ecancermedicalsciencePub Date : 2025-07-15eCollection Date: 2025-01-01DOI: 10.3332/ecancer.2025.1945
Isabella Pereira Gadelha, Fernanda Cristina Rosa Alves, Samara Machado Castilho, George Pinheiro Carvalho, Luciana Ferreira Dos Santos, Lucrecia Aline Cabral Formigosa
{"title":"Cancer in children and adolescents in the Brazilian Amazon: a population-based study.","authors":"Isabella Pereira Gadelha, Fernanda Cristina Rosa Alves, Samara Machado Castilho, George Pinheiro Carvalho, Luciana Ferreira Dos Santos, Lucrecia Aline Cabral Formigosa","doi":"10.3332/ecancer.2025.1945","DOIUrl":"10.3332/ecancer.2025.1945","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Every year, about 400,000 children are diagnosed with cancer around the world, 90% of them in developing countries. In Brazil, it is estimated that 7,900 cases are expected by 2023, making cancer the second leading cause of death in this age group. Therefore, this study is relevant for strengthening health surveillance and developing strategies to combat childhood and adolescent malignant neoplasms.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>To describe the profile of cancer incidence and mortality in the child and adolescent population of Belém and Ananindeua between 2010 and 2019.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This is a descriptive study, with a quantitative approach, using data obtained from the Population-Based Cancer Registry (RCBP), referring to cancer incidence and mortality in individuals aged 0-19 residing in Belém and Ananindeua. The following variables were analysed: age, sex, race, morphology and case outcome. The data were organised in Microsoft Excel, using the formula: incidence = (number of new cases/total population) × 100,000. The analyses were descriptive, with emphasis on absolute and relative frequencies.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 846 new cases of malignant neoplasms were registered among the population aged 0-19. The most frequent morphology was leukaemia, with 42.31 cases per 100,000 inhabitants, followed by malignant tumours of the central nervous system, with 17.92, lymphomas, with 15.82 and bone tumours, with 12.27. The incidence is higher among males, with a large number of cases occurring in the age group 15-19. As for the outcome, 66.1% had no information on the patient's vital status, 29.6% had a confirmed death and only 4.4% had a vital status of alive.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The epidemiological data on childhood and adolescent malignant neoplasms in Belém and Ananindeua was detailed, providing more information on the subject. However, it was difficult to obtain some information from the RCBP system.</p>","PeriodicalId":11460,"journal":{"name":"ecancermedicalscience","volume":"19 ","pages":"1945"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2025-07-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12426506/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145063862","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
ecancermedicalsciencePub Date : 2025-07-11eCollection Date: 2025-01-01DOI: 10.3332/ecancer.2025.1944
Natalia Camejo, Cecilia Castillo, Nicolas Ayala, Joaquin Manzanares, Gianina Muñoz, Lujan Cabrera, Dahiana Amarillo, María Guerrina, Guadalupe Herrera, Carolina Dörner, Gabriel Krygier
{"title":"Impact of adherence to healthy habits on the quality of life of cancer survivors: a study from Uruguay.","authors":"Natalia Camejo, Cecilia Castillo, Nicolas Ayala, Joaquin Manzanares, Gianina Muñoz, Lujan Cabrera, Dahiana Amarillo, María Guerrina, Guadalupe Herrera, Carolina Dörner, Gabriel Krygier","doi":"10.3332/ecancer.2025.1944","DOIUrl":"10.3332/ecancer.2025.1944","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Healthy habits such as regular physical activity, a balanced diet and tobacco abstinence are associated with better health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in cancer survivors. However, there is limited evidence on this relationship in Latin American countries, where socioeconomic and cultural factors may influence adherence to healthy behaviours.</p><p><strong>Objectives: </strong>To evaluate the relationship between adherence to healthy lifestyle recommendations and HRQoL in cancer survivors in Uruguay.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>A cross-sectional study was conducted with 241 early-stage cancer survivors treated at two hospitals in Uruguay. Adherence to healthy habits was assessed using a questionnaire based on the American Cancer Society recommendations. HRQoL was measured using the RAND-36 questionnaire. Categorical variables were analysed using the chi-square test, while continuous variables were analysed using Student's t-test or the Mann-Whitney test. The correlation between SF-36 dimensions and healthy habits was assessed using Spearman's coefficient.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The median age was 66.7 years and 55.2% were women. The most common cancers were breast (31.1%), colorectal (28.2%) and prostate (26.6%). A total of 62.7% of participants adhered to three or more healthy habits. Adherent patients showed significantly higher HRQoL scores, particularly in physical function (62.68 versus 45.67, <i>p</i> < 0.001), energy/fatigue (64.83 versus 45.89, <i>p</i> < 0.001) and emotional well-being (69.43 versus 53.02, <i>p</i> < 0.001). Adherence to multiple healthy habits was significantly correlated with improvements in physical and mental domains, with energy/fatigue showing the strongest correlation (rs = 0.66, <i>p</i> < 0.001).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Adherence to healthy habits has a cumulative positive impact on the HRQoL of cancer survivors. This study highlights the need to design comprehensive interventions to promote healthy behaviours in this population, contributing to the global evidence on cancer care and underscoring its importance in developing countries.</p>","PeriodicalId":11460,"journal":{"name":"ecancermedicalscience","volume":"19 ","pages":"1944"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2025-07-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12426495/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145063848","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
ecancermedicalsciencePub Date : 2025-07-10eCollection Date: 2025-01-01DOI: 10.3332/ecancer.2025.1943
Mevhibe B Hocaoglu, Grant Lewison, Hamish Sharp, Tania Pastrana, Eve Namisango, James Cleary, Barbara Hasties, Eric Kabisa, Helena Musau, Kathryn Spangenberg, Paola Ruiz, Zipporah Ali, Mertixell Mallafre-Larrosa, Alfredo Polo, Julie Torode, Ajay Aggarwal, Richard Sullivan
{"title":"The state of global palliative care research: a bibliometric study.","authors":"Mevhibe B Hocaoglu, Grant Lewison, Hamish Sharp, Tania Pastrana, Eve Namisango, James Cleary, Barbara Hasties, Eric Kabisa, Helena Musau, Kathryn Spangenberg, Paola Ruiz, Zipporah Ali, Mertixell Mallafre-Larrosa, Alfredo Polo, Julie Torode, Ajay Aggarwal, Richard Sullivan","doi":"10.3332/ecancer.2025.1943","DOIUrl":"10.3332/ecancer.2025.1943","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Palliative care research (PCR) plays a critical role in improving the quality of life for patients with serious illness, yet its global distribution and focus areas remain uneven. Understanding the trends and impact of PCR over the past decade can inform future research priorities and policy development.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We conducted a bibliometric analysis of publications indexed in the Web of Science related to PCR between 2013 and 2022. Articles were identified using a comprehensive filter based on title keywords and specialist journals, and were further classified by research domain, disease area and study type.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The volume of PCR publications has grown over the past decade, increasing from 0.29% of all biomedical research outputs in 2013-14 to 0.62% in 2021-22. Countries with the highest levels of PCR output-primarily European and Anglophone nations-also ranked highly on the Economist Intelligence Unit's Quality of Death Index. Using eight different bibliometric indicators, we assessed the impact of countries' PCR outputs; while rankings varied by metric, European countries such as the Netherlands, Belgium, the United Kingdom and Ireland consistently performed strongly. Cancer emerged as the dominant disease focus, although many studies also addressed co-morbid conditions including COVID-19 in recent years. A significant proportion of PCR also examined the impact of illness on patients' families and caregivers.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The findings highlight cancer as a major area of focus and need within PCR. However, research outputs remain disproportionately concentrated in high-income countries, revealing a persistent gap in low- and middle-income settings.</p><p><strong>Recommendations: </strong>To address the growing global burden of cancer and serious illness, palliative care should be integrated as a core component of national cancer control plans. This integration must be supported by a targeted research agenda that emphasises implementation and scaling of palliative care models, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Policymakers and research funders should prioritise holistic, patient-centred approaches and ensure that impact measurement reflects meaningful outcomes for patients and families.</p>","PeriodicalId":11460,"journal":{"name":"ecancermedicalscience","volume":"19 ","pages":"1943"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2025-07-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12426503/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145063795","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
ecancermedicalsciencePub Date : 2025-07-02eCollection Date: 2025-01-01DOI: 10.3332/ecancer.2025.1939
Meryem Naciri, Fatima Ezzahra Aouzah, Adil El Ghanmi, Bouchra Ghazi, Karima Fichtali, Sqalli Houssaini Mohammed, Fadila Kouhen
{"title":"BRCA mutation and multiple primary malignancies: a rare case of recurring triple-negative breast cancer and cervical cancer.","authors":"Meryem Naciri, Fatima Ezzahra Aouzah, Adil El Ghanmi, Bouchra Ghazi, Karima Fichtali, Sqalli Houssaini Mohammed, Fadila Kouhen","doi":"10.3332/ecancer.2025.1939","DOIUrl":"10.3332/ecancer.2025.1939","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Mutations in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes significantly increase the risk of hereditary cancers, mainly of the breast and ovary, but also of other cancers such as those of the pancreas, prostate and cervix. In carriers of these mutations, multiple primary malignancies (MPM) represent a complex clinical challenge, influenced by genetic and environmental factors, as well as previous cancer treatments. The case reports a patient with a BRCA1 mutation with a family history of breast and ovarian cancer and who developed cervical cancer then recurrent triple-negative breast cancer treated with mastectomy, radiotherapy, chemotherapy and Poly (Adenosine diphosohate-ribose) polymérase inhibitors. This case underlines the interplay between different malignancies in the context of breast cancer mutations and the importance of specific and personalised treatment of patients with multiple primary malignancies.</p>","PeriodicalId":11460,"journal":{"name":"ecancermedicalscience","volume":"19 ","pages":"1939"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2025-07-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12426494/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145063814","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
ecancermedicalsciencePub Date : 2025-07-02eCollection Date: 2025-01-01DOI: 10.3332/ecancer.2025.1938
Rukmini Bezbaruah, Asreen Suhana, Arpan Choudhury
{"title":"Oral metastasis as initial presentation of renal cell carcinoma: a case report with review of literature.","authors":"Rukmini Bezbaruah, Asreen Suhana, Arpan Choudhury","doi":"10.3332/ecancer.2025.1938","DOIUrl":"10.3332/ecancer.2025.1938","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Metastasis of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) to the head and neck region is rare. The metastases of RCC are radioresistant with surgery as the primary treatment modality. Here, we present a case of a 73-year-old male who presented with left facial swelling which on biopsy and immunohistochemistry showed metastatic RCC. The patient was re-evaluated again and the left renal primary was found out.</p>","PeriodicalId":11460,"journal":{"name":"ecancermedicalscience","volume":"19 ","pages":"1938"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2025-07-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12426493/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145063866","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
ecancermedicalsciencePub Date : 2025-07-02eCollection Date: 2025-01-01DOI: 10.3332/ecancer.2025.1937
Sarthak Tandon, Manoj Gupta, Parveen Ahlawat, Madhur Verma, Apoorva Nayak, Akash Bellige, Kundan S Chufal, Jaskaran S Sethi, Anjali Pahuja, Shreya Rai, Abhishek Singh, Vikas Arora, Vishal Yadav, David K Simson, Irfan Ahmad, Sandeep Singh, Dipesh Vashisht, Azhar Ansari, Rashmi Bansal, Abhishek Bhadri, Harsh Vyas, Manindra Mishra, Rajat Saha, Mudit Agarwal, Partha S Chowdhary, Ajay K Dewan, Munish Gairola
{"title":"DEHyART trial: Study protocol for phase 2 randomised controlled study assessing the role of dose escalation using [18F] fluoromisonidazole positron emission tomography/computed tomography in head and neck cancers.","authors":"Sarthak Tandon, Manoj Gupta, Parveen Ahlawat, Madhur Verma, Apoorva Nayak, Akash Bellige, Kundan S Chufal, Jaskaran S Sethi, Anjali Pahuja, Shreya Rai, Abhishek Singh, Vikas Arora, Vishal Yadav, David K Simson, Irfan Ahmad, Sandeep Singh, Dipesh Vashisht, Azhar Ansari, Rashmi Bansal, Abhishek Bhadri, Harsh Vyas, Manindra Mishra, Rajat Saha, Mudit Agarwal, Partha S Chowdhary, Ajay K Dewan, Munish Gairola","doi":"10.3332/ecancer.2025.1937","DOIUrl":"10.3332/ecancer.2025.1937","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma is often treated with radiotherapy, frequently combined with chemotherapy, to improve overall survival (OS). Despite advancements, locoregional control (LRC) remains a significant challenge, with 15%-50% of patients experiencing locoregional recurrence, negatively impacting OS and quality of life. Hypoxia within tumor cells is a critical factor contributing to treatment failure, necessitating higher radiation doses to achieve similar therapeutic effects as in normoxic cells. This study aims to investigate the role of dose escalation using [18F] fluoromisonidazole (FMISO) positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET CT) to target hypoxic sub-volumes in head and neck cancer (HNC) to improve LRC.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The dose-escalated hypoxia-adjusted radiotherapy trial is an open-label, parallel, randomised, single-centre, phase II study. Patients with HNC will undergo [18F]. FMISO PET CT to identify hypoxic regions. Normoxic patients will be labeled as Arm 1 and will not be part of the primary assessment. Patients with hypoxia will be stratified into two arms (2 and 3). Arm 2 will receive standard radiotherapy of 70 Gy in 2 Gy fractions, while Arm 3 will receive an additional boost to the hypoxic sub-volumes, delivering a total of 80 Gy (Phase 2). All patients in Arms 2 and 3 will also receive concurrent chemotherapy with cisplatin. Patients will be monitored weekly for treatment tolerance, with acute adverse events recorded according to National Cancer Institute Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events v5.0. The primary endpoint is LRC, defined as the time from randomisation to the first histopathologically confirmed relapse of locoregional disease. Secondary endpoints include OS, locoregional relapse-free survival, acute and late toxicity and patient-reported outcomes assessed using the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer QLQ-C30 and QLQ-H&N35 questionnaires.</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>This study addresses a critical gap in the management of HNC by targeting hypoxic regions within tumours, potentially improving LRC and, consequently, OS. The use of [18F] FMISO PET CT for identifying hypoxic sub-volumes allows for tailored radiation dose escalation, which could overcome the radioresistance associated with hypoxia. By comparing outcomes among standard radiotherapy (Arm 2) and dose-escalated treatment (Arm 3), this trial aims to establish a more effective therapeutic strategy for HNC patients.</p><p><strong>Trial registration: </strong>This trial is registered with the Clinical Trials Registry of India (CTRI/2024/04/065373), registered on 08<sup>th</sup> April 2024 on ctri.nic.in and clinicaltrials.gov (NCT06087614) registered on 18th September 2023 on clinicaltrials.gov.</p>","PeriodicalId":11460,"journal":{"name":"ecancermedicalscience","volume":"19 ","pages":"1937"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2025-07-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12426500/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145063822","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Wisely frugal: ensuring sustainable funding for novel cancer therapeutics through a budget impact analysis in resource-limited settings.","authors":"Nuradh Joseph, Vimukthini Peiris, Vodathi Bamunuarachchi, Prasad Abeysinghe, Nadarajah Jeyakumaran, Devinda Jayathilake, Kanthi Perera, Rohini Fernandopulle, Sanjeeva Gunasekera","doi":"10.3332/ecancer.2025.1941","DOIUrl":"10.3332/ecancer.2025.1941","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Cancer care in Sri Lanka is predominantly provided through its state health system which is free at the point of delivery. We performed a budget impact analysis of novel cancer drugs with a view to enabling better prioritising of their procurement.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Median survival gain was obtained for each indication of a novel cancer drug by a review of the literature. The direct cost of drug procurement was obtained from the Ministry of Health of Sri Lanka and the cost per life year gained was computed for each indication. Two thresholds - per capita gross domestic product (GDP) per life year gained (GDP × 1 = US$3815) and three times per capita GDP per life year gained (GDP × 3 = US$11445) were considered to determine cost effectiveness. The cumulative annual cost of these treatments was subsequently determined.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Data obtained on 42 novel cancer drugs spanning across 90 indications were included in the analysis. The cumulative annual treatment cost when the threshold was set at GDP × 1 was United States Dollar (US$) 6 million and it increased to US$ 13.2 million if the threshold was expanded (GDP × 3 = US$11445). Only 27 indications met the (GDP × 3 = US$11445) threshold while there were 18 drugs that did not meet the thresholds for any indication. Without a threshold, if every eligible patient were to receive treatment as currently indicated, the total cost would reach almost US$ 300 million per year.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Budget impact analyses and defining cost-effectiveness thresholds will lead to considerable savings and help prioritise the procurement of novel agents in the state health system in Sri Lanka.</p>","PeriodicalId":11460,"journal":{"name":"ecancermedicalscience","volume":"19 ","pages":"1941"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2025-07-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12426496/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145063846","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
ecancermedicalsciencePub Date : 2025-07-02eCollection Date: 2025-01-01DOI: 10.3332/ecancer.2025.1942
Susan Msadabwe, Peng Yun Ng, Richard Sullivan, Kennedy Lishimpi, John Kachimba, Justor Banda, Jane Mumba, Abidan Chansa, Mutuna Chiwele, Kasonde Bowa, Kaseya Chiyenu, Linda Malulu-Chiwele, Julie Torode, Grant Lewison, Andrew Leather, Ajay Aggarwal, Kathleen Schmeler, Groesbeck Parham, Kabisa Mwala, Paul Kamfwa
{"title":"Mapping the cancer research landscape across Zambia: evidence to support national cancer control planning.","authors":"Susan Msadabwe, Peng Yun Ng, Richard Sullivan, Kennedy Lishimpi, John Kachimba, Justor Banda, Jane Mumba, Abidan Chansa, Mutuna Chiwele, Kasonde Bowa, Kaseya Chiyenu, Linda Malulu-Chiwele, Julie Torode, Grant Lewison, Andrew Leather, Ajay Aggarwal, Kathleen Schmeler, Groesbeck Parham, Kabisa Mwala, Paul Kamfwa","doi":"10.3332/ecancer.2025.1942","DOIUrl":"10.3332/ecancer.2025.1942","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Zambia faces the double burden of rising cancer incidence and a disproportionate volume of mortality from delayed presentations. The Ministry of Health Zambia acknowledged cancer research as a key pillar of cancer control in the National Cancer Control Strategic Plan 2022-2026, but there remains a paucity of country-specific evidence to inform strategies, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of research activities. Our study aimed to map and critically analyse the existing cancer research landscape to inform national planning.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We adopted a two-stage mixed-method research. First, we conducted a systematic review, including 76 Zambian cancer studies published between 2012 and 2022, adhering to PRISMA guidance. Second, we conducted an in-person modified consensus meeting in Ndola, Zambia attended by 31 domestic and international stakeholders, to co-develop priorities and strategies based on gaps and facilitators identified through the systematic review.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The year-on-year cancer research output in Zambia had risen and diversified beyond cervical cancer but prevention, palliative care and health economic studies were lacking. Delay in deciding to seek care was most studied (n = 17, 63.0%), especially in cervical cancer. Research activities were mostly retrospective (<i>n</i> = 47/76, 61.8%) with only one randomised controlled trial identified. Greater than 90% (<i>n</i> = 10/11, 90.9%) of the most prolific research funders were international, predominantly from the United States and the United Kingdom, and Zambian researchers were under-represented as first and last authors at 43% (<i>n</i> = 33/76) and 45% (<i>n</i> = 34/76), respectively. The existing national cervical cancer registry, active global collaboration and adoption of technology were facilitators to be leveraged to build research capacity through multi-level, stakeholder-specific strategies.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>To strengthen research capacity, sustained commitment to priorities through the implementation of co-developed strategies is required at individual, organisational and institutional levels. This paradigm shift is necessary to deliver evidence-based cancer care tailored to the needs of Zambians with emphasis on value and quality.</p>","PeriodicalId":11460,"journal":{"name":"ecancermedicalscience","volume":"19 ","pages":"1942"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2025-07-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12426505/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145063774","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
ecancermedicalsciencePub Date : 2025-07-01eCollection Date: 2025-01-01DOI: 10.3332/ecancer.2025.1940
Gemini L Shayo, Latifa Rajab Abdallah, Emanuel L Lugina
{"title":"Impact of urinary diversion on survival in locally advanced cervical carcinoma with obstructive uropathy in Tanzania.","authors":"Gemini L Shayo, Latifa Rajab Abdallah, Emanuel L Lugina","doi":"10.3332/ecancer.2025.1940","DOIUrl":"10.3332/ecancer.2025.1940","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Locally advanced cervical cancer (LACC) can result in obstructive uropathy (OU). Urinary diversion (UD) is the treatment of LACC patients with OU. This study assessed the benefits of UD before or during radiotherapy by examining its effect on improving kidney function and survival in patients with LACC.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>The study retrospectively analysed the clinical data of 119 women with LACC treated from January 2020 to December 2021. The treatment intention (radical or palliative) was decided by a multidisciplinary team based on the disease stage, Karnofsky performance status and degree of renal derangement. Treatment and outcome details were retrieved from electronic records. This included obtaining serum creatinine levels before the UD, 7 days after, 21 days after and 1 month after the UD. Time to normalisation of serum creatinine, feasibility of delivering planned treatment and overall survival were determined. The impact of various prognostic factors on outcomes was determined using univariate or multivariate analysis. The significance level was set at 0.05.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The mean age was 51.1 ± 9.9 years. Approximately a third of patients underwent UD. Percutaneous nephrostomy was the most frequently performed type of UD (92%). About 85% of patients had hydronephrosis, and 56.3% had unilateral hydronephrosis. The mean baseline serum creatinine level was 662 µmol/L for the entire cohort. There was a 53% reduction of serum creatinine from the baseline to 30 days post-UD (<i>p</i> = 0.001). The median equivalent dose in 2-Gy (EQD2) for the whole cohort was 86 Gy. The median survival time for the entire cohort was 20 months. In the multivariate analysis, UD resulted in a 40% decreased mortality risk (aHR 0.6, <i>p</i>-value = 0.03). Patients who did not receive brachytherapy had 5.9 times more risk of mortality compared to those who had brachytherapy (aHR 5.9, <i>p</i>-value = 0.001). EQD2 ≥72 Gy was associated with 40% less mortality risk than those who had EQD2 of <72 Gy (aHR 0.4, <i>p</i>-value = 0.005). Patients with a maximum tumour diameter of more than 5 cm had 2 times higher mortality risk than those with a tumour with a maximum tumour diameter of less than 5 cm (aHR 2, <i>p</i>-value = 0.005). Patients who were treated with concurrent chemoradiotherapy had 60% less risk of mortality compared to those treated with radiotherapy alone (aHR 0.4, <i>p</i>-value = 0.048).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>UD was associated with a 53% reduction in baseline serum creatinine levels 30 days post-UD, reducing mortality risk by 40%.</p>","PeriodicalId":11460,"journal":{"name":"ecancermedicalscience","volume":"19 ","pages":"1940"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2025-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12426501/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145063838","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Lympho-epithelial carcinoma of the larynx - the big masquerader of squamous cell carcinoma - a case report.","authors":"Samapika Bhaumik, Prarabdh Singh, Narapareddy Venkata Dinesh Reddy, Shreya Jain, Sambit S Nanda, Paramita Paul, Ashutosh Mukherji, Satyajit Pradhan","doi":"10.3332/ecancer.2025.1936","DOIUrl":"10.3332/ecancer.2025.1936","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Lympho-epithelial carcinoma (LEC) is most commonly found in the nasopharynx, while LEC of the hypopharynx and larynx is rare, with fewer than 50 cases in the published literature. As the non-nasopharyngeal presentations are rare, the clinical course, diagnosis and treatment for this tumour are sparsely reported. Here, we report a rare case report of Epstein-Barr virus negative laryngeal LEC treated with combined modality therapy in a tertiary care centre. We also review the literature regarding currently acceptable treatment strategies.</p><p><strong>Case presentation: </strong>We present a case of a 59-year-old male who presented with hoarseness of voice and acute onset of respiratory distress. Post emergency tracheostomy for respiratory distress, evaluation with contrast-enhanced computed tomography head and neck revealed cT3N0M0 supraglottic disease. Biopsy revealed poorly differentiated carcinoma. In view of thyroid cartilage erosion, the patient underwent two cycles of neo-adjuvant chemotherapy followed by total laryngectomy, bilateral neck dissection and primary closure. Postoperative histopathology revealed ypT1N0 LEC, with adequate margins and adequate neck dissection. The patient was then treated with adjuvant chemoradiotherapy. 6 months follow-up positron emission tomography/computed comography shows no locoregional disease.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The treatment for rare cases like non-nasopharyngeal LEC is yet to be standardised. However, as seen in our case report, multimodality management including surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy seems to be a feasible approach to managing such rare cases of non-nasopharyngeal LEC.</p>","PeriodicalId":11460,"journal":{"name":"ecancermedicalscience","volume":"19 ","pages":"1936"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2025-06-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12221246/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144552661","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}