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Cufer T, Kosty MP. ESMO/ASCO Recommendations for a Global Curriculum in Medical Oncology Edition 2023. JCO Glob Oncol 2023; 9:e2300277. [PMID: 37867478 PMCID: PMC10664856 DOI: 10.1200/go.23.00277] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2023] [Accepted: 08/24/2023] [Indexed: 10/24/2023] Open
Abstract
The European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) and ASCO are publishing a new edition of the ESMO/ASCO Global Curriculum (GC) with contributions from more than 150 authors. The purpose of the GC is to provide recommendations for the training of physicians in medical oncology and to establish a set of educational standards for trainees to qualify as medical oncologists. This edition builds on prior ones in 2004, 2010, and 2016 and incorporates scientific advances and input from an ESMO ASCO survey on GC adoption conducted in 2019, which revealed that GC has been adopted or adapted in as many as two thirds of the countries surveyed. To make GC even more useful and applicable, certain subchapters were rearranged into stand-alone chapters, that is, cancer epidemiology, diagnostics, and research. In line with recent progress in the field of multidisciplinary cancer care new (sub)chapters, such as image-guided therapy, cell-based therapy, and nutritional support, were added. Moreover, this edition includes an entirely new chapter dedicated to cancer control principles, aiming to ensure that medical oncologists are able to identify and implement sustainable and equitable cancer care, tailored to local needs and resources. Besides content renewal, modern didactic principles were introduced. GC content is presented using two chapter templates (cancer-specific and non-cancer-specific), with three didactic points (objectives, key concepts, and skills). The next step is promoting GC as a contemporary and comprehensive document applicable all over the world, particularly due to its capacity to harmonize education in medical oncology and, in so doing, help to reduce global disparities in cancer care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tanja Cufer
- Medical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Michael P. Kosty
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Scripps MD Anderson Cancer Center, La Jolla, CA
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Sharma K, Mayer T, Li S, Qureshi S, Farooq F, Vuylsteke P, Ralefala T, Marlink R. Advancing oncology drug therapies for sub-Saharan Africa. PLOS GLOBAL PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 3:e0001653. [PMID: 37368872 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgph.0001653] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/29/2023]
Abstract
Cancer incidence is rising across sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), and is often characterized by late-stage presentation, early age of onset and poor survival. While a number of oncology drugs are now improving the length and quality of life for cancer patients in high-income countries, significant disparities in access to a range of oncology therapeutics exist for SSA. A number of challenges to drug access such as drug costs, lack of infrastructure and trained personnel must be urgently addressed to advance oncology therapies for SSA. We present a review of selected oncology drug therapies that are likely to benefit cancer patients with a focus on common malignancies in SSA. We collate available data from seminal clinical trials in high-income countries to highlight the potential for these therapeutics to improve cancer outcomes. In addition, we discuss the need to ensure access to drugs within the WHO Model List of Essential Medicines and highlight therapeutics that require consideration. Available and active oncology clinical trials in the region is tabulated, demonstrating the significant gaps in access to oncology drug trials across much of the region. We issue an urgent call to action to address drug access due to the predicted rise in cancer burden in the region in coming years.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kirthana Sharma
- Rutgers Global Health Institute, New Brunswick, New Jersey, United States of America
- Department of Medicine, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Brunswick, New Jersey, United States of America
| | - Tina Mayer
- Division of Medical Oncology, Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, New Brunswick, New Jersey, United States of America
| | - Sharon Li
- Rutgers Cancer Institute at University Hospital, New Jersey Medical School, Newark, New Jersey, United States of America
| | - Sadaf Qureshi
- Division of Medical Oncology, Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, New Brunswick, New Jersey, United States of America
| | - Faheem Farooq
- Division of Medical Oncology, Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, New Brunswick, New Jersey, United States of America
| | - Peter Vuylsteke
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Botswana, Gaborone, Botswana
| | - Tlotlo Ralefala
- Department of Oncology, Princess Marina Hospital, Gaborone, Botswana
| | - Richard Marlink
- Rutgers Global Health Institute, New Brunswick, New Jersey, United States of America
- Department of Medicine, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Brunswick, New Jersey, United States of America
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Kimani S, Painschab MS, Kaimila B, Kasonkanji E, Zuze T, Tomoka T, Mulenga M, Nyasosela R, Chikasema M, Mtangwanika A, Chawinga M, Mhango W, Nicholas S, Chimzimu F, Kampani C, Krysiak R, Lilly A, Randall C, Seguin R, Westmoreland KD, Montgomery ND, Fedoriw Y, Gopal S. Safety and efficacy of rituximab in patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma in Malawi: a prospective, single-arm, non-randomised phase 1/2 clinical trial. Lancet Glob Health 2021; 9:e1008-e1016. [PMID: 34022150 PMCID: PMC9338824 DOI: 10.1016/s2214-109x(21)00181-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2020] [Revised: 02/12/2021] [Accepted: 03/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND There are no clinical trials involving patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) in sub-Saharan Africa since antiretroviral therapy (ART) for HIV became widely available in this region. We aimed to establish the safety and efficacy of rituximab plus cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone (R-CHOP) in patients with DLBCL in Malawi. METHODS This prospective, single-arm, non-randomised phase 1/2 clinical trial was done at Kamuzu Central Hospital Cancer Clinic (Lilongwe, Malawi). Eligible patients were adults (aged 18-60 years) with newly diagnosed DLBCL, an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status of 0-2, a CD4 count of 100 cells per μL or higher (if HIV-positive), measurable disease by physical examination, an absolute neutrophil count of 1000 × 109 cells per L or higher, a platelet count of 100 × 109 platelets per L or higher, a serum creatinine concentration of 132·60 μmol/L or less, a total bilirubin concentration of 34·21 μmol/L or less, a negative urine pregnancy test in women of childbearing potential, and no previous cytotoxic therapy. Pregnant or breastfeeding women, and individuals with CNS involvement from DLBCL, chronic hepatitis B infection (unless they were receiving tenofovir plus lamivudine), or any other comorbidities that would compromise the protocol objectives were excluded. Eligible patients received intravenous rituximab 375 mg/m2, cyclophosphamide 750 mg/m2, doxorubicin 50 mg/m2, and vincristine 1·4 mg/m2 (maximum 2 mg/m2), and oral prednisone 100 mg or an equivalent drug every 21 days for up to six cycles. HIV-positive patients received concurrent ART. The primary outcome was the proportion of patients with National Cancer Institute Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events grade 3 or 4 non-haematological toxic effects or treatment-related deaths after six cycles of treatment. Secondary efficacy outcomes included the proportion of patients with a complete response after six cycles of treatment, and progression-free survival and overall survival at 12 months and 24 months. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02660710. FINDINGS Between Aug 1, 2016, and July 31, 2019, 76 patients were screened, of whom 37 were eligible for the study and received R-CHOP. The median age of patients was 44 years (IQR 39-49) and 16 (43%) were women. Of all 37 patients, 20 (54%) had stage III or IV DLBCL, and the age-adjusted international prognostic index was 2 or higher in 25 (68%) patients. 27 (73%) patients were HIV-positive, with a median CD4 count of 208 cells per μL (IQR 144-422), and 21 (78%) patients were receiving ART at enrolment. Patients completed a median of six cycles (IQR 4-6). Grade 3 or 4 non-haematological toxic effects were reported in 12 (32% [95% CI 19-49]) patients, the most common of which was infection (nine [24%] patients). Of 16 (43%) deaths, ten were due to progression of DLBCL, four were due to treatment-related complications, and two were due to other causes, yielding a treatment-related mortality of 11% (95% CI 4-26%). Grade 3 or 4 neutropenia was observed in 26 (70%) patients, and grade 3 or 4 anaemia was observed in 11 (29%) patients. A total of 22 (59%) patients had a complete response. Overall survival was 68% (95% CI 50-80) at 12 months and 55% (37-70) at 24 months, and progression-free survival was 59% (42-73) at 12 months and 53% (35-68) at 24 months. INTERPRETATION R-CHOP could be feasible, safe, and efficacious in patients with DLBCL in Malawi. This is the first completed clinical trial on DLBCL focused on sub-Saharan African populations. Given the paucity of data on treatment of DLBCL from this region, these results could inform emerging cancer treatment programmes in sub-Saharan Africa. FUNDING The University of North Carolina Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen Kimani
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA; 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
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA; Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA; University of North Carolina Project-Malawi, Lilongwe, Malawi
| | - Bongani Kaimila
- University of North Carolina Project-Malawi, Lilongwe, Malawi; University of Malawi, College of Medicine, Lilongwe Campus, Lilongwe, Malawi
| | | | - Takondwa Zuze
- University of North Carolina Project-Malawi, Lilongwe, Malawi
| | - Tamiwe Tomoka
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA; University of North Carolina Project-Malawi, Lilongwe, Malawi; University of Malawi, College of Medicine, Lilongwe Campus, Lilongwe, Malawi
| | - Maurice Mulenga
- Kamuzu Central Hospital, Malawi Ministry of Health, Lilongwe, Malawi
| | - Richard Nyasosela
- Kamuzu Central Hospital, Malawi Ministry of Health, Lilongwe, Malawi
| | - Maria Chikasema
- University of North Carolina Project-Malawi, Lilongwe, Malawi
| | | | - Mena Chawinga
- University of North Carolina Project-Malawi, Lilongwe, Malawi
| | | | - Simon Nicholas
- University of North Carolina Project-Malawi, Lilongwe, Malawi
| | - Fred Chimzimu
- University of North Carolina Project-Malawi, Lilongwe, Malawi
| | | | - Robert Krysiak
- University of North Carolina Project-Malawi, Lilongwe, Malawi
| | - Amy Lilly
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Cara Randall
- Department of Pathology, Anatomy and Laboratory Medicine, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, USA
| | - Ryan Seguin
- University of North Carolina Project-Malawi, Lilongwe, Malawi
| | - Katherine D Westmoreland
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA; University of North Carolina Project-Malawi, Lilongwe, Malawi
| | - Nathan D Montgomery
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA; University of North Carolina Project-Malawi, Lilongwe, Malawi
| | - Yuri Fedoriw
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA; University of North Carolina Project-Malawi, Lilongwe, Malawi
| | - Satish Gopal
- Center for Global Health, National Cancer Institute, Rockville, MD, USA.
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Lin LL, Lakomy DS, Chiao EY, Strother RM, Wirth M, Cesarman E, Borok M, Busakhala N, Chibwesha CJ, Chinula L, Ndlovu N, Orem J, Phipps W, Sewram V, Vogt SL, Sparano JA, Mitsuyasu RT, Krown SE, Gopal S. Clinical Trials for Treatment and Prevention of HIV-Associated Malignancies in Sub-Saharan Africa: Building Capacity and Overcoming Barriers. JCO Glob Oncol 2020; 6:1134-1146. [PMID: 32697667 PMCID: PMC7392698 DOI: 10.1200/go.20.00153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE The aim of this study was to review the current status of clinical trials for HIV-associated malignancies in people living with HIV in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) and efforts made by the AIDS Malignancy Consortium (AMC) to build capacity in SSA for HIV malignancy research. METHODS All malignancy-related clinical trials in 49 SSA countries on ClinicalTrials.gov were reviewed and evaluated for inclusion and exclusion criteria pertaining to HIV status. Additional studies by AMC in SSA were compiled from Web-based resources, and narrative summaries were prepared to highlight AMC capacity building and training initiatives. RESULTS Of 96 cancer trials identified in SSA, only 11 focused specifically on people living with HIV, including studies in Kaposi sarcoma, cervical dysplasia and cancer, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, and ocular surface squamous neoplasia. Recognizing the increasing cancer burden in the region, AMC expanded its clinical trial activities to SSA in 2010, with 4 trials completed to date and 6 others in progress or development, and has made ongoing investments in developing research infrastructure in the region. CONCLUSION As the HIV-associated malignancy burden in SSA evolves, research into this domain has been limited. AMC, the only global HIV malignancy-focused research consortium, not only conducts vital HIV-associated malignancies research in SSA, but also develops pathology, personnel, and community-based infrastructure to meet these challenges in SSA. Nonetheless, there is an ongoing need to build on these efforts to improve HIV-associated malignancies outcomes in SSA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lilie L. Lin
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
| | - David S. Lakomy
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
- Dartmouth Geisel School of Medicine, Hanover, NH
| | - Elizabeth Y. Chiao
- Department of General Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
- Department of Epidemiology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
| | | | | | - Ethel Cesarman
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY
| | - Margaret Borok
- Department of Medicine, University of Zimbabwe College of Health Sciences, Harare, Zimbabwe
| | - Naftali Busakhala
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Moi University School of Medicine, Eldoret, Kenya
| | - Carla J. Chibwesha
- Institute for Global Health and Infectious Diseases, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC
- Clinical HIV Research Unit, Department of Medicine, University of the Witwatersrand Faculty of Health Sciences, Johannesburg, South Africa
- Division of Global Women’s Health, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC
| | - Lameck Chinula
- Division of Global Women’s Health, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC
- UNC Project-Malawi, Lilongwe, Malawi
| | - Ntokozo Ndlovu
- Department of Radiology, University of Zimbabwe College of Health Sciences, Harare, Zimbabwe
| | | | - Warren Phipps
- Uganda Cancer Institute, Kampala, Uganda
- Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
- Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA
| | - Vikash Sewram
- African Cancer Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa
| | - Samantha L. Vogt
- Department of Medical Oncology, Johns Hopkins Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Baltimore, MD
| | - Joseph A. Sparano
- Montefiore-Einstein Cancer Center, Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, NY
| | - Ronald T. Mitsuyasu
- Center for Clinical AIDS Research and Education, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA
| | | | - Satish Gopal
- Center for Global Health, National Cancer Institute, Rockville, MD
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