Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39269229›Full record

ArticleJournal of the National Cancer Institute2025

NCCN guideline-concordant cancer care in sub-Saharan Africa: a population-based multicountry study of 5 cancers.

Nikolaus Christian Simon Mezger, Tobias Paul Seraphin, Robert Ballé, Mirko Griesel, Yvonne Walburga Joko-Fru, Lucia Hämmerl, Jana Feuchtner, Biying Liu, Annelle Zietsman, Bakarou Kamaté and 16 more

Abstract readMulticenter Study
In one paragraph

Article in Journal of the National Cancer Institute, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 7 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
7citing 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

7 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Strategies for Targeting Mitochondria in the Treatment of Breast Cancer.ACS pharmacology & translational science · 2026
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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

26 authors.

Nikolaus Christian Simon MezgerGlobal and Planetary Health Working Group, Interdisciplinary Center for Health Sciences, Medical Faculty of the Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle, Germany.ORCID 0000-0002-5090-1080
Tobias Paul SeraphinGlobal and Planetary Health Working Group, Interdisciplinary Center for Health Sciences, Medical Faculty of the Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle, Germany.
Robert BalléGlobal and Planetary Health Working Group, Interdisciplinary Center for Health Sciences, Medical Faculty of the Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle, Germany.
Mirko GrieselGlobal and Planetary Health Working Group, Interdisciplinary Center for Health Sciences, Medical Faculty of the Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle, Germany.
Yvonne Walburga Joko-FruGlobal and Planetary Health Working Group, Interdisciplinary Center for Health Sciences, Medical Faculty of the Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle, Germany.
Lucia HämmerlGlobal and Planetary Health Working Group, Interdisciplinary Center for Health Sciences, Medical Faculty of the Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle, Germany.
Jana FeuchtnerGlobal and Planetary Health Working Group, Interdisciplinary Center for Health Sciences, Medical Faculty of the Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle, Germany.
Biying LiuAfrican Cancer Registry Network, Oxford, UK.
Annelle ZietsmanAfrican Cancer Registry Network, Oxford, UK.
Bakarou KamatéAfrican Cancer Registry Network, Oxford, UK.
Freddy Houéhanou Rodrigue GnangnonAfrican Cancer Registry Network, Oxford, UK.
Franck GnahatinAfrican Cancer Registry Network, Oxford, UK.
Dimitry Moudiongui MboungouAfrican Cancer Registry Network, Oxford, UK.
Mathewos AssefaGlobal and Planetary Health Working Group, Interdisciplinary Center for Health Sciences, Medical Faculty of the Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle, Germany.
Phoebe Mary AmulenAfrican Cancer Registry Network, Oxford, UK.
Gladys ChesumbaiAfrican Cancer Registry Network, Oxford, UK.
Tatenda ChingonzohAfrican Cancer Registry Network, Oxford, UK.
Cesaltina Feirreira LorenzoniAfrican Cancer Registry Network, Oxford, UK.
Anne KorirAfrican Cancer Registry Network, Oxford, UK.ORCID 0000-0003-0756-4733
Pablo S Carvalho SantosGlobal and Planetary Health Working Group, Interdisciplinary Center for Health Sciences, Medical Faculty of the Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle, Germany.
Jörg Michael MezgerDepartment of Oncology and Hematology, ViDia Kliniken Karlsruhe, Karlsruhe, Germany.
Haifa Kathrin Al-AliKrukenberg Cancer Center, University Hospital of Halle, Halle, Germany.
Rafael MikolajczykInstitute for Medical Epidemiology, Biometrics, and Informatics, Interdisciplinary Center for Health Sciences, Medical Faculty of the Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle, Germany.ORCID 0000-0003-1271-7204
Donald Max ParkinAfrican Cancer Registry Network, Oxford, UK.ORCID 0000-0002-3229-1784
Ahmedin JemalSurveillance and Health Equity Science, American Cancer Society, Atlanta, GA, USA.ORCID 0000-0002-0000-4111
Eva Johanna KantelhardtGlobal and Planetary Health Working Group, Interdisciplinary Center for Health Sciences, Medical Faculty of the Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle, Germany.ORCID 0000-0001-7935-719X

Funding

American Cancer Society 43359Developing Excellence in Leadership, Training and Science in AfricaForeign, Commonwealth & Development OfficeGerman Federal Ministry of Education and Research 01KA2220BGerman Ministry for Economic and Development Cooperation 13.2238.7-004.41Science for Africa FoundationWellcome TrustWorld Health Organization 001
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundTo assess population-based quality of cancer care in sub-Saharan Africa and to identify specific gaps and joint opportunities, we assessed concordance of diagnostics and treatments with National Comprehensive Cancer Network Harmonized Guidelines for leading cancer types in 10 countries.

methodsAdult patients with female breast cancer, cervical cancer, colorectal cancer, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, and prostate cancer were randomly drawn from 11 population-based cancer registries. Guideline concordance of diagnostics and treatment was assessed using clinical records. In a subcohort of 906 patients with potentially curable cancer (stage I-III breast cancer, cervical cancer, colorectal cancer, prostate cancer, aggressive non-Hodgkin lymphoma [any stage]) and documentation for more than 1 month after diagnosis, we estimated factors associated with guideline-concordant treatment or minor deviations.

resultsDiagnostic information based on guidelines was complete for 1030 (31.7%) of a total of 3246 patients included. In the subcohort with curable cancer, guideline-concordant treatment was documented in 374 (41.3%, corresponding to 11.7% of 3246 patients included in the population-based cohort): aggressive non-Hodgkin lymphoma (59.8%/9.1% population based), breast cancer (54.5%/19.0%), prostate cancer (39.0%/6.1%), colorectal cancer (33.9%/9.5%), and cervical cancer (27.8%/11.6%). Guideline-concordant treatment was most frequent in Namibia (73.1% of the curable cancer subcohort/32.8% population based) and lowest in Kampala, Uganda (13.5%/3.1%). Guideline-concordant treatment was negatively associated with poor ECOG-ACRIN performance status, locally advanced disease stage, origin from low Human Development Index countries, and a diagnosis of colorectal cancer or cervical cancer.

conclusionsThe quality of diagnostic workup and treatment showed major deficits, with considerable disparities among countries and cancer types. Improved diagnostic services are necessary to increase the share of curable cancer in sub-Saharan Africa. Treatment components within National Comprehensive Cancer Network Guidelines for several cancers should be prioritized.

Indexed as

Guideline AdherenceNeoplasmsPractice Guidelines as TopicAdultAfrica South of the SaharaAgedBreast NeoplasmsColorectal NeoplasmsFemaleHumansLymphoma, Non-HodgkinMaleMiddle AgedProstatic NeoplasmsQuality of Health CareRegistries

Identifiers

PMID39269229
PMCPMC11717413

What OpenQuestion holds

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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.