Female breast cancer (BC) is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide with higher mortality rates and early onset in developing countries. The molecular basis of early disease onset is still elusive. We recruited 472 female breast cancer from two sub-Saharan African countries (Cameroon and Congo) between 2007 and 2018 and collected clinical data from these patients. To investigate the molecular drivers of early disease onset, we analyzed publicly available breast cancer molecular data from the cancer genome atlas (TCGA) and the gene expression omnibus (GEO) for copy number alteration, mutation and gene expression. Early BC onset (EOBRCA) (diagnosis before 45 years) was higher in African women compared with the TCGA cohort (51.7% vs 15.6%). The tumor grade, mitotic index, HER2 + phenotype, basal-like phenotype and ki67 were higher in EOBRCA for all cohorts. BC risk factors such as parity, breastfeeding early onset of menarche and use of hormonal contraceptives were significantly associated with EOBRCA (p < 0.05). EOBRCA was equally associated with copy number alterations in several oncogenes including CDH6 and FOXM1 and tumor suppressor including TGM3 and DMBT1 as well as higher TP53 mutation rates (OR: 2.93, p < 0.01). There was a significant enrichment of TGFß signaling in EOBRCA with TGM3 deletions, which was associated with high expression of all SMAD transcription factors as well as WNT ligands. The Frizzled receptors FZD1, FZD4 and FZD6 were significantly upregulated in EOBRCA, suggesting activation of non-canonical WNT signaling. Our data, suggest the implication of TGM3 deletion in early breast cancer onset. Further molecular investigations are warranted in African patients.

Objective: Breast cancer in women of childbearing age (WCBA) is a major public health concern. This study aimed to determine variation and determinants in lipid profile among Cameroonian WCBA diagnosed with breast cancer. Materials and Methods: A case-control study took place at two reference hospitals in Douala, Cameroon. A total of 176 WCBA (88 cases and 88 controls) were finally enrolled. Interviewer-administered questionnaires were used to collect sociodemographic, behavioural, clinical and anthropometric data. Three millilitres of venous blood were collected for analysis of total cholesterol (TC), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c) and triglycerides (TG). Results: Overweight was predominantly seen in cases and controls. Serum levels of TC and LDL-c were significantly lower in cancer women (167.02 ± 45.46 vs 183.12 ± 27.38 mg/dL, p = 0.005 for TC; 85.83 ± 40.34 vs 105.25 ± 29.95 mg/dL, p = 0.0004 for LDL-c), while HDL-c levels were higher in controls (45.09 ± 7.20 vs 38.24 ± 11.14 mg/dL, p < 0.0001). Dyslipidaemia were mainly represented by hypo-HDL-cholesterolemia and hypertriglyceridemia. Lipid profiles were not modulated by clinical staging of cancer disease. The risk of impaired CT level was increased by more than seven times (AOR = 7.32, 95% CI 1.01 -58.82) in alcohol drinkers and by ~seven times (AOR = 6.81, 95% CI 1.74 -26.63) in women under contraception. Cancer women had 24 times more chances of

Aims: This study aimed at determining epidemiological, clinical, behavioural and risk factors for breast cancer (BC) among young women living in Cameroon. Study Design:  Cross-sectional case-control study. Place and Duration of Study: The study took place at the Oncology departments of two reference hospitals in Douala (Littoral Region, Cameroon), from July 2020 to July 2021. Methodology: An ad hoc questionnaire form was used to collect data of interest. Anthropometric and bioimpedance parameters were measured. The data were keyed, coded, verified for consistency, and analysed using StatView v5.0 and GraphPad Prism v5.03. Statistical significance was set at P < .05. Results: Of the 276 women initially approached, 176 (88 cases and 88 controls) were finally recruited. They were mainly aged 41-45 years old with higher proportion in controls (40.9% vs 45.4%, P = .0029). The proportion of women having had their menarche at advanced age was higher in cases compared to controls (40.9% vs 12.5%, P < .0001). Visceral adipose tissue (Kg) was significantly higher in cases (8.72 ± 3.04 vs 7.43 ± 2.64, P = .003). Most of the patients were diagnosed at advanced stage, especially at stage 3 (46.6%), with more than one third of them had metastasis. The risk of BC was reduced by 84% (AOR = 0.16, P = .001) in patients having had their menarche after 14 years of age, and 71% (AOR = 0.29, P = .01) in those always consuming fruits/vegetables. In contrast, BC risk was increased in women with familial history of BC (AOR = 3.19, P = .04). Early and late diagnosed BC women had similar characteristics with the exception of age, stillbirth and body mass index. Conclusion: BC is prevalent and detected among young women at advanced stage, with protective role of fruits/vegetables consumption and late age of menarche.

Background: Radiotherapy is one of the main therapeutic strategies used in cervical cancer. The first radiotherapy services in Cameroon have existed since 1987 and still treat by conventional radiation techniques. With the evolution of radiation techniques, acute, subacute, and late complications are minimized. Our study aimed to describe the profile of side effects in patients with uterine cervix cancer treated by conventional radiotherapy, still used in our services. Methods: This was a retrospective and descriptive study of the records of patients treated in the radiotherapy department of the Douala General Hospital from January 2015 to December 2019. Data concerning radiation-induced toxicities were collected using the CTCAE Version 4.0 classification. Data analysis was performed using SPSS version 20.0. Results: A total of 270 records were selected. The median age was 54 years. The mean total radiation dose was 55.9 ± 11.8 Gy and 71.1% of patients were treated for less than 8 weeks. We found a frequency of 66.7% of radio-induced lesions with 99% being acute. The main acute lesions encountered were radio dermatitis (40%), radiation cystitis (17.7%), and radiation proctitis (17.1%). As late lesions, we found one case of vaginal fibrosis (0.4%). Exclusive radiotherapy, classical fractionation, and total doses lower than 45 Gy seemed to decrease the toxicity linked to conventional radiotherapy. Conclusion: The frequency of side

Factors associate with borderline or invaded margins in breast cancer surgery at the Val d’Aurelle Montpellier CRLC Véronique Mboua Batoum*, Esther Dina Bell, Christianne Nsahlai, Junie Annick Metogo Ntsama, Esther Juliette Meka, Marian Gutowski, Simon Thezenas, William Jacot *Corresponding autor : vbatoum@gmail.com Introduction: The inadequate status of the resection margins after breast cancer surgery is an important predictor of local tumor recurrence. The objective of our study was to determine the factors associated with positive or invaded resection margins. Methodology: Our retrospective study included a cohort of 652 patients with early invasive breast cancer who underwent breast cancer conserving surgery at the Val d’Aurelle Regional Cancer Center. We defined positive margins as those with a distance of less than or equal to 2 mm from the tumour. The data were analysed using STATA® 10.0 software. Results: In our study, The median distance from the tumour to the surgical resection site was 5mm [0.0 - 35.0mm]. Resection margins were positive in 208 patients (31.9%). The rate of positive resection margins was significantly higher in non-menopausal patientss (P =0,0050), in those with tumours less than 2 cm in size (P = 0,0004), with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) component and without lymph node involvement (P =0,0082). Re-excision surgery was performed in 229 patients (35.1%). Conclusion: Consideration of each of these factors associated with positive resection margins shoud help the surgeons to perform a wider excision, in other to obtain clear resection margin during the initial breast cancer surgery. Key words: breast cancer, conservative surgery, resection margins, risk factors for positive margins Citation Format: veronique M. Mboua Batoum, esther D. Dina Bell. Factors associate with borderline or invaded margins in breast cancer surgery at the Val d’Aurelle Montpellier CRLC [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2022 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2022 Dec 6-10; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2023;83(5 Suppl):Abstract nr P1-09-10.