JCO Global OncologyPub Date : 2025-02-01Epub Date: 2025-02-13DOI: 10.1200/GO-24-00274
David H Noyd, Ana Carolina Izurieta-Pacheco, Rizine Mzikamanda, Nana Nakiddu, Dao Thi Thanh An, Bounpalisone Souvanlasy, Ritu Bhalla, Chandan Kumar, Poonam Bagai, Remziye Semerci, Tuba Arpaci, Kristin Schroeder, Adekemi Oyewusi, Florencia Moreno, Liliana Vásquez, Soad Fuentes-Alabí
{"title":"Childhood Cancer Survivorship Care in Limited Resource Settings: A Narrative Review and Strategies to Promote Global Health Equity.","authors":"David H Noyd, Ana Carolina Izurieta-Pacheco, Rizine Mzikamanda, Nana Nakiddu, Dao Thi Thanh An, Bounpalisone Souvanlasy, Ritu Bhalla, Chandan Kumar, Poonam Bagai, Remziye Semerci, Tuba Arpaci, Kristin Schroeder, Adekemi Oyewusi, Florencia Moreno, Liliana Vásquez, Soad Fuentes-Alabí","doi":"10.1200/GO-24-00274","DOIUrl":"10.1200/GO-24-00274","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The WHO Global Initiative for Childhood Cancer, prompted by the marked inequity of survival across the globe, aims to increase survival rates in low- and middle-income countries to 60% by 2030. In tandem with this effort, implementing survivorship-focused care is crucial to mitigate late effects and prevent early mortality beyond the 5-year survival end point. The observed burden of secondary malignancies, cardiovascular disease, and other chronic health conditions in adult survivors of childhood cancer in high-income countries provides guidance to generate evidence in limited-resource settings. The implementation of risk stratification tools, population health management, and development of contextually relevant health care delivery models, within the current landscape of survivorship care in Latin America, Africa, and Asia as examples, are vital to continue the momentum to ensure equitable care and quality of life for all survivors of childhood cancer. This narrative review informed by expert opinion serves as a call to action for survivors, advocacy groups, health professionals, health systems, governments, and global organizations to look beyond the 5-year survival benchmark.</p>","PeriodicalId":14806,"journal":{"name":"JCO Global Oncology","volume":"11 ","pages":"e2400274"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11892615/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143414307","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":"Somatic Landscape of Oncogenic Variants Across the Main Cancer Subtypes in Latin America: A Narrative Review.","authors":"Talia Wegman-Ostrosky, Lucia Taja-Chayeb, Zyanya Lucia Zatarain-Barrón, Catalina Trejo-Becerril, Daniela Shveid Gerson, Isabel Espino-Gutiérrez, Andrea Gutiérrez-Lara, Andrés Yesid Bonilla Salcedo, Mistral Castellanos Mares, José Elias García-Ortiz, Carla Daniela Robles-Espinoza, Alejandro Ruíz-Patiño","doi":"10.1200/GO-24-00389","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1200/GO-24-00389","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Variations in somatic genetic alterations can be observed across different cancer types and diverse populations. Understanding the frequency of oncogenic variants in specific populations helps elucidate carcinogenesis and risk factors, with somatic variants often serving as treatment markers. Data regarding the somatic landscape across the main tumor subtypes in patients from Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) have increased recently, highlighting important differences from contrasting populations in North America, Europe, and Asia. Many of these differences have pressing implications regarding screening, risk factor management, targeted therapies, and health care policy. This review aims to synthesize the existing information on somatic oncogenic variants in patients' tumors from LAC. We included the frequency of somatic oncogenic variants of the most frequent tumors in LAC: prostate cancer, female breast cancer, colon cancer, gastric cancer, and lung cancer. Furthermore, we add information from tumors that are relevant in LAC because of their high incidence, specific subtypes, or aggressive phenotypes, namely gallbladder cancer, acral melanoma, and hematologic neoplasms, respectively. The data highlight distinct differences in the reported prevalences of various somatic variants across a spectrum of neoplasms. Moreover, it demonstrates that an extensive number of genetic and molecular studies have been carried out in the region, improving the level of characterization for this complex, admixed population. Nonetheless, data from many individual countries are still scarce or altogether missing, underscoring the need to establish collaborative groups to further advance progress in LAC. The need for further comprehensive research in the area should not be substituted with data from other regions as we seek to empower the choices to improve our health care outlook.</p>","PeriodicalId":14806,"journal":{"name":"JCO Global Oncology","volume":"11 ","pages":"e2400389"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143527775","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
JCO Global OncologyPub Date : 2025-02-01Epub Date: 2025-02-27DOI: 10.1200/GO-24-00312
Badiaa Batlamous, Sihame Lkhoyaali, Loubna Omri, Magaly-Gwen-Farnely Nguema-Mipaka, Mohamed Khalis, Hanane Inrhaoun, Sarah Naciri, Ibrahim El Ghissassi, Hind Mrabti, Saber Boutayeb, Hassan Errihani
{"title":"Clinical Characteristics of Toxicities of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors and Their Impact on Efficacy in Solid Cancers: An Analysis of Real-World Data in Moroccan Patients.","authors":"Badiaa Batlamous, Sihame Lkhoyaali, Loubna Omri, Magaly-Gwen-Farnely Nguema-Mipaka, Mohamed Khalis, Hanane Inrhaoun, Sarah Naciri, Ibrahim El Ghissassi, Hind Mrabti, Saber Boutayeb, Hassan Errihani","doi":"10.1200/GO-24-00312","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1200/GO-24-00312","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>Patients receiving immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) may induce immune-related adverse events (irAEs). This study aimed to evaluate the toxicity induced by ICIs and explore the correlation between efficacy and toxicity in a Moroccan population.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We conducted a prospective study of patients with solid tumors who received pembrolizumab or atezolizumab at the <i>National Institute of Oncology, Rabat</i> from July 2018 to December 2023. We identified irAEs according to ASCO 2021 guidelines and graded them according to the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events Version 4.0. Efficacy with respect to progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) was determined. A Cox regression model was used to determine the association between irAEs and survival.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Eighty-six patients with solid tumors who received ICIs were included. The primary tumor types were lung (40.7%), skin (29.1%), and GI cancer (14%). The ICIs most commonly used included pembrolizumab (67.4%) and atezolizumab (32.6%). ICIs were used as monotherapy (77.9%) or in combination (22.1%). A total of 58 (67.4%) patients presented any kind of irAEs. The most common toxicities in both the monotherapy and combination groups were GI, with rates of 25.3% and 31.5%, respectively. Patients with irAEs showed significantly longer median PFS compared with those without irAEs (9 <i>v</i> 3.6 months; hazard ratio [HR], 0.5 [95% CI, 0.32 to 0.99]; <i>P</i> = .04). The median OS was longer in patients with irAEs than in those without irAEs but was not statistically significant (19 <i>v</i> 10.3 months; HR, 0.8 [95% CI, 0.39 to 1.7]; <i>P</i> = .5).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Our results indicated that ICIs have the potential to induce irAEs in patients with solid tumors. These adverse effects were commonly GI. The development of irAEs was associated with improved effectiveness of ICI treatment across different malignancies.</p>","PeriodicalId":14806,"journal":{"name":"JCO Global Oncology","volume":"11 ","pages":"e2400312"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143523376","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
JCO Global OncologyPub Date : 2025-02-01Epub Date: 2025-02-20DOI: 10.1200/GO-24-00340
André Mattar, Marcelo Antonini, Andressa Gonçalves Amorim, Marina Diógenes Teixeira, Cristiano Augusto Andrade de Resende, Francisco Pimentel Cavalcante, Felipe Zerwes, Renata Arakelian, Eduardo de Camargo Millen, Fabricio Palermo Brenelli, Antonio Luiz Frasson, Renata Montarroyos Leite, Luiz Henrique Gebrim
{"title":"Overall Survival and Economic Impact of Triple-Negative Breast Cancer in Brazilian Public Health Care: A Real-World Study.","authors":"André Mattar, Marcelo Antonini, Andressa Gonçalves Amorim, Marina Diógenes Teixeira, Cristiano Augusto Andrade de Resende, Francisco Pimentel Cavalcante, Felipe Zerwes, Renata Arakelian, Eduardo de Camargo Millen, Fabricio Palermo Brenelli, Antonio Luiz Frasson, Renata Montarroyos Leite, Luiz Henrique Gebrim","doi":"10.1200/GO-24-00340","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1200/GO-24-00340","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) presents notable treatment difficulties, especially in the public health care systems of low- and middle-income countries where access to advanced therapies is restricted. This study investigates TNBC's clinical, epidemiologic, and economic effects on survival within Brazil's public health care system.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We conducted a retrospective cohort study of patients with TNBC treated between 2010 and 2019. Overall survival (OS) rates by stage were analyzed across various patient groups, including those receiving neoadjuvant or adjuvant treatment, patients with or without complete pathologic response, Black and non-Black patients, and those treated with or without carboplatin-based therapy. Cox proportional hazards models were applied to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% CIs, and annual treatment costs were calculated per stage.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Among 1,266 patients with TNBC, 710 met eligibility criteria. Kaplan-Meier analysis indicated stage II patients had a 47% lower mortality risk than stage III (HR, 0.53 [95% CI, 0.33 to 0.85]; <i>P</i> = .009). Patients in the adjuvant treatment group had a reduced risk (HR, 0.48 [95% CI, 0.34 to 0.69]) compared with the neoadjuvant group. Achieving complete pathologic response (pCR) greatly improved OS (HR, 0.21 [95% CI, 0.11 to 0.43]; <i>P</i> < .001). Black patients had better survival rates than non-Black (HR, 0.58 [95% CI, 0.40 to 0.86]; <i>P</i> = .006). Carboplatin use did not significantly affect OS (HR, 0.96 [95% CI, 0.65 to 1.43]; <i>P</i> = .857). The average monthly cost for systemic TNBC treatment increased with disease progression, from $101.87 in US dollars (USD) for stage I to $314.77 USD for stage IV second-line therapy.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This study provides insight into TNBC in Brazil's public health system, showing that OS decreases with disease progression but is higher among Black patients. pCR and adjuvant therapy improve survival, although costs increase significantly at advanced stages, highlighting the economic burden of late-stage TNBC management.</p>","PeriodicalId":14806,"journal":{"name":"JCO Global Oncology","volume":"11 ","pages":"e2400340"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143468170","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Treatment and Outcomes of Pancreatic Cancer in Armenia: A Retrospective Study From Resource-Limited Settings.","authors":"Elen Baloyan, Davit Zohrabyan, Liana Safaryan, Armen Avagyan, Lilit Harutyunyan, Vardan Bardakhchyan, Jemma Arakelyan, Amalya Sargsyan, Martin Harutyunyan, Mariam Mailyan, Gevorg Tamamyan, Samvel Bardakhchyan","doi":"10.1200/GO.24.00217","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1200/GO.24.00217","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>Pancreatic cancer is one of the deadliest cancers in the world. In Armenia, it is 12th by incidence. The aim of this study is to evaluate treatment and outcomes of pancreatic cancer in Armenia during the past 12 years.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This is a retrospective study with data from three oncology centers in Armenia: \"Muratsan\" Hospital of Yerevan State Medical University, Mikaelyan institute of surgery, and Yeolyan Hematology and Oncology Center. The information was obtained from the medical records of the patients with pancreatic cancer treated at these centers during January 1, 2010-January 1, 2022. Log-rank test and Kaplan-Meier curves were used for survival analysis. Cox regression analysis was performed for identification of main prognostic factors.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Of 70 patients involved in the final analysis, 45.7% was female. The median age at diagnosis was 63 years. The median follow-up time was 11 months (range, 2-146). A total of 11.4% of patients had stage I-II, 27.1% had stage III, and 60% had stage IV disease. The main independent prognostic factor for overall survival (OS) was the TNM stage, whereas grade of the tumor was not significant. The median OS was 11 months (range, 2-169 months): In stages I-III, patients who had surgery (44.4%) lived significantly longer than those who did not (20 <i>v</i> 11 months; <i>P</i> = .008). Main chemotherapy regimens were 5-fluorouracil, oxaliplatin, folinic acid and irinotecan (41.4%) and gemcitabine plus capecitabine (38.6%). No significant survival difference was found between these groups (13 <i>v</i> 11 months; <i>P</i> = .162).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Survival of patients with pancreatic cancer in Armenia is dismal, not exceeding 1 year. Hopefully, further research in the field and new treatment modalities will improve the situation.</p>","PeriodicalId":14806,"journal":{"name":"JCO Global Oncology","volume":"11 ","pages":"e2400217"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143064671","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
JCO Global OncologyPub Date : 2025-01-01Epub Date: 2025-01-02DOI: 10.1200/GO-24-00431
Evelyn Lilian Beas-Lozano, Yuly A Remolina-Bonilla, Rosa Caballero, Nora Sobrevilla-Moreno, Perla Perez-Perez, Maria Guadalupe Díaz-Alvarado, Omar Alejandro Zayas-Villanueva, Erika Adriana Martinez-Castañeda, Saul Campos-Gomez, Luis Arturo Cardoso-Aparicio, Dolores Mendoza-Oliva, Maria T Bourlon
{"title":"Treatment Patterns for Metastatic Urothelial Carcinoma Across Eight Mexican Centers: The ALEBRIJE Study.","authors":"Evelyn Lilian Beas-Lozano, Yuly A Remolina-Bonilla, Rosa Caballero, Nora Sobrevilla-Moreno, Perla Perez-Perez, Maria Guadalupe Díaz-Alvarado, Omar Alejandro Zayas-Villanueva, Erika Adriana Martinez-Castañeda, Saul Campos-Gomez, Luis Arturo Cardoso-Aparicio, Dolores Mendoza-Oliva, Maria T Bourlon","doi":"10.1200/GO-24-00431","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1200/GO-24-00431","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>Metastatic urothelial carcinoma (mUC) poses a challenge to health care systems, given its treatment complexity and mortality. We aimed to describe the characteristics, treatment patterns, and survival outcomes of Mexican patients with mUC.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A retrospective study was conducted across eight centers for adults with mUC from January /2001 to December 2021. We recorded medical history, eligibility for first-line platinum therapy, treatment lines received, and access to novel drugs. Descriptive statistics were used and survival analysis, including Kaplan-Meier curves and Cox proportional hazards model, was performed.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>We identified 379 patients with mUC; 37 were excluded, and 76% was male, with a median age of 67 years. The median follow-up was 8.4 months. Among those who received a first-line treatment (65%), cisplatin-based chemotherapy (45%) was the most common followed by carboplatin (39%). Causes of cisplatin ineligibility were Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group ≥2 (41%) and glomerular filtration rate <60 mL/min (33%). The overall response rate to up-front platinum therapy was 33%, with a median progression-free survival of 6.1 months (95% CI, 4.9 to 6.9). Second-, third-, and fourth-line treatment was given to 24.6%, 8.8%, and 3.5%, respectively. Chemotherapy was the most common regimen prescribed. Access to novel drugs was limited, 14 patients received avelumab, and 25% received immunotherapy as second-line treatment. The median overall survival was 11.8 months (95% CI, 10.2 to 15.2). Multivariate analysis showed that first-line treatment was independently associated with better survival, whereas poor performance status and visceral disease were associated with worse survival.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>To our knowledge, these data represent the first effort to delineate treatment trends of mUC in Mexico. First-line treatment prescription and rates of progression to platinum therapy were higher than those described worldwide. Factors affecting survival included performance status, first-line treatment, and visceral disease. Our study highlights unequal access to novel treatments, underscoring the need for equitable care.</p>","PeriodicalId":14806,"journal":{"name":"JCO Global Oncology","volume":"11 ","pages":"e2400431"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142921603","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
JCO Global OncologyPub Date : 2025-01-01Epub Date: 2025-01-16DOI: 10.1200/GO.24.00183
Milena Parra, Andrea Prada, Alexander Casallas, Liliana Gutiérrez-Babativa, Andrea Jaramillo, Lina Bernal, Claudia Cristina Klumpp, Natalia Sánchez, Nicolle Wagner-Gutíerrez, Andrés F Cardona
{"title":"Proposals for the Implementation of a Multidimensional Platform That Allows the Advancement of Oncology Nursing in the Latin American Environment (The INCREASE Proposal).","authors":"Milena Parra, Andrea Prada, Alexander Casallas, Liliana Gutiérrez-Babativa, Andrea Jaramillo, Lina Bernal, Claudia Cristina Klumpp, Natalia Sánchez, Nicolle Wagner-Gutíerrez, Andrés F Cardona","doi":"10.1200/GO.24.00183","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1200/GO.24.00183","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>Cancer constitutes a significant global health challenge, with projections indicating a continued increase in its prevalence in the foreseeable future. This trend is particularly pronounced in Latin America (LATAM), where the cancer burden has increased substantially over the coming decades. Concurrently, nursing, which represents the largest segment of the health care workforce globally, is important for addressing the multifaceted challenges posed by cancer care, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Despite the essential role of nursing in cancer care, several barriers hinder its optimal contribution, particularly in LMICs. These challenges include professional hierarchy, insufficient educational standards, underfunding for research, and limited representation in decision-making processes.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>To address these challenges, collaborative initiatives, such as the INCREASE Proposal, have emerged, aimed at fostering interdisciplinary dialogue and action in oncology nursing within LATAM. Through focused workshops and agile methodologies, the INCREASE Proposal seeks to identify barriers and formulate solutions across key areas including education, research, clinical practice, and policy implementation.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The outcomes of the INCREASE Proposal underscore the urgent need for comprehensive strategies to strengthen oncology nursing in the LATAM. These strategies include enhancing education and recognition within health care systems, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, leveraging advanced technologies, conducting cost-benefit analyses, and promoting research-academic partnerships.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>By addressing these challenges and implementing the proposed solutions, LATAM can advance toward optimized oncology nursing practice, improving cancer care delivery and outcomes across the region.</p>","PeriodicalId":14806,"journal":{"name":"JCO Global Oncology","volume":"11 ","pages":"e2400183"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143005539","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
JCO Global OncologyPub Date : 2025-01-01Epub Date: 2025-01-23DOI: 10.1200/GO-24-00275
Mariam Zahwe, Nader Zalaquett, Rima Kamel, Joodi Mourhli, Rami Abdul Baki, Ryan Osgueritchian, Hadi Hamdan, Karim Lakkis, Lilass Sinno, Salim G Habib, Walid El Hout, Tamam Tulimat, Chandrakanth Are, Hazem Assi, Mohamad Jawad Khalifeh, Umayya Musharrafieh, Ghina Ghazeeri, Ayman Harakeh, Eman Sbaity
{"title":"Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Breast Cancer Patient Care: Results From a Tertiary Care Center in Lebanon.","authors":"Mariam Zahwe, Nader Zalaquett, Rima Kamel, Joodi Mourhli, Rami Abdul Baki, Ryan Osgueritchian, Hadi Hamdan, Karim Lakkis, Lilass Sinno, Salim G Habib, Walid El Hout, Tamam Tulimat, Chandrakanth Are, Hazem Assi, Mohamad Jawad Khalifeh, Umayya Musharrafieh, Ghina Ghazeeri, Ayman Harakeh, Eman Sbaity","doi":"10.1200/GO-24-00275","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1200/GO-24-00275","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>We aimed to evaluate the impact of COVID-19 on breast cancer care in terms of the stage at presentation, treatment delays, and follow-up in a tertiary care center in Lebanon.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>This retrospective study compared patients with breast cancer who presented to a tertiary care center in Lebanon before (September 2019-December 2019) and during (September 2020-December 2020) the COVID-19 pandemic. We extracted data from the electronic medical records of patients with breast cancer who had their initial presentation, were under treatment, or were on follow-up during our period of interest.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Of the 333 patients, 186 visited the hospital in the pre-COVID-19 period and 147 during the pandemic, showing almost a 12% reduction in the number of patients during the COVID-19 pandemic. In the pre-COVID period, more patients were presented for screening (52%); however, more symptomatic patients were presented during the pandemic (51.4%). Almost 54% had an advanced stage at presentation during the pandemic compared with 48% before the pandemic but with no statistical significance (<i>P</i> = .50). Significantly fewer patients came for chemotherapy in the COVID-19 period (38.1%) compared with the pre-COVID-19 period (52.2%). Fewer patients underwent surgery during the pandemic, although the difference was not statistically significant. Multivariate analysis showed that the COVID-19 pandemic was not associated with having an advanced stage at presentation (<i>P</i> = .24).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The management of breast cancer was not substantially affected by the COVID-19 pandemic in a sample of Lebanese patients. However, 4 months might not be sufficient to draw a solid conclusion.</p>","PeriodicalId":14806,"journal":{"name":"JCO Global Oncology","volume":"11 ","pages":"e2400275"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143028510","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}