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Brownlee AJ, Dewey M, Chagomerana MB, Tomoka T, Mulenga M, Khan S, Kampani C, Chimzimu F, Gastier-Foster JM, Westmoreland KD, Ozuah NW, Krysiak R, Malamba-Banda C, Painschab MS, Gopal S, Fedoriw Y. Update on pathology laboratory development and research in advancing regional cancer care in Malawi. Front Med (Lausanne) 2024; 11:1336861. [PMID: 38298817 PMCID: PMC10829605 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2024.1336861] [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: 11/11/2023] [Accepted: 01/02/2024] [Indexed: 02/02/2024] Open
Abstract
The pathology laboratory at Kamuzu Central Hospital (KCH) in Lilongwe, Malawi was established in 2011. We published our initial experiences in laboratory development and telepathology in 2013 and 2016, respectively. The purpose of this paper is to provide an update on our work by highlighting the positive role laboratory development has played in improving regional cancer care and research. In addition, we provide a summary of the adult pathology data from specimens received between July 1, 2011, and May 31, 2019, with an emphasis on malignant diagnoses. We compare these summaries to estimates of cancer incidence in this region to identify gaps and future needs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy J. Brownlee
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
| | - Morgan Dewey
- School of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, United States
| | - Maganizo B. Chagomerana
- University of North Carolina (UNC) Project-Malawi, Lilongwe, Malawi
- Division of Infectious Diseases, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
| | - Tamiwe Tomoka
- University of North Carolina (UNC) Project-Malawi, Lilongwe, Malawi
| | - Maurice Mulenga
- Kamuzu Central Hospital, Malawi Ministry of Health, Lilongwe, Malawi
| | - Shiraz Khan
- University of North Carolina (UNC) Project-Malawi, Lilongwe, Malawi
- Kamuzu Central Hospital, Malawi Ministry of Health, Lilongwe, Malawi
| | - Coxcilly Kampani
- University of North Carolina (UNC) Project-Malawi, Lilongwe, Malawi
| | - Fred Chimzimu
- University of North Carolina (UNC) Project-Malawi, Lilongwe, Malawi
| | - Julie M. Gastier-Foster
- Departments of Pediatrics and Pathology & Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Kate D. Westmoreland
- University of North Carolina (UNC) Project-Malawi, Lilongwe, Malawi
- Division of Pediatric Hematology Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
| | - Nmazuo W. Ozuah
- Section of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Robert Krysiak
- University of North Carolina (UNC) Project-Malawi, Lilongwe, Malawi
| | - Chikondi Malamba-Banda
- University of North Carolina (UNC) Project-Malawi, Lilongwe, Malawi
- Malawi University of Science and Technology, Limbe, Malawi
- Malawi-Liverpool-Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Program, Blantyre, Malawi
| | - Matthew S. Painschab
- University of North Carolina (UNC) Project-Malawi, Lilongwe, Malawi
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
- Division of Hematology, Department of Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
| | - Satish Gopal
- Center for Global Health, National Cancer Institute (NIH), Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Yuri Fedoriw
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
- University of North Carolina (UNC) Project-Malawi, Lilongwe, Malawi
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
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Painschab MS, Kohler R, Kimani S, Mhango W, Kaimila B, Zuze T, Mithi V, Kasonkanji E, Mumba N, Nyasosela R, Wheeler S, Gopal S. Comparison of best supportive care, CHOP, or R-CHOP for treatment of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma in Malawi: a cost-effectiveness analysis. Lancet Glob Health 2021; 9:e1305-e1313. [PMID: 34303416 PMCID: PMC8403678 DOI: 10.1016/s2214-109x(21)00261-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2020] [Revised: 05/05/2021] [Accepted: 05/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cost-effectiveness data for cancer treatment are needed from sub-Saharan Africa, where diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is a common, curable cancer. In high-income countries, the standard of care for DLBCL is R-CHOP (rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone) chemoimmunotherapy. Rituximab is often not available in sub-Saharan Africa due to perceived unaffordability, and treatment with CHOP (cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone) is common. We aimed to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of treatment in Malawi, comparing best supportive care, CHOP, or R-CHOP in patients with DLBCL. METHODS For this cost-effectiveness analysis, we used published Malawi microcosting data, clinical data from a prospective cohort treated with CHOP, and clinical trial data evaluating R-CHOP. We used a decision-tree model to calculate costs per disability-adjusted life-year (DALY) averted from the health system perspective for the treatment of patients with DLBCL with best supportive care, CHOP, or R-CHOP, running the model on a per-patient basis and a Malawi population-level basis. We used the WHO definitions of cost-effective (three times the GDP per capita of the country) and extremely cost-effective (equal to the GDP per capita of the country) as willingness-to-pay thresholds for Malawi. FINDINGS On a per-patient level, compared with best supportive care, CHOP was estimated to avert a mean 7·4 DALYs at an incremental cost of US$1384, for an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) of $189 per DALY averted, which is substantially lower than the willingness-to-pay threshold (extremely cost-effective). Compared with CHOP, R-CHOP was estimated to avert 2·8 DALYs at an incremental cost of $3324, resulting in an ICER of $1204 per DALY averted, which is slightly higher than the cost-effective willingness-to-pay threshold. In probabilistic sensitivity analyses, CHOP remained cost-effective for DLBCL treatment in more than 99% of simulations, whereas R-CHOP was lower than the threshold in 46% of simulations. INTERPRETATION We estimated CHOP to be cost-effective for DLBCL treatment in Malawi, and that the addition of rituximab might be cost-effective. Despite upfront costs, DLBCL treatment is probably a prudent investment relative to other accepted health interventions in sub-Saharan Africa. FUNDING National Institutes of Health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew S Painschab
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA; Division of Hematology, Department of Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA; University of North Carolina Project Malawi, Lilongwe, Malawi.
| | - Racquel Kohler
- Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ, USA
| | - Stephen Kimani
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA; University of North Carolina Project Malawi, Lilongwe, Malawi
| | | | - Bongani Kaimila
- University of North Carolina Project Malawi, Lilongwe, Malawi
| | - Takondwa Zuze
- University of North Carolina Project Malawi, Lilongwe, Malawi
| | - Victor Mithi
- University of North Carolina Project Malawi, Lilongwe, Malawi
| | | | - Noel Mumba
- University of North Carolina Project Malawi, Lilongwe, Malawi
| | | | - Stephanie Wheeler
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Satish Gopal
- Center for Global Health, National Cancer Institute, Rockville, MD, USA
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