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Friedrich P, Mercado N, Echeandia-Abud N, Guerrero-Gomez K, González-Zamorano M, López-Ruíz MI, Portillo-Zavala CS, García-Segura LD, Reynoso-Gutiérrez M, López-Facundo NA, Cárdenas-Pedraza D, Valois-Escamilla MG, Mera-González AB, Covarrubias-Zapata D, Vollbrechtshausen-Castelán LA, Loeza-Oliva JDJ, Garay-Sánchez SA, Moreno-Serrano J, Mendoza-Sánchez P, Casillas-Toral P, Sandoval-Cabrera A, Gutiérrez-Martínez I, Jiménez-Osorio MI, Arce-Cabrera D, Aguilar-Escobar DV, González-Montalvo PM, Romo-Rubio HA. Securing access to a comprehensive diagnostic panel for children with suspected acute lymphoblastic leukemia: Results from the Mexico in Alliance with St. Jude "Bridge Project". Front Oncol 2024; 13:1286278. [PMID: 38288107 PMCID: PMC10824571 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1286278] [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: 08/31/2023] [Accepted: 12/07/2023] [Indexed: 01/31/2024] Open
Abstract
Background The "Bridge Project" is a Mexico in Alliance with St. Jude (MAS) initiative developed in 2019 to improve access, accuracy, and timeliness of specialized diagnostic studies for patients with suspected acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). The project strategy relies on service centralization to improve service delivery, biological characterization, risk-group classification, and support proper treatment allocation. Methods This is an ongoing prospective multisite intersectoral quality improvement (QI) project available to all patients 0-18 years of age presenting with suspected ALL to the 14 actively participating institutions in 12 Mexican states. Institutions send specimens to one centralized laboratory. From a clinical standpoint, the project secures access to a consensus-derived comprehensive diagnostic panel. From a service delivery standpoint, we assess equity, timeliness, effectiveness, and patient-centeredness. From an implementation science standpoint, we document feasibility, utility, and appropriateness of the diagnostic panel and centralized approach. This analysis spans from July 2019 to June 2023. Results 612 patients have accessed the project. The median age was 6 years (IQR 3-11), and 53% were males. 94% of the specimens arrived within 48 hours, which documents the feasibility of the centralized model, and 100% of the patients received precise and timely diagnostic results, which documents the effectiveness of the approach. Of 505 (82.5%) patients with confirmed ALL, 463/505 (91.6%) had B-cell ALL, and 42/505 (8.3%) had T-cell ALL. High-hyperdiploidy was detected by DNA index in 36.6% and hypodiploidy in 1.6%. 76.6% of the patients had conclusive karyotype results. FISH studies showed t(12;21) in 15%, iAMP21 in 8.5%, t(1;19) in 7.5%, t(4;11) in 4.2%, t(9;22) in 3.2%, del(9)(p21) in 1.8%, and TRA/D (14)(q11.2) rearrangement in 2.4%. Among B-cell ALL patients, 344/403 (85.1%) had Day 15 MRD<1% and 261/305 (85.6%) Day 84 MRD<0.01. For T-cell ALL patients 20/28 (71.4%) had Day 29 MRD<0.01% and 19/22 (86.4%) Day 84 MRD<0.01%. Conclusions By securing access to a standardized consensus-derived diagnostic panel, the Bridge Project has allowed better characterization of childhood ALL in Mexico while producing unprecedented service improvements and documenting key implementation outcomes. We are using these results to inform iterative changes to the diagnostic panel and an associated treatment guideline (MAS-ALL18).
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Affiliation(s)
- Paola Friedrich
- Department of Global Pediatric Medicine, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, United States
| | - Nataly Mercado
- Casa de la Amistad para Niños con Cáncer, Institución de Asistencia Privada, I.A.P., Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - Naomi Echeandia-Abud
- Department of Global Pediatric Medicine, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, United States
| | - Karla Guerrero-Gomez
- Casa de la Amistad para Niños con Cáncer, Institución de Asistencia Privada, I.A.P., Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - Margarita González-Zamorano
- Pediatric Oncology and Hematology Department, Hospital General con Especialidades “Juan María de Salvatierra”, La Paz, Mexico
| | - Mayra Ivette López-Ruíz
- Pediatric Oncology Department, Hospital de Especialidades Pediátricas, Tuxtla Gutiérrez, Mexico
| | | | | | | | - Norma Araceli López-Facundo
- Pediatric Oncology Department, Hospital Materno Infantil del Instituto de Seguridad Social del Estado de México y Municipios, Toluca, Mexico
| | - Daniela Cárdenas-Pedraza
- Pediatric Oncology and Hematology Department, Hospital para el Niño del Instituto Materno Infantil del Estado de México, Toluca de Lerdo, Mexico
| | | | - Alma Beatriz Mera-González
- Hematology Department, Hospital del Niño Desarrollo Integral de la Familia (DIF) Hidalgo, Pachuca de Soto, Mexico
| | - Daniela Covarrubias-Zapata
- Pediatric Oncology Department, Centro Estatal de Oncología “Dr. Luis González Francis”, Campeche, Mexico
| | | | - José de Jesús Loeza-Oliva
- Pediatric Oncology Department, Centro Estatal de Cancerología “Dr. Miguel Dorantes Mesa”, Xalapa, Mexico
| | | | - Julio Moreno-Serrano
- Diagnostic and Bood Bank Department, Hospital Infantil Teletón de Oncología, Querétaro, Mexico
| | | | - Paola Casillas-Toral
- Pediatric Oncology and Hematology Department, Hospital Civil de Guadalajara “Dr. Juan I. Menchaca”, Guadalajara, Mexico
| | - Antonio Sandoval-Cabrera
- Pediatric Oncology and Hematology Department, Hospital para el Niño del Instituto Materno Infantil del Estado de México, Toluca de Lerdo, Mexico
| | - Itzel Gutiérrez-Martínez
- Pediatric Oncology Department, Hospital Infantil de Morelia "Eva Sámano de López Mateos", Morelia, Mexico
| | | | - Daniela Arce-Cabrera
- Pediatric Oncology and Hematology Department, Hospital Pediátrico de Sinaloa, Culiacán, Mexico
| | | | | | - Hugo Antonio Romo-Rubio
- Pediatric Oncology and Hematology Department, Hospital Civil de Guadalajara “Dr. Juan I. Menchaca”, Guadalajara, Mexico
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Tolba M, Skelton M, Abdul Sater Z, Fadhil I, Al-Zahrani A, Kutluk T, Akbarov K, Taher A, Sullivan R, Mula-Hussain L. Cancer Research in Vulnerable Populations: A Call for Collaboration and Sustainability From MENAT Countries. JCO Glob Oncol 2023; 9:e2300201. [PMID: 38096463 PMCID: PMC10730041 DOI: 10.1200/go.23.00201] [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: 06/17/2023] [Revised: 09/23/2023] [Accepted: 10/24/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Cancer is a major burden across Middle East, North Africa, Türkiye (MENAT). Many MENAT countries experience multiple conflicts that compound vulnerabilities, but little research investigates the linkages between vulnerability and cancer research. This study examines the current level and the potential for cancer research among vulnerable populations in the MENAT region, aiming to provide direction toward developing a research agenda on the region's vulnerable populations. METHODS Expert-driven meetings were arranged among the 10 authors. After obtaining institutional review board approval, a self-administered online survey questionnaire was circulated to more than 500 cancer practitioners working in 22 MENAT countries. RESULTS Two hundred sixteen cancer practitioners across the MENAT region responded. Fifty percent of the respondents identified clinical research in vulnerable patients with cancer as a significant issue; 21.8% reported previous research experience that included vulnerable populations, and 60% reported encountering vulnerable populations in their daily clinical practice. The main barriers to conducting research were lack of funding (60%), protected time (42%), and research training (35%). More than half of the respondents believed that wars/conflicts constituted an important source of vulnerability. The most vulnerable cancer populations were the elderly, palliative/terminally ill, those with concomitant mental health-related issues, those with other chronic illnesses, and socioeconomically deprived patients. CONCLUSION Results support that a major effort is needed to improve cancer research among vulnerable cancer populations in the MENAT region. We call for interdisciplinary research that accounts for the region's unique, compounding, and cumulative forms of vulnerability. This cancer research agenda on different vulnerable populations must balance sociobehavioral studies that explore sociopolitical barriers to quality care and clinical studies that gauge and refine treatment protocols. Building a research agenda through collaboration and solidarity with international partners is prime time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marwan Tolba
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Dalhousie University, and Cape Breton Cancer Center, Sydney, Nova Scotia, Canada
| | - Mac Skelton
- Institute of Regional and International Studies, American University of Iraq, Sulaimani, Iraq
- Global Oncology Group, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Zahi Abdul Sater
- College of Public Health, Phoenicia University, Mazraat El Daoudiyeh, Lebanon
- Global Health Institute, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Ibtihal Fadhil
- Eastern Mediterranean NCD Alliance, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
| | - Ali Al-Zahrani
- King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
- Gulf Center for Cancer Control & Prevention, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Tezer Kutluk
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Oncology, Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine & Cancer Institute, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Kamal Akbarov
- Division of Human Health, International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna, Austria
| | - Ali Taher
- Hematology & Oncology, Naef K. Basile Cancer Institute, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Richard Sullivan
- King's College London & Guy's Comprehensive Cancer Centre, Global Oncology Group & Institute of Cancer Policy, Centre for Conflict & Health Research, London, United Kingdom
| | - Layth Mula-Hussain
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Dalhousie University, and Cape Breton Cancer Center, Sydney, Nova Scotia, Canada
- College of Medicine—Ninevah University, Mosul, Iraq
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