TY - JOUR
T1 - Establishment of a brain tumor consortium of Africa
T2 - Advancing collaborative research and advocacy for brain tumors in Africa
AU - BTCA
AU - Odukoya, Lateef A.
AU - Darko, Kwadwo
AU - Zerd, Francis
AU - Ghomsi, Nathalie C.
AU - Kabare, Gloria
AU - Kamson, David O.
AU - Eckel-Passow, Jeanette E.
AU - Jenkins, Robert B.
AU - Kitange, Gaspar J.
AU - Akinjo, Andrea O.
AU - Badmos, Kabir B.
AU - Bankole, Olufemi
AU - Idowu, Olufemi E.
AU - Karekezi, Claire
AU - Edrick, Elias
AU - Ekhator, Chukwuyem
AU - Katasi, Victoria M.
AU - Brown, Desmond A.
AU - Huse, Jason
AU - Llewellyn, Henry
AU - Magambo, Margreth
AU - Magoha, Michael
AU - Barrie, Umaru
AU - Ngaiza, Advera
AU - Nyalundja, Arsene D.
AU - Okemwa, Minda
AU - Osei-Tutu, Lawrence
AU - Petershie, Bernard
AU - Yevudza, W. Elorm
AU - Anunobi, Charles C.
AU - Tiamiyu, Liadi
AU - Gankpe, Gbetoho Fortuné
AU - Heronima, Kashaigili
AU - Higgins, Dominique
AU - Schroeder, Kristin
AU - Totimeh, Teddy
AU - Balogun, James
AU - Cheserem, Beverly
AU - Etame, Arnold B.
AU - Fonkem, Ekokobe
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© The Author(s) 2024.
PY - 2024/1/1
Y1 - 2024/1/1
N2 - Background. Brain tumors represent a significant global health challenge, with rising incidence and mortality impacting individuals worldwide and contributing to cancer-related morbidity and mortality. In Africa, this burden is exacerbated by limited access to advanced diagnostics, treatment options, and multidisciplinary care, compounded by the absence of standardized cancer registration and tumor biobanking. The introduction of molecular diagnostics, as outlined in the 2021 World Health Organization central nervous system (CNS) tumor classification, adds complexity to brain tumor management, particularly in regions with scarce resources. Methods. To address these issues, the BrainTumor Consortium for Africa (BTCA) was established in 2023, bringing together experts to improve CNS tumor diagnosis, patient care, and research. The initial project, conducted via an electronic questionnaire, aimed to assess neuro-oncology capacity across Sub-Saharan Africa. Results. The study revealed significant gaps, with a limited number of institutions incorporating molecular subtyping into their diagnostic algorithms. The consortium’s efforts focus on enhancing local data use, informing public policy, and promoting collaboration to advance neuro-oncology practices in Africa. By fostering a network enlisting the expertise of collaborators in the fields of neurosurgery, neurology, neuropathology, anatomic pathology, and medical and radiation oncology, the BTCA seeks to improve brain tumor management through better diagnostics, infrastructure, and policy advocacy. Future directions include expanding molecular diagnostic capabilities, standardizing brain tumor biobanking, enhancing data collection, and advocating for improved brain tumor care in national health agendas. Conclusions. The BTCA represents a pioneering model of collaboration and innovation in addressing the unique challenges of brain tumor care in Africa.
AB - Background. Brain tumors represent a significant global health challenge, with rising incidence and mortality impacting individuals worldwide and contributing to cancer-related morbidity and mortality. In Africa, this burden is exacerbated by limited access to advanced diagnostics, treatment options, and multidisciplinary care, compounded by the absence of standardized cancer registration and tumor biobanking. The introduction of molecular diagnostics, as outlined in the 2021 World Health Organization central nervous system (CNS) tumor classification, adds complexity to brain tumor management, particularly in regions with scarce resources. Methods. To address these issues, the BrainTumor Consortium for Africa (BTCA) was established in 2023, bringing together experts to improve CNS tumor diagnosis, patient care, and research. The initial project, conducted via an electronic questionnaire, aimed to assess neuro-oncology capacity across Sub-Saharan Africa. Results. The study revealed significant gaps, with a limited number of institutions incorporating molecular subtyping into their diagnostic algorithms. The consortium’s efforts focus on enhancing local data use, informing public policy, and promoting collaboration to advance neuro-oncology practices in Africa. By fostering a network enlisting the expertise of collaborators in the fields of neurosurgery, neurology, neuropathology, anatomic pathology, and medical and radiation oncology, the BTCA seeks to improve brain tumor management through better diagnostics, infrastructure, and policy advocacy. Future directions include expanding molecular diagnostic capabilities, standardizing brain tumor biobanking, enhancing data collection, and advocating for improved brain tumor care in national health agendas. Conclusions. The BTCA represents a pioneering model of collaboration and innovation in addressing the unique challenges of brain tumor care in Africa.
KW - CNS tumor registry
KW - brain tumors
KW - global neurosurgery
KW - molecular subtyping
KW - sub-Saharan Africa
UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/85217935660
U2 - 10.1093/noajnl/vdae198
DO - 10.1093/noajnl/vdae198
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85217935660
SN - 2632-2498
VL - 6
JO - Neuro-Oncology Advances
JF - Neuro-Oncology Advances
IS - 1
M1 - vdae198
ER -
