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El Bairi K, Trapani D, Nidhamalddin SJ, Khan SZ, Chowdhury AR, Lengyel CG, Hussain S, Habeeb BS, Petrillo A, Omar NE, Altuna S, Seid FU, Elfaham E, Seeber A, Roitberg F, Burguete-Torres A, El Kefi S, Hammad N, Mutebi M, Al Jarroudi O, El Kadmiri N, Curigliano G, Afqir S. Global Landscape of the Attack of Predatory Journals in Oncology. JCO Glob Oncol 2024; 10:e2300287. [PMID: 38781549 DOI: 10.1200/go.23.00287] [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: 08/15/2023] [Revised: 01/05/2024] [Accepted: 03/27/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Open-access publishing expanded opportunities to give visibility to research results but was accompanied by the proliferation of predatory journals (PJos) that offer expedited publishing but potentially compromise the integrity of research and peer review. To our knowledge, to date, there is no comprehensive global study on the impact of PJos in the field of oncology. MATERIALS AND METHODS A 29 question-based cross-sectional survey was developed to explore knowledge and practices of predatory publishing and analyzed using descriptive statistics and binary logistic regression. RESULTS Four hundred and twenty-six complete responses to the survey were reported. Almost half of the responders reported feeling pressure to publish from supervisors, institutions, and funding and regulatory agencies. The majority of authors were contacted by PJos through email solicitations (67.8%), with fewer using social networks (31%). In total, 13.4% of the responders confirmed past publications on PJo, convinced by fast editorial decision time, low article-processing charges, limited peer review, and for the promise of academic boost in short time. Over half of the participants were not aware of PJo detection tools. We developed a multivariable model to understand the determinants to publish in PJos, showing a significant correlation of practicing oncology in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) and predatory publishing (odds ratio [OR], 2.02 [95% CI, 1.01 to 4.03]; P = .04). Having previous experience in academic publishing was not protective (OR, 3.81 [95% CI, 1.06 to 13.62]; P = .03). Suggestions for interventions included educational workshops, increasing awareness through social networks, enhanced research funding in LMICs, surveillance by supervisors, and implementation of institutional actions against responsible parties. CONCLUSION The prevalence of predatory publishing poses an alarming problem in the field of oncology, globally. Our survey identified actionable risk factors that may contribute to vulnerability to PJos and inform guidance to enhance research capacity broadly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Khalid El Bairi
- Department of Medical Oncology, Mohammed VI University Hospital, Oujda, Morocco
- Faculty of Medical Sciences, University Mohammed VI Polytechnic, Ben Guerir, Morocco
| | - Dario Trapani
- European Institute of Oncology, IRCCS, Milan, Italy
- Department of Oncology and Hemato-oncology (DIPO), University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | | | - Shah Zeb Khan
- Department of Clinical Oncology, Binor, Bannu, Pakistan
| | | | | | - Sadaqat Hussain
- Oncology Department, University Hospital of Leicester, Leicester, United Kingdom
| | | | | | - Nabil Elhadi Omar
- Pharmacy Department, National Center for Cancer Care and Research, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar
- Clinical and Population Health Research, College of Pharmacy, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar
| | - Sara Altuna
- Medical Oncology, Oncomédica Clinic, Caracas, Venezuela
| | - Fahmi Usman Seid
- Department of Oncology, Hawassa University College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Hawassa, Ethiopia
| | - Essam Elfaham
- Hemato-Oncology Department Kuwait Cancer Control Center, Kuwait, Kuwait
| | - Andreas Seeber
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Comprehensive Cancer Center Innsbruck, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | | | - Alan Burguete-Torres
- Gastrointestinal Tumors Unit, University of Nuevo Leon Cancer Center, Monterrey, México
| | - Safa El Kefi
- Stevens Institute of Technology, School of Systems and Enterprises, Hoboken, NJ
| | - Nazik Hammad
- Department of Oncology, Queen's University, Kingston, Canada
| | - Miriam Mutebi
- Department of Surgery, Aga Khan University, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Ouissam Al Jarroudi
- Department of Medical Oncology, Mohammed VI University Hospital, Oujda, Morocco
- Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Mohammed Ist University, Oujda, Morocco
| | - Nadia El Kadmiri
- Molecular Engineering, Biotechnology and Innovation Team, Geo-Bio-Environment Engineering and Innovation Laboratory, Polydisciplinary Faculty of Taroudant, IBN ZOHR University, Taroudannt, Morocco
| | - Giuseppe Curigliano
- European Institute of Oncology, IRCCS, Milan, Italy
- Department of Oncology and Hemato-oncology (DIPO), University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Said Afqir
- Department of Medical Oncology, Mohammed VI University Hospital, Oujda, Morocco
- Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Mohammed I University, Oujda, Morocco
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El Bairi K, Najem S, Chowdhury AR, Omar A, Abdihamid O, Teuwen LA, Benhima N, Madariaga A, Elkefi S, Diaz FC, Hussain S, Jenei K, Hammad N, Mutebi M, Rubagumya F, Trapani D, El Kadmiri N, Laouali N, Fourtassi M. Conflict of Interest Disclosure in Oncology: Preliminary Insights From the Global ONCOTRUST-1 Cross-Sectional Study. JCO Glob Oncol 2024; 10:e2400167. [PMID: 38822759 DOI: 10.1200/go.24.00167] [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: 04/14/2024] [Revised: 05/03/2024] [Accepted: 05/03/2024] [Indexed: 06/03/2024] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Conflicts of interest (COIs) between oncologists and industry might considerably influence how the presentation of the research results is delivered, ultimately affecting clinical decisions and policy-making. Although there are many regulations on reporting COI in high-income countries (HICs), little is known about their reporting in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Oncology Transparency Under Scrutiny and Tracking (ONCOTRUST-1) is a pilot global survey to explore the knowledge and perceptions of oncologists regarding COI. MATERIALS AND METHODS We designed an online 27-question-based survey in the English language to explore the perceptions and knowledge of oncologists regarding COI, with an emphasis on LMICs. Descriptive statistics and the Consensus-Based Checklist for Reporting of Survey Studies guidelines were used to report the findings. RESULTS ONCOTRUST-1 surveyed 200 oncologists, 70.9% of them practicing in LMICs. Median age of the respondents was 36 (range, 26-84) years; 47.5% of them were women. Of the respondents, 40.5% reported weekly visits by pharmaceutical representatives to their institutions. Regarding oncologists' perceptions of COI that require disclosure, direct financial benefits, such as honoraria, ranked highest (58.5%), followed by gifts from pharmaceutical representatives (50%) and travel grants for attending conferences (44.5%). By contrast, personal or institutional research funding, sample drugs, consulting or advisory board, expert testimony, and food and beverage funded by pharmaceutical industry were less frequently considered as COI. Moreover, only 24% of surveyed oncologists could correctly categorize all situations representing a COI. CONCLUSION These findings underscore the importance of clear guidelines, education, and transparency in reporting COI in oncology. This hypothesis-generating pilot survey provided the rationale for ONCOTRUST-2 study, which will compare perceptions of COI among oncologists in LMICs and HICs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Khalid El Bairi
- Faculty of Medical Sciences, University Mohammed VI Polytechnic, Ben Guerir, Morocco
| | - Salma Najem
- Department of Medical Oncology, National Institute of Oncology, Rabat, Morocco
| | | | - Abeid Omar
- Department of Oncology and Nuclear Medicine, Research and Referral Hospital Kenyatta Teaching University, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Omar Abdihamid
- Garissa Cancer Center, Garissa County Hospital, Garissa, Kenya
| | - Laure-Anne Teuwen
- Department of Oncology, Antwerp University Hospital, Edegem, Belgium
| | - Nada Benhima
- Medical Oncology Department, Mohammed VI University Hospital, Marrakech, Morocco
| | - Ainhoa Madariaga
- Department of Medical Oncology, Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre, Madrid, Spain
| | - Safa Elkefi
- School of Nursing, Columbia Medical School, Columbia University, New York, NY
| | - Fernando Cristobal Diaz
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC
| | - Sadaqat Hussain
- Oncology Department, University Hospital of Leicester, Licester, United Kingdom
| | - Kristina Jenei
- Health Policy Department, London School of Economics and Political Science, London, United Kingdom
| | - Nazik Hammad
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, St Michael's Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Miriam Mutebi
- Department of Surgery, Aga Khan University Hospital, Nairobi, Kenya
| | | | - Dario Trapani
- Division of Early Drug Development, European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, Milan, Italy
- University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Nadia El Kadmiri
- Molecular Engineering, Biotechnology, and Innovation Team, Geo-Bio-Environment Engineering and Innovation Laboratory, Polydisciplinary Faculty of Taroudant, Ibn Zohr University, Taroudannt, Morocco
| | - Nasser Laouali
- Faculty of Medical Sciences, University Mohammed VI Polytechnic, Ben Guerir, Morocco
| | - Maryam Fourtassi
- Laboratory of Life and Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy of Tangier, Abdelmalek Essaadi University, Tetuan, Morocco
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Al Sukhun S, Temin S, Barrios CH, Antone NZ, Guerra YC, Mac Gregor MC, Chopra R, Danso MA, Gomez HL, Homian NM, Kandil A, Kithaka B, Koczwara B, Moy B, Nakigudde G, Petracci FE, Rugo HS, El Saghir NS, Arun BK. Systemic Treatment of Patients With Metastatic Breast Cancer: ASCO Resource-Stratified Guideline. JCO Glob Oncol 2024; 10:e2300285. [PMID: 38206277 DOI: 10.1200/go.23.00285] [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: 08/15/2023] [Accepted: 11/22/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE To guide clinicians and policymakers in three global resource-constrained settings on treating patients with metastatic breast cancer (MBC) when Maximal setting-guideline recommended treatment is unavailable. METHODS A multidisciplinary, multinational panel reviewed existing ASCO guidelines and conducted modified ADAPTE and formal consensus processes. RESULTS Four published resource-agnostic guidelines were adapted for resource-constrained settings; informing two rounds of formal consensus; recommendations received ≥75% agreement. RECOMMENDATIONS Clinicians should recommend treatment according to menopausal status, pathological and biomarker features when quality results are available. In first-line, for hormone receptor (HR)-positive MBC, when a non-steroidal aromatase inhibitor and CDK 4/6 inhibitor combination is unavailable, use hormonal therapy alone. For life-threatening disease, use single-agent chemotherapy or surgery for local control. For premenopausal patients, use ovarian suppression or ablation plus hormone therapy in Basic settings. For human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive MBC, if trastuzumab, pertuzumab, and chemotherapy are unavailable, use trastuzumab and chemotherapy; if unavailable, use chemotherapy. For HER2-positive, HR-positive MBC, use standard first-line therapy, or endocrine therapy if contraindications. For triple-negative MBC with unknown PD-L1 status, or if PD-L1-positive and immunotherapy unavailable, use single-agent chemotherapy. For germline BRCA1/2 mutation-positive MBC, if poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitor is unavailable, use hormonal therapy (HR-positive MBC) and chemotherapy (HR-negative MBC). In second-line, for HR-positive MBC, Enhanced setting recommendations depend on prior treatment; for Limited, use tamoxifen or chemotherapy. For HER2-positive MBC, if trastuzumab deruxtecan is unavailable, use trastuzumab emtansine; if unavailable, capecitabine and lapatinib; if unavailable, trastuzumab and/or chemotherapy (hormonal therapy alone for HR-positive MBC).Additional information is available at www.asco.org/resource-stratified-guidelines. It is ASCO's view that healthcare providers and system decision-makers should be guided by the recommendations for the highest stratum of resources available. The guideline is intended to complement but not replace local guidelines.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sarah Temin
- American Society of Clinical Oncology, Alexandria, VA
| | | | | | - Yanin Chavarri Guerra
- Departamento de Hemato-Oncología, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán, Mexico City, Mexico
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Alaa Kandil
- Alexandria Comprehensive Cancer Center, Alexandria, Egypt
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Hope S Rugo
- University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
| | | | - Banu K Arun
- University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
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Bekele B, Masresha Z, Alemayehu M, Seyoum B, Wassie L, Abebe M. Intravenous Immunoglobulin G (IVIG) Need Assessment Survey Toward Local Manufacturing of IVIG Using a Mini-Pool Plasma Fractionation Technique. Health Serv Insights 2023; 16:11786329231157467. [PMID: 36860668 PMCID: PMC9969427 DOI: 10.1177/11786329231157467] [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: 07/12/2022] [Accepted: 01/27/2023] [Indexed: 02/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Immunoglobulin therapy has a crucial role in the treatment of primary and secondary immunodeficiencies as well as in a multitude of neurologic, hematologic, infectious, and autoimmune conditions. In the current study, a preliminary pilot scale needs assessment survey was conducted to examine the need for IVIG among patients in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and in so doing justify local manufacturing of IVIG products. The survey was performed by administering a structured questionnaire to private and government hospitals, a national blood bank, a regulatory body, and healthcare researchers working in academia and pharmaceutical companies. The questionnaire encompassed demographics and specific IVIG-related questions designed for each institution. Responses supplied in the study provide qualitative data. Our findings indicated that IVIG has been registered by the regulatory body for use in Ethiopia and there is a demand for the product in the country. The study also highlights that patients go as far as to clandestine markets to procure IVIG products at a cheaper price. To impede such illegal routes and make the product readily accessible, a small-scale and low-cost approach such as a mini-pool plasma fractionation technique could be implemented to locally purify and prepare IVIG using plasma collected through the national blood donation program.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bisrat Bekele
- Bisrat Bekele, Armauer Hansen Research
Institute, Biotechnology and Bioinformatics Directorate, Jimma Road, ALERT
Campus, P.O. Box 1005, Addis Ababa 1005, Ethiopia.
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Song CV, van Gils CH, Yip CH, Soerjomataram I, Taib NAM, See MH, Lim A, Abdul Satar NF, Bhoo-Pathy N. Discriminatory Ability and Clinical Utility of the AJCC7 and AJCC8 Staging Systems for Breast Cancer in a Middle-Income Setting. Diagnostics (Basel) 2023; 13:674. [PMID: 36832162 PMCID: PMC9955895 DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics13040674] [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: 12/14/2022] [Revised: 01/25/2023] [Accepted: 02/03/2023] [Indexed: 02/15/2023] Open
Abstract
(1) Background: Differences in access to biomarker testing and cancer treatment in resource-limited settings may affect the clinical utility of the AJCC8 staging system compared to the anatomical AJCC7 system. (2) Methods: A total of 4151 Malaysian women who were newly diagnosed with breast cancer from 2010 to 2020 were followed-up until December 2021. All patients were staged using the AJCC7 and AJCC8 systems. Overall survival (OS) and relative survival (RS) were determined. Concordance-index was used to compare the discriminatory ability between the two systems. (3) Results: Migration from the AJCC7 to AJCC8 staging system resulted in the downstaging of 1494 (36.0%) patients and the upstaging of 289 (7.0%) patients. Approximately 5% of patients could not be staged using the AJCC8 classification. Five-year OS varied between 97% (Stage IA) and 66% (Stage IIIC) for AJCC7, and 96% (Stage IA) and 60% (Stage IIIC) for AJCC8. Concordance-indexes for predicting OS using the AJCC7 and AJCC8 models were 0.720 (0.694-0.747) and 0.745 (0.716-0.774), and for predicting RS they were 0.692 (0.658-0.728) and 0.710 (0.674-0.748), respectively. (4) Conclusions: Given the comparable discriminatory ability between the two staging systems in predicting the stage-specific survival of women with breast cancer in the current study, the continued use of the AJCC7 staging system in resource-limited settings seems pragmatic and justifiable.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chin-Vern Song
- Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, UMC Utrecht, Heidelberglaan 100, 3508 GA Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Carla H. van Gils
- Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, UMC Utrecht, Heidelberglaan 100, 3508 GA Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Cheng-Har Yip
- Ramsay Sime Darby Health Care, Jalan SS12, Subang Jaya 47500, Malaysia
| | - Isabelle Soerjomataram
- Cancer Surveillance Branch, International Agency for Research on Cancer, 150 Cr Albert Thomas, 69008 Lyon, France
| | - Nur Aishah Mohd Taib
- Department of Surgery, University of Malaya Medical Centre, Jalan Professor Diraja Ungku Aziz, Lembah Pantai, Kuala Lumpur 59100, Malaysia
| | - Mee-Hoong See
- Department of Surgery, University of Malaya Medical Centre, Jalan Professor Diraja Ungku Aziz, Lembah Pantai, Kuala Lumpur 59100, Malaysia
| | - Alexander Lim
- Hospital Seberang Jaya, Jalan Tun Hussein Onn, Seberang Jaya, Permatang Pauh, Pulau Pinang 13700, Malaysia
| | - Nur Fadhlina Abdul Satar
- Department of Clinical Oncology, University of Malaya Medical Centre, Jalan Professor Diraja Ungku Aziz, Lembah Pantai, Kuala Lumpur 59100, Malaysia
| | - Nirmala Bhoo-Pathy
- Centre for Epidemiology and Evidence-Based Practice, Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur 50603, Malaysia
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Lengyel CG, Habeeb BS, Altuna SC, Trapani D, Khan SZ, Hussain S. The Global Landscape on the Access to Cancer Medicines for Breast Cancer: The ONCOLLEGE Experience. Cancer Treat Res 2023; 188:353-368. [PMID: 38175353 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-33602-7_14] [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] [Indexed: 01/05/2024]
Abstract
There is a growing global debate over barriers affecting the timely access to innovative anticancer therapies. Access to medicines is often traced back to the issue of costs: however, more commonly, the distance between valuable innovative treatments and the actual treatment of patients is far beyond the mere problem of financial barriers. A comprehensive approach to understand, assess to medicines should be pursued, to dissect the determinants and formulate solutions for all patients. In this chapter, we discuss drivers of access to innovation for patients with breast cancer, based on a case study of access to HER2-diagnositcs and therapeutics yielding a global landscape analysis, based on the efforts and expertise of the global collaborative group "ONCOLLEGE".
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Baker Shalal Habeeb
- Department of Medical Oncology, Shaqlawa Teaching Hospital, Shaqlawa, Erbil, 44005, Iraq
| | | | - Dario Trapani
- Department of Oncology and Hematology, University of Milan, 20122, Milan, Italy
| | - Shah Zeb Khan
- Department of Clinical Oncology, Bannu Institute of Nuclear Medicine Oncology and Radiotherapy (BINOR), Bannu, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
| | - Sadaqat Hussain
- Leicester Royal Infirmary, University Hospitals of Leicester, Leicester, LE1 5WW, UK
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Morin S, Segafredo G, Piccolis M, Das A, Das M, Loffredi N, Larbi A, Mwamelo K, Villanueva E, Nobre S, Burrone E. Expanding access to biotherapeutics in low-income and middle-income countries through public health non-exclusive voluntary intellectual property licensing: considerations, requirements, and opportunities. Lancet Glob Health 2023; 11:e145-e154. [PMID: 36455593 DOI: 10.1016/s2214-109x(22)00460-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2022] [Revised: 10/07/2022] [Accepted: 10/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Biotherapeutics, such as recombinant proteins and monoclonal antibodies, have become mainstays of modern medicine as shown by their increasing number in the WHO Model List of Essential Medicines. However, despite frequently offering clinical advantages over standards of care, they remain largely out of reach for populations in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs), partly because of high costs. Accordingly, the WHO Model List of Essential Medicines Expert Committee has requested that the Medicines Patent Pool explore intellectual property licensing to address this challenge. We therefore investigated how licensing could successfully improve affordability of and timely access to biotherapeutics in LMICs, by leveraging expert consultations, literature analysis, and internal technical knowledge. The key elements identified as relevant to support access to affordable biosimilars in LMICs through licensing include: prioritising potential biotherapeutic targets according to their potential for public health impact; supporting biosimilar product and clinical development (including through technology transfer to expedite regulatory approval); and facilitating biosimilars' entry and use in LMICs (by meeting procurement, supply chain, and health system requirements).
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Manuele Piccolis
- Business Development, Medicines Patent Pool, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Aditi Das
- Business Development, Medicines Patent Pool, Mumbai, India
| | - Meghmala Das
- Business Development, Medicines Patent Pool, Mumbai, India
| | - Nicola Loffredi
- Business Development, Medicines Patent Pool, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Amina Larbi
- Policy, Medicines Patent Pool, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Kim Mwamelo
- Policy, Medicines Patent Pool, Geneva, Switzerland
| | | | - Sandra Nobre
- Business Development, Medicines Patent Pool, Geneva, Switzerland
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Implications of Oncology Trial Design and Uncertainties in Efficacy-Safety Data on Health Technology Assessments. Curr Oncol 2022; 29:5774-5791. [PMID: 36005193 PMCID: PMC9406873 DOI: 10.3390/curroncol29080455] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2022] [Revised: 08/10/2022] [Accepted: 08/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Advances in cancer medicines have resulted in tangible health impacts, but the magnitude of benefits of approved cancer medicines could vary greatly. Health Technology Assessment (HTA) is a multidisciplinary process used to inform resource allocation through a systematic value assessment of health technology. This paper reviews the challenges in conducting HTA for cancer medicines arising from oncology trial designs and uncertainties of safety-efficacy data. Methods: Multiple databases (PubMed, Scopus and Google Scholar) and grey literature (public health agencies and governmental reports) were searched to inform this policy narrative review. Results: A lack of robust efficacy-safety data from clinical trials and other relevant sources of evidence has made HTA for cancer medicines challenging. The approval of cancer medicines through expedited pathways has increased in recent years, in which surrogate endpoints or biomarkers for patient selection have been widely used. Using these surrogate endpoints has created uncertainties in translating surrogate measures into patient-centric clinically (survival and quality of life) and economically (cost-effectiveness and budget impact) meaningful outcomes, with potential effects on diverting scarce health resources to low-value or detrimental interventions. Potential solutions include policy harmonization between regulatory and HTA authorities, commitment to generating robust post-marketing efficacy-safety data, managing uncertainties through risk-sharing agreements, and using value frameworks. Conclusion: A lack of robust efficacy-safety data is a central problem for conducting HTA of cancer medicines, potentially resulting in misinformed resource allocation.
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Global challenges and policy solutions in breast cancer control. Cancer Treat Rev 2022; 104:102339. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ctrv.2022.102339] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2021] [Revised: 01/12/2022] [Accepted: 01/14/2022] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
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El Bairi K, Al Jarroudi O, Afqir S. Practical Tools and Guidelines for Young Oncologists From Resource-Limited Settings to Publish Excellence and Advance Their Career. JCO Glob Oncol 2021; 7:1668-1681. [PMID: 34910583 PMCID: PMC8691496 DOI: 10.1200/go.21.00310] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2021] [Revised: 10/07/2021] [Accepted: 11/02/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Cancer research is evolving worldwide. However, publishing high-quality academic literature in oncology remains challenging for authors in the developing world. Young oncologists in low- and middle-income countries experience several barriers including lack of funding and research facilities, as well as inadequate training. Publication best practices, science integrity, and ethics are required to improve oncology research quality and therefore, improve patients' care in these countries. To achieve this goal, we propose some basic principles and tools that may help young oncologists especially in developing countries overcome these issues and boost their academic careers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Khalid El Bairi
- Department of Medical Oncology, Mohammed VI University Hospital, Oujda, Morocco
- Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Mohammed Ist University, Oujda, Morocco
| | - Ouissam Al Jarroudi
- Department of Medical Oncology, Mohammed VI University Hospital, Oujda, Morocco
- Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Mohammed Ist University, Oujda, Morocco
| | - Said Afqir
- Department of Medical Oncology, Mohammed VI University Hospital, Oujda, Morocco
- Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Mohammed Ist University, Oujda, Morocco
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