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Dzobo K. What to Do for Increasing Cancer Burden on the African Continent? Accelerating Public Health Diagnostics Innovation for Prevention and Early Intervention on Cancers. OMICS-A JOURNAL OF INTEGRATIVE BIOLOGY 2021; 25:567-579. [PMID: 34399067 DOI: 10.1089/omi.2021.0098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
No other place illustrates the increasing burden of cancer than in Africa and in particular, sub-Saharan Africa. Many of the individuals to be diagnosed with cancer will be in low-resource settings in the future due to, for example, an increase in populations and aging, and high co-morbidity with infections with viruses such as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and human papillomavirus (HPV), as well as the presence of infectious agents linked to cancer development. Due to lack of prevention and diagnostic innovation, patients present with advanced cancers, leading to poor survival and increased mortality. HIV infection-associated cancers such as B cell lymphomas, Kaposi's sarcoma, and HPV-associated cancers such as cervical cancer are particularly noteworthy in this context. Recent reports show that a host of other cancers are also associated with viral infection and these include lung, oral cavity, esophageal, and pharyngeal, hepatocellular carcinoma, and anal and vulvar cancers. This article examines the ways in which diagnostic innovation empowered by integrative biology and informed by public health priorities can improve cancer prevention or early intervention in Africa and beyond. In addition, I argue that because diagnostic biomarkers can often overlap with novel therapeutic targets, diagnostics research and development can have broader value for and impact on medical innovation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin Dzobo
- International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), Cape Town Component, Cape Town, South Africa.,Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, Division of Medical Biochemistry, Department of Integrative Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
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Kimani SM, Painschab MS, Horner MJ, Muchengeti M, Fedoriw Y, Shiels MS, Gopal S. Epidemiology of haematological malignancies in people living with HIV. Lancet HIV 2020; 7:e641-e651. [PMID: 32791045 PMCID: PMC10199168 DOI: 10.1016/s2352-3018(20)30118-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2019] [Revised: 04/14/2020] [Accepted: 04/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
People living with HIV or AIDS are at increased risk of Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin lymphoma compared with HIV-negative individuals. Data on the risk of multiple myeloma or leukaemia are inconsistent and of low quality but the risk does not seem to be increased. Specific haematological malignancies occur in different contexts of age, CD4 cell count, HIV control, viral co-infections, or chronic inflammation, and the expansion of combination antiretroviral therapy has led to varied demographic and epidemiological shifts among people with HIV. Increased use of combination antiretroviral therapy has substantially reduced the risks of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, Burkitt lymphoma, and primary CNS lymphoma, and to a lesser extent, Hodgkin lymphoma. There is no effect of combination antiretroviral therapy use on multiple myeloma or leukaemia. Although many cases of HIV are in low-income and middle-income countries, high-quality epidemiological data for haematological malignancies from these regions are scarce. Closing this gap is an essential first step in decreasing mortality from HIV-associated haematological malignancies worldwide. Finally, although multicentric Castleman disease is not a neoplastic condition, it is an emerging precursor to neoplastic high-grade B-cell lymphoproliferation among people with HIV, especially for individuals on long-term combination antiretroviral therapy with well controlled HIV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen M Kimani
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA; University of North Carolina Project-Malawi, Lilongwe, Malawi
| | - Matthew S Painschab
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA; University of North Carolina Project-Malawi, Lilongwe, Malawi
| | - Marie-Josèphe Horner
- Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, Rockville, MD, USA
| | | | - Yuri Fedoriw
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA; University of North Carolina Project-Malawi, Lilongwe, Malawi
| | - Meredith S Shiels
- Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Satish Gopal
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA; University of North Carolina Project-Malawi, Lilongwe, Malawi.
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Okello CD, Omoding A, Ddungu H, Mulumba Y, Orem J. Outcomes of treatment with CHOP and EPOCH in patients with HIV associated NHL in a low resource setting. BMC Cancer 2020; 20:798. [PMID: 32831073 PMCID: PMC7446121 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-020-07305-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2020] [Accepted: 08/17/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The optimal chemotherapy regimen for treating HIV associated NHL in low resource settings is unknown. We conducted a retrospective study to describe survival rates, treatment response rates and adverse events in patients with HIV associated NHL treated with CHOP and dose adjusted-EPOCH regimens at the Uganda Cancer Institute. Methods A retrospective study of patients diagnosed with HIV and lymphoma and treated at the Uganda Cancer Institute from 2016 to 2018 was done. Results One hundred eight patients treated with CHOP and 12 patients treated with DA-EPOCH were analysed. Patients completing 6 or more cycles of chemotherapy were 51 (47%) in the CHOP group and 8 (67%) in the DA-EPOCH group. One year overall survival (OS) rate in patients treated with CHOP was 54.5% (95% CI, 42.8–64.8) and 80.2% (95% CI, 40.3–94.8) in those treated with DA-EPOCH. Factors associated with favourable survival were BMI 18.5–24.9 kg/m2, (p = 0.03) and completion of 6 or more cycles of chemotherapy, (p < 0.001). The overall response rate was 40% in the CHOP group and 59% in the DA-EPOCH group. Severe adverse events occurred in 19 (18%) patients in the CHOP group and 3 (25%) in the DA-EPOCH group; these were neutropenia (CHOP = 13, 12%; DA-EPOCH = 2, 17%), anaemia (CHOP = 12, 12%; DA-EPOCH = 1, 8%), thrombocytopenia (CHOP = 7, 6%; DA-EPOCH = 0), sepsis (CHOP = 1), treatment related death (DA-EPOCH = 1) and hepatic encephalopathy (CHOP = 1). Conclusion Treatment of HIV associated NHL with curative intent using CHOP and infusional DA-EPOCH is feasible in low resource settings and associated with > 50% 1 year survival.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clement D Okello
- Uganda Cancer Institute, Upper Mulago Hill Road, P.O. Box 3935, Kampala, Uganda.
| | - Abrahams Omoding
- Uganda Cancer Institute, Upper Mulago Hill Road, P.O. Box 3935, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Henry Ddungu
- Uganda Cancer Institute, Upper Mulago Hill Road, P.O. Box 3935, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Yusuf Mulumba
- Uganda Cancer Institute, Upper Mulago Hill Road, P.O. Box 3935, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Jackson Orem
- Uganda Cancer Institute, Upper Mulago Hill Road, P.O. Box 3935, Kampala, Uganda
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Buyego P, Nakiyingi L, Ddungu H, Walimbwa S, Nalwanga D, Reynolds SJ, Parkes-Ratanshi R. Possible misdiagnosis of HIV associated lymphoma as tuberculosis among patients attending Uganda Cancer Institute. AIDS Res Ther 2017; 14:13. [PMID: 28292305 PMCID: PMC5351163 DOI: 10.1186/s12981-017-0139-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2016] [Accepted: 03/01/2017] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Early diagnosis of HIV associated lymphoma is challenging because the definitive diagnostic procedure of biopsy, requires skills and equipment that are not readily available. As a consequence, diagnosis may be delayed increasing the risk of mortality. We set out to determine the frequency and risk factors associated with the misdiagnosis of HIV associated lymphoma as tuberculosis (TB) among patients attending the Uganda Cancer Institute (UCI). Methods A retrospective cohort study design was used among HIV patients with associated lymphoma patients attending the UCI, Kampala, Uganda between February and March 2015. Eligible patient charts were reviewed for information on TB treatment, socio-demographics, laboratory parameters (Hemoglobin, CD4cells count and lactate dehydrogenase) and clinical presentation using a semi structured data extraction form. Results A total of 183 charts were reviewed; 106/183 were males (57.9%), the median age was 35 (IQR, 28–45). Fifty six (30.6%) patients had a possible misdiagnosis as TB and their median time on TB treatment was 3.5 (1–5.3) months. In multivariate analysis the presence of chest pain had an odd ratio (OR) of 4.4 (95% CI 1.89–10.58, p < 0.001) and stage III and IV lymphoma disease had an OR of 3.22 (95% CI 1.08–9.63, p < 0.037) for possible misdiagnosis of lymphoma as TB. Conclusion A high proportion of patients with HIV associated lymphoma attending UCI are misdiagnosed and treated as TB. Chest pain and stage III and IV of lymphoma were associated with an increased risk of a possible misdiagnosis of lymphoma as TB.
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The Prevalence of HIV in Cancer Patients at the Surgical Oncology Unit of Donka University Hospital of Conakry (Guinea). J Cancer Epidemiol 2015; 2015:387896. [PMID: 26770197 PMCID: PMC4681823 DOI: 10.1155/2015/387896] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2015] [Revised: 11/08/2015] [Accepted: 11/19/2015] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Aim. To determine the prevalence of HIV infection among patients seen at the surgical oncology unit of Donka (Conakry, Guinea). Method. We conducted a retrospective and descriptive study of HIV infection in cancer patients from May 2007 to December 2012. Social characteristics (age, gender, marital status, and education) and immune status (HIV type, CD4 count) were reviewed. Results. Out of 2598 cancer patients, 54 (2.1%) tested positive for HIV. There were 11 (20.4%) defining AIDS and 43 (79.6%) nondefining AIDS cancers. The most frequent cancers were breast (14) (26.0%), non-Hodgkin lymphoma (6) (11.1%), liver (6) (11.1%), eye and annexes (6) (11.1%), and cervical cancer (5) (9.3%). These patients were female in 34 (63.0%) and had a median age of 39 years and body mass index was 20,3 Kg/m2. They were unschooled in 40 (74.1%) and married in 35 (64.8%). CD4 count showed a median of 317 cells/mL. Antiretroviral treatment was performed in 40 (74.1%). Conclusion. HIV prevalence is higher in patients in our unit of surgical oncology. Breast cancer was the most common in this association. A national survey of a large sample is needed to determine the true prevalence and impact of HIV on cancer prognosis.
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Patel M, Philip V, Omar T, Turton D, Candy G, Lakha A, Pather S. The Impact of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection (HIV) on Lymphoma in South Africa. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2015. [DOI: 10.4236/jct.2015.66057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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Abstract
Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma (NHL) occurs worldwide although there is notable geographical variation in incidence and subtype distribution. These differences are due to a combination of demographic, environmental and other unidentified factors. A dramatic increase in NHL incidence was seen starting around 1970, with subsequent stabilization 10 years ago. Despite this plateau, the number of new cases in many countries will increase significantly in coming years due primarily to aging populations. In the majority of cases, strong risk factors are not identifiable. There is significant epidemiological heterogeneity between NHL subtypes, yet cancer registries have tended to consider NHL as a single entity. This is one of several epidemiological obstacles discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pamela Skrabek
- Department of Medical Oncology and Haematology, CancerCare Manitoba, Canada; Department of Community Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Canada.
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Kingham TP, Alatise OI, Vanderpuye V, Casper C, Abantanga FA, Kamara TB, Olopade OI, Habeebu M, Abdulkareem FB, Denny L. Treatment of cancer in sub-Saharan Africa. Lancet Oncol 2013; 14:e158-67. [PMID: 23561747 DOI: 10.1016/s1470-2045(12)70472-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 167] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Cancer is rapidly becoming a public health crisis in low-income and middle-income countries. In sub-Saharan Africa, patients often present with advanced disease. Little health-care infrastructure exists, and few personnel are available for the care of patients. Surgeons are often central to cancer care in the region, since they can be the only physician a patient sees for diagnosis, treatment (including chemotherapy), and palliative care. Poor access to surgical care is a major impediment to cancer care in sub-Saharan Africa. Additional obstacles include the cost of oncological care, poor infrastructure, and the scarcity of medical oncologists, pathologists, radiation oncologists, and other health-care workers who are needed for cancer care. We describe treatment options for patients with cancer in sub-Saharan Africa, with a focus on the role of surgery in relation to medical and radiation oncology, and argue that surgery must be included in public health efforts to improve cancer care in the region.
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Affiliation(s)
- T Peter Kingham
- Department of Surgery, Hepatopancreatobiliary Service, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA.
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