Cancer registration in the Middle East, North Africa, and Turkey (MENAT) region: A tale of conflict, challenges, and opportunities

Abdul‐Sater, Zahi; Mukherji, Deborah; Adib, Salim M.; Shamseddine, Ali; Abu-Sitta, Ghassan; Fadhil, Ibtihal; Sullivan, Richard; Omari, Amal Al; Saleh, Shadi; Taher, Alì

doi:10.3389/fonc.2022.1050168

Cited by 7 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 16 publications

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“…Overcoming the existing barriers in clinical cancer research and oncology care requires concerted multi-tiered actions across the Arab region. The lack of high-quality data from patients with cancer in Arab countries warrants the optimization of national cancer registries and improvements in data access [ 34 , 35 ]. The development of designated oncology research centers in Arab countries could improve the recruitment and retention of skilled researchers and clinicians, who would otherwise seek new opportunities elsewhere [ 33 , 36 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Arab Countries and Oncology Clinical Trials: A Bibliometric Analysis

Al-Shamsi,

Abu-Gheida,

Sameh

et al. 2023

Cancers

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The increasing cancer burden is a major health concern in Arab countries with cross-regional variations in cancer profiles. Given the limited oncology research output and scarce data on cancer trial participation in the Arab region, this study explored the therapeutic cancer trial landscape in Arab countries over the past 20 years. A bibliometric analysis of the PubMed database was conducted on primary publications of therapeutic trials with a participating Arab center. Arab countries participated in 320 published cancer-related therapeutic trials (2000–2021). During this period, there was a consistent increase in the number of trials, sample size, multiregional site participation, and number of randomized trials. However, most trials were small, did not receive external funding, and included a single Arab site. Compared with Arab-only trials, trials with joint non-Arab sites were larger (p = 0.003) and more likely to be externally funded (p < 0.001). Citation numbers and journal impact factors were higher in trial publications with joint non-Arab authorship than those without (p < 0.001, for both). Despite improving conduct and publication records of oncology trials with Arab centers, cancer trial participation remains limited in Arab countries. Concerted efforts are required to encourage sponsorship and international collaboration in this region.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Arab Countries and Oncology Clinical Trials: A Bibliometric Analysis

Al-Shamsi,

Abu-Gheida,

Sameh

et al. 2023

Cancers

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“…However, this study has several limitations that should be taken into account. First, due to limitations in the cancer registration systems in the MENA region, especially in countries impacted by conflicts like Syria and Yemen, 25 there are little real data available, and so the figures reported here are estimates produced via modeling. Second, only smoking, high FPG, and high BMI were reported as risk factors for pancreatic cancer in the GBD study, despite there being several other well‐known risk factors, such as Helicobacter pylori infection, 26 chronic pancreatitis, 27 and a history of gallstone and cholecystectomy 28 .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The burden of pancreatic cancer and its attributable risk factors in the Middle East and North Africa region, 1990–2019

Nejadghaderi

Kolahi

Noori

et al. 2023

J of Gastro and Hepatol

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Background and AimGlobally, pancreatic cancer is recognized as one of the most lethal types of cancers. We report the burden of pancreatic cancer and its attributable risk factors in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, from 1990 to 2019, by age, sex, and socio‐demographic index.MethodsPublicly available data from the Global Burden of Disease 2019 study were used to report the incidence, deaths, and disability‐adjusted life years (DALYs) attributable to pancreatic cancer, as counts and age‐standardized rates with 95% uncertainty intervals.ResultsIn 2019, pancreatic cancer had an age‐standardized incidence rate of 5.3 and a death rate of 5.5 (per 100 000) in MENA, which have increased by 97.5% and 93.4%, respectively, since 1990. There were 563.6 thousand DALYs attributable to pancreatic cancer in 2019, with an age‐standardized DALY rate of 123.0, which has increased by 84.9% since 1990. The highest number of incident cases was found in the 60–64 and 65–69 age groups, among male and female, respectively. In addition, the MENA/global DALY ratios were higher in all age groups for both sexes in 2019, than they were in 1990. There was a positive association between socio‐demographic index and the burden of pancreatic cancer. Smoking, high fasting plasma glucose, and high body mass index were responsible for 19.2%, 9.3%, and 9.3% of the attributable DALYs in 2019, respectively.ConclusionsThere was a clear and substantial increase in the burden of pancreatic cancer in the MENA region. Prevention programs should be implemented in the region that target these three risk factors.

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“… 10 , 15 Availability of data and population-based cancer registries are considered major pillars to reliably assess the burden of cancer in a given region. 38 In spite of increasing cancer burden among people in LMICs, particularly in the MENAT region, cancer registration in this region is not well-established and is hindered by a variety of difficulties. 4 , 5 Efforts to improve cancer registration and control in the MENAT region should be prioritized.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cancer Research in Vulnerable Populations: A Call for Collaboration and Sustainability From MENAT Countries

Tolba,

Skelton,

Abdul Sater

et al. 2023

JCO Glob Oncol

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PURPOSE Cancer is a major burden across Middle East, North Africa, Türkiye (MENAT). Many MENAT countries experience multiple conflicts that compound vulnerabilities, but little research investigates the linkages between vulnerability and cancer research. This study examines the current level and the potential for cancer research among vulnerable populations in the MENAT region, aiming to provide direction toward developing a research agenda on the region's vulnerable populations. METHODS Expert-driven meetings were arranged among the 10 authors. After obtaining institutional review board approval, a self-administered online survey questionnaire was circulated to more than 500 cancer practitioners working in 22 MENAT countries. RESULTS Two hundred sixteen cancer practitioners across the MENAT region responded. Fifty percent of the respondents identified clinical research in vulnerable patients with cancer as a significant issue; 21.8% reported previous research experience that included vulnerable populations, and 60% reported encountering vulnerable populations in their daily clinical practice. The main barriers to conducting research were lack of funding (60%), protected time (42%), and research training (35%). More than half of the respondents believed that wars/conflicts constituted an important source of vulnerability. The most vulnerable cancer populations were the elderly, palliative/terminally ill, those with concomitant mental health-related issues, those with other chronic illnesses, and socioeconomically deprived patients. CONCLUSION Results support that a major effort is needed to improve cancer research among vulnerable cancer populations in the MENAT region. We call for interdisciplinary research that accounts for the region's unique, compounding, and cumulative forms of vulnerability. This cancer research agenda on different vulnerable populations must balance sociobehavioral studies that explore sociopolitical barriers to quality care and clinical studies that gauge and refine treatment protocols. Building a research agenda through collaboration and solidarity with international partners is prime time.

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Cancer registration in the Middle East, North Africa, and Turkey (MENAT) region: A tale of conflict, challenges, and opportunities

Cited by 7 publications

References 16 publications

Arab Countries and Oncology Clinical Trials: A Bibliometric Analysis

Arab Countries and Oncology Clinical Trials: A Bibliometric Analysis

The burden of pancreatic cancer and its attributable risk factors in the Middle East and North Africa region, 1990–2019

Cancer Research in Vulnerable Populations: A Call for Collaboration and Sustainability From MENAT Countries

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