Development, Evaluation, and Implementation of a Pan-African Cancer Research Network: Men of African Descent and Carcinoma of the Prostate

Abstract

PurposeCancer of the prostate (CaP) is the leading cancer among men in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). A substantial proportion of these men with CaP are diagnosed at late (usually incurable) stages, yet little is known about the etiology of CaP in SSA.MethodsWe established the Men of African Descent and Carcinoma of the Prostate Network, which includes seven SSA centers partnering with five US centers to study the genetics and epidemiology of CaP in SSA. We developed common data elements and instruments, regulatory infrastructure, and biosample collection, processing, and shipping protocols. We tested this infrastructure by collecting epidemiologic, medical record, and genomic data from a total of 311 patients with CaP and 218 matched controls recruited at the seven SSA centers. We extracted genomic DNA from whole blood, buffy coat, or buccal swabs from 265 participants and shipped it to the Center for Inherited Disease Research (Baltimore, MD) and the Centre for Proteomics and Genomics Research (Cape Town, South Africa), where genotypes were generated using the UK Biobank Axiom Array.ResultsWe used common instruments for data collection and entered data into the shared database. Double-entered data from pilot participants showed a 95% to 98% concordance rate, suggesting that data can be collected, entered, and stored with a high degree of accuracy. Genotypes were obtained from 95% of tested DNA samples (100% from blood-derived DNA samples) with high concordance across laboratories.ConclusionWe provide approaches that can produce high-quality epidemiologic and genomic data in multicenter studies of cancer in SSA.

A Custom Genotyping Array Reveals Population-Level Heterogeneity for the Genetic Risks of Prostate Cancer and Other Cancers in Africa

“…This MADCaP pilot dataset contains 399 prostate cancer cases and 403 controls. Details of MADCaP case and control recruitment have been previously reported (29).…”

PRECISE pregnancy cohort: challenges and strategies in setting up a biorepository in sub-Saharan Africa

“…Biobanking is becoming increasingly recognised and utilised in Africa in a variety of fields including stroke [7], oncology [8], infectious disease [9] and pregnancy. This summary represents a practical account of the necessary stages required in setting up a large multi-country biorepository and database in low income settings.…”

Johannesburg Cancer Study (JCS): contribution to knowledge and opportunities arising from 20 years of data collection in an African setting

“…22 In recent years, JCS contributed DNA samples to the Men of African Descent and Carcinoma of the Prostate (MADCaP) consortium investigating the genetic and epidemiological risk for prostate cancer in resident African populations. 30 DNA from cases of oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma was used to demonstrate association of genetic variants in the CHEK2 gene with this cancer. 14 Local collaborations included a study on hepatocellular carcinoma 11 , knowledge of HIV status at cancer diagnosis 31 and versions of the questionnaire were used by colleagues in two other local settings.…”