Factors associated with the latency to diagnosis of childhood cancer in Peru

Strengthening public health policies for childhood cancer: Peru's achievements through the WHO Global Initiative for Childhood Cancer

Objective

To report the progress in Peru, since June 2019, in the implementation of the World Health Organization Global Initiative for Childhood Cancer using the CureAll framework, which can be replicated in low- and middle-income countries.

Methods

A mixed method was used of participatory and documentary evaluation. The participatory evaluation included stakeholders from various government institutions, nonprofit organizations, and international partners. The documentary aspect consisted of a review of data on the regulatory environment, national projects, and interventions implemented. The Ministry of Health engaged more than 150 participants to form working committees, which have developed policy and regulatory documents to strengthen care services.

Results

Achievements include a decrease in the national treatment abandonment rate from 18.6% to 8.5%, the approval of the Childhood Cancer Law, improvements in the management of patients with febrile neutropenia, and a reduction in rates of events of clinical deterioration and mortality of hospitalized patients. The Cure All implementation framework allows local teams to implement specific strategies and monitor early outcomes in pediatric oncology.

Conclusions

The results obtained reflect the teamwork, the leadership of the authorities, the technical support of professionals, and the support of involved organizations. Further actions will be needed to guarantee sustainability, and monitoring tools are needed to assure success in the planned activities.

A Study of Factors Influencing Delayed Diagnosis in Pediatric Cancers: A Step Towards Better Outcomes-A Cross-sectional Study

Annually, India contributes to one-fifth of newly diagnosed pediatric cancers worldwide. Poor outcome in India as compared with developed nations is mainly attributed to delayed diagnosis and study of factors influencing delay in diagnosis holds paramount importance in formulating strategies and counter-measures to improve survival. It was a cross-sectional study conducted on children diagnosed with malignancy at a tertiary care hospital. Diagnosis delay was defined and further divided into patient delay and physician delay. Various patient-related factors and socioeconomic factors that could affect diagnosis were studied. Statistical analysis included descriptive analysis, Mann-Whitney U test, Kruskal-Wallis test, and multivariate linear regression. Of 185 patients enrolled, median diagnosis delay, patient delay, and physician delays were 59, 30, and 7 days respectively. Median diagnosis delay was significantly higher in younger children, children of illiterate parents, and low income. Median diagnosis delay in children presenting to a general practitioner (9 [4 to 29] days) was higher than those presenting to a pediatrician (5.5 [2 to 18] days). Sex, occupation of parents, and distance from oncology center did not affect time for diagnosis. We concluded that augmentation of the parent's attitudes, increased awareness, and decentralization of specialized pediatric care to rural areas can significantly reduce mortality from, otherwise, curable malignancies.

Musculoskeletal misdiagnoses in children with brain tumors: A nationwide, multicenter case-control study

OBJECTIVE

Childhood brain tumors belong to the cancer type with the longest diagnostic delay, the highest health care utilization prior to diagnosis, and the highest burden of long-term sequelae. We aimed to clarify whether prior musculoskeletal diagnoses in childhood brain cancer were misdiagnoses and whether it affected the diagnostic delay.

STUDY DESIGN

In this retrospective, chart-reviewed case-control study we compared 28 children with brain tumors and a prior musculoskeletal diagnosis to a sex and age-matched control group of 56 children with brain tumors and no prior musculoskeletal diagnosis. Using the Danish registries, the cases were identified from consecutive cases of childhood brain cancers in Denmark over 23 years (1996-2018).

RESULTS

Of 931 children with brain tumors, 3% (28/931) had a prior musculoskeletal diagnosis, of which 39% (11/28) were misdiagnoses. The misdiagnoses primarily included torticollis-related diagnoses which tended to a longer time interval from first hospital contact until a specialist was involved: 35 days (IQR 6-166 days) compared to 3 days (IQR 1-48 days), p = 0.07. When comparing the 28 children with a prior musculoskeletal diagnosis with a matched control group without a prior musculoskeletal diagnosis, we found no difference in the non-musculoskeletal clinical presentation, the diagnostic time interval, or survival. Infratentorial tumor location was associated with a seven-fold risk of musculoskeletal misdiagnosis compared to supratentorial tumor location.

CONCLUSION

Musculoskeletal misdiagnoses were rare in children with brain tumors and had no significant association to the diagnostic time interval or survival. The misdiagnoses consisted primarily of torticollis- or otherwise neck-related diagnoses.

Clinical Factors, Management, and Outcomes of Patients Under 18 Years Old With Central Nervous System Tumors: Single-center Experience in Peru

Few reports on clinical factors, treatment, and survival in children and adolescents with Central nervous system tumors in low-income and middle-income countries in Latin America exist. We retrospectively reviewed such data in all cases of patients younger than 18 years with brain tumors diagnosed in a single tertiary care center in Peru from 2007 through 2017. Variables were analyzed for association with overall survival and event-free survival by using the Kaplan-Meier method and the Cox hazards ratio regression. Seventy-five patients' data were analyzed (40 boys, 35 girls; mean age=7.7 y). The main clinical symptoms were headache, vomiting, difficulty walking, and visual disturbances. The most frequent clinical signs were hydrocephalus, cerebellar signs, visual abnormalities, and focal motor signs. The median time to diagnosis was 12 weeks. Tumor resection was performed in 68 patients, and 37 patients received postoperative radiotherapy. The most frequent histologic subtypes were low-grade gliomas and medulloblastomas. Overall survival rates at 1 and 5 years of disease were 78% (CI 95%, 0.67 to 0.86) and 74% (CI 95%, 0.62 to 0.82), respectively, and the 5-year event-free survival rate was 62% (CI 95%, 0.47 to 0.73). Although diagnosis occurred late in our cohort, the survival rate was higher than that in other Latin American countries.

Determinants of delayed childhood cancer care in low- and middle-income countries: A systematic review

Early access to care is essential to improve survival rates for childhood cancer. This study evaluates the determinants of delays in childhood cancer care in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) through a systematic review of the literature. We proposed a novel Three-Delay framework specific to childhood cancer in LMICs by summarizing 43 determinants and 24 risk factors of delayed cancer care from 95 studies. Traditional medicine, household income, lack of transportation, rural population, parental education, and travel distance influenced most domains of our framework. Our novel framework can be used as a policy tool toward improving cancer care and outcomes for children in LMICs.

Advice to Clinicians on Communication from Adolescents and Young Adults with Cancer and Parents of Children with Cancer

Effective communication is integral to patient and family-centered care in pediatric and adolescent and young adult (AYA) oncology and improving healthcare delivery and outcomes. There is limited knowledge about whether AYAs and parents have similar communication preferences and needs. By eliciting and comparing communication advice from AYAs and parents, we can identify salient guidance for how clinicians can better communicate. We performed secondary analysis of semi-structured interviews from 2 qualitative communication studies. In one study, 80 parents of children with cancer during treatment, survivorship, or bereavement were interviewed. In the second study, AYAs with cancer during treatment or survivorship were interviewed. We asked AYAs and parents to provide communication advice for oncology clinicians. Using thematic analysis, we identified categories of advice related to three overarching themes: interpersonal relationships, informational preferences, and delivery of treatment, resources, and medical care. AYAs and parents provided similar advice about the need for compassion, strong connections, hopefulness, commitment, and transparent honesty However, AYAs placed additional emphasis on clinicians maintaining a calm demeanor.

Exploring knowledge of parents and caregivers on cancer symptoms in children: an observational study regarding the need for educational tools and health promotion in low- and middle-income countries

Background

Although most cases of childhood cancer are unlikely to be prevented, by today’s standards, most children with cancer can now be cured. However, disparities about survival exist among countries; in Mexico, the overall survival is 49.6%, with 70% of childhood cancers diagnosed at advanced stages. Therefore, parents and caregivers must have optimal knowledge of the early signs and symptoms of childhood malignancies as they are largely non-specific. This study was designed to explore the current knowledge of childhood cancer among parents and caregivers in Mexico and identify the need for education and health promotion in low- and middle-income countries.

Methods

An online survey of 112 parents and caregivers was performed to assess their knowledge of childhood cancer, focusing on the signs and symptoms and early diagnostic strategies.

Results

Sixty-nine (61.6%) mothers, 23 (20.5%) fathers, 17 (15.2%) familiar caregivers, and 3 (2.7%) non-familiar caregivers responded. Forty-six (41.1%) respondents said that they knew a child diagnosed with cancer, 92.9% mentioned leukemia as the most common type of cancer among children, the most highly ranked option when asked which sign/symptom they considered as a warning for suspicion was growth/lump in any part of the body, 97.3% considered that an early diagnosis is related to a higher cure rate, and 92.9% expressed the desire to receive reliable information about childhood cancer.

Conclusions

Although parents and caregivers have some knowledge of childhood cancer, there are concepts that should be reinforced to improve their understanding of this group of diseases, as they are the frontline for children to seek medical attention. In the future, the use of tools that help educate more caregivers will strengthen knowledge and contribution regarding this issue and promote the generation of public policies that support the early diagnosis of childhood cancer.

The time to diagnosis and survival in children with solid tumors and lymphoma: results from a single center in Turkey

The longer diagnostic intervals in low- and middle-income countries have been proposed among the possible causes of poorer outcomes in children with cancer. In this single-center study from Turkey, the diagnostic intervals and survival status of 138 children with solid tumors and lymphoma (excluding leukemia) were prospectively evaluated. The median total interval (from the beginning of the first cancer-related symptom to the first day of the cancer-specific therapy), the median patient interval (the time interval from the notification of the first cancer-related symptom to the first admission to a healthcare facility), and the median physician interval (the time interval between the first healthcare admission to the first pediatric oncology visit) were 65, 26, and 24 days, respectively. The estimated 5-year overall survival and event-free survival rates were 80.7% and 69.1%, respectively. The longer time intervals were correlated with age, paternal education, localization, and tumor type. Interestingly, none of the time parameters were found to be associated with survival on regression analysis. In conclusion, the diagnostic delay in children with cancer is multifactorial, and the patient- and disease-related factors are as important as the time intervals on survival.Supplemental data for this article is available online at https://doi.org/10.1080/08880018.2021.1951903.

Wilms tumour

Wilms tumour (WT) is a childhood embryonal tumour that is paradigmatic of the intersection between disrupted organogenesis and tumorigenesis. Many WT genes play a critical (non-redundant) role in early nephrogenesis. Improving patient outcomes requires advances in understanding and targeting of the multiple genes and cellular control pathways now identified as active in WT development. Decades of clinical and basic research have helped to gradually optimize clinical care. Curative therapy is achievable in 90% of affected children, even those with disseminated disease, yet survival disparities within and between countries exist and deserve commitment to change. Updated epidemiological studies have also provided novel insights into global incidence variations. Introduction of biology-driven approaches to risk stratification and new drug development has been slower in WT than in other childhood tumours. Current prognostic classification for children with WT is grounded in clinical and pathological findings and in dedicated protocols on molecular alterations. Treatment includes conventional cytotoxic chemotherapy and surgery, and radiation therapy in some cases. Advanced imaging to capture tumour composition, optimizing irradiation techniques to reduce target volumes, and evaluation of newer surgical procedures are key areas for future research.

ONCOPEDS: A mobile application to improve early diagnosis and timely referral in childhood cancer in a low- and middle-income country-A pilot study

BACKGROUND

Diagnosis delay in children and adolescents with cancer is a public health problem in Peru that leads to high rates of advanced disease and mortality. We aimed to assess the implementation feasibility and potential utility of ONCOpeds®, a mobile application that provides consultations with pediatric oncologists, in reducing the latency to diagnosis (LD) and referral time (RT) among children and adolescents in Peru diagnosed with cancer.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A prospective pilot study was conducted in the region of Callao between November 2017 and April 2018. Primary and secondary care providers were trained on the use of ONCOpeds in five educational sessions. Patients younger than 18 years who resided in Callao and were diagnosed with cancer at four pediatric cancer units in Lima were analyzed by referral type: ONCOpeds facilitated or conventional.

RESULTS

ONCOpeds was successfully installed in the smartphones of 78 primary and secondary care providers of Callao. During the study period, 23 new cases of cancer in children and adolescents from the region were diagnosed. Ten patients received ONCOpeds-facilitated referrals and 13 received conventional referrals. The RT decreased among those who received ONCOpeds-facilitated referrals by 66% (P = 0.02); however, the LD did not significantly decrease with the use of ONCOpeds.

CONCLUSIONS

The implementation of ONCOpeds was found to be feasible in this pilot study, having a potential utility in improving early diagnosis and referral in children and adolescents newly diagnosed with cancer. Directions for future research include multicenter studies with a larger population to further test the application's effectiveness.

Leukemia mortality in children from Latin America: trends and predictions to 2030

Background

Reports suggest that Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) countries have not reduced leukemia mortality compared to high-income countries. However, updated trends remain largely unknown in the region. Given that leukemia is the leading cause of cancer-related death in LAC children, we evaluated mortality trends in children (0-14y) from 15 LAC countries for the period 2000–2017 and predicted mortality to 2030.

Methods

We retrieved cancer mortality data using the World Health Organization Mortality Database. Mortality rates (standardized to the world standard SEGI population) were analyzed for 15 LAC countries. We evaluated the average mortality rates for the last 5 years (2013–2017). Joinpoint regression analysis was used to evaluate leukemia mortality trends and provide an estimated annual percent change (EAPC). Nordpred was utilized for the calculation of predictions until 2030.

Results

Between 2013 and 2017, the highest mortality rates were reported in Venezuela, Ecuador, Nicaragua, Mexico, and Peru. Upward mortality trends were reported in Nicaragua (EAPC by 2.9% in boys, and EAPC by 2.0% in girls), and Peru (EAPC by 1.4% in both sexes). Puerto Rico experienced large declines in mortality among both boys (EAPC by − 9.7%), and girls (EAPC by − 6.0%). Leukemia mortality will increase in Argentina, Ecuador, Guatemala, Panama, Peru, and Uruguay by 2030.

Conclusion

Leukemia mortality is predicted to increase in some LAC countries by 2030. Interventions to prevent this outcome should be tailor to reduce the socioeconomic inequalities and ensure universal healthcare coverage.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12887-020-02408-y.

Childhood cancer in Latin America: from detection to palliative care and survivorship

BACKGROUND

Treatment options for childhood cancer have improved substantially, although in many low- and middle-income countries survival is lagging behind. Integral childhood cancer care involves the whole spectrum from detection and diagnosis to palliative and survivorship care.

METHODS

Based on a literature review and expert opinions, we summarized current practice and recommendations on the following aspects of childhood cancer in Latin America: diagnostic processes and time to diagnosis, stage at diagnosis, treatments and complications, survivorship programs and palliative care and end-of-life services.

RESULTS

Latin America is a huge and heterogeneous continent. Identified barriers show similar problems between countries, both logistically (time and distance to centers, treatment interruptions) and financially (cost of care, cost of absence from work). Governmental actions in several countries improved the survival of children with cancer, but difficulties persist in timely diagnosis and providing adequate treatment to all childhood cancer patients in institutions with complete infrastructure. Treatment abandonment is still common, although the situation is improving. Cancer care in the region has mostly focused on acute treatment of the disease and has not adequately considered palliative and end-of-life care and monitoring of survivors.

CONCLUSIONS

Decentralizing diagnostic activities and centralizing specialized treatment will remain necessary; measures to facilitate logistics and costs of transportation of the child and caretakers should be implemented. Twinning actions with specialized centers in high income countries for help in diagnosis, treatment and education of professionals and family members have been shown to work. Palliative and end-of-life care as well as childhood cancer survivorship plans are needed.

Time to diagnosis and clinical characteristics in pediatric brain tumor patients

PURPOSE

We aimed to identify factors that affect the time to diagnosis in pediatric brain tumors and investigate the effect of time to diagnosis on clinical outcome.

METHODS

A retrospective study of children with brain tumors aged less than 18 years diagnosed at the University of Tsukuba Hospital over a period of 7 years was conducted.

RESULTS

Eighty-five consecutive patients, with a mean age of 9.1 years, were included in the study. The median interval from symptom onset to diagnosis was 45 days (range 0-1673); median interval from symptom onset to first presentation was 31.0 days; and median interval from first presentation to diagnosis was 13.5 days. Germinoma had the longest interval from symptom onset to first presentation, and from first presentation to diagnosis. Patients presenting with endocrine disorder had a significantly longer interval from symptom onset to first presentation (p = 0.019); those with visual disturbance (p = 0.016) or endocrine disorder (p = 0.030) had significantly longer intervals from first presentation to diagnosis.

CONCLUSION

Pediatric brain tumor patients with germinoma and presenting symptoms of endocrine disorder or visual disturbance have a longer time to diagnosis. Although improved prognosis is not clearly related to a shorter time to diagnosis, we believe that early diagnosis can lead to improved treatment and better quality of life. A detailed medical history and neuroimaging studies at the earliest time possible are important for early diagnosis.

Patient and health service factors associated with delays in cancer treatment for children without social security in Mexico

BACKGROUND

The objective was to investigate factors associated with patient-related timing (PRT) to seek healthcare and health service-related timing (HSRT) to diagnose cancer and provide treatment to children without social security in Mexico.

PROCEDURE

A cross-sectional survey was conducted in 13 Ministry of Health hospitals in the states of Chihuahua, Jalisco, Mexico City, Morelos, Oaxaca, Puebla, Queretaro, State of Mexico, and Tlaxcala. Study participants were parents of recently diagnosed pediatric cancer patients (≤ 17 years of age). Three groups of factors were investigated: (1) patients (child and parent characteristics); (2) healthcare providers (HCPs) (first-contact HCP, institution, perceptions of barriers to healthcare, etc.); and (3) disease factors (cancer type/site, stage/risk at diagnosis). PRT and HSRT-associated factors were identified using multiple negative binomial regressions.

RESULTS

The study included 265 children; 49% sought care when symptoms first appeared. The median PRT was seven days, and the median HSRT was 40 days. Parents' perceptions of long wait times for appointments were associated with longer PRT and HSRT. Residing in the lowest or highest socioeconomic regions and persistent or worsening symptoms increased the probability of longer PRT. Older patient age, HCP requests for imaging tests or prescription for steroids, a higher number of doctors consulted, having a urinary tract cancer, and having an advanced stage or high-risk cancer increased the probability of longer HSRT.

CONCLUSION

Strategies to shorten lag time from symptom onset to diagnosis and treatment are urgently needed for childhood cancers in Mexico.

Factors influencing diagnostic delays of pediatric cancers in Botswana

BACKGROUND

A major barrier in improving cancer outcomes in Botswana and other low- and middle-income countries is timely access to care. Understanding time to diagnosis of pediatric cancers in Botswana and evaluating factors contributing to delays was necessary to inform interventions.

METHODS

A retrospective cohort study of children diagnosed with cancer at Princess Marina Hospital from 2008 to 2015 was performed utilizing the Botswana Pediatric Oncology Database. The time to diagnosis, pretreatment center delay, and pathology turnaround time were calculated. Time to diagnosis was analyzed using univariate and multivariate analyses to determine association with age, sex, distance to a treatment center, HIV status, cancer type, outcome, and presence of metastasis at diagnosis.

RESULTS

The median time to diagnosis was 10.7 weeks, median pretreatment center delay was 9.6 weeks, and median pathology turnaround time was 3 weeks. Longer time to diagnosis was significantly correlated with presence of metastasis at diagnosis. Age, sex, distance to a treatment center, HIV status, cancer type, and outcome were not significantly associated with diagnostic delay.

CONCLUSION

Children with cancer in Botswana have more than three months of symptoms prior to diagnosis, which is associated with metastasis at diagnosis. Efforts should be made to empower and promote awareness of pediatric cancer symptoms among caregivers and community healthcare providers in order to shorten time to presentation at a treatment center.

Prognostic impact of diagnostic and treatment delays in children with osteosarcoma

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study is to evaluate the relationship between the latency to diagnosis (LD) and the time to completion of chemotherapy (TCC) with clinical outcomes in children with osteosarcoma.

METHODS

We performed a retrospective analysis of all patients who received treatment for osteosarcoma in two tertiary centers in Peru from 2008 to 2015. All causes of delayed LD or TCC were evaluated. Overall survival (OS) and event-free-survival (EFS) were estimated and compared according to LD, TCC, and established clinical prognostic factors.

RESULTS

One hundred and thirteen patients were included in the study. The median LD was 13.5 weeks (interquartile range, 10-18.5 weeks). No association was observed among clinical stage, tumor size, and LD. Delayed LD was not associated with a worse clinical outcome. Multivariate analysis confirmed that OS and EFS were significantly worse in cases of a delayed TCC (≥4 weeks), with hazard ratios of 2.70 (1.11-6.76, P = 0.003) and 1.13 (1.00-1.26, P = 0.016), respectively. Most delays in TCC (85%) were due to extramedical reasons (e.g., lack of available hospital beds).

CONCLUSION

The LD did not seem to influence the EFS and OS in pediatric patients with osteosarcoma. However, a delay in TCC from any cause is independently associated with poor outcome in pediatric patients with osteosarcoma. Based on these results, further efforts may be needed to avoid treatment delays in patients with osteosarcoma in middle-income countries.

Factors associated with abandonment of therapy by children diagnosed with solid tumors in Peru

BACKGROUND

Abandonment of treatment is a major cause of treatment failure and poor survival in children with cancer in low- and middle-income countries. The incidence of treatment abandonment in Peru has not been reported. The aim of this study was to examine the prevalence of and factors associated with treatment abandonment by pediatric patients with solid tumors in Peru.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed the sociodemographic and clinical data of children referred between January 2012 and December 2014 to the two main tertiary centers for childhood cancer in Peru. The definition of treatment abandonment followed the International Society of Paediatric Oncology, Paediatric Oncology in Developing Countries, Abandonment of Treatment recommendation.

RESULTS

Data from 1135 children diagnosed with malignant solid tumors were analyzed, of which 209 (18.4%) abandoned treatment. Bivariate logistic regression analysis showed significantly higher abandonment rates in children living outside the capital city, Lima (forest; odds ratio [OR] 3.25; P < 0.001), those living in a rural setting (OR 3.44; P < 0.001), and those whose parent(s) lacked formal employment (OR 4.39; P = 0.001). According to cancer diagnosis, children with retinoblastoma were more likely to abandon treatment compared to children with other solid tumors (OR 1.79; P = 0.02). In multivariate regression analyses, rural origin (OR 2.02; P = 0.001) and lack of formal parental employment (OR 2.88; P = 0.001) were independently predictive of abandonment.

CONCLUSION

Treatment abandonment prevalence of solid tumors in Peru is high and closely related to sociodemographical factors. Treatment outcomes could be substantially improved by strategies that help prevent abandonment of therapy based on these results.