham and Women's Hospital, 75 Francis Street, Boston, MA, 02115, USA.
| | - Amanda M Fata
- Brigham and Women's Hospital, 75 Francis Street, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Lawrence N Shulman
- Abramson Cancer Center, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
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Hagos G, Hammad N, Stanway S, Yusuf A, Hailemariam T. Cancer care in Needle Hospital, Hargeisa, Somaliland. Ecancermedicalscience 2023; 17:1642. [PMID: 38414938 PMCID: PMC10898905 DOI: 10.3332/ecancer.2023.1642] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2023] [Indexed: 02/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Somaliland is an autonomous region in the northern part of Somalia that declared its independence in 1991. It is a low-income country (LIC) with a population size of 5.7 million with a gross domestic product per capita of $775. Health services are delivered by public, private and non-governmental organisations. The public health care system in Somaliland is facing huge challenges. Seven percent of the population suffers from non-communicable diseases, but data on cancer incidence and mortality are not available. Much of the emphasis in public health has been placed on primary care and maternal and child health. There is still a large gap in cancer prevention, early detection and screening in the country. Additionally, there is no cancer registry or published data on cancer. Currently, there are a few private hospitals that provide chemotherapy services in Somaliland of which Needle Hospital is one. Services provided in this hospital include medical oncology for all solid tumours, palliative care, follow-up and cancer health education. The hospital provides services for patients from Somaliland and neighbouring countries including Djibouti, Somalia and Ethiopia. As a new oncology clinic in an LIC, the clinic is facing many challenges, like the absence of a multidisciplinary tumour board, presentation of patients at the advanced stage of tumours and poor cancer awareness in the general population.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Nazik Hammad
- Saint Michael’s Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto M5B 1W8, Canada
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Al-Zahrani MH, Assidi M, Pushparaj PN, Al-Maghrabi J, Zari A, Abusanad A, Buhmeida A, Abu-Elmagd M. Expression pattern, prognostic value and potential microRNA silencing of FZD8 in breast cancer. Oncol Lett 2023; 26:477. [PMID: 37809047 PMCID: PMC10551865 DOI: 10.3892/ol.2023.14065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2023] [Accepted: 09/07/2023] [Indexed: 10/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Breast cancer (BC) is one of the most widespread types of cancer affecting females, and therefore, early diagnosis is critical. BC is a complex heterogeneous disease affected by several key pathways. Among these, WNT proteins and their frizzled receptors (FZD) have been demonstrated to be crucial in regulating a number of cellular and molecular events in BC tumorigenesis. The role of the WNT receptor, FZD8, in BC has received minimal attention; for that reason, the present study examined the prognostic value of its protein expression pattern in a BC cohort. FZD8 cytoplasmic expression pattern analysis revealed that ~38% of the primary samples presented with a high expression profile, whereas ~63% of the samples had a low expression profile. Overall, ~46% of the malignant tissues in the lymph node-positive samples exhibited an increased FZD8 cytoplasmic expression, whereas 54% exhibited low expression levels. An increased expression of FZD8 was associated with several clinicopathological characteristics of the patients, including a low survival rate, tumor vascular invasion, tumor size and grade, and molecular subtypes. Affymetrix microarray triple-negative BC datasets were analyzed and compared with healthy breast tissues in order to predict the potential interfering microRNAs (miRNAs) in the WNT/FZD8 signaling pathway. A total of 29 miRNAs with the potential to interact with the WNT/FZD8 signaling pathway were identified, eight of which exhibited a significant prediction score. The target genes for each predicted miRNA were identified. On the whole, the findings of the present study suggest that FZD8 is a potential prognostic marker for BC, shedding some light onto the silencing mechanisms involved in the complex BC signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maryam H. Al-Zahrani
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mourad Assidi
- Center of Excellence in Genomic Medicine Research, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia
| | - Peter Natesan Pushparaj
- Center of Excellence in Genomic Medicine Research, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia
- Center for Transdisciplinary Research, Department of Pharmacology, Saveetha Dental College and Hospitals, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Chennai 600077, India
| | - Jaudah Al-Maghrabi
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University Hospital, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia
- Department of Pathology, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ali Zari
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia
| | - Atlal Abusanad
- Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University Hospital, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia
| | - Abdelbaset Buhmeida
- Center of Excellence in Genomic Medicine Research, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia
| | - Muhammad Abu-Elmagd
- Center of Excellence in Genomic Medicine Research, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia
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Hossain S, Azam S, Montaha S, Karim A, Chowa SS, Mondol C, Zahid Hasan M, Jonkman M. Automated breast tumor ultrasound image segmentation with hybrid UNet and classification using fine-tuned CNN model. Heliyon 2023; 9:e21369. [PMID: 37885728 PMCID: PMC10598544 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e21369] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2023] [Revised: 10/11/2023] [Accepted: 10/20/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Breast cancer stands as the second most deadly form of cancer among women worldwide. Early diagnosis and treatment can significantly mitigate mortality rates. Purpose The study aims to classify breast ultrasound images into benign and malignant tumors. This approach involves segmenting the breast's region of interest (ROI) employing an optimized UNet architecture and classifying the ROIs through an optimized shallow CNN model utilizing an ablation study. Method Several image processing techniques are utilized to improve image quality by removing text, artifacts, and speckle noise, and statistical analysis is done to check the enhanced image quality is satisfactory. With the processed dataset, the segmentation of breast tumor ROI is carried out, optimizing the UNet model through an ablation study where the architectural configuration and hyperparameters are altered. After obtaining the tumor ROIs from the fine-tuned UNet model (RKO-UNet), an optimized CNN model is employed to classify the tumor into benign and malignant classes. To enhance the CNN model's performance, an ablation study is conducted, coupled with the integration of an attention unit. The model's performance is further assessed by classifying breast cancer with mammogram images. Result The proposed classification model (RKONet-13) results in an accuracy of 98.41 %. The performance of the proposed model is further compared with five transfer learning models for both pre-segmented and post-segmented datasets. K-fold cross-validation is done to assess the proposed RKONet-13 model's performance stability. Furthermore, the performance of the proposed model is compared with previous literature, where the proposed model outperforms existing methods, demonstrating its effectiveness in breast cancer diagnosis. Lastly, the model demonstrates its robustness for breast cancer classification, delivering an exceptional performance of 96.21 % on a mammogram dataset. Conclusion The efficacy of this study relies on image pre-processing, segmentation with hybrid attention UNet, and classification with fine-tuned robust CNN model. This comprehensive approach aims to determine an effective technique for detecting breast cancer within ultrasound images.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shahed Hossain
- Health Informatics Research Laboratory (HIRL), Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Daffodil International University, Dhaka, 1341, Bangladesh
| | - Sami Azam
- Faculty of Science and Technology, Charles Darwin University, Casuarina, 0909, NT, Australia
| | - Sidratul Montaha
- Department of Computer Science, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, T2N 1N4, Canada
| | - Asif Karim
- Faculty of Science and Technology, Charles Darwin University, Casuarina, 0909, NT, Australia
| | - Sadia Sultana Chowa
- Health Informatics Research Laboratory (HIRL), Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Daffodil International University, Dhaka, 1341, Bangladesh
| | - Chaity Mondol
- Health Informatics Research Laboratory (HIRL), Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Daffodil International University, Dhaka, 1341, Bangladesh
| | - Md Zahid Hasan
- Health Informatics Research Laboratory (HIRL), Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Daffodil International University, Dhaka, 1341, Bangladesh
| | - Mirjam Jonkman
- Faculty of Science and Technology, Charles Darwin University, Casuarina, 0909, NT, Australia
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Desalegn Z, Smith A, Yohannes M, Cao X, Anberber E, Bekuretsion Y, Assefa M, Bauer M, Vetter M, Kantelhardt EJ, Abebe T, Starlard-Davenport A. Human Breast Tissue Microbiota Reveals Unique Microbial Signatures that Correlate with Prognostic Features in Adult Ethiopian Women with Breast Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:4893. [PMID: 37835588 PMCID: PMC10571711 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15194893] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2023] [Revised: 10/02/2023] [Accepted: 10/05/2023] [Indexed: 10/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Breast cancer (BC) is the leading cause of cancer mortality among women in Ethiopia. Overall, women of African ancestry have the highest death toll due to BC compared to other racial/ethnic groups. The cause of the disparity in mortality is unclear. Recently, studies conducted in the United States and other high-income countries highlighted the role of microbial dysbiosis in BC initiation, tumor growth, and treatment outcome. However, the extent to which inter-individual differences in the makeup of microbiota are associated with clinical and histopathological outcomes in Ethiopian women has not been studied. The goal of our study was to profile the microbiome in breast tumor and normal adjacent to tumor (NAT) tissues of the same donor and to identify associations between microbial composition and abundance and clinicopathological factors in Ethiopian women with BC. We identified 14 microbiota genera in breast tumor tissues that were distinct from NAT tissues, of which Sphingobium, Anaerococcus, Corynebacterium, Delftia, and Enhydrobacter were most significantly decreased in breast tumors compared to NAT tissues. Several microbial genera significantly differed by clinicopathological factors in Ethiopian women with BC. Specifically, the genus Burkholderia more strongly correlated with aggressive triple negative (TNBC) and basal-like breast tumors. The genera Alkanindiges, Anoxybacillus, Leifsonia, and Exiguobacterium most strongly correlated with HER2-E tumors. Luminal A and luminal B tumors also correlated with Anoxybacillus but not as strongly as HER2-E tumors. A relatively higher abundance of the genus Citrobacter most significantly correlated with advanced-stage breast tumors compared to early-stage tumors. This is the first study to report an association between breast microbial dysbiosis and clinicopathological factors in Ethiopian women.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zelalem Desalegn
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Parasitology, School of Medicine, College of Health Sciences Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa 9086, Ethiopia; (Z.D.); (M.Y.); (T.A.)
- Global Health Working Group, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, 06097 Halle (Saale), Germany;
| | - Alana Smith
- Department of Genetics, Genomics and Informatics, College of Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN 38163, USA;
| | - Meron Yohannes
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Parasitology, School of Medicine, College of Health Sciences Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa 9086, Ethiopia; (Z.D.); (M.Y.); (T.A.)
- Global Health Working Group, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, 06097 Halle (Saale), Germany;
- School of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa 9086, Ethiopia;
| | - Xueyuan Cao
- Department of Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, College of Nursing, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN 38163, USA;
| | - Endale Anberber
- Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa 9086, Ethiopia;
| | - Yonas Bekuretsion
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa 9086, Ethiopia;
| | - Mathewos Assefa
- Department of Oncology, School of Medicine, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa 9086, Ethiopia;
| | - Marcus Bauer
- Institute of Pathology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, 06097 Halle (Saale), Germany;
| | - Martina Vetter
- Department of Gynecology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, 06097 Halle (Saale), Germany;
| | - Eva Johanna Kantelhardt
- Global Health Working Group, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, 06097 Halle (Saale), Germany;
- Department of Gynecology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, 06097 Halle (Saale), Germany;
- Institute of Medical Epidemiology, Biostatistics, and Informatics, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, 06097 Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Tamrat Abebe
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Parasitology, School of Medicine, College of Health Sciences Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa 9086, Ethiopia; (Z.D.); (M.Y.); (T.A.)
- Global Health Working Group, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, 06097 Halle (Saale), Germany;
| | - Athena Starlard-Davenport
- Department of Genetics, Genomics and Informatics, College of Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN 38163, USA;
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21
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Iezadi S, Ebrahimi N, Ghamari SH, Esfahani Z, Rezaei N, Ghasemi E, Moghaddam SS, Azadnajafabad S, Abdi Z, Varniab ZS, Golestani A, Langroudi AP, Dilmaghani-Marand A, Farzi Y, Pourasghari H. Global and regional quality of care index (QCI) by gender and age in oesophageal cancer: A systematic analysis of the Global Burden of Disease Study 1990-2019. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0292348. [PMID: 37788249 PMCID: PMC10547202 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0292348] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2022] [Accepted: 09/19/2023] [Indexed: 10/05/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The aim of this study was to examine the quality of care by age and gender in oesophageal cancer using Global Burden of Disease (GBD) database. METHODS Patients aged 20 and over with oesophageal cancer were included in this longitudinal study using GBD 1990-2019 data. We used the Socio-Demographic Index (SDI) to classify the regions. We used Principal Component Analysis (PCA) method to calculate the Quality of Care Index (QCI). The QCI was rescaled into a 0-100 single index, demonstrating that the higher the score, the better the QC. RESULTS The age-standardized QCI for oesophageal cancer dramatically increased from 23.5 in 1990 to 41.1 in 2019 for both sexes, globally. The high SDI regions showed higher QCI than the rest of the regions (45.1 in 1990 and 65.7 in 2019) whereas the low SDI regions had the lowest QCI, which showed a 4.5% decrease through the years (from 13.3 in 1990 to 12.7 in 2019). Globally, in 2019, the QCI showed the highest scores for patients aged 80-84, reported 48.2, and the lowest score for patients aged 25-29 reported 31.5, for both sexes. Globally, in 2019, age-standardized Gender Disparity Ratio (GDR) was 1.2, showing higher QCI in females than males. CONCLUSION There were fundamental differences in the QCI both globally and regionally between different age groups as well as between males and females. To achieve the goal of providing high-quality services equally to people in need in all over the world, health systems need to invest in effective diagnostic services, treatments, facilities, and equipment and to plan for screening and surveillance of high-risk individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shabnam Iezadi
- Research Center for Emergency and Disaster Resilience, Red Crescent Society of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Tehran, Iran
- Hospital Management Research Center, Health Management Research Institute, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Narges Ebrahimi
- Non-Communicable Diseases Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Population Sciences Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Seyyed-Hadi Ghamari
- Non-Communicable Diseases Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Population Sciences Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Zahra Esfahani
- Non-Communicable Diseases Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Population Sciences Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Negar Rezaei
- Non-Communicable Diseases Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Population Sciences Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Erfan Ghasemi
- Non-Communicable Diseases Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Population Sciences Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Sahar Saeedi Moghaddam
- Non-Communicable Diseases Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Population Sciences Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Kiel Institute for the World Economy, Kiel, Germany
| | - Sina Azadnajafabad
- Non-Communicable Diseases Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Population Sciences Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Zhaleh Abdi
- National Institute of Health Research (NIHR), Tehran University of Medical Sciences (TUMS), Tehran, Iran
| | - Zahra Shokri Varniab
- Non-Communicable Diseases Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Population Sciences Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Ali Golestani
- Non-Communicable Diseases Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Population Sciences Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Ashkan Pourabhari Langroudi
- Non-Communicable Diseases Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Population Sciences Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Arezou Dilmaghani-Marand
- Non-Communicable Diseases Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Population Sciences Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Endocrinology and Metabolism Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Clinical Sciences Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Yosef Farzi
- Non-Communicable Diseases Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Population Sciences Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Hamid Pourasghari
- Hospital Management Research Center, Health Management Research Institute, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- School of Health Management and Information Sciences, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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22
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Achan J, Kasujja FX, Opito R, Wabinga H, Orach CG, Mwaka AD. Factors associated with diagnostic and pre-treatment intervals among breast cancer patients attending care at the Uganda Cancer Institute: A cross-sectional study. Cancer Med 2023; 12:19701-19713. [PMID: 37787090 PMCID: PMC10587984 DOI: 10.1002/cam4.6618] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2023] [Revised: 08/09/2023] [Accepted: 09/23/2023] [Indexed: 10/04/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Most breast cancer (BC) patients in Uganda are diagnosed with advanced-stage disease and experience poor outcomes. This study examined the diagnostic and pre-treatment intervals and factors associated with these intervals among BC patients attending care at the Uganda Cancer Institute (UCI). METHODS This was a cross-sectional, facility-based study. Data were collected using structured questionnaire administered by trained research assistants and analyzed using STATA version 14.0. Modified Poisson regressions models were used to determine the strength of associations between independent variables and diagnostic and pre-treatment intervals. RESULTS The mean age (±SD) of the 401 participants was 47.1 ± 11.7 years. Four in 10 participants had stage III (41.9%; n = 168) and over a third (34.7%; n = 140) stage IV cancers. The median interval from first consultation to diagnosis, i.e. diagnostic interval (DI) was 5.6 months (IQR: 1.5-17.0), while the median interval from histological diagnosis to start of chemotherapy, i.e. pre-treatment interval (PTI) was 1.7 months (IQR: 0.7-4.5). Majority (85%, n = 341) of participants were diagnosed at ≥3 months from first consultation with clinicians. Participants with tertiary education and those who lived within 100-199 km from the UCI were about four times and twice more likely to be diagnosed early (DI <3 months from first consultation) ([aPR = 3.88; 95% CI: 1.15-13.0] and [aPR = 2.19; 95% CI: 1.06-4.55]), respectively. About half (48.3%; n = 176) of participants started chemotherapy within 1 month of cancer diagnosis. Patients who lived more than 300 km from the UCI were less likely to start chemotherapy within 1 month of histology diagnosis of cancer. [Correction added on October 17, 2023 after first online publication. The term ', i.e.' has been included in the results section in this version.] CONCLUSION: Majority of breast cancer patients are diagnosed late and in advanced stages. There is need to promote all efforts toward timely diagnosis when cancers are still in early stages by identifying factors responsible for prolonged diagnostic intervals among breast cancer patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer Achan
- Department of Community Health & Behavioral Sciences, School of Public HealthCollege of Health Sciences, Makerere UniversityKampalaUganda
| | - Francis Xavier Kasujja
- Department of Community Health & Behavioral Sciences, School of Public HealthCollege of Health Sciences, Makerere UniversityKampalaUganda
| | - Ronald Opito
- Department of Public Health, School of Health SciencesSoroti UniversitySorotiUganda
| | - Henry Wabinga
- Department of Pathology, School of Biomedical SciencesCollege of Health Sciences, Makerere UniversityKampalaUganda
| | - Christopher Garimoi Orach
- Department of Community Health & Behavioral Sciences, School of Public HealthCollege of Health Sciences, Makerere UniversityKampalaUganda
| | - Amos Deogratius Mwaka
- Department of Medicine, School of MedicineCollege of Health Sciences, Makerere UniversityKampalaUganda
- Department of Medicine, Faculty of MedicineGulu UniversityGuluUganda
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23
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de Farias ADA, de Siqueira Barbosa LN, Weller M. Factors that Affect Performance of Clinical Breast Examination and Mammography Screening among Brazilian Women. Asian Pac J Cancer Prev 2023; 24:3477-3486. [PMID: 37898853 PMCID: PMC10770697 DOI: 10.31557/apjcp.2023.24.10.3477] [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: 04/21/2023] [Accepted: 10/19/2023] [Indexed: 10/30/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In the Brazilian health system, community health facilities consist of multidisciplinary teams that focus on family health, whereas health centers treat mainly illnesses of registered patients. In the present study we compared socio-economic factors and performance of mammography screening (MS) and clinical breast exam (CBE), respectively, among women who used both types of public health service centers. METHODS The present study included 180 women aged ≥40 years, who used different health service centers within the same municipal district. Of all 180 women, 110 (41.1%) and 70 (38.9%) used a health center and a community health facility. Logistic regression analysis was performed to calculate odds ratios (ORs) and confidence intervals (CIs) of variables. RESULTS Regression modeling indicated that women who used the community health facility, performed annual MS 9.52 (OR= 0.105; 95%CI: 0.03- 0.36) times more often (p <0.001). In this model retirement and gynecological service use ≤ each second year, increased annual MS performance 8.16 (95%CI: 1.55- 54.32) and 7.78 (95%CI: 2.54- 23.79) times (p <0.001; p <0.001). Among 113 (62.8%) women who reported strong fear of MS, the chance of its performance was 35.71 (OR= 0.028; 95%CI: 0.02- 0.32) times decreased (p= 0.05). In a second model use of gynecological service ≤ each second year, increased chance of annual CBE performance 7.92 (95%CI: 3.25- 19.29) times (p <0.001). Women who used the community health facility performed annual and bi-annual CBE 2.90 (OR= 0.345; 95%CI: 0.14- 0.86) and 2.97 (OR= 0.337; 95%CI: 0.12- 0.92) times more often, compared to women who used the health center (p =0.030). CONCLUSIONS Performance of MS and CBE varied both considerable among women who used different types of health service centers. Gynecological service use, fear and socioeconomic variables, additionally influenced regular performance of MS and CBE.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Mathias Weller
- Post Graduate Program in Public Health. State University of Paraíba (UEPB). Campina Grande-Paraíba, Brazil.
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24
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Abraham M, Lak MA, Gurz D, Nolasco FOM, Kondraju PK, Iqbal J. A Narrative Review of Breastfeeding and Its Correlation With Breast Cancer: Current Understanding and Outcomes. Cureus 2023; 15:e44081. [PMID: 37750138 PMCID: PMC10518059 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.44081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2023] [Accepted: 08/24/2023] [Indexed: 09/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Breastfeeding has been extensively studied in relation to breast cancer risk. The results of the reviewed studies consistently show a decreased risk of breast cancer associated with breastfeeding, especially for 12 months or longer. This protective effect is attributed to hormonal, immunological, and physiological changes during lactation. Breastfeeding also appears to have a greater impact on reducing breast cancer risk in premenopausal women and specific breast cancer subtypes. Encouraging breastfeeding has dual benefits: benefiting infants and reducing breast cancer risk long-term. Healthcare professionals should provide evidence-based guidance on breastfeeding initiation, duration, and exclusivity, while public health policies should support breastfeeding by creating enabling environments. This review examines the existing literature and analyzes the correlation between breastfeeding and breast cancer risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Merin Abraham
- Department of Internal Medicine, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal, IND
| | - Muhammad Ali Lak
- Department of Internal Medicine, Combined Military Hospital, Lahore, PAK
| | - Danyel Gurz
- Department of Internal Medicine, Combined Military Hospital, Lahore, PAK
| | | | | | - Javed Iqbal
- Department of Neurosurgery, Mayo Hospital, Lahore, PAK
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25
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P P, Keshari JR, Prakash P, Kumar M, Mandal M, Kumari R. Correlation Between Circulating Cell-Free DNA Levels and Breast Cancer Subtypes: A Prospective Observational Study. Cureus 2023; 15:e42247. [PMID: 37605702 PMCID: PMC10440043 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.42247] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/18/2023] [Indexed: 08/23/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Breast cancer (BC), a heterogeneous disease, is one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths among women worldwide. Circulating cell-free DNA (cfDNA) levels have been persistently reported to be elevated in BC patients. In the current study, we evaluated the correlation between the cfDNA levels in patients with BC and its subtypes. METHODS We recruited newly diagnosed, histopathologically confirmed BC patients aged >18 years (N=39), who did not have any previous malignancy, from the Department of Surgical Oncology, Indira Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences (IGIMS), Patna, Bihar, India. A total of 6 ml of venous blood was collected from each subject; of this, 1 ml was subjected to complete blood count (CBC), and 4 ml was transferred to a clot-activated collection vial for plasma separation and the cfDNA isolation thereof. In addition to the basic demographic history of each patient, the information on the cancer subtype was as also recorded from the medical records of each patient. All the data were analysed by GraphPad Prism Version 8 (Insightful Science, LLC, San Diego, California, United States). One-way ANOVA was used to test the difference between more than two groups. Pearson correlation was also estimated between cfDNA levels and various CBC indices. A two-tailed p-value<0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS The mean age of included patients was 48.6±8.20 years. The mean levels of cfDNA were 2.81±2.39 ng/µL. The mean counts of various blood cell types and other indices of CBC were in the normal range. Compared to BC patients with estrogen receptors (ER+), the cfDNA levels were significantly higher in patients with human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2+) and triple-negative BC (TNBC) (p<0.05). Conclusion: The elevated levels of cfDNA in patients with BC can be a prognostic marker for the disease subtype. However, more replicative studies are warranted to substantiate our findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pushpanjali P
- Biochemistry, Indira Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences, Patna, IND
| | - J R Keshari
- Biochemistry, Indira Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences, Patna, IND
| | - Pritam Prakash
- Biochemistry, Indira Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences, Patna, IND
| | - Manish Kumar
- Surgical Oncology, Indira Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences, Patna, IND
| | - Manish Mandal
- Surgical Gastroenterology, Indira Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences, Patna, IND
| | - Rekha Kumari
- Biochemistry, Indira Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences, Patna, IND
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26
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Perrone V, Giacomini E, Sangiorgi D, Tamma A, Giovannitti M, Buzzoni C, Degli Esposti L. Description of characteristics, management of care and healthcare direct costs of patients with HR+/HER2- early breast cancer in Italy: a real-world study involving administrative and pathological anatomy databases. Expert Rev Pharmacoecon Outcomes Res 2023; 23:1077-1085. [PMID: 37638590 DOI: 10.1080/14737167.2023.2246652] [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: 03/30/2023] [Accepted: 08/07/2023] [Indexed: 08/29/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Healthcare administrative and pathological anatomy data were used to identify Italian patients with early breast cancer (EBC) with HR+/HER2- status at high risk of recurrence, evaluating drug utilization and other healthcare resource use in clinical practice. METHODS This retrospective analysis, based on 9.4 million of Italian National Health Service beneficiaries, included adult patients with hospitalization discharge diagnosis for EBC in 01/2015-12/2020. Those with HR+/HER2- status were selected; among them, patients that underwent removal of lymph nodes (LN) were analyzed. RESULTS Of 24,137 patients with EBC and HR+/HER2- status, 3619 patients (15%) had documented LN removal. Overall, 4.7% of HR+/HER2- patients and 9.9% of patients with LN removal experienced distant relapse over a median follow-up of 33.2 months (Q1-Q3: 17.0-50.6). Local relapse occurred in approximately 9.1-9.3% of patients in each group. Among the 1,175 patients with LN removal that had available pathological anatomy data, 399 (34.0%) had pathological high-risk characteristics and 13.3% experienced distant relapse. CONCLUSIONS One in ten patients with EBC who underwent LN removal experienced a relapse, highlighting the strong need to prevent early recurrence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentina Perrone
- CliCon S.r.l. Società Benefit, Health Economics and Outcomes Research, Bologna, Italy
| | - Elisa Giacomini
- CliCon S.r.l. Società Benefit, Health Economics and Outcomes Research, Bologna, Italy
| | - Diego Sangiorgi
- CliCon S.r.l. Società Benefit, Health Economics and Outcomes Research, Bologna, Italy
| | | | | | | | - Luca Degli Esposti
- CliCon S.r.l. Società Benefit, Health Economics and Outcomes Research, Bologna, Italy
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Nayyar S, Chakole S, Taksande AB, Prasad R, Munjewar PK, Wanjari MB. From Awareness to Action: A Review of Efforts to Reduce Disparities in Breast Cancer Screening. Cureus 2023; 15:e40674. [PMID: 37485176 PMCID: PMC10359048 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.40674] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2023] [Accepted: 06/20/2023] [Indexed: 07/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Breast cancer is a significant public health concern, and addressing disparities in breast cancer screening is crucial for improving early detection and reducing mortality rates. This review article examines efforts to bridge the gap between awareness and action in reducing disparities in breast cancer screening. A systematic approach was employed to gather relevant literature using various databases. The selected studies encompassed a range of interventions, including policy changes, community-based programs, culturally competent interventions, technological advancements, and patient navigation. The review highlights the importance of policies and legislation in improving access to screening services and the impact of community-based initiatives in addressing disparities. Culturally competent interventions, tailored messaging, and language support were found to be effective in improving screening rates among diverse populations. Technological advancements, such as telemedicine and mobile health applications, were identified as promising approaches to increase access to screening services. Patient navigation programs effectively addressed barriers to screening and improved screening rates. The review also discusses evaluating efforts, limitations, and the need for continuous improvement. Future directions and recommendations include addressing gaps in the existing literature, proposing research directions, and providing recommendations for policymakers, healthcare providers, and researchers. By implementing these recommendations and working collaboratively, we can strive for equitable access to breast cancer screening for all populations, ultimately leading to improved outcomes and reduced disparities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shiven Nayyar
- Medicine, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Datta Meghe Institute of Higher Education and Research, Wardha, IND
| | - Swarupa Chakole
- Community Medicine, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Datta Meghe Institute of Higher Education and Research, Wardha, IND
| | - Avinash B Taksande
- Physiology, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Datta Meghe Institute of Higher Education and Research, Wardha, IND
| | - Roshan Prasad
- Internal Medicine, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Datta Meghe Institute of Higher Education and Research, Wardha, IND
| | - Pratiksha K Munjewar
- Medical-Surgical Nursing, Srimati Radhikabai Meghe Memorial College of Nursing, Datta Meghe Institute of Higher Education and Research, Wardha, IND
| | - Mayur B Wanjari
- Research and Development, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Datta Meghe Institute of Higher Education and Research, Wardha, IND
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Rauniyar SK, Hashizume M, Yoneoka D, Nomura S. Projection of morbidity and mortality due to breast cancer between 2020 and 2050 across 42 low- and middle-income countries. Heliyon 2023; 9:e16427. [PMID: 37274661 PMCID: PMC10238690 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e16427] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2022] [Revised: 05/15/2023] [Accepted: 05/16/2023] [Indexed: 06/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Objective Aim of the study is to predict trends in morbidity and mortality due to breast cancer in 42 LMICs between 2020 and 2050. Design and Setting: National level cross-sectional breast cancer related data between 1990 and 2019 were used. Recurrent Neural Network, Long-Short-Term Memory (RNN-LSTM) model was employed to forecast the trend in breast cancer burden. Main outcomes and measures Age standardized breast cancer incidence, mortality, and disability adjusted life years (DALYs) rates. Results By 2050, the age standardized breast cancer incidence rate is expected to increase in 38 LMICs with highest incidence rate in Namibia; 127.0 (78.0-176.0) followed by Nigeria 71.1 (53.9-88.3) and Papua New Guinea 70.6 (88.7-74.6). Similarly, the age standardized breast cancer mortality and DALYs rates in 2050 are expected to increase in 33 and 35 LMICs respectively. The highest mortality and DALYs rates in 2050 are expected to be 64.7 (42.6-86.7) in Namibia and 1543.6 (1463.1-1624.1) in Pakistan. The estimated annual percentage change (EAPC) is expected to increase uniformly in all the countries during the same period. Due to considerable variation in exposure risk, such as high plasma glucose level, high body mass index (BMI) and socio-demographic index (SDI), high regional disparity in burden of breast cancer is expected among the countries. Conclusion and Relevance: Breast cancer burden is expected to increase in most of the LMICs with high regional disparity by 2050. Our study's finding focuses on LMICs with high breast cancer burden that require tailored strategies and effective action plans to ensure prevention from catastrophic consequences in the future. Minimizing the exposure to behavioral and metabolic risk factors such as high plasma glucose, high BMI, along with tackling the issue of low fertility rate would be important in managing breast cancer burden in LMICs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Santosh Kumar Rauniyar
- Department of Global Health Policy, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Masahiro Hashizume
- Department of Global Health Policy, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Daisuke Yoneoka
- Infectious Disease Surveillance Center, National Institute of Infectious Disease, Tokyo, Japan
- Tokyo Foundation for Policy Research, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Shuhei Nomura
- Department of Global Health Policy, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
- Department of Health Policy and Management, School of Medicine, Keio University, Japan
- Tokyo Foundation for Policy Research, Tokyo, Japan
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Fanizzi A, Graps E, Bavaro DA, Farella M, Bove S, Campobasso F, Comes MC, Cristofaro C, Forgia DL, Milella M, Iacovelli S, Villani R, Signorile R, De Bartolo A, Lorusso V, Massafra R. Assessing the cost-effectiveness of waiting list reduction strategies for a breast radiology department: a real-life case study. BMC Health Serv Res 2023; 23:526. [PMID: 37221516 PMCID: PMC10207781 DOI: 10.1186/s12913-023-09447-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2022] [Accepted: 04/25/2023] [Indexed: 05/25/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND A timely diagnosis is essential for improving breast cancer patients' survival and designing targeted therapeutic plans. For this purpose, the screening timing, as well as the related waiting lists, are decisive. Nonetheless, even in economically advanced countries, breast cancer radiology centres fail in providing effective screening programs. Actually, a careful hospital governance should encourage waiting lists reduction programs, not only for improving patients care, but also for minimizing costs associated with the treatment of advanced cancers. Thus, in this work, we proposed a model to evaluate several scenarios for an optimal distribution of the resources invested in a Department of Breast Radiodiagnosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS Particularly, we performed a cost-benefit analysis as a technology assessment method to estimate both costs and health effects of the screening program, to maximise both benefits related to the quality of care and resources employed by the Department of Breast Radiodiagnosis of Istituto Tumori "Giovanni Paolo II" of Bari in 2019. Specifically, we determined the Quality-Adjusted Life Year (QALY) for estimating health outcomes, in terms of usefulness of two hypothetical screening strategies with respect to the current one. While the first hypothetical strategy adds one team made up of a doctor, a technician and a nurse, along with an ultrasound and a mammograph, the second one adds two afternoon teams. RESULTS This study showed that the most cost-effective incremental ratio could be achieved by reducing current waiting lists from 32 to 16 months. Finally, our analysis revealed that this strategy would also allow to include more people in the screening programs (60,000 patients in 3 years).
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Affiliation(s)
- Annarita Fanizzi
- I.R.C.C.S. Istituto Tumori "Giovanni Paolo II", Viale Orazio Flacco 65, Bari, 70124, Italy
| | - Elisabetta Graps
- Direttore medico Area Valutazione e Ricerca, coordinatore del Centro regionale di Health Technology Assessment AReSS Puglia, Bari, Italy
| | | | - Marco Farella
- Dipartimento di Economia, Management e Diritto dell'Impresa, Università degli Studi di Bari "Aldo Moro", Largo Abbazia Santa Scolastica, 53, Bari, 70124, Italy
| | - Samantha Bove
- I.R.C.C.S. Istituto Tumori "Giovanni Paolo II", Viale Orazio Flacco 65, Bari, 70124, Italy
| | - Francesco Campobasso
- Dipartimento di Economia, Management e Diritto dell'Impresa, Università degli Studi di Bari "Aldo Moro", Largo Abbazia Santa Scolastica, 53, Bari, 70124, Italy
| | - Maria Colomba Comes
- I.R.C.C.S. Istituto Tumori "Giovanni Paolo II", Viale Orazio Flacco 65, Bari, 70124, Italy
| | - Cristian Cristofaro
- I.R.C.C.S. Istituto Tumori "Giovanni Paolo II", Viale Orazio Flacco 65, Bari, 70124, Italy
| | - Daniele La Forgia
- I.R.C.C.S. Istituto Tumori "Giovanni Paolo II", Viale Orazio Flacco 65, Bari, 70124, Italy.
| | - Martina Milella
- I.R.C.C.S. Istituto Tumori "Giovanni Paolo II", Viale Orazio Flacco 65, Bari, 70124, Italy
| | - Serena Iacovelli
- I.R.C.C.S. Istituto Tumori "Giovanni Paolo II", Viale Orazio Flacco 65, Bari, 70124, Italy
| | - Rossella Villani
- I.R.C.C.S. Istituto Tumori "Giovanni Paolo II", Viale Orazio Flacco 65, Bari, 70124, Italy
| | - Rahel Signorile
- I.R.C.C.S. Istituto Tumori "Giovanni Paolo II", Viale Orazio Flacco 65, Bari, 70124, Italy
| | - Alessio De Bartolo
- I.R.C.C.S. Istituto Tumori "Giovanni Paolo II", Viale Orazio Flacco 65, Bari, 70124, Italy
| | - Vito Lorusso
- I.R.C.C.S. Istituto Tumori "Giovanni Paolo II", Viale Orazio Flacco 65, Bari, 70124, Italy
| | - Raffaella Massafra
- I.R.C.C.S. Istituto Tumori "Giovanni Paolo II", Viale Orazio Flacco 65, Bari, 70124, Italy
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Foruzandeh Z, Alivand MR, Ghiami-Rad M, Zaefizadeh M, Ghorbian S. Identification and validation of miR-583 and mir-877-5p as biomarkers in patients with breast cancer: an integrated experimental and bioinformatics research. BMC Res Notes 2023; 16:72. [PMID: 37158948 PMCID: PMC10169388 DOI: 10.1186/s13104-023-06343-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2022] [Accepted: 04/28/2023] [Indexed: 05/10/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Breast cancer (BC) is one of the most common cancers with a high mortality rate in women worldwide. The advantages of early cancer diagnosis are apparent, and it is a critical factor in increasing the patient's life and survival. According to mounting evidence, microRNAs (miRNAs) may be crucial regulators of critical biological processes. miRNA dysregulation has been linked to the beginning and progression of various human malignancies, including BC, and can operate as tumor suppressors or oncomiRs. This study aimed to identify novel miRNA biomarkers in BC tissues and non-tumor adjacent tissues of patients with BC. Microarray datasets GSE15852 and GSE42568 for differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and GSE45666, GSE57897, and GSE40525 for differentially expressed miRNAs (DEMs) retrieved from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database were analyzed using "R" software. A protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was created to identify the hub genes. MirNet, miRTarBase, and MirPathDB databases were used to predict DEMs targeted genes. Functional enrichment analysis was used to demonstrate the topmost classifications of molecular pathways. The prognostic capability of selected DEMs was evaluated through a Kaplan-Meier plot. Moreover, the specificity and sensitivity of detected miRNAs to discriminate BC from adjacent controls were assessed by area under the curve (AUC) using the ROC curve analysis. In the last phase of this study, gene expression on 100 BC tissues and 100 healthy adjacent tissues were analyzed and calculated by using the Real-Time PCR method. RESULTS This study declared that miR-583 and miR-877-5p were downregulated in tumor samples in comparison to adjacent non-tumor samples (|logFC|< 0 and P ≤ 0.05). Accordingly, ROC curve analysis demonstrated the biomarker potential of miR-877-5p (AUC = 0.63) and miR-583 (AUC = 0.69). Our results showed that has-miR-583 and has-miR-877-5p could be potential biomarkers in BC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zahra Foruzandeh
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Ahar Branch, Islamic Azad University, Ahar, Iran
| | - Mohammad Reza Alivand
- Eye Research Center, The Five Senses Health Institute, Rassoul Akram Hospital, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
- Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Mehdi Ghiami-Rad
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Basic Sciences, Ahar Branch, Islamic Azad University, Ahar, Iran
| | | | - Saeid Ghorbian
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Ahar Branch, Islamic Azad University, Ahar, Iran
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Montoro CI, Alcaraz MDC, Galvez-Sánchez CM. Experience of Pain and Unpleasantness during Mammography Screening: A Cross-Sectional Study on the Roles of Emotional, Cognitive, and Personality Factors. Behav Sci (Basel) 2023; 13:bs13050377. [PMID: 37232614 DOI: 10.3390/bs13050377] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2023] [Revised: 04/26/2023] [Accepted: 04/27/2023] [Indexed: 05/27/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Breast cancer is the most frequent cause of malignant tumors among women worldwide. Its successful prevention depends on the degree of participation in screening programs, which can be influenced by psychological factors, including fear. METHOD A cross-sectional study was conducted according to the Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) Statement. Twenty-six healthy women aged 50-69 years took part in this study, all of whom were summoned for routine mammography screening and were randomly selected. Prior mammography screening, breast pain intensity, unpleasantness (visual analog scale), and psychological (catastrophizing, state anxiety, and fear of pain) and personality (neuroticism, psychoticism, and extraversion) variables were evaluated. Pain, unpleasantness, and state anxiety were further evaluated pre- and post-mammography screening. RESULTS During the mammography screening, pain and unpleasantness levels were higher than those observed pre- and post-screening. Residual unpleasantness remained post-screening. State anxiety was positively associated with pain, and psychoticism with unpleasantness, as reported by participants during the mammography screening. CONCLUSIONS Anxiety levels influence the pain experienced in association with the mammography procedure. Women subjected to mammography screenings might benefit from relaxation strategies aimed at reducing anxiety to pre-mammography levels and, by extension, pain and unpleasantness during mammography. The inclusion of these strategies in breast cancer prevention campaigns could improve the rates of mammography reattendance, and therefore, benefit cancer prevention efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - María Del Carmen Alcaraz
- Department of Psychology, University of Jaén, 23071 Jaén, Spain
- Diagnostic Mammography Unit, Health Center of Martos, Distrito Jaén Sur, 23600 Jaén, Spain
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Namiq KS, Sulaiman LR. Neoadjuvant Therapy in Nonmetastatic Breast Cancer in Kurdistan, Iraq. JCO Glob Oncol 2023; 9:e2200276. [PMID: 37216625 PMCID: PMC10497289 DOI: 10.1200/go.22.00276] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2022] [Revised: 01/09/2023] [Accepted: 02/10/2023] [Indexed: 05/24/2023] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE The core management of nonmetastatic breast cancer includes surgical tumor removal by either breast-conserving surgery (BCS) or mastectomy. The use of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) has shown the potential to downstage locally advanced breast cancer (LABC) and reduce the extent of breast or axillary surgery. This study aimed to assess the treatment approach for nonmetastatic breast cancer in the Kurdistan region of Iraq and to compare its alignment with the current international recommendations for cancer treatment. METHODS We retrospectively reviewed the records of 1,000 patients with prespecified eligible inclusion criteria who underwent either BCS or mastectomy for nonmetastatic invasive breast cancer at oncology centers in the Kurdistan region of Iraq between the period 2016 and 2021. RESULTS Of 1,000 patients (median age, 47 years [range, 22-85 years]), 60.2% underwent mastectomy and 39.8% underwent BCS. The proportion of patients treated with NACT has increased over time, with 8.3% of patients receiving neoadjuvant treatment in 2016 compared with 14.2% in 2021. Similarly, BCS increased from 36.3% in 2016 to 43.7% in 2021. Most patients who underwent BCS had early breast cancer with low nodal involvement burden. CONCLUSION The increasing trends of BCS practice in LABC along with the increased use of NACT in the Kurdistan region in recent years comply with international guidelines. Our large multicenter, real-life series emphasizes the need to implement and discuss more conservative surgical approaches, enhanced with the broader use of NACT, through education and information programs for health providers and patients, in the context of multidisciplinary team discussions, to deliver high-quality, patient-centric breast cancer care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karez Sarbast Namiq
- Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, Nanakali Hospital for Blood Diseases and Cancer, Hawler Medical University, Erbil, Iraq
| | - Luqman Rahman Sulaiman
- Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, Nanakali Hospital for Blood Diseases and Cancer, Hawler Medical University, Erbil, Iraq
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Marini TJ, Castaneda B, Iyer R, Baran TM, Nemer O, Dozier AM, Parker KJ, Zhao Y, Serratelli W, Matos G, Ali S, Ghobryal B, Visca A, O'Connell A. Breast Ultrasound Volume Sweep Imaging: A New Horizon in Expanding Imaging Access for Breast Cancer Detection. JOURNAL OF ULTRASOUND IN MEDICINE : OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF ULTRASOUND IN MEDICINE 2023; 42:817-832. [PMID: 35802491 DOI: 10.1002/jum.16047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2022] [Revised: 06/11/2022] [Accepted: 06/13/2022] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The majority of people in the world lack basic access to breast diagnostic imaging resulting in delay to diagnosis of breast cancer. In this study, we tested a volume sweep imaging (VSI) ultrasound protocol for evaluation of palpable breast lumps that can be performed by operators after minimal training without prior ultrasound experience as a means to increase accessibility to breast ultrasound. METHODS Medical students without prior ultrasound experience were trained for less than 2 hours on the VSI breast ultrasound protocol. Patients presenting with palpable breast lumps for standard of care ultrasound examination were scanned by a trained medical student with the VSI protocol using a Butterfly iQ handheld ultrasound probe. Video clips of the VSI scan imaging were later interpreted by an attending breast imager. Results of VSI scan interpretation were compared to the same-day standard of care ultrasound examination. RESULTS Medical students scanned 170 palpable lumps with the VSI protocol. There was 97% sensitivity and 100% specificity for a breast mass on VSI corresponding to 97.6% agreement with standard of care (Cohen's κ = 0.95, P < .0001). There was a detection rate of 100% for all cancer presenting as a sonographic mass. High agreement for mass characteristics between VSI and standard of care was observed, including 87% agreement on Breast Imaging-Reporting and Data System assessments (Cohen's κ = 0.82, P < .0001). CONCLUSIONS Breast ultrasound VSI for palpable lumps offers a promising means to increase access to diagnostic imaging in underserved areas. This approach could decrease delay to diagnosis for breast cancer, potentially improving morbidity and mortality.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Radha Iyer
- University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, USA
| | | | - Omar Nemer
- University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, USA
| | - Ann M Dozier
- University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, USA
| | - Kevin J Parker
- University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, USA
| | - Yu Zhao
- University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, USA
| | | | - Gregory Matos
- University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, USA
| | - Shania Ali
- University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, USA
| | | | - Adam Visca
- University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, USA
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de Ligt KM, de Rooij BH, Hedayati E, Karsten MM, Smaardijk VR, Velting M, Saunders C, Travado L, Cardoso F, Lopez E, Carney N, Wengström Y, Ives A, Velikova G, Sousa Fialho MDL, Seidler Y, Stamm TA, Koppert LB, van de Poll-Franse LV. International development of a patient-centered core outcome set for assessing health-related quality of life in metastatic breast cancer patients. Breast Cancer Res Treat 2023; 198:265-281. [PMID: 36662394 PMCID: PMC10020292 DOI: 10.1007/s10549-022-06827-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2022] [Accepted: 11/30/2022] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE For patients living with metastatic breast cancer (MBC), achieving best possible health-related quality of life, along with maximizing survival, is vital. Yet, we have no systemic way to determine if we achieve these goals. A Core Outcome Set (COS) that allows standardized measurement of outcomes important to patients, but also promotes discussing these outcomes during clinical encounters, is long overdue. METHODS An international expert group (EG) of patient advocates, researchers, medical specialists, nurse specialists, and pharmaceutical industry representatives (n = 17) reviewed a list of relevant outcomes retrieved from the literature. A broader group (n = 141: patients/patient advocates (n = 45), health care professionals/researchers (n = 64), pharmaceutical industry representatives (n = 28), and health authority representatives (n = 4)) participated in a modified Delphi procedure, scoring the relevance of outcomes in two survey rounds. The EG finalized the COS in a consensus meeting. RESULTS The final MBC COS includes 101 variables about: (1) health-related quality of life (HRQoL, n = 26) and adverse events (n = 24); (2) baseline patient characteristics (n = 9); and (3) clinical variables (n = 42). Many outcome that cover aspects of HRQoL relevant to MBC patients are included, e.g. daily functioning (including ability to work), psychosocial/emotional functioning, sexual functioning, and relationship with the medical team. CONCLUSION The COS developed in this study contains important administrative data, clinical records, and clinician-reported measures that captures the impact of cancer. The COS is important for standardization of clinical research and implementation in daily practice and has received accreditation by the International Consortium for Health Outcomes Measurement (ICHOM).
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Affiliation(s)
- K M de Ligt
- Division of Psychosocial Research and Epidemiology, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, PO Box 90203, 1006 BE, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
| | - B H de Rooij
- Department of Research and Development, Netherlands Comprehensive Cancer Organisation, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Department of Medical and Clinical Psychology, Center of Research on Psychological and Somatic Disorders (CoRPS), Tilburg University, Tilburg, The Netherlands
| | - E Hedayati
- Department of Oncology-Pathology, Bioclinicum, Karolinska Institutet, Solna, Stockholm, Sweden
- Breast Cancer Center, Cancer Theme, Karolinska University Hospital and Karolinska Comprehensive Cancer Centre, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - M M Karsten
- Department of Gynecology with Breast Center, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - V R Smaardijk
- Department of Research and Development, Netherlands Comprehensive Cancer Organisation, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - M Velting
- Dutch Breast Cancer Patient Association (Borstkankervereniging Nederland), Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - C Saunders
- Department of Surgery, Melbourne Medical School, Melbourne, Australia
| | - L Travado
- Breast Unit, Champalimaud Clinical Center/Champalimaud Foundation, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - F Cardoso
- Breast Unit, Champalimaud Clinical Center/Champalimaud Foundation, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - E Lopez
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Vithas Hospital La Milagrosa, GenesisCare, Madrid, Spain
| | - N Carney
- F.Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Y Wengström
- Department of Oncology-Pathology, Bioclinicum, Karolinska Institutet, Solna, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Oncology, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - A Ives
- Cancer and Palliative Care Research and Evaluation Unit, University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, Australia
| | - G Velikova
- Leeds Institute of Medical Research at St James's, St James's University Hospital, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
- Leeds Cancer Centre, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, St James's University Hospital, Leeds, UK
| | | | - Y Seidler
- Section for Outcomes Research, Center for Medical Statistics, Informatics and Intelligent Systems, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - T A Stamm
- Section for Outcomes Research, Center for Medical Statistics, Informatics and Intelligent Systems, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Arthritis and Rehabilitation, Vienna, Austria
| | - L B Koppert
- Department of Surgical Oncology, Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - L V van de Poll-Franse
- Division of Psychosocial Research and Epidemiology, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, PO Box 90203, 1006 BE, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Research and Development, Netherlands Comprehensive Cancer Organisation, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Department of Medical and Clinical Psychology, Center of Research on Psychological and Somatic Disorders (CoRPS), Tilburg University, Tilburg, The Netherlands
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Sollozo-Dupont I, Lara-Ameca VJ, Cruz-Castillo D, Villaseñor-Navarro Y. Relationship between Health Inequalities and Breast Cancer Survival in Mexican Women. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:5329. [PMID: 37047945 PMCID: PMC10094649 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20075329] [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: 01/31/2023] [Revised: 03/01/2023] [Accepted: 03/28/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE We aimed to analyze the relationship between the survival of patients with breast cancer and health inequalities. METHODS A retrospective cohort study of women with stage III breast cancer according to public healthcare was conducted. Groups were stratified according to the course of treatment and the presence of chronic disease other than cancer. Survival functions were estimated by using the Kaplan-Meier estimator, while the Cox proportional hazards model was employed for prognostic assessment. RESULTS The study was performed on 964 breast cancer patients. One hundred and seventy-six patients (18.23%) died during the follow-up period and 788 (81.77%) were alive at the end of the follow-up period. Education, marital status, personal history of prior biopsies, and socioeconomic status (SES) were found to be linked with survival. However, only SES exceeded the baseline risk of mortality when the treatment cycle was interrupted (full treatment: unadjusted 4.683, p = 0.001; adjusted 4.888 p = 0.001, partial treatment: unadjusted 1.973, p = 0.012; adjusted 4.185, p = 0.001). The same effect was observed when stratifying by the presence of chronic disease other than cancer (with chronic disease adjusted HR = 4.948, p = 0.001; unadjusted HR = 3.303, p = 0.001; without chronic disease adjusted HR = 4.850, p = 0.001; unadjusted HR = 5.121, p = 0.001). CONCLUSION Since lower SES was linked with a worse prognosis, strategies to promote preventive medicine, particularly breast cancer screening programs and prompt diagnosis, are needed.
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Mitwalli S, Hammoudeh W, Giacaman R, Harding R. Access to advanced cancer care services in the West Bank-occupied Palestinian territory. Front Oncol 2023; 13:1120783. [PMID: 37007067 PMCID: PMC10062449 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1120783] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2022] [Accepted: 02/27/2023] [Indexed: 03/18/2023] Open
Abstract
IntroductionUniversal Health Coverage (UHC) identifies the provision of palliative care for people with advanced disease as an essential health service. Palliative care is also stipulated as a human right under existing covenants. Oncology services provided by the Palestinian Authority under Israeli military occupation are limited to surgery and chemotherapy treatment. Our study aimed to describe the experiences of patients with advanced-stage cancer in the West Bank in accessing oncology services and meeting their health care needs.MethodologyWe conducted a qualitative study among adult patients diagnosed with advanced lung, colon, or breast cancer in three Palestinian governmental hospitals, and with oncologists. Thematic analysis was conducted on the verbatim interview transcripts.ResultsThe sample consisted of 22 Palestinian patients (10 men and 12 women) and 3 practicing oncologists. The findings reveal that cancer care is fragmented, with limited access to the services needed. Patients face referral delays in accessing treatment which worsen their health condition in some cases. Some patients reported difficulties in getting Israeli permits to access radiotherapy treatment in East-Jerusalem, and others experienced interruptions of their chemotherapy treatment sessions due to the unavailability of chemotherapy medications caused by Israeli-side delays. Other reported problems were related to the Palestinian health system and service delivery and quality, including fragmentation of services, infrastructure issues, and unavailability of medications. Advanced diagnostic services and palliative care are almost absent at Palestinian governmental hospitals, and patients need to seek these services in the private sector.ConclusionThe data demonstrate specific access restrictions to cancer care in the West Bank due to Israeli military occupation of Palestinian land. This affects all stages of the care pathway, from restricted diagnosis services, to limited treatment and then poor availability of palliative care. Cancer patients will continue to suffer if the root causes of these structural constraints are not addressed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suzan Mitwalli
- Institute of Community and Public Health, Birzeit University, West Bank, Palestine
- *Correspondence: Suzan Mitwalli,
| | - Weeam Hammoudeh
- Institute of Community and Public Health, Birzeit University, West Bank, Palestine
| | - Rita Giacaman
- Institute of Community and Public Health, Birzeit University, West Bank, Palestine
| | - Richard Harding
- Florence Nightingale Faculty of Nursing, Midwifery and Palliative Care, Cicely Saunders Institute, London, United Kingdom
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Ehsan AN, Wu CA, Minasian A, Singh T, Bass M, Pace L, Ibbotson GC, Bempong-Ahun N, Pusic A, Scott JW, Mekary RA, Ranganathan K. Financial Toxicity Among Patients With Breast Cancer Worldwide: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. JAMA Netw Open 2023; 6:e2255388. [PMID: 36753274 PMCID: PMC9909501 DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.55388] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2022] [Accepted: 12/20/2022] [Indexed: 02/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Importance Financial toxicity (FT) is the negative impact of cost of care on financial well-being. Patients with breast cancer are at risk for incurring high out-of-pocket costs given the long-term need for multidisciplinary care and expensive treatments. Objective To quantify the FT rate of patients with breast cancer and identify particularly vulnerable patient populations nationally and internationally. Data Sources A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted. Four databases-Embase, PubMed, Global Index Medicus, and Global Health (EBSCO)-were queried from inception to February 2021. Data analysis was performed from March to December 2022. Study Selection A comprehensive database search was performed for full-text, English-language articles reporting FT among patients with breast cancer. Two independent reviewers conducted study screening and selection; 462 articles underwent full-text review. Data Extraction and Synthesis A standardized data extraction tool was developed and validated by 2 independent authors; study quality was also assessed. Variables assessed included race, income, insurance status, education status, employment, urban or rural status, and cancer stage and treatment. Pooled estimates of FT rates and their 95% CIs were obtained using the random-effects model. Main Outcomes and Measures FT was the primary outcome and was evaluated using quantitative FT measures, including rate of patients experiencing FT, and qualitative FT measures, including patient-reported outcome measures or patient-reported severity and interviews. The rates of patients in high-income, middle-income, and low-income countries who incurred FT according to out-of-pocket cost, income, or patient-reported impact of expenditures during breast cancer diagnosis and treatment were reported as a meta-analysis. Results Of the 11 086 articles retrieved, 34 were included in the study. Most studies were from high-income countries (24 studies), and the rest were from low- and middle-income countries (10 studies). The sample size of included studies ranged from 5 to 2445 people. There was significant heterogeneity in the definition of FT. FT rate was pooled from 18 articles. The pooled FT rate was 35.3% (95% CI, 27.3%-44.4%) in high-income countries and 78.8% (95% CI, 60.4%-90.0%) in low- and middle-income countries. Conclusions and Relevance Substantial FT is associated with breast cancer treatment worldwide. Although the FT rate was higher in low- and middle-income countries, more than 30% of patients in high-income countries also incurred FT. Policies designed to offset the burden of direct medical and nonmedical costs are required to improve the financial health of vulnerable patients with breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anam N. Ehsan
- Program in Global Surgery and Social Change, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
- Department of Surgery, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Catherine A. Wu
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
- Department of Plastic Surgery, University of California, Orange
| | - Alexandra Minasian
- Department of Surgery, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Tavneet Singh
- School of Pharmacy, MCPHS University, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Michelle Bass
- Countway Library of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Lydia Pace
- Department of Surgery, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Geoffrey C. Ibbotson
- United Nations Institute for Training and Research, Palais des Nations, Geneva, Switzerland
- The Global Surgery Foundation, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Nefti Bempong-Ahun
- United Nations Institute for Training and Research, Palais des Nations, Geneva, Switzerland
- The Global Surgery Foundation, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Andrea Pusic
- Department of Surgery, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - John W. Scott
- Center for Healthcare Outcomes and Policy, Department of Surgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
| | - Rania A. Mekary
- Department of Surgery, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
- School of Pharmacy, MCPHS University, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Kavitha Ranganathan
- Program in Global Surgery and Social Change, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
- Department of Surgery, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
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Pallares-Rusiñol A, Moura SL, Martí M, Pividori MI. Electrochemical Genosensing of Overexpressed GAPDH Transcripts in Breast Cancer Exosomes. Anal Chem 2023; 95:2487-2495. [PMID: 36683335 PMCID: PMC9893220 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.2c04773] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
Exosomes are receiving highlighted attention as new biomarkers for the detection of cancer since they are profusely released by tumor cells in different biological fluids. In this paper, the exosomes are preconcentrated from the serum by immunomagnetic separation (IMS) based on a CD326 receptor as a specific epithelial cancer-related biomarker and detected by glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) transcripts. Following the lysis of the captured exosomes, the released GAPDH transcripts are amplified by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) with a double-tagging set of primers on poly(dT)-modified-MPs to increase the sensitivity. The double-tagged amplicon is then quantified by electrochemical genosensing. The IMS/double-tagging RT-PCR/electrochemical genosensing approach is first demonstrated for the sensitive detection of exosomes derived from MCF7 breast cancer cells and compared with CTCs in terms of the analytical performance, showing an LOD of 4 × 102 exosomes μL-1. The genosensor was applied to human samples by immunocapturing the exosomes directly from serum from breast cancer patients and showed a higher electrochemical signal (3.3-fold, p < 0.05), when compared with healthy controls, suggesting an overexpression of GAPDH on serum-derived exosomes from breast cancer patients. The detection of GAPDH transcripts is performed from only 1.0 mL of human serum using specific magnetic particles, improving the analytical simplification and avoiding ultracentrifugation steps, demonstrating to be a promising strategy for minimal invasive liquid biopsy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arnau Pallares-Rusiñol
- Grup
de Sensors i Biosensors, Departament de Química, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra 08193, Spain,Biosensing
and Bioanalysis Group, Institute of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra 08193, Spain
| | - Silio Lima Moura
- Grup
de Sensors i Biosensors, Departament de Química, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra 08193, Spain
| | - Mercè Martí
- Biosensing
and Bioanalysis Group, Institute of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra 08193, Spain
| | - Maria Isabel Pividori
- Grup
de Sensors i Biosensors, Departament de Química, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra 08193, Spain,Biosensing
and Bioanalysis Group, Institute of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra 08193, Spain,. Tel.: +34 93 581 2806. Fax: +34 93 581 2379
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Hong K, Chen Q, Zhang Y, Cheng X, Cen K, Dai Y, Mai Y, Guo Y. Prognostic implication and immunotherapy response prediction of a ubiquitination-related gene signature in breast cancer. Front Genet 2023; 13:1038207. [PMID: 36685928 PMCID: PMC9845272 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2022.1038207] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2022] [Accepted: 12/01/2022] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Breast cancer (BC) is one of the most common tumor types and has poor outcomes. In this study, a ubiquitination-related prognostic signature was constructed, and its association with immunotherapy response in BC was explored. A list of ubiquitination-related genes was obtained from the molecular signatures database, and a ubiquitination-related gene signature was obtained by least absolute shrinkage and selection operator Cox regression. The genes, TCN1, DIRAS3, and IZUMO4, had significant influence on BC outcomes. Patients were categorized into two clusters-a high-risk group with poor survival and a low-risk group with greater chances of controlling BC progression. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses revealed that the risk signature was an independent prognostic factor for BC. Gene set enrichment analysis suggested that the high-risk group was enriched in cell cycle and DNA replication pathways. The risk score was positively linked to the tumor microenvironment and negatively correlated with the immunotherapy response. The IC50 values for rapamycin were higher in the low-risk group, whereas those for axitinib, AZD6244, erlotinib, GDC0941, GSK650394, GSK269962A, lapatinib, and PD0325901 were higher in the high-risk group. Therefore, the ubiquitination-related signature is considered a promising tool for predicting a BC patient's immunotherapy response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kai Hong
- Department of Thyroid and Breast Surgery, Ningbo First Hospital, Ningbo, China,Department of Thyroid and Breast Surgery, Ningbo Hospital of Zhejiang University, Ningbo, China
| | - Qiaoqiao Chen
- Reproductive Medicine Center, The Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing, China,Key Laboratory of Reproductive Dysfunction Management of Zhejiang Province Assisted Reproduction Unit, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yingjue Zhang
- Department of Molecular Pathology, Division of Health Sciences, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Suita, Japan
| | - Xu Cheng
- Taizhou Hospital of Zhejiang Province Affiliated to Wenzhou Medical University, Taizhou, China
| | - Kenan Cen
- The Affiliated Hospital of Medical School of Ningbo University, Ningbo, China
| | - Ying Dai
- The Affiliated Hospital of Medical School of Ningbo University, Ningbo, China
| | - Yifeng Mai
- The Affiliated Hospital of Medical School of Ningbo University, Ningbo, China,*Correspondence: Yangyang Guo, ; Yifeng Mai,
| | - Yangyang Guo
- Department of Thyroid and Breast Surgery, Ningbo First Hospital, Ningbo, China,Department of Thyroid and Breast Surgery, Ningbo Hospital of Zhejiang University, Ningbo, China,*Correspondence: Yangyang Guo, ; Yifeng Mai,
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Trieu PD(Y, Mello-Thoms CR, Barron ML, Lewis SJ. Look how far we have come: BREAST cancer detection education on the international stage. Front Oncol 2023; 12:1023714. [PMID: 36686760 PMCID: PMC9846523 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.1023714] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2022] [Accepted: 12/05/2022] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The development of screening mammography over 30 years has remarkedly reduced breast cancer-associated mortality by 20%-30% through detection of small cancer lesions at early stages. Yet breast screening programmes may function differently in each nation depending on the incidence rate, national legislation, local health infrastructure and training opportunities including feedback on performance. Mammography has been the frontline breast cancer screening tool for several decades; however, it is estimated that there are 15% to 35% of cancers missed on screening which are owing to perceptual and decision-making errors by radiologists and other readers. Furthermore, mammography screening is not available in all countries and the increased speed in the number of new breast cancer cases among less developed countries exceeds that of the developed world in recent decades. Studies conducted through the BreastScreen Reader Assessment Strategy (BREAST) training tools for breast screening readers have documented benchmarking and significant variation in diagnostic performances in screening mammogram test sets in different countries. The performance of the radiologists from less well-established breast screening countries such as China, Mongolia and Vietnam were significant lower in detecting early-stage cancers than radiologists from developed countries such as Australia, USA, Singapore, Italy. Differences in breast features and cancer presentations, discrepancies in the level of experiences in reading screening mammograms, the availability of high-quality national breast screening program and breast image interpretation training courses between developed and less developed countries are likely to have impact on the variation of readers' performances. Hence dedicated education training programs with the ability to tailor to different reader cohorts and different population presentations are suggested to ameliorate challenges in exposure to a range of cancer cases and improve the interpretation skills of local radiologists. Findings from this review provide a good understanding of the radiologist' performances and their improvement using the education interventions, primarily the BREAST program, which has been deployed in a large range of developing and developed countries in the last decade. Self-testing and immediate feedback loops have been shown to have important implications for benchmarking and improving the diagnostic accuracy in radiology worldwide for better breast cancer control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Phuong Dung (Yun) Trieu
- Discipline of Medical Imaging Sciences, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Claudia R. Mello-Thoms
- Discipline of Medical Imaging Sciences, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Department of Radiology, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, United States
| | - Melissa L. Barron
- Discipline of Medical Imaging Sciences, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Sarah J. Lewis
- Discipline of Medical Imaging Sciences, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
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Wang X, Xie F, Yang Y, Zhao J, Wu G, Wang S. Rapid Diagnosis of Ductal Carcinoma In Situ and Breast Cancer Based on Raman Spectroscopy of Serum Combined with Convolutional Neural Network. BIOENGINEERING (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 10:bioengineering10010065. [PMID: 36671637 PMCID: PMC9854817 DOI: 10.3390/bioengineering10010065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2022] [Revised: 12/22/2022] [Accepted: 12/27/2022] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) and breast cancer are common female breast diseases and pose a serious health threat to women. Early diagnosis of breast cancer and DCIS can help to develop targeted treatment plans in time. In this paper, we investigated the feasibility of using Raman spectroscopy combined with convolutional neural network (CNN) to discriminate between healthy volunteers, breast cancer and DCIS patients. Raman spectra were collected from the sera of 241 healthy volunteers, 463 breast cancer and 100 DCIS patients, and a total of 804 spectra were recorded. The pre-processed Raman spectra were used as the input of CNN to establish a model to classify the three different spectra. After using cross-validation to optimize its hyperparameters, the model's final classification performance was assessed using an unknown test set. For comparison with other machine learning algorithms, we additionally built models using support vector machine (SVM), random forest (RF) and k-nearest neighbor (KNN) methods. The final accuracies for CNN, SVM, RF and KNN were 98.76%, 94.63%, 80.99% and 78.93%, respectively. The values for area under curve (AUC) were 0.999, 0.994, 0.931 and 0.900, respectively. Therefore, our study results demonstrate that CNN outperforms three traditional algorithms in terms of classification performance for Raman spectral data and can be a useful auxiliary diagnostic tool of breast cancer and DCIS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xianglei Wang
- School of Science, Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications, Beijing 100876, China
| | - Fei Xie
- Department of Breast Center, Peking University People’s Hospital, Beijing 100044, China
| | - Yang Yang
- Department of Breast Center, Peking University People’s Hospital, Beijing 100044, China
| | - Jin Zhao
- Department of Breast Center, Peking University People’s Hospital, Beijing 100044, China
| | - Guohua Wu
- School of Electronic Engineering, Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications, Beijing 100876, China
- Correspondence: (G.W.); (S.W.)
| | - Shu Wang
- Department of Breast Center, Peking University People’s Hospital, Beijing 100044, China
- Correspondence: (G.W.); (S.W.)
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Azadnajafabad S, Saeedi Moghaddam S, Mohammadi E, Delazar S, Rashedi S, Baradaran HR, Mansourian M. Patterns of better breast cancer care in countries with higher human development index and healthcare expenditure: Insights from GLOBOCAN 2020. Front Public Health 2023; 11:1137286. [PMID: 37124828 PMCID: PMC10130425 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1137286] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2023] [Accepted: 03/07/2023] [Indexed: 05/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The huge burden of breast cancer (BC) necessitates the profound and accurate knowledge of the most recent cancer epidemiology and quality of care provided. We aimed to evaluate BC epidemiology and quality of care and examine the effects of socioeconomic development and healthcare expenditure on disparities in BC care. Methods The results from the GLOBOCAN 2020 study were utilized to extract data on female BC, including incidence and mortality numbers, crude rates, and age-standardized rates [age-standardized incidence rates (ASIRs) and age-standardized mortality rates (ASMRs)]. The mortality-to-incidence ratio (MIR) was calculated for different locations and socioeconomic stratifications to examine disparities in BC care, with higher values reflecting poor quality of care and vice versa. In both descriptive and analytic approaches, the human development index (HDI) and the proportion of current healthcare expenditure (CHE) to gross domestic product (CHE/GDP%) were used to evaluate the values of MIR. Results Globally, 2,261,419 (95% uncertainty interval (UI): 2,244,260-2,278,710) new cases of female BC were diagnosed in 2020, with a crude rate of 58.5/100,000 population, and caused 684,996 (675,493-694,633) deaths, with a crude rate of 17.7. The WHO region with the highest BC ASIR (69.7) was Europe, and the WHO region with the highest ASMR (19.1) was Africa. The very high HDI category had the highest BC ASIR (75.6), and low HDI areas had the highest ASMR (20.1). The overall calculated value of female BC MIR in 2020 was 0.30, with Africa having the highest value (0.48) and the low HDI category (0.53). A strong statistically significant inverse correlation was observed between the MIR and HDI values for countries/territories (Pearson's coefficient = -0.850, p-value < 0.001). A significant moderate inverse correlation was observed between the MIR and CHE/GDP values (Pearson's coefficient = -0.431, p-value < 0.001). Conclusions This study highlighted that MIR of BC was higher in less developed areas and less wealthy countries. MIR as an indicator of the quality of care showed that locations with higher healthcare expenditure had better BC care. More focused interventions in developing regions and in those with limited resources are needed to alleviate the burden of BC and resolve disparities in BC care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sina Azadnajafabad
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Non-communicable Diseases Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Population Sciences Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Sahar Saeedi Moghaddam
- Non-communicable Diseases Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Population Sciences Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Kiel Institute for the World Economy, Kiel, Germany
| | - Esmaeil Mohammadi
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center (OUHSC), Oklahoma, OK, United States
| | - Sina Delazar
- Advanced Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology Research Center (ADIR), Imam Khomeini Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Sina Rashedi
- Non-communicable Diseases Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Population Sciences Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Rajai Cardiovascular Medical and Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Hamid Reza Baradaran
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Ageing Clinical and Experimental Research Team, Institute of Applied Health Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, United Kingdom
| | - Morteza Mansourian
- Health Promotion Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- *Correspondence: Morteza Mansourian
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Shita A, Yalew AW, Seife E, Afework T, Tesfaw A, Gufue ZH, Rabe F, Taylor L, Kantelhardt EJ, Getachew S. Survival and predictors of breast cancer mortality in South Ethiopia: A retrospective cohort study. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0282746. [PMID: 36877683 PMCID: PMC9987816 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0282746] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2022] [Accepted: 02/22/2023] [Indexed: 03/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer and the leading cause of cancer death in over 100 countries. In March 2021, the World Health Organization called on the global community to decrease mortality by 2.5% per year. Despite the high burden of the disease, the survival status and the predictors for mortality are not yet fully determined in many countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, including Ethiopia. Here, we report the survival status and predictors of mortality among breast cancer patients in South Ethiopia as crucial baseline data to be used for the design and monitoring of interventions to improve early detection, diagnosis, and treatment capacity. METHODS A hospital-based retrospective cohort study was conducted among 302 female breast cancer patients diagnosed from 2013 to 2018 by reviewing their medical records and telephone interviews. The median survival time was estimated using the Kaplan-Meier survival analysis method. A log-rank test was used to compare the observed differences in survival time among different groups. The Cox proportional hazards regression model was used to identify predictors of mortality. Results are presented using the crude and adjusted as hazard ratios along with their corresponding 95% confidence intervals. Sensitivity analysis was performed with the assumption that loss to follow-up patients might die 3 months after the last hospital visit. RESULTS The study participants were followed for a total of 4,685.62 person-months. The median survival time was 50.81 months, which declined to 30.57 months in the worst-case analysis. About 83.4% of patients had advanced-stage disease at presentation. The overall survival probability of patients at two and three years was 73.2% and 63.0% respectively. Independent predictors of mortality were: patients residing in rural areas (adjusted hazard ratio = 2.71, 95% CI: 1.44, 5.09), travel time to a health facility ≥7 hours (adjusted hazard ratio = 3.42, 95% CI: 1.05, 11.10), those who presented within 7-23 months after the onset of symptoms (adjusted hazard ratio = 2.63, 95% CI: 1.22, 5.64), those who presented more than 23 months after the onset of symptoms (adjusted hazard ratio = 2.37, 95% CI: 1.00, 5.59), advanced stage at presentation (adjusted hazard ratio = 3.01, 95% CI: 1.05, 8.59), and patients who never received chemotherapy (adjusted hazard ratio = 6.69, 95% CI: 2.20, 20.30). CONCLUSION Beyond three years after diagnosis, patients from southern Ethiopia had a survival rate of less than 60% despite treatment at a tertiary health facility. It is imperative to improve the early detection, diagnosis, and treatment capacities for breast cancer patients to prevent premature death in these women.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abel Shita
- Mizan Aman College of Health Sciences, Department of Public Health, Addis Ababa, Southwest Ethiopia
- Department of Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
- Global Health Working Group, Martin-Luther-University, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Alemayehu Worku Yalew
- Department of Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Edom Seife
- Department of Medicine, Oncology Center, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Tsion Afework
- Department of Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
- Global Health Working Group, Martin-Luther-University, Halle (Saale), Germany
- NCD Working Group School of Public Health Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Aragaw Tesfaw
- Department of Public Health, College of Health Science, Debre Tabor University, Debra Tabor, North West Ethiopia
| | - Zenawi Hagos Gufue
- Department of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Adigrat University, Adigrat, Ethiopia
| | - Friedemann Rabe
- Global Health Working Group, Martin-Luther-University, Halle (Saale), Germany
- Institute of Medical Epidemiology, Biometrics and Informatics, Martin Luther University, Halle, Germany
| | - Lesley Taylor
- City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, Los Angeles County, California, United States of America
| | - Eva Johanna Kantelhardt
- Global Health Working Group, Martin-Luther-University, Halle (Saale), Germany
- Institute of Medical Epidemiology, Biometrics and Informatics, Martin Luther University, Halle, Germany
- Department of Gynaecology, Martin Luther University, Halle, Germany
| | - Sefonias Getachew
- Department of Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
- Global Health Working Group, Martin-Luther-University, Halle (Saale), Germany
- NCD Working Group School of Public Health Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
- Institute of Medical Epidemiology, Biometrics and Informatics, Martin Luther University, Halle, Germany
- * E-mail:
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Afaya A, Ramazanu S, Bolarinwa OA, Yakong VN, Afaya RA, Aboagye RG, Daniels-Donkor SS, Yahaya AR, Shin J, Dzomeku VM, Ayanore MA, Alhassan RK. Health system barriers influencing timely breast cancer diagnosis and treatment among women in low and middle-income Asian countries: evidence from a mixed-methods systematic review. BMC Health Serv Res 2022; 22:1601. [PMID: 36587198 PMCID: PMC9805268 DOI: 10.1186/s12913-022-08927-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2022] [Accepted: 12/05/2022] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Globally, breast cancer is the most common cancer type and the leading cause of cancer mortality among women in developing countries. A high prevalence of late breast cancer diagnosis and treatment has been reported predominantly in Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs), including those in Asia. Thus, this study utilized a mixed-methods systematic review to synthesize the health system barriers influencing timely breast cancer diagnosis and treatment among women in Asian countries. METHODS We systematically searched five electronic databases for studies published in English from 2012 to 2022 on health system barriers that influence timely breast cancer diagnosis and treatment among women in Asian countries. The review was conducted per the methodology for systematic reviews and reported following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, while health system barriers were extracted and classified based on the World Health Organization (WHO)'s Health Systems Framework. The mixed-methods appraisal tool was used to assess the methodological quality of the included studies. RESULTS Twenty-six studies were included in this review. Fifteen studies were quantitative, nine studies were qualitative, and two studies used a mixed-methods approach. These studies were conducted across ten countries in Asia. This review identified health systems barriers that influence timely breast cancer diagnosis and treatment. The factors were categorized under the following: (1) delivery of health services (2) health workforce (3) financing for health (4) health information system and (5) essential medicines and technology. Delivery of health care (low quality of health care) was the most occurring barrier followed by the health workforce (unavailability of physicians), whilst health information systems were identified as the least barrier. CONCLUSION This study concluded that health system factors such as geographical accessibility to treatment, misdiagnosis, and long waiting times at health facilities were major barriers to early breast cancer diagnosis and treatment among Asian women in LMICs. Eliminating these barriers will require deliberate health system strengthening, such as improving training for the health workforce and establishing more healthcare facilities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agani Afaya
- grid.15444.300000 0004 0470 5454Mo-Im Nursing Research Institute, College of Nursing, Yonsei University, 50-1, Yonsei-ro, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, 03722 Republic of Korea ,grid.449729.50000 0004 7707 5975Department of Nursing, School of Nursing and Midwifery, University of Health and Allied Sciences, Ho, Ghana
| | - Sheena Ramazanu
- grid.4280.e0000 0001 2180 6431Alice Lee Centre for Nursing Studies, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Obasanjo Afolabi Bolarinwa
- grid.127050.10000 0001 0249 951XDepartment of Global Public Health, Canterbury Christ Church University, Canterbury, UK
| | - Vida Nyagre Yakong
- grid.442305.40000 0004 0441 5393Department of Preventive Health Nursing, School of Nursing and Midwifery, University for Development Studies, Tamale, Ghana
| | - Richard Adongo Afaya
- grid.442305.40000 0004 0441 5393Department of Midwifery and Women’s Health, School of Nursing and Midwifery, University for Development Studies, Tamale, Ghana
| | - Richard Gyan Aboagye
- grid.449729.50000 0004 7707 5975Department of Family and Community Health, Fred N. Binka School of Public Health, University of Health and Allied Sciences, Hohoe, Ghana
| | - Silas Selorm Daniels-Donkor
- grid.8241.f0000 0004 0397 2876Department of Nursing, School of Health Sciences, University of Dundee, Scotland Dundee, UK
| | - Ahmed-Rufai Yahaya
- Hariri School of Nursing, American University of Beruit, Beirut, Lebanon ,grid.460777.50000 0004 0374 4427Department of Internal Medicine, Tamale Teaching Hospital, Tamale, Ghana
| | - Jinhee Shin
- grid.412965.d0000 0000 9153 9511Woosuk University, College of Nursing, Wanju, Republic of Korea
| | - Veronica Millicent Dzomeku
- grid.9829.a0000000109466120Department of Nursing, College of Health Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Martin Amogre Ayanore
- grid.449729.50000 0004 7707 5975Department of Health Policy Planning and Management, Fred N. Binka School of Public Health, University of Health and Allied Sciences, Ho, Ghana
| | - Robert Kaba Alhassan
- grid.449729.50000 0004 7707 5975Centre for Health Policy and Implementation Research. Institute of Health Research, University of Health and Allied Sciences, Ho, Ghana
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Vázquez ML, Vargas I, Rubio-Valera M, Aznar-Lou I, Eguiguren P, Mogollón-Pérez AS, Torres AL, Peralta A, Dias S, Jervelund SS. Improving equity in access to early diagnosis of cancer in different healthcare systems of Latin America: protocol for the EquityCancer-LA implementation-effectiveness hybrid study. BMJ Open 2022; 12:e067439. [PMID: 36523219 PMCID: PMC9748968 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2022-067439] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Healthcare fragmentation, a main cause for delay in cancer diagnosis and treatment, contributes to high mortality in Latin America (LA), particularly among disadvantaged populations. This research focuses on integrated care interventions, which have been limitedly implemented in the region. The objective is to evaluate the contextual effectiveness of scaling-up an integrated care intervention to improve early diagnosis of frequent cancers in healthcare networks of Chile, Colombia and Ecuador. METHODS AND ANALYSIS This research is two pronged: (A) quasi-experimental design (controlled before and after) with an intervention and a control healthcare network in each LA country, using an implementation-effectiveness hybrid approach to assess the intervention process, effectiveness and costs; and (B) case study design to analyse access to diagnosis of most frequent cancers. Focusing on the most vulnerable socioeconomic population, it develops in four phases: (1) analysis of delays and barriers to early diagnosis (baseline); (2) intervention adaptation and implementation (primary care training, fast-track referral pathway and patient information); (3) intracountry evaluation of intervention and (4) cross-country analysis. Baseline and evaluation studies adopt mixed-methods qualitative (semistructured individual interviews) and quantitative (patient questionnaire survey) methods. For the latter, a sample size of 174 patients with cancer diagnosis per healthcare network and year was calculated to detect a proportions difference of 15%, before and after intervention (α=0.05; β=0.2) in a two-sided test. A participatory approach will be used to tailor the intervention to each context, led by a local steering committee (professionals, managers, policy makers, patients and researchers). ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION This study complies with international and national legal stipulations on ethics. It was approved by each country's ethical committee and informed consent will be obtained from participants. Besides the coproduction of knowledge with key stakeholders, it will be disseminated through strategies such as policy briefs, workshops, e-tools and scientific papers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria-Luisa Vázquez
- Health Policy and Health Services Research Group, Health Policy Research Unit, Consortium for Health Care and Social Services of Catalonia, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Ingrid Vargas
- Health Policy and Health Services Research Group, Health Policy Research Unit, Consortium for Health Care and Social Services of Catalonia, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Maria Rubio-Valera
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Parc Sanitari Sant Joan de Déu, Sant Boi de Llobregat, Spain
| | - Ignacio Aznar-Lou
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Research and Development Unit, Institut de Recerca Sant Joan de Deu, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Pamela Eguiguren
- Escuela de Salud Pública Dr. Salvador Allende Gossens, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago de Chile, Chile
| | | | - Ana-Lucía Torres
- Public Health Institute, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador, Quito, Ecuador
| | - Andrés Peralta
- Public Health Institute, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador, Quito, Ecuador
| | - Sónia Dias
- NOVA National School of Public Health, Public Health Research Centre, NOVA University of Lisbon & Comprehensive Health Research Center (CHRC), Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Signe Smith Jervelund
- Department of Public Health, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
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Bright K. Understanding system barriers and facilitators in transnational clinical cancer research: The value of rapid and multimodal ethnographic inquiry. FRONTIERS IN SOCIOLOGY 2022; 7:991183. [PMID: 36530449 PMCID: PMC9751659 DOI: 10.3389/fsoc.2022.991183] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2022] [Accepted: 11/16/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION In middle and low resource countries worldwide, up to 70% of breast cancer cases are diagnosed as locally advanced (stages IIB-IIIC). Delays in referral from primary to specialty care have been shown to prolong routes to diagnosis and may be associated with higher burdens of advanced disease, but specific clinical and organizational barriers are not well understood. METHODS This article reports on the use of rapid ethnographic research (RER) within a largescale clinical trial for locally advanced breast cancer (LABC) in India, Mexico, South Africa, and the US. Our purpose is twofold. First, we demonstrate the value of ethnography as a mode of evaluative listening: appraising the perspectives of diverse patients and clinicians regarding prolonged routes to LABC diagnosis and treatment. Second, we show the value of ethnography as a compass for navigating among discrepant clinical research styles, IRB protocols, and institutional norms and practices. We discuss advantages and limits involved in each use of RER. RESULTS On the one hand, ethnographic interviews carried out before and during the clinical trial enabled more regular communication among investigators and research sites. On the other hand, the logistics of doing the trial placed limits on the extent and duration of inductive, immersive inquiry characteristic of traditional fieldwork. As a partial solution to this problem, we developed a multimodal ethnographic research (MER) approach, an augmentation of video-chat, phone, text, and email carried out with, and built upon the initial connections established in, the in-person fieldwork. This style has its limits; but it did allow us to materially improve the ways in which the medical research proceeded. DISCUSSION In conclusion, we highlight the value of not deferring to a presumed incommensurability of ethnographic fieldwork and clinical trialwork while still being appropriately responsive to moments when the two approaches should be kept apart.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristin Bright
- Department of Anthropology, Middlebury College, Middlebury, VT, United States
- Department of Anthropology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
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Eid MK, Abu-Odah H, Wehedi DT, Su JJ, Abed Y. Policymakers' and patients’ perspectives on breast cancer management in the Gaza Strip-Palestine: A qualitative study. Eur J Oncol Nurs 2022; 61:102223. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejon.2022.102223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2022] [Revised: 10/03/2022] [Accepted: 10/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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Factors Related to Delayed Diagnosis and Treatment of Breast Cancer Among Moroccan Women in Casablanca. INDIAN JOURNAL OF GYNECOLOGIC ONCOLOGY 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s40944-022-00668-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
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Hanis TM, Ruhaiyem NIR, Arifin WN, Haron J, Wan Abdul Rahman WF, Abdullah R, Musa KI. Over-the-Counter Breast Cancer Classification Using Machine Learning and Patient Registration Records. Diagnostics (Basel) 2022; 12:diagnostics12112826. [PMID: 36428886 PMCID: PMC9689364 DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics12112826] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2022] [Revised: 10/13/2022] [Accepted: 10/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
This study aims to determine the feasibility of machine learning (ML) and patient registration record to be utilised to develop an over-the-counter (OTC) screening model for breast cancer risk estimation. Data were retrospectively collected from women who came to the Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia, Malaysia for breast-related problems. Eight ML models were used: k-nearest neighbour (kNN), elastic-net logistic regression, multivariate adaptive regression splines, artificial neural network, partial least square, random forest, support vector machine (SVM), and extreme gradient boosting. Features utilised for the development of the screening models were limited to information in the patient registration form. The final model was evaluated in terms of performance across a mammographic density. Additionally, the feature importance of the final model was assessed using the model agnostic approach. kNN had the highest Youden J index, precision, and PR-AUC, while SVM had the highest F2 score. The kNN model was selected as the final model. The model had a balanced performance in terms of sensitivity, specificity, and PR-AUC across the mammographic density groups. The most important feature was the age at examination. In conclusion, this study showed that ML and patient registration information are feasible to be used as the OTC screening model for breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tengku Muhammad Hanis
- Department of Community Medicine, School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kubang Kerian 16150, Kelantan, Malaysia
- Correspondence: (T.M.H.); (K.I.M.)
| | | | - Wan Nor Arifin
- Biostatistics and Research Methodology Unit, School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kubang Kerian 16150, Kelantan, Malaysia
| | - Juhara Haron
- Department of Radiology, School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kubang Kerian 16150, Kelantan, Malaysia
- Breast Cancer Awareness and Research Unit, Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kubang Kerian 16150, Kelantan, Malaysia
| | - Wan Faiziah Wan Abdul Rahman
- Breast Cancer Awareness and Research Unit, Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kubang Kerian 16150, Kelantan, Malaysia
- Department of Pathology, School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kubang Kerian 16150, Kelantan, Malaysia
| | - Rosni Abdullah
- School of Computer Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Gelugor 11800, Penang, Malaysia
| | - Kamarul Imran Musa
- Department of Community Medicine, School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kubang Kerian 16150, Kelantan, Malaysia
- Correspondence: (T.M.H.); (K.I.M.)
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Mirzaei-Alavijeh M, Jerome-D”Emilia B, Najafi F, Moradinazar M, Pirouzeh R, Jalilian F. Inequality in mammography uptake: results from recruitment phase of first cohort study among Iranian Kurdish population. Glob Health Res Policy 2022; 7:43. [DOI: 10.1186/s41256-022-00277-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2022] [Accepted: 10/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Background
Breast cancer is the most common malignant disease in women and is the leading cause of cancer deaths among women. Mammography is the best and the most available diagnostic method for breast cancer early detection. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence and inequality in the mammography uptake among Kurdish women in the west of Iran.
Methods
This cohort study was conducted using data extracted from the Ravansar Non-communicable Cohort Study among Kurdish women in the west of Iran from 2014 to 2018. The sample included 5289 women aged 35–65 years. The relative and generalized (absolute) concentration index (RC and GC, respectively) was used to quantify and decompose socioeconomic inequalities in mammography uptake.
Results
Overall concentration index for mammography was 0.2107, indicating that the mammography uptake concentration was greater in women with a higher socioeconomic status (SES). The predictor variables accounted for 44.6% of the inequality in the mammography uptake. Higher SES, living in urban areas, and age group of 51–55 years old increased the chance of having a mammogram. Available evidence supports the inequality of mammography uptake in favor of women with higher SES.
Conclusions
Cost-free screening services for low SES women, and the development of breast cancer prevention campaigns focusing on disadvantaged women could have an important role in mammography uptake and in the reduction of inequalities.
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