A portable thermal ablation device for cervical cancer prevention in a screen-and-treat setting: a randomized, noninferiority trial.

Implementing standard-of-care cryotherapy or electrosurgical excision to treat cervical precancers is challenging in resource-limited settings. An affordable technological alternative that is as effective as standard-of-care techniques would greatly improve access to treatment. This randomized controlled trial aims to demonstrate the noninferiority efficacy of a portable, battery-driven thermal ablation (TA) device compared to cryotherapy and electrosurgical excision (large loop excision of transformation zone (LLETZ)) to treat cervical precancer in a screen-and-treat program in Zambia. A total of 3,124 women positive on visual inspection with acetic acid and eligible for ablative therapy were randomized to one of the treatment arms. Human papillomavirus (HPV) testing was performed at baseline and at the follow-up. The primary outcome was treatment success, defined as either type-specific HPV clearance at the follow-up in participants positive for HPV at baseline, or a negative visual inspection with acetic acid test for those who had a negative HPV test at baseline. After a median follow-up of 12 months, treatment success rates were 74.0%, 71.1% and 71.4% for the TA, cryotherapy and LLETZ arms, respectively, thus demonstrating noninferiority (P = 0.83). TA was a safe and well-accepted procedure. Only 3.6% of those randomized to TA reported moderate-to-severe pain, compared to 6.5% and 1.9% for the cryotherapy and LLETZ arms, respectively. Thus, our randomized controlled trial demonstrates the safety and efficacy of TA, which is not inferior to cryotherapy or surgical excision.ClinicalTrials.gov registration: NCT02956239 .

Geospatial disparities in survival of patients with breast cancer in sub-Saharan Africa from the African Breast Cancer-Disparities in Outcomes cohort (ABC-DO): a prospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: There is an urgent need to improve breast cancer survival in sub-Saharan Africa. Geospatial barriers delay diagnosis and treatment, but their effect on survival in these settings is not well understood. We examined geospatial disparities in 4-year survival in the African Breast Cancer-Disparities in Outcomes cohort. METHODS: In this prospective cohort study, women (aged ≥18 years) newly diagnosed with breast cancer were recruited from eight hospitals in Namibia, Nigeria, South Africa, Uganda, and Zambia. They reported sociodemographic information in interviewer-administered questionnaires, and their clinical and treatment data were collected from medical records. Vital status was ascertained by contacting participants or their next of kin every 3 months. The primary outcome was all-cause mortality in relation to rural versus urban residence, straight-line distance, and modelled travel time to hospital, analysed using restricted mean survival time, Cox proportional hazards, and flexible parametric survival models. FINDINGS: 2228 women with breast cancer were recruited between Sept 8, 2014, and Dec 31, 2017. 127 were excluded from analysis (58 had potentially recurrent cancer, had previously received treatment, or had no follow-up; 14 from minority ethnic groups with small sample sizes; and 55 with missing geocoded home addresses). Among the 2101 women included in analysis, 928 (44%) lived in a rural area. 1042 patients had died within 4 years of diagnosis; 4-year survival was 39% (95% CI 36-42) in women in rural areas versus 49% (46-52) in urban areas (unadjusted hazard ratio [HR] 1·24 [95% CI 1·09-1·40]). Among the 734 women living more than 1 h from the hospital, the crude 4-year survival was 37% (95% CI 32-42) in women in rural areas versus 54% (46-62) in women in urban areas (HR 1·35 [95% CI 1·07-1·71] after adjustment for age, stage, and treatment status). Among women in rural areas, mortality rates increased with distance (adjusted HR per 50 km 1·04, 1·01-1·07) and travel time (adjusted HR per h 1·06, 1·02-1·10). Among women with early-stage breast cancer receiving treatment, women in rural areas had a strong survival disadvantage (overall HR 1·54, 1·14-2·07 adjusted for age and stage; >1 h distance adjusted HR 2·14, 1·21-3·78). INTERPRETATION: Geospatial barriers reduce survival of patients with breast cancer in sub-Saharan Africa. Specific attention is needed to support patients with early-stage breast cancer living in rural areas far from cancer treatment facilities. FUNDING: US National Institutes of Health (National Cancer Institute), Susan G Komen for the Cure, and the International Agency for Research on Cancer.

Reduced-Dose HPV Vaccination - Implications for Cancer Prevention Policy.

Human papillomaviruses (HPVs), of which there are over 200 types, typically infect cells of the skin and mucosa. Most infections are cleared by the immune system without any intervention; however, in a small percentage of infected individuals, the virus persists, resulting in a variety of disorders. More specifically, 13 HPV types have been characterized as oncogenic because of their central role in the development of premalignant and malignant lesions of the oropharynx (mouth and throat), lower gastrointestinal tract (anus), and genital organs (uterine cervix, vagina, vulva, and penis). Worldwide, HPV infections contribute to approximately 5% of all cancers, with an estimated 625,000 women and 69,000 men affected annually by HPV-related cancers.

Durability of single-dose HPV vaccination in young Kenyan women: randomized controlled trial 3-year results.

Cervical cancer burden is high where prophylactic vaccination and screening coverage are low. We demonstrated in a multicenter randomized, double-blind, controlled trial that single-dose human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination had high vaccine efficacy (VE) against persistent infection at 18 months in Kenyan women. Here, we report findings of this trial through 3 years of follow-up. Overall, 2,275 healthy women aged 15-20 years were recruited and randomly assigned to receive bivalent (n = 760), nonavalent (n = 758) or control (n = 757) vaccine. The primary outcome was incident-persistent vaccine type-specific cervical HPV infection. The primary evaluation was superiority analysis in the modified intention-to-treat (mITT) HPV 16/18 and HPV 16/18/31/33/45/52/58 cohorts. The trial met its prespecified end points of vaccine type-specific persistent HPV infection. A total of 75 incident-persistent infections were detected in the HPV 16/18 mITT cohort: 2 in the bivalent group, 1 in the nonavalent group and 72 in the control group. Nonavalent VE was 98.8% (95% CI 91.3-99.8%, P < 0.0001) and bivalent VE was 97.5% (95% CI 90.0-99.4%, P < 0.0001). Overall, 89 persistent infections were detected in the HPV 16/18/31/33/45/52/58 mITT cohort: 5 in the nonavalent group and 84 in the control group; nonavalent VE was 95.5% (95% CI 89.0-98.2%, P < 0.0001). There were no vaccine-related severe adverse events. Three years after vaccination, single-dose HPV vaccination was highly efficacious, safe and conferred durable protection. ClinicalTrials.gov no. NCT03675256 .

Implementation and scale-up of a single-visit, screen-and-treat approach with thermal ablation for sustainable cervical cancer prevention services: a protocol for a stepped-wedge cluster randomized trial in Kenya.

BACKGROUND: An important cervical cancer prevention strategy in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) has been single-visit screen-and-treat (SV-SAT) approach, using visual inspection with acetic acid (VIA) and ablative treatment with cryotherapy to manage precancerous lesions. While SV-SAT with VIA and cryotherapy have established efficacy, its population level coverage and impact on reducing cervical cancer burden remains low. In Kenya, the estimated cervical cancer screening uptake among women aged 30-49 is 16% and up to 70% of screen-positive women do not receive treatment. Thermal ablation for treatment of precancerous lesions of the cervix is recommended by the World Health Organization and has the potential to overcome logistical challenges associated with cryotherapy and facilitate implementation of SV-SAT approach and increase treatment rates of screen-positive women. In this 5-year prospective, stepped-wedge randomized trial, we plan to implement and evaluate the SV-SAT approach using VIA and thermal ablation in ten reproductive health clinics in central Kenya. METHODS: The study aims to develop and evaluate implementation strategies to inform the national scale-up of SV-SAT approach with VIA and thermal ablation through three aims: (1) develop locally tailored implementation strategies using multi-level participatory method with key stakeholders (patient, provider, system-level), (2) implement SV-SAT approach with VIA and thermal ablation and evaluate clinical and implementation outcomes, and (3) assess the budget impact of SV-SAT approach with VIA and thermal ablation compared to single-visit, screen-and-treat method using cryotherapy. DISCUSSION: Our findings will inform national scale-up of the SV-SAT approach with VIA and thermal ablation. We anticipate that this intervention, along with tailored implementation strategies will enhance the adoption and sustainability of cervical cancer screening and treatment compared to the standard of care using cryotherapy. TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT05472311.

Reproductive history and breast cancer survival: Findings from the African breast cancer-Disparities in outcomes cohort and implications of Africa's fertility transition on breast cancer prognosis.

Reproductive characteristics are known risk factors for breast cancer but, other than recent birth, their role as prognostic factors is less clear, and has not been studied in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). In this setting, we examined whether reproductive factors independently influence breast cancer survival in a subset of the African Breast Cancer-Disparities in Outcomes cohort study. In 1485 women with incident breast cancer recruited between 2014 and 2017, we examined birth cohort changes in reproductive factors, and used Cox models to examine whether reproductive characteristics were associated with all-cause mortality after adjusting for confounders (age, stage, treatment, HIV, and social factors). Four years after diagnosis, 822 (56%) women had died. Median parity was 4 (IQR = 2, 6) and 209 (28%) of premenopausal women had had a recent birth (<3 years prior to cancer diagnosis). Each pregnancy was associated with a 5% increase (95% CI: 2%, 8%) in mortality rates, which held among postmenopausal women (5%, [1%-9%]). Pre-menopausal women with a recent birth had 52% (20%, 92%) higher mortality rates. Fertility trends by birth cohort showed declining parity, increasing age at first birth and declining age at last birth, however the impact of these population-level changes on future average survival was predicted to be very small (<3% absolute gain).

Gynaecologic oncology surgical cancellations in Zambia.

Introduction: Cancellations of elective surgery in low-and middle-income countries (LMIC) are common and a major hindrance for patients who are in need of surgical therapeutic modalities. This is especially important in the context of scaling up needed surgical interventions for gynaecological cancer care. There is a knowledge gap in the literature related to cancellation of gynaecologic oncology surgeries in LMIC, where there is enormous need for this specific cancer surgical capacity. We report in an observational descriptive fashion, our experience at the UTH/CDH in Lusaka, Zambia, on the causes of surgical cancellations in gynaecologic oncology. Methods: From January 1, 2021 through June 31, 2023, we retrospectively evaluated the surgical registry for gynaecologic oncology at the UTH/CDH in Lusaka, Zambia to assess the number and causes of surgical cancellations. Results: There were a total of 66 (16.96%) surgical cancellations out of 389 scheduled gynaecologic oncology cases. Lack of available blood and/or low haemoglobin was the most frequent cause of surgical cancellations, 27 cases (40.90%). Conclusion: We highlight in our series that the lack of blood, leading to surgical cancellations was the most frequent impediment related to performing scheduled gynaecologic oncology surgical procedures. As gynaecologic oncology services scale up in LMIC, given the radical nature of surgery and its association with blood loss, it is incumbent on the entire clinical ecosystem to address this issue and to develop mitigating strategies, specific to their respective resource setting.

Secondary Prevention of Cervical Cancer: ASCO Resource-Stratified Guideline Update.

PURPOSE: To update resource-stratified, evidence-based recommendations on secondary prevention of cervical cancer globally. METHODS: American Society of Clinical Oncology convened a multidisciplinary, multinational Expert Panel to produce recommendations reflecting four resource-tiered settings. A review of existing guidelines, formal consensus-based process, and modified ADAPTE process to adapt existing guidelines was conducted. Other experts participated in formal consensus. RESULTS: This guideline update reflects changes in evidence since the previous update. Five existing guidelines were identified and reviewed, and adapted recommendations form the evidence base. Cost-effectiveness analyses provided indirect evidence to inform consensus, which resulted in ≥ 75% agreement. RECOMMENDATIONS: Human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA testing is recommended in all resource settings; visual inspection with acetic acid may be used in basic settings. Recommended age ranges and frequencies vary by the following setting: maximal: age 25-65 years, every 5 years; enhanced: age 30-65 years, if two consecutive negative tests at 5-year intervals, then every 10 years; limited: age 30-49 years, every 10 years; basic: age 30-49 years, one to three times per lifetime. For basic settings, visual assessment is used to determine treatment eligibility; in other settings, genotyping with cytology or cytology alone is used to determine treatment. For basic settings, treatment is recommended if abnormal triage results are obtained; in other settings, abnormal triage results followed by colposcopy is recommended. For basic settings, treatment options are thermal ablation or loop electrosurgical excision procedure; for other settings, loop electrosurgical excision procedure or ablation is recommended; with a 12-month follow-up in all settings. Women who are HIV-positive should be screened with HPV testing after diagnosis, twice as many times per lifetime as the general population. Screening is recommended at 6 weeks postpartum in basic settings; in other settings, screening is recommended at 6 months. In basic settings without mass screening, infrastructure for HPV testing, diagnosis, and treatment should be developed.Additional information is available at www.asco.org/resource-stratified-guidelines.

A genetically engineered Plasmodium falciparum parasite vaccine provides protection from controlled human malaria infection.

Genetically engineered live Plasmodium falciparum sporozoites constitute a potential platform for creating consistently attenuated, genetically defined, whole-parasite vaccines against malaria through targeted gene deletions. Such genetically attenuated parasites (GAPs) do not require attenuation by irradiation or concomitant drug treatment. We previously developed a P. falciparum (Pf) GAP with deletions in P52, P36, and SAP1 genes (PfGAP3KO) and demonstrated its safety and immunogenicity in humans. Here, we further assessed safety, tolerability, and immunogenicity of the PfGAP3KO vaccine and tested its efficacy against controlled human malaria infection (CHMI) in malaria-naïve subjects. The vaccine was delivered by three (n = 6) or five (n = 8) immunizations with ~200 PfGAP3KO-infected mosquito bites per immunization. PfGAP3KO was safe and well tolerated with no breakthrough P. falciparum blood stage infections. Vaccine-related adverse events were predominately localized urticaria related to the numerous mosquito bites administered per vaccination. CHMI via bites with mosquitoes carrying fully infectious Pf NF54 parasites was carried out 1 month after the last immunization. Half of the study participants who received either three or five PfGAP3KO immunizations remained P. falciparum blood stage negative, as shown by a lack of detection of Plasmodium 18S rRNA in the blood for 28 days after CHMI. Six protected study participants received a second CHMI 6 months later, and one remained completely protected. Thus, the PfGAP3KO vaccine was safe and immunogenic and was capable of inducing protection against sporozoite infection. These results warrant further evaluation of PfGAP3KO vaccine efficacy in dose-range finding trials with an injectable formulation.

Efficacy of single-dose HPV vaccination among young African women.

Background: Single-dose HPV vaccination, if efficacious, would be tremendously advantageous; simplifying implementation and decreasing costs. Methods: We performed a randomized, multi-center, double-blind, controlled trial of single-dose nonavalent (HPV 16/18/31/33/45/52/58/6/11) or bivalent (HPV 16/18) HPV vaccination compared to meningococcal vaccination among Kenyan women aged 15-20 years. Enrollment and six monthly cervical swabs and a month three vaginal swab were tested for HPV DNA. Enrollment sera were tested for HPV antibodies. The modified intent-to-treat (mITT) cohort comprised participants who tested HPV antibody negative at enrollment and HPV DNA negative at enrollment and month three. The primary outcome was incident persistent vaccine-type HPV infection by month 18. Results: Between December 2018 and June 2021, 2,275 women were randomly assigned and followed; 758 received the nonavalent HPV vaccine, 760 the bivalent HPV vaccine, and 757 the meningococcal vaccine; retention was 98%. Thirty-eight incident persistent infections were detected in the HPV 16/18 mITT cohort: one each among participants assigned to the bivalent and nonavalent groups and 36 among those assigned to the meningococcal group; nonavalent Vaccine Efficacy (VE) was 97.5% (95%CI 81.7-99.7%, p=<0.0001), and bivalent VE was 97.5% (95%CI 81.6-99.7%, p=<0.0001). Thirty-three incident persistent infections were detected in the HPV 16/18/31/33/45/52/58 mITT cohort: four in the nonavalent group and 29 in the meningococcal group; nonavalent VE for HPV 16/18/31/33/45/52/58 was 88.9% (95%CI 68.5-96.1%, p<0.0001). The rate of SAEs was 4.5-5.2% by group. Conclusions: Over the 18 month time-frame we studied, single-dose bivalent and nonavalent HPV vaccines were each highly effective in preventing incident persistent oncogenic HPV infection, similar to multidose regimens.

Treatment guideline concordance, initiation, and abandonment in patients with non-metastatic breast cancer from the African Breast Cancer-Disparities in Outcomes (ABC-DO) cohort in sub-Saharan Africa: a prospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Comprehensive breast cancer management is essential to achieve high breast cancer survival; however, detailed reports of the treatment regimens received by patients are scarce in sub-Saharan Africa where survival is low. We aimed to examine treatment initiation, guideline concordance, and abandonment in patients with non-metastatic breast cancer in sub-Saharan Africa from the African Breast Cancer-Disparities in Outcomes (ABC-DO) prospective cohort. METHODS: The ABC-DO prospective cohort study recruited women (aged ≥18 years) with newly diagnosed invasive breast cancer in eight hospitals across five sub-Saharan African countries (Namibia, Nigeria, Uganda, South Africa, and Zambia). We analysed treatments received by women who were classified as non-metastatic (M0) at the initial presentation. Data on surgery, radiotherapy, and systemic therapies were obtained from medical records and a self-reported follow-up questionnaire at 6 months after the diagnosis, follow-up calls every 3 months, and a baseline questionnaire. Initiation, completion, and abandonment of treatment modalities and combined therapy regimens were examined overall, by country-specific groups, and by clinical factors relevant for guideline-based treatment. FINDINGS: Of 2313 women recruited into the ABC-DO study between Sept 10, 2014, and Dec 31, 2017, 2226 had histologically or clinically confirmed breast cancer. Of these 2226 women, 510 were excluded from the present analysis because 378 had metastatic disease, 37 were prevalent cases (defined as those previously diagnosed with breast cancer >2 years before baseline), 82 had unknown TNM stage, and 13 were White or Asian women in South Africa (number was too small for analysis). After a median follow-up of 5·2 years (IQR 4·6-5·9), 1163 (68%) of 1716 women underwent breast cancer surgery. Surgery and systemic therapy (ie, multimodality treatment) with radiotherapy was initiated in 370 (36%) of 1028 women with localised tumours versus 156 (23%) of 688 women with locally advanced tumours, whereas multimodality treatment without radiotherapy was initiated in 386 (38%) versus 167 (24%) women, respectively. Of 1530 patients requiring chemotherapy (which excludes 105 who died within 6 months after baseline), 1013 (66%) initiated treatment of neoadjuvant chemotherapy or surgery within 3 months after baseline, which was adequately completed by 359 (35%) of 1013 women, marginally completed by 284 (28%), abandoned by 200 (20%), and unknown in 151 (15%). 19 (2%) women died within 6 months after chemotherapy initiation. Of 1375 women in whom endocrine therapy was indicated, this treatment was initiated in 920, and lasted at least 3 years in 367 (40%) women. Treatment disparities between country-specific groups were substantial for all therapy regimens. INTERPRETATION: A high proportion of patients with non-metastatic breast cancer did not initiate, did not fully complete, or abandoned treatment with surgery, systemic therapy, radiotherapy, or an appropriate combination of these, highlighting the need for improved treatment access and completion in sub-Saharan Africa to potentially prevent premature breast cancer deaths. FUNDING: National Institutes of Health (National Cancer Institute), Susan G Komen, and the International Agency for Research on Cancer.

Disparities in breast cancer survival between women with and without HIV across sub-Saharan Africa (ABC-DO): a prospective, cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Studies have shown increased mortality among women living with HIV diagnosed with breast cancer compared with HIV-negative women with breast cancer. We aimed to examine how this HIV differential varies by patient or breast tumour characteristics. METHODS: The African Breast Cancer-Disparities in Outcomes (ABC-DO) study is a prospective cohort of women (aged ≥18 years) with incident breast cancer recruited consecutively at diagnosis (2014-17) from hospitals in Namibia, Nigeria, South Africa, Uganda, and Zambia. Detailed clinical and epidemiological data, including self-reported or tested HIV status, were collected at baseline. Participants were actively followed up via telephone calls every 3 months. The primary outcome was all-cause mortality, assessed in all women who had at least one updated vital status after baseline interview. Using Cox regression, we examined differences in overall survival by HIV status in the cohort, and across country and patient subgroups, adjusted for age, tumour grade, and tumour stage at cancer diagnosis. FINDINGS: Between Sept 8, 2014, and Dec 31, 2017, we recruited 2154 women with primary breast cancer, 519 of whom were excluded due to their countries having small numbers of women with HIV for comparison. Among the remaining 1635 women, 313 (19%) were living with HIV, 1184 (72%) were HIV negative, and 138 (9%) had unknown HIV status. At breast cancer diagnosis, women with HIV were younger and had lower body-mass index (BMI) than their HIV-negative counterparts, but had similar tumour stage, grade, and receptor subtypes. At the end of the follow-up (Jan 1, 2019), a higher proportion of women with HIV (137 [44%] of 313) had died than had HIV-negative women (432 [37%] of 1184). Crude 3-year survival was 9% lower for women with HIV (46% [95% CI 40-53]) than for HIV-negative women (55% [52-59]; hazard ratio (HR) 1·41 [1·15-1·74]). The HIV survival differential did not differ by age, BMI, tumour subtype, or tumour grade, but was stronger in women with non-metastatic disease (3-year survival 52% HIV-positive vs 63% HIV-negative women, adjusted HR 1·65 [1·30-2·10]), whereas women with metastatic cancer had low survival, regardless of HIV status. INTERPRETATION: The larger survival deficit among women with HIV with non-metastatic breast cancer calls for a better understanding of the reasons underlying this differential (eg, biological mechanisms, health behaviours, detrimental HIV-breast cancer treatment interactions, or higher HIV background mortality) to inform strategies for reducing mortality among this patient group. FUNDING: Susan G Komen, International Agency for Research on Cancer, National Cancer Institute, and UK-Commonwealth Scholarships.

Comparison of a U.S. and Zambian Ob/Gyn Residency Training Programme.

Introduction: The major objective of the study was to compare and contrast a U.S. and Zambian Ob/Gyn residency programme, using uniform metrics, as the basis for an initial exploration of perceived inequities in post-graduate medical education between low- and high-income countries. Methods: Measurements of the following procedures were used to indicate whether minimum standards had been met by trainees in their respective postgraduate programmes: vaginal deliveries; C-sections; abdominal, vaginal and laparoscopic hysterectomies; other laparoscopic surgeries; cancer cases; abortions; obstetrical ultrasounds; cystoscopies; incontinence and pelvic floor surgeries. Evaluations were also made with respect to the presence or absence of an official ultrasound rotation, subspeciality and off-service rotations, protected didactic time and exclusive time on obstetrics and gynaecologic clinical services. Comparisons were made relative to these various categories and the average procedural numbers at each level of training to determine differences in trends and degree of exposure. Results: Minimal procedural requirements were met by both the U.S. and Zambian programmes. For open surgical cases, the minimum standards were higher for the Zambian programme, whereas for procedures associated with the use of high-end technology, such as ultrasound and minimally invasive surgery, minimum standards were higher for the U.S. programme. Conclusion: There were no significant differences in the Zambian and U.S. Ob/Gyn post-graduate training programmes, relative to their respective metrics. A more extensive analysis is required to determine the actual competency levels that are produced by the respective training systems.

Inequities in Adverse Maternal and Perinatal Outcomes: The Effect of Maternal Race and Nativity.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effect of race and ethnicity on differences in maternal and perinatal outcomes among U.S.-born and foreign-born women, as well as racial and ethnic disparities in outcomes within these groups. METHODS: This retrospective study analyzed singleton pregnancies (n = 11,518) among women delivering at Boston Medical Center from January 2010-March 2015. Outcomes of interest included preterm birth, early preterm birth, cesarean delivery, hypertensive disorders, diabetes, low birth weight at term (LBW, < 2500 g), NICU admission and intrauterine fetal demise (IUFD). Prevalence ratios and 95% confidence intervals comparing outcomes between U.S.- and foreign-born women were calculated and stratified by race. Obstetric outcomes among Black and Hispanic women were compared to those of white women within both U.S.- and foreign-born groups. RESULTS: Preterm birth, hypertensive disorders, LBW and NICU admission were more likely to occur among U.S.-born women and their neonates compared to foreign-born women. Controlling for sociodemographic characteristics did not significantly impact these disparities. Among foreign-born women, Black women had a higher prevalence of many maternal and neonatal complications, while Hispanic women had a lower prevalence of some complications compared to white women. Black woman and infants consistently exhibit worse outcomes regardless of their nativity, while Hispanic women foreign-born women experience less disparate outcomes. CONCLUSIONS FOR PRACTICE: Overall, women born in the United States are at higher risk of several adverse perinatal outcomes compared to foreign-born women. Racial and ethnic disparities in birth outcomes exist in both groups. However, the complex interplay between biopsychosocial influences that mediate these inequities appear to have different effects among U.S- and foreign- born women. A better understanding of these factors can be used to combat disparities and improve outcomes for all women.

The use of thermal ablation in diverse cervical cancer "screen-and-treat" service platforms in Zambia.

OBJECTIVE: Thermal ablation (TA) was implemented in public sector cervical cancer prevention services in Zambia in 2012. Initially introduced as a treatment modality in primary healthcare clinics, it was later included in mobile outreach campaigns and clinical research trials. We report the feasibility, acceptability, safety, and provider uptake of TA in diverse clinical contexts. METHODS: Screening services based on visual inspection with acetic acid were offered by trained nurses to non-pregnant women aged 25-59 years. Women with a type 1 transformation zone (TZ) were treated with same-visit TA. Those with a type 2 or 3 TZ, or suspicious for cancer, were managed with same-visit electrosurgical excision or punch biopsy, respectively. A provider survey was conducted. RESULTS: Between 2012 and 2020, 2123 women were treated with TA: primary healthcare clinics, n = 746; mobile outreach clinics, n = 1127; research clinics, n = 250. Of the 996 women treated in primary healthcare and research clinics, 359 (48%) were HIV positive. Mild cramping during treatment was the most common adverse effect. No treatment interruptions occurred. No major complications were reported in the early (6 weeks) follow-up period. Providers expressed an overwhelming preference for TA over cryotherapy. CONCLUSION: TA was feasible, safe, and acceptable in diverse clinical contexts. It was the preferred ablation method of providers when compared with cryotherapy.

Self-reported arm and shoulder problems in breast cancer survivors in Sub-Saharan Africa: the African Breast Cancer-Disparities in Outcomes cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Arm and shoulder problems (ASP), including lymphedema, were common among women with breast cancer in high-income countries before sentinel lymph node biopsy became the standard of care. Although ASP impair quality of life, as they affect daily life activities, their frequency and determinants in Sub-Saharan Africa remain unclear. METHODS: All women newly diagnosed with breast cancer at the Namibian, Ugandan, Nigerian, and Zambian sites of the African Breast Cancer-Disparities in Outcomes (ABC-DO) cohort study were included. At each 3-month follow-up interview, women answered the EORTC-QLQ-Br23 questionnaire, including three ASP items: shoulder/arm pain, arm stiffness, and arm/hand swelling. We estimated the cumulative incidence of first self-reported ASP, overall and stratified by study and treatment status, with deaths treated as competing events. To identify determinants of ASP, we estimated cause-specific hazard ratios using Cox models stratified by study site. RESULTS: Among 1476 women, up to 4 years after diagnosis, 43% (95% CI 40-46), 36% (33-38) and 23% (20-25), respectively, self-reported having experienced arm/shoulder pain, stiffness and arm/hand swelling at least once. Although risks of self-reported ASP differed between sites, a more advanced breast cancer stage at diagnosis, having a lower socioeconomic position and receiving treatment increased the risk of reporting an ASP. CONCLUSION: ASP are very common in breast cancer survivors in Sub-Saharan Africa. They are influenced by different factors than those observed in high-income countries. There is a need to raise awareness and improve management of ASP within the African setting.

A Framework for Cervical Cancer Elimination in Low-and-Middle-Income Countries: A Scoping Review and Roadmap for Interventions and Research Priorities.

The World Health Organization announced an ambitious call for cervical cancer elimination worldwide. With existing prevention and treatment modalities, cervical cancer elimination is now within reach for high-income countries. Despite limited financing and capacity constraints in low-and-middle-income countries (LMICs), prevention and control efforts can be supported through integrated services and new technologies. We conducted this scoping review to outline a roadmap toward cervical cancer elimination in LMICs and highlight evidence-based interventions and research priorities to accelerate cervical cancer elimination. We reviewed and synthesized literature from 2010 to 2020 on primary and secondary cervical cancer prevention strategies. In addition, we conducted expert interviews with gynecologic and infectious disease providers, researchers, and LMIC health officials. Using these data, we developed a logic model to summarize the current state of science and identified evidence gaps and priority research questions for each prevention strategy. The logic model for cervical cancer elimination maps the needs for improved collaboration between policy makers, production and supply, healthcare systems, providers, health workers, and communities. The model articulates responsibilities for stakeholders and visualizes processes to increase access to and coverage of prevention methods. We discuss the challenges of contextual factors and highlight innovation needs. Effective prevention methods include HPV vaccination, screening using visual inspection and HPV testing, and thermocoagulation. However, vaccine coverage remains low in LMICs. New strategies, including single-dose vaccination could enhance impact. Loss to follow-up and treatment delays could be addressed by improved same-day screen-and-treat technologies. We provide a practical framework to guide cervical cancer elimination in LMICs. The scoping review highlights existing and innovative strategies, unmet needs, and collaborations required to achieve elimination across implementation contexts.

Geospatial barriers to healthcare access for breast cancer diagnosis in sub-Saharan African settings: The African Breast Cancer-Disparities in Outcomes Cohort Study.

We examined the geospatial dimension of delays to diagnosis of breast cancer in a prospective study of 1541 women newly diagnosed in the African Breast Cancer-Disparities in Outcomes (ABC-DO) Study. Women were recruited at cancer treatment facilities in Namibia, Nigeria, Uganda and Zambia. The baseline interview included information used to generate the geospatial features: urban/rural residence, travel mode to treatment facility and straight-line distances from home to first-care provider and to diagnostic/treatment facility, categorized into country/ethnicity (population)-specific quartiles. These factors were investigated in relation to delay in diagnosis (≥3 months since first symptom) and late stage at diagnosis (TNM: III, IV) using logistic regression, adjusted for population group and sociodemographic characteristics. The median (interquartile range) distances to first provider and diagnostic and treatment facilities were 5 (1-37), 17 (3-105) and 62 (5-289) km, respectively. The majority had a delay in diagnosis (74%) and diagnosis at late stage (64%). Distance to first provider was not associated with delay in diagnosis or late stage at diagnosis. Rural residence was associated with delay, but the association did not persist after adjustment for sociodemographic characteristics. Distance to the diagnostic/treatment facility was associated with delay (highest vs lowest quartile: odds ratio (OR) = 1.56, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.08-2.27) and late stage (overall: OR = 1.47, CI = 1.05-2.06; without Nigerian hospitals where mostly local residents were treated: OR = 1.73, CI = 1.18-2.54). These findings underscore the need for measures addressing the geospatial barriers to early diagnosis in sub-Saharan African settings, including providing transport or travel allowance and decentralizing diagnostic services.

Maternally Orphaned Children and Intergenerational Concerns Associated With Breast Cancer Deaths Among Women in Sub-Saharan Africa.

IMPORTANCE: Low breast cancer survival in sub-Saharan Africa's young population increases the likelihood that breast cancer deaths result in maternal orphans, ie, children (<18 years) losing their mother. OBJECTIVE: To estimate the number of maternal orphans and their ages for every 100 breast cancer deaths in sub-Saharan African settings during 2014-2019 and to describe family concerns about the orphaned children. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: Deaths occurring between September 1, 2014, and July 1, 2019, in the African Breast Cancer-Disparities in Outcomes (ABC-DO) were examined in a cohort of women diagnosed with breast cancer during 2014-2017 at major cancer treatment hospitals in Namibia, Nigeria, Uganda, and Zambia. The cohort was actively followed up for vital status via a trimonthly mobile phone call to each woman or her next of kin (typically a partner, husband, or child). MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: The number (Poisson counts) and ages of new orphans at the time of maternal death. RESULTS: This cohort study found that a total of 795 deaths resulted in 964 new maternal orphans, with deaths occurring in women younger than 50 years accounting for 85% of the orphans. For every 100 deaths in women younger than 50 years, there were 210 new orphans (95% CI, 196-225) overall, with country-specific estimates of 189 in Nigerian, 180 in Namibian, 222 in Ugandan, and 247 in Zambian Black women. For every 100 deaths of the women at any age, there were 121 maternal orphans, 17% of whom were younger than 5 years, 32% aged 5 to 9 years, and 51% aged 10 to 17 years at the time of maternal death. In follow-up interviews, families' concerns for children's education and childcare were reported to be exacerbated by the financial expenses associated with cancer treatment. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: This study provides evidence that the number of maternal orphans due to breast cancer exceeds the number of breast cancer deaths among women in sub-Saharan Africa. The intergenerational consequences associated with cancer deaths in sub-Saharan Africa appear to be large and support the need for continued action to improve survival.

Breast cancer survival and survival gap apportionment in sub-Saharan Africa (ABC-DO): a prospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Breast cancer is the second leading cause of death from cancer in women in sub-Saharan Africa, yet there are few well characterised large-scale survival studies with complete follow-up data. We aimed to provide robust survival estimates in women in this setting and apportion the survival gaps. METHODS: The African Breast Cancer-Disparities in Outcomes (ABC-DO) prospective cohort study was done at eight hospitals across five sub-Saharan African countries (Namibia, Nigeria, South Africa, Uganda, and Zambia). We prospectively recruited women (aged ≥18 years) who attended these hospitals with suspected breast cancer. Women were actively followed up by use of a telephone call once every 3 months, and a mobile health application was used to keep a dynamic record of follow-up calls due. We collected detailed sociodemographic, clinical, and treatment data. The primary outcome was 3-year overall survival, analysed by use of flexible proportional mortality models, and we predicted survival under scenarios of modified distributions of risk factors. FINDINGS: Between Sept 8, 2014, and Dec 31, 2017, 2313 women were recruited from these eight hospitals, of whom 85 did not have breast cancer. Of the remaining 2228 women with breast cancer, 58 women with previous treatment or recurrence, and 14 women from small racial groups (white and Asian women in South Africa), were excluded. Of the 2156 women analysed, 1840 (85%) were histologically confirmed, 129 (6%) were cytologically confirmed, and 187 (9%) were clinically confirmed to have breast cancer. 2156 (97%) women were followed up for up to 3 years or up to Jan 1, 2019, whichever was earlier. Up to this date, 879 (41%) of these women had died, 1118 (52%) were alive, and 159 (7%) were censored early. 3-year overall survival was 50% (95% CI 48-53), but we observed variations in 3-year survival between different races in Namibia (from 90% in white women to 56% in Black women) and in South Africa (from 76% in mixed-race women to 59% in Black women), and between different countries (44-47% in Uganda and Zambia vs 36% in Nigeria). 215 (10%) of all women had died within 6 months of diagnosis, but 3-year overall survival remained low in women who survived to this timepoint (58%). Among survival determinants, improvements in early diagnosis and treatment were predicted to contribute to the largest increases in survival, with a combined absolute increase in survival of up to 22% in Nigeria, Zambia, and Uganda, when compared with the contributions of other factors (such as HIV or aggressive subtypes). INTERPRETATION: Large variations in breast cancer survival in sub-Saharan African countries indicate that improvements are possible. At least a third of the projected 416 000 breast cancer deaths that will occur in this region in the next decade could be prevented through achievable downstaging and improvements in treatment. Improving survival in socially disadvantaged women warrants special attention. FUNDING: Susan G Komen and the International Agency for Research on Cancer.