Moving forward through consensus: a national Delphi approach to determine the top research priorities in prostate cancer in Uganda.

Objective: To identify key areas for research in prostate cancer (PC) in the Ugandan context by establishing the major health system, socioeconomic and clinical barriers to seeking, reaching and receiving high-quality cancer care.

Design: Modified Delphi Technique.

Setting: Government and private-not-for-profit hospitals.

Mapping of Radiation Oncology and Gynecologic Oncology Services Available to Treat the Growing Burden of Cervical Cancer in Africa.

Purpose: To meet the demand for cervical cancer care in Africa, access to surgical and radiation therapy services needs to be understood. We thus mapped the availability of gynecologic and radiation therapy equipment and staffing for treating cervical cancer.

Methods And Materials: We collected data on gynecologic and radiation oncology staffing, equipment, and infrastructure capacities across Africa.

A Narrative Synthesis of Literature on the Barriers to Timely Diagnosis and Treatment of Cancer in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Poor cancer survival outcomes in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) have been linked to delays in diagnosis and treatment. Here we present a detailed overview of the qualitative literature evaluating the barriers to receiving timely diagnosis and treatment of cancer in SSA. The PubMed, EMBASE, CINAHL, PsycINFO databases were searched to identify qualitative studies reporting on barriers to timely diagnosis of cancer in SSA published between 1995 and 2020.

Oesophageal cancer cases recorded in the Zambia National Cancer Registry: a cross-sectional study.

Introduction: the aim of this study was to determine what proportion of patients with confirmed esophageal cancer at the largest hospital in the country were recorded in the Zambia National Cancer Registry (ZNCR).

Methods: we reviewed esophageal cancer records at the University Teaching Hospital (UTH) and ZNCR, between 2015 and 2017. Using Stata version 15, data were summarised and the Kruskal-Wallis was used to compute comparisons, Kaplan-Meier curves for survival estimates and Cox regression for associated factors.

Delays in seeking, reaching and access to quality cancer care in sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review.

Objectives: Late presentation and delays in diagnosis and treatment consistently translate into poor outcomes in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). The aim of this study was to collate and appraise the factors influencing diagnostic and treatment delays of adult solid tumours in SSA.

Design: Systematic review with assessment of bias using Risk of Bias in Non-randomised Studies of Exposures (ROBINS-E) tool.

Cancer medicines on the WHO Model List of Essential Medicines: processes, challenges, and a way forward.

The selection of cancer medicines for national procurement requires deliberate evaluation of population benefit, budget impact, sustainability, and health system capacity. However, this process is complicated by numerous challenges, including the large volume and rapid pace of newly developed therapies offering marginal gains at prohibitively high prices. The WHO Model List of Essential Medicines (EML) and Model List of Essential Medicines for Children (EMLc) have undergone a series of evidence-based updates to ensure recommended cancer medicines offer meaningful clinical benefit.

Secondary Prevention of Cervical Cancer: ASCO Resource-Stratified Guideline Update.

Purpose: To update resource-stratified, evidence-based recommendations on secondary prevention of cervical cancer globally.

Methods: American Society of Clinical Oncology convened a multidisciplinary, multinational Expert Panel to produce recommendations reflecting four resource-tiered settings. A review of existing guidelines, formal consensus-based process, and modified ADAPTE process to adapt existing guidelines was conducted.

Cancer Medicines: What Is Essential and Affordable in India?

Purpose: The WHO essential medicines list (EML) guides selection of drugs for national formularies. Here, we evaluate which medicines are considered highest priority by Indian oncologists and the extent to which they are available in routine practice.

Methods: This is a secondary analysis of an electronic survey developed by the WHO EML Cancer Medicine Working Group.

Defining Essential Childhood Cancer Medicines to Inform Prioritization and Access: Results From an International, Cross-Sectional Survey.

Purpose: Access to essential cancer medicines is a major determinant of childhood cancer outcomes globally. The degree to which pediatric oncologists deem medicines listed on WHO's Model List of Essential Medicines for Children (EMLc) essential is unknown, as is the extent to which such medicines are accessible on the front lines of clinical care.

Methods: An electronic survey developed was distributed through the International Society of Pediatric Oncology mailing list to members from 87 countries.

Perspectives of Zambian Clinical Oncology Trainees in the MD Anderson and Zambia Virtual Clinical Research Training Program (MOZART).

Background: African countries are underrepresented in cancer research, partly because of a lack of structured curricula on clinical research during medical education. To address this need, the MD Anderson and Zambia Virtual Clinical Research Training Program (MOZART) was developed jointly by MD Anderson Cancer Center (MDA) and the Cancer Diseases Hospital in Zambia (CDH) for Zambian clinical oncology trainees. We explored participant perspectives to provide insight for implementation of similar efforts.

Building Capacity for Cancer Research in the Era of COVID-19: Implementation and Results From an International Virtual Clinical Research Training Program in Zambia.

Purpose: The incidence of cancer in sub-Saharan Africa is increasing rapidly, yet cancer research in the region continues to lag. One contributing factor is limited exposure to clinical research among trainees. We describe implementation and results of a virtual clinical research training program for Zambian clinical oncology fellows developed jointly by the Cancer Diseases Hospital in Zambia and the MD Anderson Cancer Center to address this need.

The use a virtual interactive system to enhance gynecologic oncology multi-disciplinary care in Zambia.

Background: Gynecologic malignancies represent a significant proportion of the increasing cancer burden in Zambia. The care and outcomes of cancer patients improves in a multidisciplinary team but insufficient coordination in weak health systems is a barrier to this model of care. The World Health Organization (WHO) identifies digital health interventions as tools to bridge the gap between challenges and health systems' goals in low resource environments.

Zambia cervical cancer control program resource mapping - Leveraging support to achieve the 90-70-90 elimination target.

Background: Zambia has one of the highest incidence and mortality rates of cervical cancer at 65.5 and 43.4 per 100 000 respectively.

COVID-19 vaccination in patients with cancer, a rapid review.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine development and administration have become global priorities since the beginning of the pandemic, particularly for special populations at higher risk of complications and mortality, such as patients with haematologic and solid organ malignancies. This review aims to summarise the current data for COVID-19 vaccine efficacy in patients with cancer, suggest priority areas for future research and look at potential disparities at a global level. Although patients diagnosed with or receiving therapy for cancer were excluded from the initial vaccine trials, emerging evidence now supports vaccine safety with potentially diminished immune response in this group.

Gynecological radiation oncology in sub-Saharan Africa: status, problems and considerations for the future.

Gynecological malignancies in Africa form a significant part of the burden of disease. The high prevalence of HIV in some countries creates a heightened risk for development of human papilloma virus related cancers such as cervical, vulval and vaginal cancers. Radiotherapy is an important modality of treatment for cancer and in Africa compensates for the lack of adequate surgical services for a large proportion of cancers as well as being a cornerstone of treatment for locally advanced cancers and palliation.

Gynecologic radiation therapy in low and middle income countries during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The COVID-19 pandemic has forever affected healthcare and posed an incredible challenge to our society to care for our sick. Patients with cancer were found early on to have higher rates of complications with COVID-19. Radiation therapy is an integral part of treatment for many types of gynecologic cancer and adaptation on its utilization during the pandemic varied across the globe.

The state of gynecologic radiation therapy in low- and middle-income countries.

A disproportionate burden of gynecologic malignancies occurs in low- and middle-income countries. Radiation therapy is an integral component of treatment for gynecologic malignancies both from a curative (locally advanced cervical cancer) and palliative (bleeding cervical or pelvic mass) standpoint. Critical to understanding how better to serve patients in this regard is understanding both the extent of disease epidemiology and the radiotherapy infrastructure to treat these diseases.

Contingency planning for cancer care in low- and middle-income countries during the COVID-19 pandemic: a rapid assessment for future disaster resilience.

Background: Many countries appear to be ill-prepared in their emergency responses towards the Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, particularly in managing chronic diseases such as cancer. We aimed to gain insight on the preparedness of health systems within low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) in maintaining delivery of cancer care amid the pandemic.

Methods: We performed a rapid review of publications focusing on emergency contingency plans for cancer care during the pandemic in LMICs.

Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Cancer Researchers in 2020: A Qualitative Study of Events to Inform Mitigation Strategies.

The COVID-19 pandemic has had an unprecedented impact on global health systems and economies. With ongoing and future challenges posed to the field due to the pandemic, re-examining research priorities has emerged as a concern. As part of a wider project aiming to examine research priorities, here we aimed to qualitatively examine the documented impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on cancer researchers.

Access to cancer medicines deemed essential by oncologists in 82 countries: an international, cross-sectional survey.

Background: The WHO Essential Medicines List (EML) identifies priority medicines that are most important to public health. Over time, the EML has included an increasing number of cancer medicines. We aimed to investigate whether the cancer medicines in the EML are aligned with the priority medicines of frontline oncologists worldwide, and the extent to which these medicines are accessible in routine clinical practice.

Building workforce capacity for the surgical management of cervical cancer in a fragile, low-income African nation-Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Objectives: Surgery is a cornerstone of the management of cervical cancer. Women diagnosed with cervical cancer in sub-Saharan Africa have very little access to specialised (gynaecologic oncology) surgical services. We describe our experiences and challenges of training local general gynaecologists to surgically treat early stage invasive cervical cancer at a private sector healthcare facility in a fragile, low-income African nation.

Novel coronavirus mitigation measures implemented by radiotherapy centres in low and middle-income countries: a systematic review.

Background: The aim of the study was to identify strategies adopted by radiotherapy centres in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) to mitigate the effects of COVID-19. Studies summarising COVID-19 mitigation strategies designed and implemented by radiotherapy centres in LMICs to avoid delays, deferrments and interruptions of radiotherapy services are lacking.

Materials And Methods: A systematic review was conducted and reported in accordance with the preferred reporting items for systematic review and meta-analysis guideline.

Immune correlates of therapy outcomes in women with cervical cancer treated with chemoradiotherapy: A systematic review.

Background: Immune markers have been correlated with prognosis in a variety of solid tumors, including cervical cancer.

Objective: To review the literature on hematologic and immune markers and their association with recurrence and survival among patients with cervical cancer treated with chemoradiation.

Evidence Review: This systematic review was conducted in accordance with PRISMA guidelines via searches of Ovid MEDLINE, Ovid Embase, and the Cochrane Library using keywords regarding cervical cancer, immune markers, and HIV.

Silver linings: a qualitative study of desirable changes to cancer care during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Introduction: Public health emergencies and crises such as the current COVID-19 pandemic can accelerate innovation and place renewed focus on the value of health interventions. Capturing important lessons learnt, both positive and negative, is vital. We aimed to document the perceived positive changes (silver linings) in cancer care that emerged during the COVID-19 pandemic and identify challenges that may limit their long-term adoption.