A ten-year study of Retinoblastoma in Uganda: An approach to improving outcome with limited resources.
Adolescent
Child
Child, Preschool
Combined Modality Therapy
Female
Health Resources
/ supply & distribution
Humans
Infant
Infant, Newborn
Male
Neoplasm Staging
Prospective Studies
Retinal Neoplasms
/ mortality
Retinoblastoma
/ mortality
Survival Analysis
Time-to-Treatment
Treatment Outcome
Uganda
/ epidemiology
Chemoreduction
Late presentation
Limited resources
Retinoblastoma
Survival
Vision conserved
Journal
Cancer epidemiology
ISSN: 1877-783X
Titre abrégé: Cancer Epidemiol
Pays: Netherlands
ID NLM: 101508793
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
04 2021
04 2021
Historique:
received:
30
03
2020
revised:
26
06
2020
accepted:
29
06
2020
pubmed:
15
7
2020
medline:
12
6
2021
entrez:
15
7
2020
Statut:
ppublish
Résumé
Survival of children with cancer in resource-limited regions is very poor compared to better-resourced regions. Retinoblastoma (RB) is a childhood cancer that is commonly reported in many regions of Africa. RB may be safely and effectively treated by non-specialists, which could facilitate more widespread availability of treatment in under-resourced areas. A ten-year consecutive series of children with RB treated at Ruharo Eye Centre between December 2009 and November 2019 was prospectively followed up. Chemoreduction followed by surgery is the standard approach to therapy. Costs of therapy and also of travel and food are borne by the program which is unaffordable to most families and necessitates donors. Survival by stage of RB and number of eyes affected was described using Kaplan-Meier plots. Visual acuity was assessed for all children with bilateral disease and the retention of sight during follow-up assessed. Among 665 children with RB, 18.2 % (121 children) presented with metastatic (Stage 4) RB with only two of these children surviving >24 months. Five-year survival was 60.2 % among all children with RB rising to 93.3 % and 87.2 % for children with unilateral and bilateral Stage 1 disease, respectively. Among 184 children with bilateral disease, 130 (70.7 %) retained some level of sight following primary treatment with 91 of those (49.5 % of all bilateral children) retaining vision up to their death or to the end of follow-up. Many children in Uganda present with advanced RB and curative treatment is not possible in this setting. Children diagnosed and treated early have good prospects of survival. Retention of sight among many bilaterally affected children is achievable, facilitating access to normal education. Therefore, the strategic priorities for improving survival are changing community perceptions so that children with eye problems are brought without delay, and widening access to modern treatment by using genereal health workers with standard drugs, backed by financial, social and peer support.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND
Survival of children with cancer in resource-limited regions is very poor compared to better-resourced regions. Retinoblastoma (RB) is a childhood cancer that is commonly reported in many regions of Africa. RB may be safely and effectively treated by non-specialists, which could facilitate more widespread availability of treatment in under-resourced areas.
METHODS
A ten-year consecutive series of children with RB treated at Ruharo Eye Centre between December 2009 and November 2019 was prospectively followed up. Chemoreduction followed by surgery is the standard approach to therapy. Costs of therapy and also of travel and food are borne by the program which is unaffordable to most families and necessitates donors. Survival by stage of RB and number of eyes affected was described using Kaplan-Meier plots. Visual acuity was assessed for all children with bilateral disease and the retention of sight during follow-up assessed.
RESULTS
Among 665 children with RB, 18.2 % (121 children) presented with metastatic (Stage 4) RB with only two of these children surviving >24 months. Five-year survival was 60.2 % among all children with RB rising to 93.3 % and 87.2 % for children with unilateral and bilateral Stage 1 disease, respectively. Among 184 children with bilateral disease, 130 (70.7 %) retained some level of sight following primary treatment with 91 of those (49.5 % of all bilateral children) retaining vision up to their death or to the end of follow-up.
CONCLUSION
Many children in Uganda present with advanced RB and curative treatment is not possible in this setting. Children diagnosed and treated early have good prospects of survival. Retention of sight among many bilaterally affected children is achievable, facilitating access to normal education. Therefore, the strategic priorities for improving survival are changing community perceptions so that children with eye problems are brought without delay, and widening access to modern treatment by using genereal health workers with standard drugs, backed by financial, social and peer support.
Identifiants
pubmed: 32660850
pii: S1877-7821(20)30111-9
doi: 10.1016/j.canep.2020.101777
pii:
doi:
Types de publication
Journal Article
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Pagination
101777Subventions
Organisme : Cancer Research UK
Pays : United Kingdom
Informations de copyright
Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.