Machine Learning to Predict Interim Response in Pediatric Classical Hodgkin Lymphoma Using Affordable Blood Tests.

Purpose: Response assessment of classical Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL) with positron emission tomography-computerized tomography (PET-CT) is standard of care in well-resourced settings but unavailable in most African countries. We aimed to investigate correlations between changes in PET-CT findings at interim analysis with changes in blood test results in pediatric patients with cHL in 17 South African centers.

Methods: Changes in ferritin, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), albumin, total white cell count (TWC), absolute lymphocyte count (ALC), and absolute eosinophil count were compared with PET-CT Deauville scores (DS) after two cycles of doxorubicin, bleomycin, vinblastine, and dacarbazine in 84 pediatric patients with cHL.

Outcome of Retinoblastoma After Implementation of National Retinoblastoma Treatment Guidelines in South Africa.

Purpose: Retinoblastoma, a curable childhood cancer, has been identified as a tracer cancer in the WHO Global Initiative for Childhood Cancer. To document the outcomes of children with retinoblastoma in South Africa, treated as per the first prospective standard national treatment guidelines for childhood cancer in South Africa.

Patients And Methods: All children diagnosed with retinoblastoma between 2012 and 2016 in five South African pediatric oncology units were treated with a standard treatment on the basis of the International Society of Pediatric Oncology-Pediatric Oncology in Developing Countries guidelines for high-income settings.

Health-Related Quality of Life of Adolescent and Young Adult-Aged Childhood Cancer Survivors in a South African Cohort: A Pilot Study Using the Minneapolis-Manchester Quality of Life Instrument.

We investigated the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of an adolescent and young adult (AYA)-aged South African childhood cancer survivor (CCS) cohort. Participants completed the Minneapolis-Manchester Quality of Life adolescent and adult forms. The overall Cronbach's alpha coefficients were 0.

Extracranial germ cell tumours: Mature and immature (1990-2015). First report by the South African Association of Paediatric Haematology Oncology (SAAPHO).

Background And Objectives: Outcomes of rare paediatric teratomas have not previously been reported nor treatment regimens standardised in low- and middle-income settings. We sought to evaluate treatment outcomes of children and adolescents with histologically confirmed extracranial germ cell tumours, both mature teratomas (MT) and immature teratomas (IT) in preparation for the development of the South African national treatment guideline.

Methods: Retrospective data by folder review were collated from nine South African paediatric oncology units.

Improved survival of children and adolescents with classical Hodgkin lymphoma treated on a harmonised protocol in South Africa.

Background: Historic South African 5-year overall survival (OS) rates for Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) from 2000 to 2010 were 46% and 84% for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive and HIV-negative children, respectively. We investigated whether a harmonised treatment protocol using risk stratification and response-adapted therapy could increase the OS of childhood and adolescent HL.

Methods: Seventeen units prospectively enrolled patients less than 18 years, newly diagnosed with classical HL onto a risk-stratified, response-adapted treatment protocol from July 2016 to December 2022.

SACCSG HL-2018. Barriers and enablers of a harmonized treatment protocol for childhood and adolescent Hodgkin lymphoma in South Africa.

Collaborative studies have contributed to improved survival of pediatric Hodgkin lymphoma in well-resourced settings, but few are documented in resource-constrained countries. The South Africa Children's Cancer Study Group initiated harmonization of management protocols in 2015. This article analyzes barriers and enablers of the process.

Psychological distress of adolescent and young adult childhood cancer survivors in a South African cohort.

Background: We investigated psychological distress in a South African childhood cancer survivor (CCS) cohort.

Methods: Adult CCSs treated at Tygerberg Hospital, Cape Town, completed the Brief Symptom Inventory-18. Internal consistency was acceptable: Cronbach's alpha values were 0.

Diagnostic yield and accuracy of paediatric image-guided fine needle aspiration biopsy of deep organ tumours.

Background: Paediatric tumour cytological diagnosis by image-guided fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) with rapid on-site evaluation (ROSE) has not gained wide acceptance despite increasing publications advocating the procedure.

Objective: The primary aim was an audit of the diagnostic yield and accuracy of paediatric image-guided FNAB with ROSE at a single institution. Evaluation of safety was a secondary aim.

Malignant extracranial germ cell tumours: A first national report by the South African Children's Cancer Study Group.

Objective: To determine the overall survival (OS) and prognostic factors influencing outcomes in children and adolescents with malignant extracranial germ cell tumours (MEGCTs) in preparation for the development of a harmonised national treatment protocol.

Methods: A retrospective folder review was undertaken at nine South African paediatric oncology units to document patient profiles, tumour and treatment-related data and outcomes for all children with biopsy-proven MEGCTs from birth up to and including 16 years of age.

Results: Between 1 January 2000 and 31 December 2015, 218 patients were diagnosed with MEGCTs.

Childhood Cancers Misdiagnosed as Tuberculosis in a High Tuberculosis Burden Setting.

Background: Tuberculosis (TB) and childhood cancers have overlapping presentations and malignancies may be misdiagnosed as TB in high TB-burden settings.

Methods: This retrospective study investigated the diagnosis of TB in children with cancer registered in the Tygerberg Hospital Childhood Tumor Registry from 2008 to 2018. We studied children on anti-tuberculosis treatment (ATT) at cancer diagnosis or diagnosed with TB within 1 month of cancer diagnosis.

Sex Cord Stromal Tumors in Children and Adolescents: A First Report by The South African Children's Cancer Study Group (1990-2015).

Objectives: Pediatric sex cord stromal tumors (SCSTs) are extremely rare and there are no reported data from Africa. The authors evaluated the outcomes of children and adolescents with biopsy-proven SCSTs in preparation for the introduction of a national protocol.

Materials And Methods: Retrospective data were collated from 9 South African pediatric oncology units from January 1990 to December 2015.

Prognostic factors affecting survival in children and adolescents with HIV and Hodgkin lymphoma in South Africa.

South African children with Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) have low 5-year overall survival (OS) rates. In this retrospective multicenter study, 271 South African pediatric patients with HL were studied to determine OS and prognostic factors in those with HIV and HL. Univariate risk factor analysis was performed to analyze prognostic factors.

The evaluation of induction chemotherapy regimens for high-risk neuroblastoma in South African children.

Achieving remission after induction therapy in high-risk neuroblastoma (HR-NB) is of significant prognostic importance. This study investigated remission after induction-chemotherapy using three standard neuroblastoma protocols in the South African (SA) setting. Retrospective data of 261 patients with HR-NB diagnosed between January 2000 and December 2016, who completed induction chemotherapy with standard treatment protocols were evaluated.

Overall survival for neuroblastoma in South Africa between 2000 and 2014.

Background: Outcome data for neuroblastoma in sub-Saharan Africa are minimal, whereas poor outcome is reported in low- and middle-income countries. A multi-institutional retrospective study across South Africa was undertaken to determine outcome.

Methods: Patients treated between January 2000 and December 2014 in nine South African pediatric oncology units were included.

Predictive Indicators to Identify High-Risk Paediatric Febrile Neutropenia in Paediatric Oncology Patients in a Middle-Income Country.

Purpose: To validate a clinical risk prediction score (Ammann score) to predict adverse events (AEs) in paediatric febrile neutropenia (FN).

Patients And Methods: Patients <16 years of age were enrolled. A risk prediction score (based on haemoglobin ≥ 9 g/dl, white cell count (WCC) < 0.

Treatment outcomes of children with Hodgkin lymphoma between 2000 and 2010: First report by the South African Children's Cancer Study Group.

Background: Children with Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) have excellent survival rates in high-income countries, but there are minimal outcome data in South African patients. Differing approaches to treatment are used in centres across South Africa, and the South African Children's Cancer Study Group (SACCSG) embarked on a programme to audit outcomes to improve survival rates.

Patients And Methods: A multicentre study was conducted to analyse outcomes and prognostic factors of children with HL in South Africa.

Childhood cancer in Africa.

The majority of children with cancer live in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) with little or no access to cancer treatment. The purpose of the paper is to describe the current status of childhood cancer treatment in Africa, as documented in publications, dedicated websites and information collected through surveys. Successful twinning programmes, like those in Malawi and Cameroon, as well as the collaborative clinical trial approach of the Franco-African Childhood Cancer Group (GFAOP), provide good models for childhood cancer treatment.