Towards Evidence-Based Implementation of Pharmacogenomics in Southern Africa: Comorbidities and Polypharmacy Profiles across Diseases.

Pharmacogenomics may improve patient care by guiding drug selection and dosing; however, this requires prior knowledge of the pharmacogenomics of drugs commonly used in a specific setting. The aim of this study was to identify a preliminary set of pharmacogenetic variants important in Southern Africa. We describe comorbidities in 3997 patients from Malawi, South Africa, and Zimbabwe.

Polymorphisms in and Collectively Contribute to Chronic Shoulder Pain and Disability in South African Breast Cancer Survivors'.

Chronic shoulder pain and disability is a common adverse effect experienced by >40% of breast cancer survivors (BCS). Pain management protocols for acute and chronic pain include the use of opioids and opioid derivatives. Furthermore, pain-modulating genes, such as and , have been linked to the aetiology of chronic pain.

and single-nucleotide polymorphisms collectively modulate chronic shoulder pain and dysfunction in South African breast cancer survivors.

Chronic shoulder pain/disability is a well-recognized side effect of treatment for breast cancer, with ∼40% of patients experiencing this, despite receiving pain management. To manage acute and chronic pain, several opioids are commonly prescribed. Pharmacogenomics have implicated genes within the opioid signaling pathway, including and , to contribute to an individual's variable response to opioids.

Strategies to Increase Participation of African Populations in Clinical Trials.

Conducting clinical research in low- and middle-income countries is essential to address the global impact of cancer. In 2017, ASCO convened an Academic Global Oncology Task Force that recommended an increase in global oncology research to enhance the field of oncology through research and education. The emerging crisis of cancer in Africa demands a similar global commitment to workforce development, infrastructure building, and access to care that will provide a platform for impactful and relevant research efforts.