Is the incidence rate of colorectal cancer increasing in Mozambique?

Background

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a significant global health concern, ranking as the third most common cancer and the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths. However, in Africa, CRC is the fifth most common invasive malignancy. Limited data hinder our understanding of the evolving burden of CRC in sub-Saharan Africa. This study explores CRC trends in Mozambique, utilising data from population-based oncological registries.

Methods

CRC data were gathered from Beira and Maputo population-based cancer registries, along with supplementary information from pathology-based and hospital-based registries. Comparative analyses were performed across different time periods, focusing on trends and epidemiological characteristics.

Results

Incidence rates of CRC in Maputo and Beira were relatively low historically. However, data from recent years showed an increase, especially in age groups above 50. Analyses from pathology-based and hospital-based registries affirmed the rising trend. The age-standardised incidence rate in Maputo (2015-2017) was 3.17 for males and 2.55 for females. Beira exhibited increasing rates between 2009 and 2020, particularly in individuals aged 50 and above.

Conclusion

The study reveals an emerging burden of CRC in Mozambique, challenging the perception of low incidence. The rising trend underscores the necessity for tailored interventions, emphasizing early diagnosis, preventive strategies, and investments in healthcare infrastructure to address the increasing CRC burden in the region.

The Mulher Study: cervical cancer screening with primary HPV testing in Mozambique

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate cervical cancer screening with primary human papillomavirus (HPV) testing in Mozambique, a country with one of the highest burdens of cervical cancer globally.

METHODS

Women aged 30-49 years were prospectively enrolled and offered primary HPV testing using either self-collected or provider-collected specimens. Patients who tested positive for HPV underwent visual assessment for treatment using visual inspection with acetic acid to determine eligibility for thermal ablation. If ineligible, they were referred for excision with a loop electrosurgical excision procedure, for cold knife conization, or for cervical biopsy if malignancy was suspected.

RESULTS

Between January 2020 and January 2023, 9014 patients underwent cervical cancer screening. Median age was 37 years (range 30-49) and 4122 women (45.7%) were patients living with HIV. Most (n=8792, 97.5%) chose self-collection. The HPV positivity rate was 31.1% overall and 39.5% among patients living with HIV. Of the 2805 HPV-positive patients, 2588 (92.3%) returned for all steps of their diagnostic work-up and treatment, including ablation (n=2383, 92.1%), loop electrosurgical excision procedure (n=169, 6.5%), and cold knife conization (n=5, 0.2%). Thirty-one patients (1.2%) were diagnosed with cancer and referred to gynecologic oncology.

CONCLUSION

It is feasible to perform cervical cancer screening with primary HPV testing and follow-up in low-resource settings. Participants preferred self-collection, and the majority of screen-positive patients completed all steps of their diagnostic work-up and treatment. Our findings provide important information for further implementation and scale-up of cervical cancer screening and treatment services as part of the WHO global strategy for the elimination of cervical cancer.

Cervical Cancer Screening Positivity Among Women Living With HIV in CDC-PEPFAR Programs 2018-2022

BACKGROUND

The US President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief aims to address the higher risk of cervical cancer among women living with HIV by offering high-quality screening services in the highest burden regions of the world.

METHODS

We analyzed the US President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief Monitoring, Evaluation, and Reporting data from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention-supported sites in 13 countries in sub-Saharan Africa for women living with HIV aged older than 15 years who accessed cervical cancer screening services (mostly visual inspection, with ablative or excisional treatment offered for precancerous lesions), April 2018-March 2022. We calculated the positivity by age, country, and clinical visit type (first lifetime screen or routine rescreening). We fitted negative binomial random coefficient models of log-linear trends in time to estimate the probabilities of testing positive and any temporal trends in positivity.

RESULTS

Among the 2.8 million completed cancer screens, 5.4% identified precancerous lesions, and 0.8% were positive for suspected invasive cervical cancers (6.1% overall). The positivity rates declined over the study period among those women screening for cervical cancer for the first time and among those women presenting to antiretroviral therapy clinics for routine rescreening.

CONCLUSIONS

These positivity rates are lower than expectations set by the published literature. Further research is needed to determine whether these lower rates are attributable to the high level of consistent antiretroviral therapy use among these populations, and systematic program monitoring and quality assurance activities are essential to ensure women living with HIV have access to the highest possible quality prevention services.

Expanding Cervical Cancer Screening in Mozambique: Challenges Associated With Diagnosing and Treating Cervical Cancer

PURPOSE

Mozambique has one of the highest burdens of cervical cancer globally. Treatment options are few as most women present with advanced disease, and there are limited trained health professionals and health care resources. The objective of this study was to describe the outcomes of women diagnosed with invasive cancer as part of the Mozambican women undergoing cervical cancer screening with human papillomavirus (HPV) testing in conjunction with family planning services (MULHER) study.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Women age 30-49 years were prospectively enrolled in the MULHER study and offered screening with primary HPV testing followed by treatment of screen-positive women with thermal ablation or excision as appropriate. Women with cervical examination findings suspicious for cancer were referred to one of the three gynecologic oncologists in the country.

RESULTS

Between January 2020 and January 2023, 9,014 women underwent cervical cancer screening and 30 women were diagnosed with cervical cancer. In this cohort, four patients (13.3%) had early-stage disease, 18 (60.0%) had locally advanced disease, one (3.3%) had distant metastatic disease, and seven (23.3%) did not have staging information available. Five patients (16.6%) died without receiving oncologic treatment, and seven patients (23.3%) are still awaiting treatment. Of the remaining 18 patients, three (17.6%) underwent surgery and four (23.5%) received radiotherapy. Eleven (36.7%) patients received only chemotherapy.

CONCLUSION

As cervical screening programs are implemented in low-resource settings, there will likely be an increase in the number of women diagnosed with invasive cervical cancer. Our results in Mozambique demonstrate the need to increase access to advanced surgery, radiation, and palliative care services.

Screening approaches for cervical cancer in Mozambique in HIV positive and negative women

OBJECTIVE

Cervical cancer (CC) is a global health issue, in Mozambique, 5300 new cases and 3800 deaths are reported each year. The WHO recommends the introduction of HPV molecular testing for CC screening, but Mozambique uses an approach based on visual inspection with acetic acid (VIA). This study aims to evaluate the feasibility of high-risk HPV (hrHPV) testing compared to actual approaches in Mozambique.

METHODS

An observational study was carried out in the DREAM center in Zimpeto, Mozambique. Women aged 30-55 were included. HPV testing was performed with the Cobas HPV test. They were then screened with the current national recommendations based on VIA. Cryotherapy was performed on-site or referred for colposcopy if necessary.

RESULTS

In the period, 1207 women were enrolled, 47.8% HIV+; 124 (10.3%) VIA+, and HPV DNA test was positive in 325 (26.9%) women. HPV positivity rates were higher in HIV-infected women. In the sample, 52.8% of the 124 VIA+ women were HPV uninfected and underwent unnecessary cryotherapy or colposcopy. Meanwhile, 24.7% of the 1083 VIA- women were actually HPV infected. In comparison, a screen, triage and treat approach based on hrHPV testing would only test and treat the 325 HPV-infected women.

CONCLUSION

The study found high rates of hrHPV infection, particularly in HIV-positive women, with many concurrent or multiple infections. The current screening method misses important hrHPV infections and results in many unnecessary treatments. These results support the use of HPV molecular testing as the initial screening test for CC.

An integrated isothermal nucleic acid amplification test to detect HPV16 and HPV18 DNA in resource-limited settings

High-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA testing is widely acknowledged as the most sensitive cervical cancer screening method but has limited availability in resource-limited settings, where the burden of cervical cancer is highest. Recently, HPV DNA tests have been developed for use in resource-limited settings, but they remain too costly for widespread use and require instruments that are often limited to centralized laboratories. To help meet the global need for low-cost cervical cancer screening, we developed a prototype, sample-to-answer, point-of-care test for HPV16 and HPV18 DNA. Our test relies on isothermal DNA amplification and lateral flow detection, two technologies that reduce the need for complex instrumentation. We integrated all test components into a low-cost, manufacturable platform, and performance of the integrated test was evaluated with synthetic samples, provider-collected clinical samples in a high-resource setting in the United States, and self-collected clinical samples in a low-resource setting in Mozambique. We demonstrated a clinically relevant limit of detection of 1000 HPV16 or HPV18 DNA copies per test. The test requires six user steps, yields results in 45 min, and can be performed using a benchtop instrument and minicentrifuge by minimally trained personnel. The projected per-test cost is <$5, and the projected instrumentation cost is <$1000. These results show the feasibility of a sample-to-answer, point-of-care HPV DNA test. With the inclusion of other HPV types, this test has the potential to fill a critical gap for decentralized and globally accessible cervical cancer screening.

Impact and Cost-Effectiveness of Alternative Human Papillomavirus Vaccines for Preadolescent Girls in Mozambique: A Modelling Study

Mozambique has one of the highest rates of cervical cancer in the world. Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination was introduced in 2021. This study evaluated the health and economic impact of the current HPV vaccine (GARDASIL^® hereafter referred to as GARDASIL-4) and two other vaccines (CECOLIN^® and CERVARIX^®) that could be used in the future. A static cohort model was used to estimate the costs and benefits of vaccinating girls in Mozambique over the period 2022-2031. The primary outcome measure was the incremental cost per disability-adjusted life-year averted from a government perspective. We conducted deterministic and probabilistic sensitivity analyses. Without cross-protection, all three vaccines averted approximately 54% cervical cancer cases and deaths. With cross-protection, CERVARIX averted 70% of cases and deaths. Without Gavi support, the discounted vaccine program costs ranged from 60 million to 81 million USD. Vaccine program costs were approximately 37 million USD for all vaccines with Gavi support. Without cross-protection, CECOLIN was dominant, being cost-effective with or without Gavi support. With cross-protection and Gavi support, CERVARIX was dominant and cost-saving. With cross-protection and no Gavi support, CECOLIN had the most favorable cost-effectiveness ratio. Conclusions: At a willingness-to-pay (WTP) threshold set at 35% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita, HPV vaccination is cost-effective in Mozambique. The optimal vaccine choice depends on cross-protection assumptions.

Test positivity and clinical presentation of COVID-19 in Mozambican infants hospitalized during the second wave of the pandemic in 2021

Introduction

during the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Mozambique, there was a surge in pediatric hospitalizations at a time when there was relatively little evidence, but significant concern about clinical outcomes in African children, particularly in higher-risk infants requiring, and health system capacity to respond.

Methods

a retrospective cohort study was conducted for patients 1-12 months of age admitted to the Breastfeeding ward at Hospital Central de Maputo from January-February 2021. All had routine SARS-CoV-2 PCR testing performed. For patients with positive results, hospital charts were retrospectively reviewed. Descriptive analyses were performed.

Results

of 209 patients that had SARS-CoV-2 PCR testing performed, 102 (48.8%) received results, of which 37 (36.3%) were positive. Positive results were received prior to discharge for 14 patients (37.8%). Median duration of hospitalization was 3 days. There were two deaths in COVID-positive patients (5.4%), both with complex comorbidities. For the 35 COVID-19 positive patients whose charts were located, the principal admission diagnosis was respiratory for 22 (62.9%), and 14 (40.0%) had oxygen saturation <94% at admission. The white blood cell count was >12.0 x 10³cells/mL in 10 patients (28.6%) and the most common abnormal finding on chest radiograph was peribronchial thickening (38.5% of patients with results). Oxygen therapy was needed for 20 patients (57.1%).

Conclusion

the majority of infants with COVID-19 had a mild, short-duration respiratory illness that did not exceed ward capacity for care, including oxygen treatment. Laboratory capacity for PCR testing was overwhelmed, delaying the return of results and complicating inpatient infection control measures.

Differential etiopathogenic features of vulvar squamous cell carcinomas in sub-Saharan Africa and Europe

Two pathways have been described for vulvar squamous cell carcinomas (VSCC), one associated with human papillomavirus (HPV), and the other HPV-independent. We compared the etiopathogenic features of a series of VSCC from Mozambique, a sub-Saharan country with high prevalence of HPV and HIV, with those of Spain, a European country with low prevalence of HPV and HIV. All VSCC diagnosed at the two institutions from January 2018 to December 2020 were included (n = 35 and n = 41, respectively). HPV DNA detection and genotyping, and immunohistochemistry for p16 and p53 were performed. Tumors showing p16 positive staining and/or HPV DNA positivity were considered HPV-associated. 34/35 tumors (97%) from Mozambique and 8/41 (19%) from Spain were HPV-associated (P < .001). Mean age of the patients from Mozambique and Spain was 45 ± 12 and 72 ± 14, respectively (P < .001). No differences were found in terms of HPV genotypes or multiple HPV infection rates. 1/35 tumors (3%) from Mozambique and 29/41 (70%) from Spain showed abnormal p53 immunostaining (P < .001). In contrast with the predominance of HPV-independent VSCC affecting old women in Europe, most VSCC in sub-Saharan Africa are HPV-associated and arise in young women. This data may have important consequences for primary prevention of VSCC worldwide.

A low-cost, paper-based hybrid capture assay to detect high-risk HPV DNA for cervical cancer screening in low-resource settings

Cervical cancer is a leading cause of cancer death for women in low-resource settings. The World Health Organization recommends that cervical cancer screening programs incorporate HPV DNA testing, but available tests are expensive, require laboratory infrastructure, and cannot be performed at the point-of-care. We developed a two-dimensional paper network (2DPN), hybrid-capture, signal amplification assay and a point-of-care sample preparation protocol to detect high-risk HPV DNA from exfoliated cervical cells within an hour. The test does not require expensive equipment and has an estimated cost of <$3 per test without the need for batching. We evaluated performance of the paper HPV DNA assay with short synthetic and genomic HPV DNA targets, HPV positive and negative cellular samples, and two sets of clinical samples. The first set of clinical samples consisted of 16 biobanked, provider-collected cervical samples from a study in El Salvador previously tested with careHPV and subsequently tested in a controlled laboratory environment. The paper HPV DNA test correctly identified eight of eight HPV-negative clinical samples and seven of eight HPV-positive clinical samples. We then performed a field evaluation of the paper HPV DNA test in a hospital laboratory in Mozambique. Cellular controls generated expected results throughout field testing with fully lyophilized sample preparation and 2DPN reagents. When evaluated with 16 residual self-collected cervicovaginal samples previously tested by the GeneXpert HPV assay ("Xpert"), the accuracy of the HPV DNA paper test in the field was reduced compared to testing in the controlled laboratory environment, with positive results obtained for all eight HPV-positive samples as well as seven of eight HPV-negative samples. Further evaluation showed reduction in performance was likely due in part to increased concentration of exfoliated cells in the self-collected clinical samples from Mozambique compared with provider-collected samples from El Salvador. Finally, a formal usability assessment was conducted with users in El Salvador and Mozambique; the assay was rated as acceptable to perform after minimal training. With additional optimization for higher cell concentrations and inclusion of an internal cellular control, the paper HPV DNA assay offers promise as a low-cost, point-of-care cervical cancer screening test in low-resource settings.

Clinical and epidemiological aspects of SARS-CoV-2 infection among pregnant and postpartum women in Mozambique: a prospective cohort study

Background

Although there is a significant increase of evidence regarding the prevalence and impact of COVID-19 on maternal and perinatal outcomes, data on the effects of the pandemic on the obstetric population in sub-Saharan African countries are still scarce. Therefore, the study aims were to assess the prevalence and impact of COVID-19 on maternal and neonatal outcomes in the obstetric population at Central Hospital of Maputo (HCM), Mozambique.

Methods

Prospective cohort study conducted at teaching and referral maternity, HCM, from 20 October 2020 to 22 July 2021. We collected maternal and perinatal outcomes up to 6 weeks postpartum of eligible women (pregnant and postpartum women—up to the 14th day postpartum) screened for COVID-19 (individual test for symptomatic participants and pool testing for asymptomatic). The primary outcome was maternal death, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and Intensive Care Unit (ICU) admission. We estimated the COVID-19 prevalence and the unadjusted RR (95% CI) for maternal and perinatal outcomes. We used the chi-square or Fisher's exact test to compare categorical variables (two-sided p-value < 0.05 for statistical significance).

Results

We included 239 participants. The overall prevalence of COVID-19 was 9.2% (22/239) and in the symptomatic group was 32.4% (11/34). About 50% of the participants with COVID-19 were symptomatic. Moreover, the most frequent symptoms were dyspnoea (33.3%), cough (28.6%), anosmia (23.8%), and fever (19%). Not having a partner, being pregnant, and alcohol consumption were vulnerability factors for SARS-CoV-2 infection. The risk of adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes (abortion, foetal death, preterm birth, Apgar, and NICU admission) was not significantly increased with COVID-19. Moreover, we did not observe a significant difference in the primary outcomes (SARS, ICU admission and maternal death) between COVID-19 positive and COVID-19 negative groups.

Conclusion

The prevalence of COVID-19 in the obstetric population is higher than in the general population, and fifty percent of pregnant and postpartum women with COVID-19 infection are asymptomatic. Not having a partner and alcohol consumption were factors of greatest vulnerability to SARS-COV-2 infection. Moreover, being pregnant versus postpartum was associated with increased vulnerability to COVID-19. Data suggest that pregnant women with COVID-19 may have a higher frequency of  COVID-19 infection, reinforcing the need for universal testing, adequate follow-up for this population, and increasing COVID-19 therapy facilities in Mozambique. Moreover, provide counselling during Antenatal care for COVID-19 preventive measures. However, more prospective and robust studies are needed to assess these findings.

The epidemiological pattern of the COVID-19 pandemic in Africa is heterogeneous, and many African countries are still struggling to establish efficient testing policy, guarantee sufficient laboratory supply and achieve or maintain adequate testing capacity. In addition, evidence suggests that sexual and reproductive health services were the most affected by the pandemic; this scenario might have devastating effects on maternal and perinatal health. Moreover, data from non-sub-Saharan countries the SARS-CoV-2 infection among pregnant and postpartum women is associated with an increased risk of adverse maternal and neonatal health (preterm birth, preeclampsia and maternal death).

Although there is a significant increase of evidence regarding the prevalence and impact of COVID-19 on maternal and perinatal health, data on the effects of this condition on the obstetric population in low-income countries are scarce. Therefore, the study objective were to assess the prevalence and impact of COVID-19 on maternal and neonatal health at referral maternity in Maputo, Mozambique.

Our findings suggest that the prevalence of COVID-19 in the obstetric population is higher than the general population, and most pregnant and postpartum women are asymptomatic. Being pregnant, not having a partner and alcohol consumption were factors of greatest vulnerability to SARS-COV-2 infection. Moreover, the risk of COVID-19 among pregnant was seven-fold higher than in postpartum women. Pregnant women with COVID-19 may have a higher frequency of adverse gestational outcomes (foetal death and abortion). Although the risk of adverse maternal outcomes (death, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome and Intensive Care Unit admission) did not differ significantly between the COVID-19 and COVID-19 negative groups, universal screening for COVID-19 should be implemented to ensure adequate management of pregnant women and newborns.

Hands-On Training Courses for Cervical Cancer Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatment Procedures in Low- and Middle-Income Countries

In 2018, there were approximately 570,000 new cases of cervical cancer worldwide. More than 85% of cases occurred in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), primarily because of poor access to screening and a limited number of medical providers trained to diagnose and treat cervical precancerous lesions. Our objective was to provide locally arranged, hands-on training courses for medical providers in LMICs to learn to perform cervical cancer screening, diagnosis, and treatment procedures. The courses included didactic lectures and hands-on training stations using low-cost simulation models developed by bioengineers and students at Rice University in Houston, TX, United States, and the Malawi Polytechnic in Blantyre, Malawi. The hands-on training stations included visual inspection with acetic acid (VIA), colposcopy, cervical biopsy, endocervical curettage, loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP), and thermal ablation. Provider pre- and postcourse confidence levels in performing the procedures were evaluated. From February 2017 to January 2020, we arranged 15 hands-on training courses in seven cities across six countries (El Salvador, Mozambique, Trinidad and Tobago, Lesotho, Malawi, and Nepal). Overall, there were 506 participants. The average number of participants per course was 38 (range 19-92). The participants included doctors, nurses, and midwives. The course duration varied from 1 to 3 days. Increased confidence in performing VIA, colposcopy and cervical biopsy, ablation, and LEEP was reported by 69%, 71%, 61%, and 76% of participants, respectively. Our findings suggest that locally arranged, hands-on cervical cancer prevention training courses in LMICs can improve provider confidence in performing cervical cancer screening, diagnosis, and treatment procedures. These courses are part of a larger strategy to build local capacity for delivering and improving cervical cancer prevention services in LMICs.

Hands-on training courses improved provider confidence in cervical cancer screening, diagnostic and treatment in LMICs.

Breast Cancer Diagnostics, Therapy, and Outcomes in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Population-Based Registry Study

BACKGROUND

Breast cancer (BC) is the most common cancer in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). However, little is known about the actual therapy received by women with BC and their survival outcome at the population level in SSA. This study aims to describe the cancer-directed therapy received by patients with BC at the population level in SSA, compare these results with the NCCN Harmonized Guidelines for SSA (NCCN Harmonized Guidelines), and evaluate the impact on survival.

METHODS

Random samples of patients with BC (≥40 patients per registry), diagnosed from 2009 through 2015, were drawn from 11 urban population-based cancer registries from 10 countries (Benin, Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, Ethiopia, Kenya, Mali, Mozambique, Namibia, Uganda, and Zimbabwe). Active methods were used to update the therapy and outcome data of diagnosed patients ("traced patients"). Excess hazards of death by therapy use were modeled in a relative survival context.

RESULTS

A total of 809 patients were included. Additional information was traced for 517 patients (63.8%), and this proportion varied by registry. One in 5 traced patients met the minimum diagnostic criteria (cancer stage and hormone receptor status known) for use of the NCCN Harmonized Guidelines. The hormone receptor status was unknown for 72.5% of patients. Of the traced patients with stage I-III BC (n=320), 50.9% received inadequate or no cancer-directed therapy. Access to therapy differed by registry area. Initiation of adequate therapy and early-stage diagnosis were the most important determinants of survival.

CONCLUSIONS

Downstaging BC and improving access to diagnostics and care are necessary steps to increase guideline adherence and improve survival for women in SSA. It will also be important to strengthen health systems and facilities for data management in SSA to facilitate patient follow-up and disease surveillance.

Minimally Invasive Tissue Sampling: A Tool to Guide Efforts to Reduce AIDS-Related Mortality in Resource-Limited Settings

BACKGROUND

Available information on the causes of death among people living with human immunodeficiency virus (PLHIV) in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) remains scarce. We aimed to provide data on causes of death in PLHIV from two LMICs, Brazil and Mozambique, to assess the impact of clinical misdiagnosis on mortality rates and to evaluate the accuracy of minimally invasive tissue sampling (MITS) in determining the cause of death in PLHIV.

METHODS

We performed coupled MITS and complete autopsy on 164 deceased PLHIV (18 children, 36 maternal deaths, and 110 adults). HIV antibody levels and HIV RNA viral loads were determined from postmortem serum samples.

RESULTS

Tuberculosis (22.7%), toxoplasmosis (13.9%), bacterial infections (13.9%), and cryptococcosis (10.9%) were the leading causes of death in adults. In maternal deaths, tuberculosis (13.9%), bacterial infections (13.9%), cryptococcosis (11.1%), and cerebral malaria (8.3%) were the most frequent infections, whereas viral infections, particularly cytomegalovirus (38.9%), bacterial infections (27.8%), pneumocystosis (11.1%), and HIV-associated malignant neoplasms (11.1%) were the leading cause among children. Agreement between the MITS and the complete autopsy was 100% in children, 91% in adults, and 78% in maternal deaths. The MITS correctly identified the microorganism causing death in 89% of cases.

CONCLUSIONS

Postmortem studies provide highly granular data on the causes of death in PLHIV. The inaccuracy of clinical diagnosis may play a significant role in the high mortality rates observed among PLHIV in LMICs. MITS might be helpful in monitoring the causes of death in PLHIV and in highlighting the gaps in the management of the infections.

Presentation, patterns of care, and outcomes of patients with prostate cancer in sub-Saharan Africa: A population-based registry study

BACKGROUND

Although prostate cancer (PCa) is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in men of sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), little is known about its management and survival. The objective of the current study was to describe the presentation, patterns of diagnosis, treatment, and survival of patients with PCa in 10 countries of SSA.

METHODS

In this observational registry study with data collection from 2010 to 2018, the authors drew a random sample of 738 patients with PCa who were registered in 11 population-based cancer registries. They described proportions of patients receiving recommended care and presented survival estimates. Multivariable Cox regression was used to calculate hazard ratios comparing the survival of patients with and without cancer-directed therapies (CDTs).

RESULTS

The study included 693 patients, and tumor characteristics and treatment information were available for 365 patients, 37.3% of whom had metastatic disease. Only 11.2% had a complete diagnostic workup for risk stratification. Among the nonmetastatic patients, 17.5% received curative-intent therapy, and 27.5% received no CDT. Among the metastatic patients, 59.6% received androgen deprivation therapy. The 3- and 5-year age-standardized relative survival for 491 patients with survival time information was 58.8% (95% confidence interval [CI], 48.5%-67.7%) and 56.9% (95% CI, 39.8%-70.9%), respectively. In a multivariable analysis, survival was considerably poorer among patients without CDT versus those with therapy.

CONCLUSIONS

This study shows that a large proportion of patients with PCa in SSA are not staged or are insufficiently staged and undertreated, and this results in unfavorable survival. These findings reemphasize the need for improving diagnostic workup and access to care in SSA in order to mitigate the heavy burden of the disease in the region.

The 9th Symposium on Global Cancer Research: Looking Back and Charting a Path Forward in Global Cancer Control

The NCI Center for Global Health convened the 9th Annual Symposium on Global Cancer Research as a virtual 2-day meeting alongside the Consortium of Universities for Global Health Annual Conference, March 10–11, 2021. The virtual format allowed for diverse and inclusive participation by over 400 attendees from 70 countries, 25+ speakers from 12 countries, and sharing of research conducted in 68 countries. The highly interactive 2-day program explored the science and complex considerations around resilience and equity in global cancer research and control. The Symposium convened individuals working in global oncology to discuss trends in global cancer research and control and map out collaborative efforts to move the field forward. The accepted scientific abstracts are published in this special supplement of AACR Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers, and Prevention.

Accuracy of verbal autopsy, clinical data and minimally invasive autopsy in the evaluation of malaria-specific mortality: an observational study

BACKGROUND

Global malaria mortality estimates are hindered by the low reliability of the verbal autopsy (VA) and the clinical records, the most common sources of information used to estimate malaria-specific mortality. We aimed to determine the accuracy of these tools, as well as of the minimally invasive autopsy (MIA), a needle-based postmortem sampling method, to identify malaria-specific mortality in a large series of deceased patients from Mozambique, using complete autopsy as the gold standard.

METHODS

Observational study that included 264 deaths, occurring at a tertiary level hospital in Mozambique, from 1 November 2013 to 31 March 2015 (17 months-long period). Clinical data were abstracted, a computer coded VA was completed using the clinical data as source of information, and an MIA followed by a complete autopsy were performed. Screening for malaria infection was conducted postmortem to all participants using molecular and histological techniques (PCR and immunohistochemistry).

FINDINGS

Malaria infection was considered the cause of death in 6/264 (2.3%) cases: 2/54 children (3.7%, both less than 5 years old) and 4/57 (7.0%) maternal deaths. The sensitivity and specificity of the VA, the clinical data and the MIA to identify malaria-specific deaths were 33.3% and 96.1%, 66.7% and 96.1%, and 100% and 100%, respectively. In addition, malaria was identified as a possible contributor in 14 additional patients who died of other diseases. These cases were also accurately identified by the MIA (sensitivity 82.4%, specificity 100%).

INTERPRETATION

The high sensitivity and specificity of the MIA in identifying malaria may help to improve current estimates of malaria-specific mortality in endemic areas.

High within-host diversity found from direct genotyping on post-mortem tuberculosis specimens in a high-burden setting

OBJECTIVES

To characterize the clonal complexity in Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) infections considering factors that help maximize the detection of coexisting strains/variants.

METHODS

Genotypic analysis by Mycobacterial Interspersed Repetitive-Unit-Variable-Number Tandem-Repeats (MIRU-VNTR) was performed directly on 70 biopsy specimens from two or more different tissues involving 28 tuberculosis cases diagnosed post-mortem in Mozambique, a country with a high tuberculosis burden.

RESULTS

Genotypic data from isolates collected from two or more tissues were obtained for 23 of the 28 cases (82.1%), allowing the analysis of within-patient diversity. MIRU-VNTR analysis revealed clonal diversity in ten cases (35.7%). Five cases showed allelic differences in three or more loci, suggesting mixed infection with two different strains. In half of the cases showing within-host diversity, one of the specimens associated with clonal heterogeneity was brain tissue.

CONCLUSIONS

Direct MTB genotyping from post-mortem tissue samples revealed a frequent within-host Mycobacterium tuberculosis diversity, including mixed and polyclonal infections. Most of this diversity would have been overlooked if only standard analysis of respiratory specimens had been performed.

Limitations to current methods to estimate cause of death: a validation study of a verbal autopsy model

Background: Accurate information on causes of death (CoD) is essential to estimate burden of disease, track global progress, prioritize cost-effective interventions, and inform policies to reduce mortality. In low-income settings, where a significant proportion of deaths take place at home or in poorly-resourced peripheral health facilities, data on CoD often relies on verbal autopsies (VAs). Validations of VAs have been performed against clinical diagnosis, but never before against an acceptable gold standard: the complete diagnostic autopsy (CDA). Methods: We have validated a computer-coded verbal autopsy method -the InterVA- using individual and population metrics to determine CoD against the CDA, in 316 deceased patients of different age groups who died in a tertiary-level hospital in Maputo, Mozambique between 2013 and 2015.   Results: We found a low agreement of the model across all age groups at the individual (kappa statistic ranging from -0.030 to 0.232, lowest in stillbirths and highest in adults) and population levels (chance-corrected cause-specific mortality fraction accuracy ranging from -1.00 to 0.62, lowest in stillbirths, highest in children). The sensitivity in identifying infectious diseases was low (0% for tuberculosis, diarrhea, and disseminated infections, 32% for HIV-related infections, 33% for malaria and 36% for pneumonia). Of maternal deaths, 26 were assigned to eclampsia but only four patients actually died of eclampsia. Conclusions: These findings do not lead to building confidence in current estimates of CoD. They also call to the need to implement autopsy methods where they may be feasible, and to improve the quality and performance of current VA techniques.

Limitations to current methods to estimate cause of death: a validation study of a verbal autopsy model

Background: Accurate information on causes of death (CoD) is essential to estimate burden of disease, track global progress, prioritize cost-effective interventions, and inform policies to reduce mortality. In low-income settings, where a significant proportion of deaths take place at home or in poorly-resourced peripheral health facilities, data on CoD often relies on verbal autopsies (VAs). Validations of VAs have been performed against clinical diagnosis, but never before against an acceptable gold standard: the complete diagnostic autopsy (CDA). Methods: We have validated a computer-coded verbal autopsy method -the InterVA- using individual and population metrics to determine CoD against the CDA, in 316 deceased patients of different age groups who died in a tertiary-level hospital in Maputo, Mozambique between 2013 and 2015.   Results: We found a low agreement of the model across all age groups at the individual (kappa statistic ranging from -0.030 to 0.232, lowest in stillbirths and highest in adults) and population levels (chance-corrected cause-specific mortality fraction accuracy ranging from -1.00 to 0.62, lowest in stillbirths, highest in children). The sensitivity in identifying infectious diseases was low (0% for tuberculosis, diarrhea, and disseminated infections, 32% for HIV-related infections, 33% for malaria and 36% for pneumonia). Of maternal deaths, 26 were assigned to eclampsia but only four patients actually died of eclampsia. Conclusions: These findings do not lead to building confidence in current estimates of CoD. They also call to the need to implement autopsy methods where they may be feasible, and to improve the quality and performance of current VA techniques.

Limitations to current methods to estimate cause of death: a validation study of a verbal autopsy model

Background: Accurate information on causes of death (CoD) is essential to estimate burden of disease, track global progress, prioritize cost-effective interventions, and inform policies to reduce mortality. In low-income settings, where a significant proportion of deaths take place at home or in poorly-resourced peripheral health facilities, data on CoD often relies on verbal autopsies (VAs). Validations of VAs have been performed against clinical diagnosis, but never before against an acceptable gold standard: the complete diagnostic autopsy (CDA).

Methods: We have validated a computer-coded verbal autopsy method –the InterVA- using individual and population metrics to determine CoD against the CDA, in 316 deceased patients of different age groups who died in a tertiary-level hospital in Maputo, Mozambique between 2013 and 2015.  

Results: We found a low agreement of the model across all age groups at the individual (kappa statistic ranging from -0.030 to 0.232, lowest in stillbirths and highest in adults) and population levels (chance-corrected cause-specific mortality fraction accuracy ranging from -1.00 to 0.62, lowest in stillbirths, highest in children). The sensitivity in identifying infectious diseases was low (0% for tuberculosis, diarrhea, and disseminated infections, 32% for HIV-related infections, 33% for malaria and 36% for pneumonia). Of maternal deaths, 26 were assigned to eclampsia but only four patients actually died of eclampsia.

Conclusions: These findings do not lead to building confidence in current estimates of CoD. They also call to the need to implement autopsy methods where they may be feasible, and to improve the quality and performance of current VA techniques.

Risk Factors for Breast Cancer, Overall and by Tumor Subtype, among Women from Mozambique, Sub-Saharan Africa

BACKGROUND

Breast cancer incidence is rising in Africa, but there are scare data regarding risk factors in this region. We assessed the relation between risk factors and the occurrence of breast cancer, overall and by tumor subtype in women from Mozambique.

METHODS

The associations between education, number of births, height, weight, body mass index (BMI), and breast cancer risk among 138 cases (participants from the Moza-BC cohort) and 638 controls from the general population (from a World Health Organization stepwise approach to surveillance survey), recruited during 2014 to 2017, were investigated. Adjusted ORs (aOR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were estimated using multivariable logistic regression.

RESULTS

Multiparity (≥6 vs. 0-1 live births) was a protective factor for the development of hormone receptor (HR)-positive (aOR = 0.22; 95% CI, 0.08-0.64) and HR-positive/HER2-negative tumors (aOR = 0.20; 95% CI, 0.06-0.68), whereas a higher educational level (≥8 vs. 0 schooling years) increased breast cancer risk across all subtypes (overall aOR = 1.98; 95% CI, 1.04-3.80). Higher weight and BMI were associated with a higher breast cancer risk among postmenopausal women (per 1-kg increase: aOR = 1.05; 95% CI, 1.02-1.08; per 1-kg/m² increase: aOR = 1.11; 95% CI, 1.04-1.18, respectively), but were protective in premenopausal women (aOR = 0.98; 95% CI, 0.96-0.99; aOR = 0.95; 95% CI, 0.91-0.99, respectively), regardless of subtype. Higher height increased the risk of HR-negative tumors in postmenopause (per 10-cm increase: aOR = 2.81; 95% CI, 1.41-6.03).

CONCLUSION

These results demonstrate the etiological heterogeneity of breast cancer among native African women, namely regarding the differential effect of multiparity, education, and body parameters in breast cancer risk.

IMPACT

As the prevalence of obesity grows, these findings are important to inform public health policies on cancer prevention, by highlighting obesity as a modifiable risk factor for breast cancer among African women.

Survival Impact and Cost-Effectiveness of a Multidisciplinary Tumor Board for Breast Cancer in Mozambique, Sub-Saharan Africa

BACKGROUND

Despite the international endorsement of multidisciplinary tumor boards (MTBs) for breast cancer care, implementation is suboptimal worldwide, and evidence regarding their effectiveness in developing countries is lacking. We assessed the impact on survival and the cost-effectiveness of implementing an MTB in Mozambique, sub-Saharan Africa.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This prospective cohort study included 205 patients with breast cancer diagnosed between January 2015 and August 2017 (98 before and 107 after MTB implementation), followed to November 2019. Pre- and post-MTB implementation subcohorts were compared for clinical characteristics, treatments, and overall survival. We used hazard ratios and 95% confidence intervals (CI), computed by Cox proportional hazards regression. The impact of MTB implementation on the cost per quality-adjusted life year (QALY) was estimated from the provider perspective.

RESULTS

We found no significant differences between pre- and post-MTB subcohorts regarding clinical characteristics or treatments received. Among patients with early breast cancer (stage 0-III; n = 163), the 3-year overall survival was 48.0% (95% CI, 35.9-59.1) in the pre-MTB and 73.0% (95% CI, 61.3-81.6) in the post-MTB subcohort; adjusted hazard ratio, 0.47 (95% CI, 0.27-0.81). The absolute 3-year mean cost increase was $119.83 per patient, and the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio was $802.96 per QALY, corresponding to 1.6 times the gross domestic product of Mozambique.

CONCLUSION

The implementation of a MTB in Mozambique led to a 53% mortality decrease among patients with early breast cancer, and it was cost-effective. These findings highlight the feasibility of implementing this strategy and the need for scaling-up MTBs in developing countries, as a way to improve patient outcomes.

IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE

Currently, more than half of the deaths from breast cancer in the world occur in developing countries. Strategies that optimize care and that are adjusted for available resources are needed to improve the outcomes of patients with breast cancer in these regions. The discussion of cases at multidisciplinary tumor boards (MTBs) may improve survival outcomes, but implementation is suboptimal worldwide, and evidence regarding their effectiveness in developing countries is lacking. This study evaluated the impact of implementing an MTB on the care and survival of patients with breast cancer in Mozambique, sub-Saharan Africa and its cost-effectiveness in this low-income setting.

Designing a National Curriculum to Advance Surgical Oncology in Mozambique: A Delphi Consensus Study

OBJECTIVE

Mozambique is currently experiencing an increase in chronic diseases including cancer. There is a large unmet need for cancer surgery in Mozambique. The aim of this study was to define the content and the design of a training program for practicing surgeons in surgical oncology that would be consensually regarded as adequate to care for oncological patients requiring surgical interventions.

DESIGN & SETTING

A 3-round modified-Delphi approach was implemented to obtain consensus on surgical oncology training curriculum. The participants were purposefully selected experts in surgical oncology working in Mozambique. In round 1, participants answered a questionnaire with open-ended questions regarding the content of the curriculum and the timing and venue of training. In round 2, answers from the first round were presented to a purposeful selected sample of nationally recognized experts in oncology and surgical oncology, including members of the Mozambican College of Surgeons and leadership of the Ministry of Health. A final round was carried out to discuss the draft version of the training program aiming to achieve a predetermined consensus level of 80%.

PARTICIPANTS

Fifteen of 23 experts (65.2%) responded to round one.The response rate for round 1 and 3 was 80% (12 of the 15 participants in round one).

RESULTS

The responses collected in the first round were analyzed and revealed that basic principles of oncology and basic principles of surgical oncology should be included in the curriculum of surgical residency in Mozambique (80% of the experts agree; Cronbach α = 0.93); a 24-months fellowship in surgical oncology should take place after residency in the surgical field (86.6% of experts agree; Cronbach α = 0.97); and should occur at Maputo Central Hospital and at comprehensive cancer centers abroad (100% agree). In round 2 the proposal for the program of surgical oncology fellowship obtained a strong agreement amongst the experts (97.3%). The final proposal for the program was divided into the following structure: (1) theoretical components; (2) duration; (3) location; (4) methodology; (5) technical skills in oncology; and (6) competency and paid particular attention to the oncological diseases prevalent in Mozambique. The agreement amongst the experts was 97.3%.

CONCLUSIONS

The experts reached a consensus regarding the general structure for a cancer surgery postgraduate training program in Mozambique, which should be a 24-months fellowship after residency in surgical disciplines. This fellowship should mostly take place in Mozambique, but it should also include dedicated internships in recognized cancer hospitals abroad. Such curricula embrace the Global Curriculum in Surgical Oncology including in particular the oncological nosology of Mozambique and should advance the quality of oncology surgical care provided in the country.

Rising Prostate Cancer Incidence in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Trend Analysis of Data from the African Cancer Registry Network

BACKGROUND

Prostate cancer is the leading cancer in men in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) regarding incidence and mortality. Published data from a few registries in SSA suggest that the rates are still rising, but there is little comprehensive information on the time trends of prostate cancer incidence.

METHODS

We analyzed registry data on 13,170 incident prostate cancer cases in men aged 40 years or above, from 12 population-based cancer registries in 11 SSA countries, with at least a 10-year time span of comparable data.

RESULTS

We observed an increase in cumulative risks (CR) and age-standardized incidence rates (ASR) over time in all registries (statistically significant in all but one). The highest values of CR were found in Seychelles and Harare (Zimbabwe). The highest annual increase in the ASRs was seen in Seychelles and Eastern Cape (South Africa), whereas the lowest was seen in Mauritius. We mainly found a steady increase in incidence with age and during successive periods.

CONCLUSIONS

This analysis reveals that prostate cancer incidence rates are rising in many populations in SSA-often very rapidly-which is in contrast to recent observations worldwide. We acknowledge that the reasons are multifactorial and largely remain unclear, but believe that they are primarily associated with improvements in health care systems, for example, a broader use of prostate-specific antigen testing.

IMPACT

This study is the first to compare population-level data on time trends of prostate cancer incidence between multiple countries of SSA, presenting the different rates of increase in 11 of them.

Cervical cancer survival in sub-Saharan Africa by age, stage at diagnosis and Human Development Index: A population-based registry study

Cervical cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in African women. We sought to estimate population-based survival and evaluate excess hazards for mortality in African women with cervical cancer, examining the effects of country-level Human Development Index (HDI), age and stage at diagnosis. We selected a random sample of 2760 incident cervical cancer cases, diagnosed in 2005 to 2015 from 13 population-based cancer registries in 11 countries (Benin, Cote d'Ivoire, Ethiopia, Kenya, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles, South Africa, Uganda and Zimbabwe) through the African Cancer Registry Network. Of these, 2735 were included for survival analyses. The 1-, 3- and 5-year observed and relative survival were estimated by registry, stage and country-level HDI. We used flexible Poisson regression models to estimate the excess hazards for death adjusting for age, stage and HDI. Among patients with known stage, 65.8% were diagnosed with Stage III-IV disease. The 5-year relative survival for Stage I-II cervical cancer in high HDI registry areas was 67.5% (42.1-83.6) while it was much lower (42.2% [30.6-53.2]) for low HDI registry areas. Independent predictors of mortality were Stage III-IV disease, medium to low country-level HDI and age >65 years at cervical cancer diagnosis. The average relative survival from cervix cancer in the 11 countries was 69.8%, 44.5% and 33.1% at 1, 3 and 5 years, respectively. Factors contributing to the HDI (such as education and a country's financial resources) are critical for cervical cancer control in SSA and there is need to strengthen health systems with timely and appropriate prevention and treatment programmes.

Breast cancer subtypes: implications for the treatment and survival of patients in Africa-a prospective cohort study from Mozambique

BACKGROUND

Data regarding breast cancer epidemiology, treatment and survival in Africa are scarce. We aimed to assess the distribution of breast cancer subtypes in Mozambique and its impact on patients' treatment and survival. The concordance of biomarker assessment between cytological and histological samples was also evaluated.

METHODS

Prospective cohort study including 210 patients diagnosed between January 2015 and August 2017, followed to November 2019. Clinicopathological characteristics, treatment, 3-year overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) were compared across classic tumour subtypes (oestrogen receptor (ER)-positive/human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-negative, HER2-positive and triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC)) and surrogate intrinsic subtypes (St. Gallen classification). Concordance was measured using Cohen's κ statistics.

RESULTS

A total of 51% of patients had ER-positive/HER2-negative tumours, 24% HER2-positive and 25% TNBC. Concordance between cytological and histological samples regarding ER and HER2 status was substantial (κ=0.762 and κ=0.603, respectively). There were no significant differences across subtypes regarding clinical characteristics and treatment, except for HIV positivity and high histological grade (more prevalent among TNBC) or endocrine therapy (higher use among ER-positive/HER2-negative and HER2-positive patients). Three-year OS was 52.5% (95% CI, 44.3% to 60.0%), being higher in ER-positive/HER2-negative (61.1%) compared with HER2-positive (53.2%) and TNBC (31.9%) patients. Adjusted HRs were 1.96 (95% CI, 1.13 to 3.39) among HER2-positive and 3.10 (95% CI, 1.81 to 5.31) among TNBC versus ER-positive/HER2-negative patients. Three-year DFS was 46.6% (95% CI, 38.0% to 54.8%), being lower among TNBC versus ER-positive/HER2-negative patients (HR 2.91; 95% CI, 1.64 to 5.16). Results were similar between surrogate intrinsic subtypes.

CONCLUSION

There was a high proportion of HER2-positive and TNBC among Mozambican patients and their survival was poor compared with ER-positive/HER2-negative patients, partly due to the limited treatment options. A systematic assessment of ER, PR and HER2 status is feasible and may help tailoring and optimise the treatment of patients with breast cancer in low-resource settings, potentially leading to survival gains in this underserved population.

Standardization of Minimally Invasive Tissue Sampling Specimen Collection and Pathology Training for the Child Health and Mortality Prevention Surveillance Network

Background

Minimally invasive tissue sampling (MITS) is a simplified postmortem examination technique that has shown to be an adequate approach for cause of death investigation in low-resource settings. It requires relatively low level of infrastructures and can be performed by health professionals with no background in pathology. A training program has been developed for the Child Health and Mortality Prevention Surveillance (CHAMPS) network to guarantee standardization of specimen collection techniques, procedures, and laboratory methods.

Methods

The training program has included assessment of the site capacities and training on a standardized protocol of MITS sampling and histological processing. The project has also introduced a program of training for trainers for the personnel from Mozambique. To guarantee the adequacy of the procedure in each site, a trainer accompanied the local teams when the activities started. Training outcomes were assessed by evaluating the quality of the samples obtained and the quality of the slides produced locally.

Results

Between June 2016 and October 2018, the laboratories of 7 sites (Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Kenya, Mali, Mozambique, Sierra Leone, and South Africa) have been evaluated and upgraded. Training has been delivered to 63 staff members from all sites. More than 600 MITS procedures have been performed. The quantity of tissue obtained in the MITS by the local teams was sufficient or abundant in 73%, and 87% of the slides were considered as technically acceptable or excellent.

Conclusions

Satisfactory standardization of MITS and histology procedures has been achieved across all CHAMPS sites through organized capacity-building plans.

Quality of care and maternal mortality in a tertiary-level hospital in Mozambique: a retrospective study of clinicopathological discrepancies

BACKGROUND

Although an increasing number of pregnant women in resource-limited areas deliver in health-care facilities, maternal mortality remains high in these settings. Inadequate diagnosis and management of common life-threatening conditions is an important determinant of maternal mortality. We analysed the clinicopathological discrepancies in a series of maternal deaths from Mozambique and assessed changes over 10 years in the diagnostic process. We aimed to provide data on clinical diagnostic accuracy to be used for improving quality of care and reducing maternal mortality.

METHODS

We did a retrospective analysis of clinicopathological discrepancies in 91 maternal deaths occurring from Nov 1, 2013, to March 31, 2015 (17 month-long period), at a tertiary-level hospital in Mozambique, using complete diagnostic autopsies as the gold standard to ascertain cause of death. We estimated the performance of the clinical diagnosis and classified clinicopathological discrepancies as major and minor errors. We compared the findings of this analysis with those of a similar study done in the same setting 10 years earlier.

FINDINGS

We identified a clinicopathological discrepancy in 35 (38%) of 91 women. All diagnostic errors observed were classified as major discrepancies. The sensitivity of the clinical diagnosis for puerperal infections was 17% and the positive predictive value was 50%. The sensitivity for non-obstetric infections was 48%. The sensitivity for eclampsia was 100% but the positive predictive value was 33%. Over the 10-year period, the performance of clinical diagnosis did not improve, and worsened for some diagnoses, such as puerperal infection.

INTERPRETATION

Decreasing maternal mortality requires improvement of the pre-mortem diagnostic process and avoidance of clinical errors by refining clinical skills and increasing the availability and quality of diagnostic tests. Comparison of post-mortem information with clinical diagnosis will help monitor the reduction of clinical errors and thus improve the quality of care.

FUNDING

Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Instituto de Salud Carlos III.

The Capulana study: a prospective evaluation of cervical cancer screening using human papillomavirus testing in Mozambique

BACKGROUND

Cervical cancer is the leading cause of cancer and related deaths among women in Mozambique. There is limited access to screening and few trained personnel to manage women with abnormal results. Our objective was to implement cervical cancer screening with human papillomavirus (HPV) testing, with navigation of women with abnormal results to appropriate diagnostic and treatment services.

METHODS

We prospectively enrolled women aged 30-49 years living in Maputo, Mozambique, from April 2018 to September 2019. All participants underwent a pelvic examination by a nurse, and a cervical sample was collected and tested for HPV using the careHPV test (Qiagen, Gaithersburg, Maryland, USA). HPV positive women were referred for cryotherapy or, if ineligible for cryotherapy, a loop electrosurgical excision procedure. Women with findings concerning for cancer were referred to the gynecologic oncology service.

RESULTS

Participants (n=898) had a median age of 38 years and 20.3% were women living with the human immunodeficiency virus. HPV positivity was 23.7% (95% confidence interval 21.0% to 26.6%); women living with human immunodeficiency virus were twice as likely to test positive for HPV as human immunodeficiency virus negative women (39.2% vs 19.9%, p<0.001). Most HPV positive women (194 of 213, 91.1%) completed all steps of their diagnostic work-up and treatment. Treatment included cryotherapy (n=158, 77.5%), loop electrosurgical excision procedure (n=30, 14.7%), or referral to a gynecologist or gynecologic oncologist (n=5, 2.5%). Of eight invasive cervical cancers, 5 (2.8%) were diagnosed in women living with human immunodeficiency virus and 3 (0.4%) in human immunodeficiency virus negative women (p=0.01).

CONCLUSION

Cervical cancer screening with HPV testing, including appropriate follow-up and treatment, was feasible in our study cohort in Mozambique. Women living with human immunodeficiency virus appear to be at a significantly higher risk for HPV infection and the development of invasive cervical cancer than human immunodeficiency virus negative women.

p16 Expression Correlates with Invasive Ocular Surface Squamous Neoplasms in HIV-Infected Mozambicans

BACKGROUND

p16 immunohistochemistry is widely used to diagnose human papillomavirus (HPV)-related squamous neoplasms of cervix, anogenital, head, and neck tissues. The incidence of these HPV-related squamous neoplasms is markedly increased in the HIV-infected population. Ocular surface squamous neoplasia (OSSN) is also more common in HIV-infected patients. However, the expression pattern of p16 in OSSN among HIV-infected patients is unclear. Here, we examined the expression of p16 in OSSN surgical excisions collected from a large HIV-infected cohort from -Mozambique.

METHODS

OSSN surgical tissue specimens were collected from 75 Mozambican patients. Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue blocks from these OSSNs were sectioned, stained with hematoxylin and eosin (H&E), and p16 expression by immunohistochemistry. H&E slides were reviewed to determine if OSSNs were noninvasive conjunctival intraepithelial neoplasms or invasive squamous cell carcinomas (SCC). Cases were classified as p16 positive or negative based on diffuse nuclear and cytoplasmic expression of p16 in neoplastic cells.

RESULTS

p16 positivity was found in a minority of OSSN cases (14/75). p16 positivity was significantly associated with the invasive SCC type of OSSN in HIV-infected patients (p value of 0.026).

CONCLUSIONS

The majority of OSSNs in our HIV-infected cohort do not express p16. However, those cases that are p16-positive are significantly more likely to be the invasive SCC form of OSSN. We propose that p16 expression may identify more aggressive OSSNs in HIV-infected populations.

Breast cancer survival in sub-Saharan Africa by age, stage at diagnosis and human development index: A population-based registry study

Breast cancer is the leading cancer diagnosis and second most common cause of cancer deaths in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Yet, there are few population-level survival data from Africa and none on the survival differences by stage at diagnosis. Here, we estimate breast cancer survival within SSA by area, stage and country-level human development index (HDI). We obtained data on a random sample of 2,588 breast cancer incident cases, diagnosed in 2008-2015 from 14 population-based cancer registries in 12 countries (Benin, Cote d'Ivoire, Ethiopia, Kenya, Mali, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles, South Africa, Uganda and Zimbabwe) through the African Cancer Registry Network. Of these, 2,311 were included for survival analyses. The 1-, 3- and 5-year observed and relative survival (RS) were estimated by registry, stage and country-level HDI. We equally estimated the excess hazards adjusting for potential confounders. Among patients with known stage, 64.9% were diagnosed in late stages, with 18.4% being metastatic at diagnosis. The RS varied by registry, ranging from 21.6%(8.2-39.8) at Year 3 in Bulawayo to 84.5% (70.6-93.5) in Namibia. Patients diagnosed at early stages had a 3-year RS of 78% (71.6-83.3) in contrast to 40.3% (34.9-45.7) at advanced stages (III and IV). The overall RS at Year 1 was 86.1% (84.4-87.6), 65.8% (63.5-68.1) at Year 3 and 59.0% (56.3-61.6) at Year 5. Age at diagnosis was not independently associated with increased mortality risk after adjusting for the effect of stage and country-level HDI. In conclusion, downstaging breast cancer at diagnosis and improving access to quality care could be pivotal in improving breast cancer survival outcomes in Africa.

Unmasking the hidden tuberculosis mortality burden in a large post mortem study in Maputo Central Hospital, Mozambique

Sensitive tools are needed to accurately establish the diagnosis of tuberculosis (TB) at death, especially in low-income countries. The objective of this study was to evaluate the burden of TB in a series of patients who died in a tertiary referral hospital in sub-Saharan Africa using an in-house real time PCR (TB-PCR) and the Xpert MTB/RIF Ultra (Xpert Ultra) assay.

Complete diagnostic autopsies were performed in a series of 223 deaths (56.5% being HIV-positive), including 54 children, 57 maternal deaths and 112 other adults occurring at the Maputo Central Hospital, Mozambique. TB-PCR was performed in all lung, cerebrospinal fluid and central nervous system samples in HIV-positive patients. All samples positive for TB-PCR or showing histological findings suggestive of TB were analysed with the Xpert Ultra assay.

TB was identified as the cause of death in 31 patients: three out of 54 (6%) children, five out of 57 (9%)maternal deaths and 23 out of 112 (21%) other adults. The sensitivity of the main clinical diagnosis to detect TB as the cause of death was 19.4% (95% CI 7.5–37.5) and the specificity was 97.4% (94.0–99.1) compared to autopsy findings. Concomitant TB (TB disease in a patient dying of other causes) was found in 31 additional cases. Xpert Ultra helped to identify 15 cases of concomitant TB. In 18 patients, Mycobacterium tuberculosis DNA was identified by TB-PCR and Xpert Ultra in the absence of histological TB lesions. Overall, 62 (27.8%) cases had TB disease at death and 80 (35.9%) had TB findings.

The use of highly sensitive, easy to perform molecular tests in complete diagnostic autopsies may contribute to identifying TB cases at death that would have otherwise been missed. Routine use of these tools in certain diagnostic algorithms for hospitalised patients needs to be considered. Clinical diagnosis showed poor sensitivity for the diagnosis of TB at death.

This study shows the usefulness of molecular assays in ascertaining TB diagnosis at death. It questions the information of clinical diagnoses obtained from hospital registries as a reliable tool for TB mortality estimation.http://bit.ly/2KrzTBJ

Clinico-pathological discrepancies in the diagnosis of causes of death in adults in Mozambique: A retrospective observational study

Background

Clinico-pathological discrepancies are more frequent in settings in which limited diagnostic techniques are available, but there is little information on their actual impact.

Aim

We assessed the accuracy of the clinical diagnoses in a tertiary referral hospital in sub-Saharan Africa by comparison with post-mortem findings. We also identified potential risk factors for misdiagnoses.

Methods

One hundred and twelve complete autopsy procedures were performed at the Maputo Central Hospital (Mozambique), from November 2013 to March 2015. We reviewed the clinical records. Major clinico-pathological discrepancies were assessed using a modified version of the Goldman and Battle classification.

Results

Major diagnostic discrepancies were detected in 65/112 cases (58%) and were particularly frequent in infection-related deaths (56/80 [70%] major discrepancies). The sensitivity of the clinical diagnosis for toxoplasmosis was 0% (95% CI: 0–37), 18% (95% CI: 2–52) for invasive fungal infections, 25% (95% CI: 5–57) for bacterial sepsis, 34% (95% CI: 16–57), for tuberculosis, and 46% (95% CI: 19–75) for bacterial pneumonia. Major discrepancies were more frequent in HIV-positive than in HIV-negative patients (48/73 [66%] vs. 17/39 [44%]; p = 0.0236).

Conclusions

Major clinico-pathological discrepancies are still frequent in resource constrained settings. Increasing the level of suspicion for infectious diseases and expanding the availability of diagnostic tests could significantly improve the recognition of common life-threatening infections, and thereby reduce the mortality associated with these diseases. The high frequency of clinico-pathological discrepancies questions the validity of mortality reports based on clinical data or verbal autopsy.

Mortality due to Cryptococcus neoformans and Cryptococcus gattii in low-income settings: an autopsy study

Cryptococcosis is a major opportunistic infection and is one of the leading causes of death in adults living with HIV in sub-Saharan Africa. Recent estimates indicate that more than 130,000 people may die annually of cryptococcal meningitis in this region. Although complete diagnostic autopsy (CDA) is considered the gold standard for determining the cause of death, it is seldom performed in low income settings. In this study, a CDA was performed in 284 deceased patients from Mozambique (n = 223) and Brazil (n = 61). In depth histopathological and microbiological analyses were carried out in all cases dying of cryptococcosis. We determined the cryptococcal species, the molecular and sero-mating types and antifungal susceptibility. We also described the organs affected and reviewed the clinical presentation and patient management. Among the 284 cases included, 17 fatal cryptococcal infections were diagnosed. Cryptococcus was responsible for 16 deaths among the 163 HIV-positive patients (10%; 95%CI: 6-15%), including four maternal deaths. One third of the cases corresponded to C. gattii (VGI and VGIV molecular types, Bα and Cα strains) and the remaining infections typed were caused by C. neoformans var. Grubii (all VNI and Aα strains). The level of pre-mortem clinical suspicion was low (7/17, 41%), and 7/17 patients (41%) died within the first 72 hours of admission. Cryptococcosis was responsible for a significant proportion of AIDS-related mortality. The clinical diagnosis and patient management were inadequate, supporting the need for cryptococcal screening for early detection of the disease. This is the first report of the presence of C. gattii infection in Mozambique.

Contribution of the clinical information to the accuracy of the minimally invasive and the complete diagnostic autopsy

Although autopsy diagnosis includes routinely, a thorough evaluation of all available pathological results and also of any available clinical data, the contribution of this clinical information to the diagnostic yield of the autopsy has not been analyzed. We aimed to determine to which degree the use of clinical data improves the diagnostic accuracy of the complete diagnostic autopsy (CDA) and the minimally invasive autopsy (MIA), a simplified pathological postmortem procedure designed for low-income sites. A total of 264 coupled MIA and CDA procedures (112 adults, 57 maternal deaths, 54 children, and 41 neonates) were performed at the Maputo Hospital, Mozambique. We compared the diagnoses obtained by the MIA blind to clinical data (MIAb), the MIA adding the clinical information (MIAc), and the CDA blind to clinical information (CDAb), with the results of the gold standard, the CDA with clinical data, by comparing the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision codes and the main diagnostic classes obtained with each evaluation strategy (MIAb, MIAc, CDAb, CDAc). The clinical data increased diagnostic coincidence to the MIAb with the gold standard in 30 (11%) of 264 cases and modified the CDAb diagnosis in 20 (8%) of 264 cases. The increase in concordance between MIAb and MIAc with the gold standard was significant in neonatal deaths (κ increasing from 0.404 to 0.618, P = .0271), adult deaths (κ increasing from 0.732 to 0.813, P = .0221), and maternal deaths (κ increasing from 0.485 to 0.836, 0.;P < .0001). In conclusion, the use of clinical information increases the precision of MIA and CDA and may strengthen the performance of the MIA in resource-limited settings.

•

The addition of clinical data increases the diagnostic accuracy of the minimally invasive autopsy (MIA) and complete diagnostic autopsy in 12% and 8% of the cases, respectively.

•

The increase in concordance from MIA blind to clinical data to MIA enhanced with clinical data was significant in neonatal, adult, and maternal deaths and was also evident in children, although it did not reach statistical significance.

•

The use of clinical data may improve the diagnostic precision of the MIA in resource-limited settings.

Fine needle aspiration cytology in Mozambique: Report of a 15-year experience

BACKGROUND

Fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) is an important diagnostic tool in a range of medical settings. It is fast, quick and a highly accurate diagnostic method and can be used, in settings with minimal laboratory infrastructures.

METHODS

In this report, we describe the experience in the use of FNAC since it is introduction in 1996 in the Anatomical Pathology Service of the Maputo Central Hospital (MCH), along with more detailed data referring to 2009-2010.

RESULTS

The number of FNAC analyses increased gradually from 269 (4.1% of all pathologic tests of the Service) in 1996, when it was introduced in Mozambique, to 3234 (17% of all tests) in 2010. Lymph nodes were the organs most frequently biopsied, followed by breast and soft tissues. Inflammatory conditions, especially tuberculosis, were the most frequent diagnoses (22.2% of the cases), followed by hyperplastic conditions (20.6%), benign tumors (13.4%) and malignant tumors (12.3%).

CONCLUSION

Our results clearly demonstrate that even in an environment with poor laboratory resources, it is possible to establish a FNAC clinic that can provide a quick and precise diagnosis for clinicians to aid in early treatment interventions, especially in inflammatory diseases which were the majority of our cases.

Postmortem Interval and Diagnostic Performance of the Autopsy Methods

Postmortem studies, including the complete diagnostic autopsy (CDA) and the minimally invasive autopsy (MIA), an innovative approach to post-mortem sampling and cause of death investigation, are commonly performed within 24 hours after death because the quality of the tissues deteriorates over time. This short timeframe may hamper the feasibility of the procedure. In this study, we compared the diagnostic performance of the two postmortem procedures when carried out earlier and later than 24 hours after death, as well as the impact of increasing postmortem intervals (PMIs) on the results of the microbiological tests in a series of 282 coupled MIA/CDA procedures performed at the Maputo Central Hospital in Mozambique between 2013 and 2015. 214 procedures were conducted within 24 hours of death (early autopsies), and 68 after 24 hours of death (late autopsies). No significant differences were observed in the number of non-conclusive diagnoses (2/214 [1%] vs. 1/68 [1%] p = 0.5645 for the CDA; 27/214 [13%] vs. 5/68 [7%] p = 0.2332 for the MIA). However, increasing PMIs were associated with a raise in the number of bacteria identified (rate: 1.014 per hour [95%CI: 1.002–1.026]; p = 0.0228). This increase was mainly due to rising numbers of bacteria of the Enterobacteriaceae family and Pseudomonas genus strains. Thus, performing MIA or CDA more than 24 hours after death can still render reliable diagnostic results, not only for non-infectious conditions but also for many infectious diseases, although, the contribution of Enterobacteriaceae and Pseudomonas spp. as etiological agents of infections leading to death may be overestimated.

Weak surveillance and policy attention to cancer in global health: the example of Mozambique

Cancer is an emerging public health problem in sub-Saharan Africa due to population growth, ageing and westernisation of lifestyles. The increasing burden of cancer calls for urgent policy attention to develop cancer prevention and control programmes. Cancer surveillance is an essential prerequisite. Only one in five low-income and middle-income countries have the necessary data to drive policy and reduce the cancer burden. In this piece, we use data from Mozambique over a 50-year period to illustrate cancer epidemiological trends in low-income and middle-income countries to hypothesise potential circumstances and factors that could explain changes in cancer burden and to discuss surveillance weaknesses and potential improvements. Like many low-income and middle-income countries, Mozambique faces the dual challenge of a still high morbidity and mortality due to infectious diseases in rural areas and increased incidence of cancers associated with westernisation of lifestyles in urban areas, as well as a rise of cancers related to the HIV epidemic. An increase in cancer burden and changes in the cancer profile should be expected in coming years. The Mozambican healthcare and health-information systems, like in many other low-income and middle-income countries, are not prepared to face this epidemiological transition, which deserves increasing policy attention.

Measuring Knowledge Change and Skills Improvement in Participants of a Comprehensive Cervical Cancer Prevention Training Program in Low-Resource Areas in Texas and Mozambique

Abstract 5

Purpose

There are more than 530,000 new cases of cervical cancer and 275,000 related deaths annually worldwide. More than 85% of cases and deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries and some areas of the United States. There is a shortage of medical specialists to provide prevention, screening, and treatment services in these regions. Needed are programs that are focused on increasing the clinical capacity to improve cancer prevention services via innovative, locally held, hands-on training courses in conjunction with regular telementoring. Locally held, hands-on training courses for colposcopy, cervical biopsy, and loop electrosurgical excisional procedures using innovative training models and theoretical practical lectures were held in conjunction with telementoring using Project ECHO (Extension for Community Health Outcomes).

Methods

We initiated a cervical cancer prevention education program with two complementary components: locally held, hands-on training courses using innovative teaching aids that were developed by Rice University, and Project ECHO telementoring using regularly held videoconferences to ensure regular mentoring. These innovative training models are low cost (< $80 USD) and allow course participants to simulate different cervical cancer screening and early treatment techniques, including VIA, colposcopy, cervical biopsies, cryotherapy, and loop electrosurgical excisional procedures.

Results

To date, four hands-on training programs have been held in Mozambique (n = 2) and underserved areas of Texas, including the Rio Grande Valley (n = 1) and Laredo (n = 1). In addition, since 2014, 99 ECHO telementoring sessions have been held with providers in the Rio Grande Valley and Laredo (average, n = 23 providers) as well as Mozambique (average, n = 11 providers).

Conclusion

Through this cervical cancer prevention education program, we have found that locally held, hands-on training courses using innovative models, complemented with Project ECHO telementoring, is an innovative way to improve cervical cancer screening and prevention efforts in low-resource settings. Evaluation is ongoing to determine the efficacy of these programs compared with traditional training methods. Funding: The Cancer Prevention Research Institute of Texas, The University of Texas MD Anderson Sister Institution Network Fund, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center Moon Shots program, and The Prevent Cancer Foundation.

AUTHORS' DISCLOSURES OF POTENTIAL CONFLICTS OF INTEREST

No COIs from the authors.