Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40773716›Full record

ArticleJCO global oncology2025

Treatment Patterns and Outcomes of Patients With Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 2-Positive Breast Cancer in Tanzania.

Lemi Ndugumbi Zinga, Queen Godfrey Tarimo, Kelvin Mbelekwa, Mamsau Twalib Ngoma, Emmanuel L Lugina

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in JCO global oncology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing 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

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
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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

5 authors.

Lemi Ndugumbi ZingaMuhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences (MUHAS), Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.ORCID 0009-0007-8101-2343
Queen Godfrey TarimoMuhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences (MUHAS), Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
Kelvin MbelekwaMuhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences (MUHAS), Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.ORCID 0009-0000-0717-1791
Mamsau Twalib NgomaMuhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences (MUHAS), Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.ORCID 0000-0003-1382-8037
Emmanuel L LuginaMuhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences (MUHAS), Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.ORCID 0000-0002-9083-4302

Funding

Cancer Research Training Program in Tanzania (CRTP-TZ)D43TW011598 · FIC · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN FRANCISCO · PI ELIA JOHN MMBAGA, KATHERINE VAN LOON · 2020 to 2026
$1.8M
FIC NIH HHS D43 TW011598
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeHuman epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive breast cancer (HER2+BC) is linked to poorer outcomes. Trastuzumab is the standard treatment, but its high cost limits access in resource-limited settings. This study evaluated the treatment patterns and survival outcomes of patients with HER2 BC in Tanzania. MATERIALS AND

methodsA retrospective hospital-based study was conducted between January 2018 and May 2021 at two prominent public tertiary hospitals in Tanzania. The primary outcome was the 5-year overall survival (OS) rate. Independent variables included demographics, clinical characteristics, and treatment patterns. Survival analysis was conducted using the Kaplan-Meier method. The log-rank test was used in univariate analysis, whereas multivariate Cox regression was used in multivariate analysis.

resultsA total of 169 patients with nonmetastatic HER2+BC were included, with a median age of 50 years. Most patients were estrogen receptor-positive (50.3%) and diagnosed with stage III BC (58.6%). About 70.4% of patients received trastuzumab, whereas neoadjuvant chemotherapy was administered to 24.3%, and 95.9% underwent mastectomy. Trastuzumab was primarily used in the adjuvant setting rather than the neoadjuvant setting and was more accessible to patients with higher socioeconomic status. The 5-year OS was 65%, with a median survival of 72 months. Trastuzumab reduced the mortality risk by 74%. Extended therapy with trastuzumab benefited patients with hormone receptor-negative HER2+BC more than those who were hormone receptor-positive. Advanced-stage disease increased mortality risk, whereas postmenopausal status and nonsmoking were associated with lower mortality. A higher Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group score (>1) was associated with an increased mortality risk.

conclusionTrastuzumab significantly improves OS in resource-limited settings, particularly in patients with hormone receptor-negative HER2+BC. There are disparities in access to trastuzumab in Tanzania.

Indexed as

Breast NeoplasmsErb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine KinasesAdultAgedFemaleHumansMiddle AgedNeoadjuvant TherapyRetrospective StudiesTanzaniaTrastuzumabTreatment OutcomeERBB2 protein, humanErb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine KinasesTrastuzumab

Identifiers

PMID40773716
PMCPMC12494324

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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.