Evidence map›Paper›PMID 37290022›Full record

Observational studyJCO global oncology2023

Analysis of Cancer Research Projects in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Quantitative Perspective on Unmet Needs and Opportunities.

Lynne Davies, Danny A Milner, Lawrence N Shulman, Lynnette Kyokunda, Alemayehu Bedada, Peter Vuylsteke, Nestory Masalu, Paul Jackson, Natanya Jennings, Adesumbo Odunlami and 2 more

Abstract readObservational Study
In one paragraph

Observational study in JCO global oncology, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
5citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

5 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
  3. Cancer Research Funding in Africa.Communications medicine · 2025
    Article
  4. Article
  5. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

12 authors.

Lynne DaviesInternational Cancer Research Partnership, Cardiff, United Kingdom.ORCID 0000-0003-2066-7008
Danny A MilnerAmerican Society for Clinical Pathology, Chicago, IL.
Lawrence N ShulmanAbramson Cancer Center, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA.ORCID 0000-0001-8661-473X
Lynnette KyokundaSir Ketumile Masire Teaching Hospital, University of Botswana, Gaborone, Botswana.
Alemayehu BedadaSir Ketumile Masire Teaching Hospital, University of Botswana, Gaborone, Botswana.ORCID 0000-0002-5576-4409
Peter VuylstekeSir Ketumile Masire Teaching Hospital, University of Botswana, Gaborone, Botswana.ORCID 0000-0001-6401-3722
Nestory MasaluCatholic University of Health and Allied Sciences, Bugando Medical Center, Mwanza, Tanzania.ORCID 0000-0003-1327-4978
Paul JacksonCancer Australia, Strawberry Hills, NSW, Australia.
Natanya JenningsBristol Myers Squibb, Princeton, NJ.
Adesumbo OdunlamiBristol Myers Squibb, Princeton, NJ.
Phangisile MtshaliBristol Myers Squibb Foundation, Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa.
Ute DuganParker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, San Francisco, CA.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeTo evaluate the scope and types of cancer research projects in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) to identify research gaps and inform future efforts.

methodsThis retrospective observational study summarized information on cancer research projects in SSA from the International Cancer Research Partnership (ICRP) between 2015 and 2020, alongside 2020 cancer incidence and mortality data from the Global Cancer Observatory. SSA cancer research projects were identified as led by investigators in SSA countries, or by investigators in non-SSA countries with collaborators in SSA, or in database keyword searches. Projects from the Coalition for Implementation Research in Global Oncology (CIRGO) were also summarized.

resultsA total of 1,846 projects were identified from the ICRP database, funded by 34 organizations in seven countries (only one, Cancer Association of South Africa, based in SSA); only 156 (8%) were led by SSA-based investigators. Most projects focused on virally induced cancers (57%). Across all cancer types, projects were most frequently related to cervical cancer (24%), Kaposi sarcoma (15%), breast cancer (10%), or non-Hodgkin lymphoma (10%). Gaps were observed for several cancers with higher incidence/mortality burden in SSA; for example, prostate cancer accounted for only 4% of projects but 8% of cancer-related deaths and 10% of new cases. Approximately 26% were dedicated to etiology. Treatment-related research declined over the study period (14%-7% of all projects), while projects related to prevention (15%-20%) and diagnosis/prognosis (15%-29%) increased. Fifteen CIRGO projects were identified; seven were relevant across multiple cancer types, and 12 focused either wholly or partially on cancer control (representing 50% of the total research effort).

conclusionThis analysis shows notable discrepancies between cancer burden and research projects and identifies opportunities for future strategic investments in cancer care in SSA.

Indexed as

Breast NeoplasmsLymphoma, Non-HodgkinProstatic NeoplasmsUterine Cervical NeoplasmsFemaleHumansMaleSouth Africa

Identifiers

PMID37290022
PMCPMC10497259

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.