Incidental venous thrombosis in oncology in a sub-Saharan tertiary hospital.

The relationship between cancer and thrombosis was initially highlighted in the 19th century. Vascular complications in oncology can be arterial or venous thrombosis, and incidental pulmonary embolism is a growing challenge. We aimed to describe the frequency and clinical characteristics of cancer patients with incidental venous thromboembolism (iVTE).

Refining breast cancer genetic risk and biology through multi-ancestry fine-mapping analyses of 192 risk regions.

Genome-wide association studies have identified approximately 200 genetic risk loci for breast cancer, but the causal variants and target genes are mostly unknown. We sought to fine-map all known breast cancer risk loci using genome-wide association study data from 172,737 female breast cancer cases and 242,009 controls of African, Asian and European ancestry. We identified 332 independent association signals for breast cancer risk, including 131 signals not reported previously, and for 50 of them, we narrowed the credible causal variants down to a single variant.

Using genome and transcriptome data from African-ancestry female participants to identify putative breast cancer susceptibility genes.

African-ancestry (AA) participants are underrepresented in genetics research. Here, we conducted a transcriptome-wide association study (TWAS) in AA female participants to identify putative breast cancer susceptibility genes. We built genetic models to predict levels of gene expression, exon junction, and 3' UTR alternative polyadenylation using genomic and transcriptomic data generated in normal breast tissues from 150 AA participants and then used these models to perform association analyses using genomic data from 18,034 cases and 22,104 controls.

Anticipating and strategizing to address potential bottlenecks during clinical research projects in sub-Saharan Africa: a case for adapting approaches and tools used in the entrepreneurial and development sectors.

Many research funders have invested billions of US dollars in building research capacity in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Despite these colossal investments, many well-intentioned and designed clinical research projects have either failed to kick off or ended abruptly. Although obstacles to clinical research in SSA are well known, there is limited information on frameworks and tools that can be used to anticipate and avert these systemic bottlenecks, particularly those related to socio-politics.

Benign breast disease and breast cancer risk in African women: a case-control study.

Purpose: To examine the association between benign breast disease (BBD) and breast cancer (BC) in a heterogeneous population of African women.

Methods: BC cases and controls were enrolled in three sub-Saharan African countries, Nigeria, Cameroon, and Uganda, between 1998 and 2018. Multivariable logistic regression was used to test the association between BBD and BC.

Unawareness of breast cancer family history among African women.

Introduction: comprehensive cancer risk assessment services are lacking in most sub-Saharan African countries and the use of accurate family history (FH) information could serve as a cheap strategy for risk evaluation. The aim of this study is to determine the proportion of women unaware of family history of cancer among female relatives and associated socio-demographic characteristics.

Methods: using case-control data on breast cancer among 4294 women in Nigeria, Uganda and Cameroon, we investigated the proportion of women unaware of family history of cancer among their female relatives.

Feasibility of cancer genetic counselling and screening in Cameroon: perceived benefits and barriers.

Because there was no genetic testing service in Cameroon, we assessed the acceptance, perceived benefits and barriers and willingness to pay for genetic cancer screening in Cameroon amongst patients with cancers. We carried out a hospital-based, cross-sectional study on adult cancer patients at the Yaoundé General Hospital and the non-Governmental Organisation Solidarity Chemotherapy between February 1, 2021, and December 31, 2021. This was a convenience sampling that included all consenting patients.

Erratum: Feasibility of cancer genetic counselling and screening in Cameroon: perceived benefits and barriers.

[This corrects the article on p. 1 in vol. 17.

Assessment of barriers to optimal cancer control in adult cancer treatment centres in Cameroon.

Approximately 20,745 new cases of cancer were registered annually with 13,199 (64%) deaths in 2020 in Cameroon. Despite the increasing cancer burden, there is a paucity of reliable data that can enhance decision-making for cancer control in Cameroon. This assessment was, therefore, designed to generate data that may enable stakeholders, policymakers and funders to make data-driven decisions on cancer control.

Benign breast disease and breast cancer risk in African women: A case-control study.

Purpose: To examine the association between benign breast disease (BBD) and breast cancer (BC) in a heterogeneous population of African women.

Methods: BC cases and matched controls were enrolled in three sub-Saharan African countries, Nigeria Cameroon, and Uganda, between 1998-2018. Multivariable logistic regression was used to test the association between BBD and BC.

[Perceived severity of cancer and therapeutic pluralism among medical oncologists at the Yaoundé General Hospital].

Introduction: cancer is a potentially serious disease. The announcement of a cancer diagnosis is bad news. This diagnosis is experienced differently from one person to the next.

Validation of the Nigerian Breast Cancer Study Model for Predicting Individual Breast Cancer Risk in Cameroon and Uganda.

Background: The Nigerian Breast Cancer Study (NBCS) model is a new risk assessment tool developed for predicting risk of invasive breast cancer in Nigeria. Its applicability outside of Nigeria remains uncertain as it has not been validated in other sub-Saharan Africa populations.

Methods: We conducted a case-control study among women with breast cancer and controls ascertained in Cameroon and Uganda from 2011 to 2016.

[Epidemiological and clinical features of cervical cancer in Cameroon: experience in the Douala General Hospital].

Introduction: cervical cancer is a public health problem in Cameroon, ranking as the 2 most frequent cancer. The purpose of our study was to describe the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of patients with cervical cancer at the Douala General Hospital in Cameroon.

Method: we conducted a retrospective study over the period 1 January 2016 to 31 December 2017.

Systematic analysis of Kaposi's sarcoma (KS)-associated herpesvirus genomes from a KS case-control study in Cameroon: Evidence of dual infections but no association between viral sequence variation and KS risk.

In sub-Saharan Africa, Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) is endemic, and Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) is a significant public health problem. Until recently, KSHV genotype analysis was performed using variable gene regions, representing a small fraction of the genome, and thus the contribution of sequence variation to viral transmission or pathogenesis are understudied. We performed near full-length KSHV genome sequence analysis on samples from 43 individuals selected from a large Cameroonian KS case-control study.

[Knowledge, attitudes and practices of health professionals regard to cervical cancer in Cameroon].

Introduction: Cervical cancer is the cause of 311,000 deaths each year worldwide and 1,540 deaths in Cameroon. It is a public health problem, but only one in ten women is screened for cervical cancer screening in Cameroon. Little data is available on the KAPs of health professionals in the Mifi Health District, in the west Region of Cameroon.

[Not Available].

Introduction: Cervical cancer is the cause of 311,000 deaths each year worldwide and 1,540 deaths in Cameroon. It is a public health problem, but only one in ten women is screened for cervical cancer screening in Cameroon. Little data is available on the KAPs of health professionals in the Mifi Health District, in the west Region of Cameroon.

[Not Available].

Introduction: Several studies report that only 10% of Cameroonian women at risk have ever been screened for this disease.

Objective: This study aims to analyze the factors explaining the difficulties in accessing screening for cervical cancer in Yaoundé, Cameroon.

Methodology: This was an analytical cross-sectional study (participed/not participated), conducted from May 1 to August 10, 2020.

Prevalence of Inherited Mutations in Breast Cancer Predisposition Genes among Women in Uganda and Cameroon.

Background: Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) has a high proportion of premenopausal hormone receptor negative breast cancer. Previous studies reported a strikingly high prevalence of germline mutations in and among Nigerian patients with breast cancer. It is unknown if this exists in other SSA countries.

Cancer prevention in Africa: liver cancer.

Hepatocellular carcinoma is a common cancer in Africa. The risk factors are well known and avoidable in most cases (hepatitis B, hepatitis C, aflatoxin and alcohol). Vaccination against hepatitis B and the fight against aflatoxin are efficient contributions to the fight against liver cancer.

[Prognosis and survival of esophageal cancer in Cameroon: a prognostic study].

Introduction: Esophageal cancer is rare. Poor prognosis is due to delayed diagnosis. Five year survival is less than 20%.

Mutual detection of Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus and Epstein-Barr virus in blood and saliva of Cameroonians with and without Kaposi's sarcoma.

Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) are prevalent in sub-Saharan Africa, together with HIV; the consequent burden of disease is grave. The cofactors driving transmission of the two viruses and pathogenesis of associated malignancies are not well understood. We measured KSHV and EBV DNA in whole blood and saliva as well as serum antibodies levels in 175 Cameroonians with Kaposi's sarcoma and 1,002 age- and sex-matched controls with and without HIV.

Blood pressure and burden of hypertension in Cameroon, a microcosm of Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis of population-based studies.

Objective: To estimate national and geography-based variations in blood pressure and burden of hypertension in Cameroon, generally called 'miniature Africa'.

Methods: PubMed, Medline, EMBASE, CINHAL, Web of Science, Popline, Scopus and BDSP were searched through November 2018, for hypertension studies among Cameroonians aged at least 18 years. Hypertension was measured as SBP at least 140 mmHg or DBP at least 90 mmHg.

Relationship between human leukocyte antigen alleles and risk of Kaposi's sarcoma in Cameroon.

Several studies published to date report associations between human leukocyte antigen (HLA) alleles and different types of Kaposi's Sarcoma (KS). However, there is little concordance between the HLA alleles identified and the populations studied. To test whether HLA alleles associate with KS in a Cameroonian case-control study, we performed high-resolution HLA typing in KSHV seropositive individuals.