Nonchromosomal birth defects and risk of childhood acute leukemia: An assessment in 15 000 leukemia cases and 46 000 controls from the Childhood Cancer and Leukemia International Consortium.

Although recent studies have demonstrated associations between nonchromosomal birth defects and several pediatric cancers, less is known about their role on childhood leukemia susceptibility. Using data from the Childhood Cancer and Leukemia International Consortium, we evaluated associations between nonchromosomal birth defects and childhood leukemia. Pooling consortium data from 18 questionnaire-based and three registry-based case-control studies across 13 countries, we used multivariable logistic regression models to estimate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the association between a spectrum of birth defects and leukemia. Our analyses included acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL, n = 13 115) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML, n = 2120) cases, along with 46 172 controls. We used the false discovery rate to account for multiple comparisons. In the questionnaire-based studies, the prevalence of birth defects was 5% among cases vs 4% in controls, whereas, in the registry-based studies, the prevalence was 11% among cases vs 7% in controls. In pooled adjusted analyses, there were several notable associations, including (1) digestive system defects and ALL (OR = 2.70, 95% CI: 1.46-4.98); (2) congenital anomalies of the heart and circulatory system and AML (OR = 2.86, 95% CI: 1.81-4.52) and (3) nervous system defects and AML (OR = 4.23, 95% CI: 1.50-11.89). Effect sizes were generally larger in registry-based studies. Overall, our results could point to novel genetic and environmental factors associated with birth defects that could also increase leukemia susceptibility. Additionally, differences between questionnaire- and registry-based studies point to the importance of complementary sources of birth defect phenotype data when exploring these associations.

Reduced-intensity therapy for pediatric lymphoblastic leukemia: impact of residual disease early in remission induction.

Legacy data show that ∼40% of children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) were cured with limited antimetabolite-based chemotherapy regimens. However, identifying patients with very-low-risk (VLR) ALL remains imprecise. Patients selected based on a combination of presenting features and a minimal residual disease (MRD) level <0.01% on day 19 of induction therapy had excellent outcomes with low-intensity treatment. We investigated the impact of MRD levels between 0.001% and <0.01% early in remission induction on the outcome of VLR ALL treated with a low-intensity regimen. Between October of 2011 and September of 2015, 200 consecutive patients with B-precursor ALL with favorable clinicopathologic features and MRD levels <0.01%, as assessed by flow cytometry in the bone marrow on day 19 and at the end of induction therapy, received reduced-intensity therapy. The 5-year event-free survival was 89.5% (± 2.2% standard error [SE]), and the overall survival was 95.5% (± 1.5% SE). The 5-year cumulative incidence of relapse (CIR) was 7% (95% confidence interval, 4-11%). MRD levels were between 0.001% and <0.01% on day 19 in 29 patients. These patients had a 5-year CIR that was significantly higher than that of patients with undetectable residual leukemia (17.2% ± 7.2% vs 5.3% ± 1.7%, respectively; P = .02). Our study shows that children with VLR ALL can be treated successfully with decreased-intensity therapy, and it suggests that the classification criteria for VLR can be further refined by using a more sensitive MRD assay.

Infant feeding practices and childhood acute leukemia: Findings from the Childhood Cancer & Leukemia International Consortium.

Increasing evidence suggests that breastfeeding may protect from childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML). However, most studies have limited their analyses to any breastfeeding, and only a few data have examined exclusive breastfeeding, or other exposures such as formula milk. We performed pooled analyses and individual participant data metaanalyses of data from 16 studies (N = 17 189 controls; N = 10 782 ALL and N = 1690 AML cases) from the Childhood Leukemia International Consortium (CLIC) to characterize the associations of breastfeeding duration with ALL and AML, as well as exclusive breastfeeding duration and age at introduction to formula with ALL. In unconditional multivariable logistic regression analyses of pooled data, we observed decreased odds of ALL among children breastfed 4 to 6 months (0.88, 95% CI 0.81-0.96) or 7 to 12 months (OR 0.85, 0.79-0.92). We observed a similar inverse association between breastfeeding ≥4 months and AML (0.82, 95% CI 0.71-0.95). Odds of ALL were reduced among children exclusively breastfed 4 to 6 months (OR 0.73, 95% CI 0.63-0.85) or 7 to 12 months (OR 0.70, 95% CI 0.53-0.92). Random effects metaanalyses produced similar estimates, and findings were unchanged in sensitivity analyses adjusted for race/ethnicity or mode of delivery, restricted to children diagnosed ≥1 year of age or diagnosed with B-ALL. Our pooled analyses indicate that longer breastfeeding is associated with decreased odds of ALL and AML. Few risk factors for ALL and AML have been described, therefore our findings highlight the need to promote breastfeeding for leukemia prevention.

mRNA-miRNA-lncRNA Regulatory Network in Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease.

AIM: we aimed to construct a bioinformatics-based co-regulatory network of mRNAs and non coding RNAs (ncRNAs), which is implicated in the pathogenesis of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), followed by its validation in a NAFLD animal model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The mRNAs-miRNAs-lncRNAs regulatory network involved in NAFLD was retrieved and constructed utilizing bioinformatics tools. Then, we validated this network using an NAFLD animal model, high sucrose and high fat diet (HSHF)-fed rats. Finally, the expression level of the network players was assessed in the liver tissues using reverse transcriptase real-time polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: in-silico constructed network revealed six mRNAs (YAP1, FOXA2, AMOTL2, TEAD2, SMAD4 and NF2), two miRNAs (miR-650 and miR-1205), and two lncRNAs (RPARP-AS1 and SRD5A3-AS1) that play important roles as a co-regulatory network in NAFLD pathogenesis. Moreover, the expression level of these constructed network-players was significantly different between NAFLD and normal control. Conclusion and future perspectives: this study provides new insight into the molecular mechanism of NAFLD pathogenesis and valuable clues for the potential use of the constructed RNA network in effective diagnostic or management strategies of NAFLD.

MicroRNA as a prognostic biomarker for survival in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia: a systematic review.

Recent studies suggest abnormal microRNA (miRNA) expression may have potential prognostic value in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). In this systematic review, we searched different databases (PubMed, ASH, ASCO, and SIOP) for studies published from 2008 to 2018 that evaluated the prognostic impact of miRNAs in childhood ALL. We also used DIANA-miRPath v3.0 to further characterize the functional role of the significant prognostic miRNAs identified in our systematic review. Here we evaluate 15 studies with a total of 38 different miRNAs and 1545 children with B-cell ALL (B-ALL) or T-cell ALL (T-ALL) recruited over approximately 3 decades (1984-2016) with different treatment protocols and ethnicities. Out of the 15 studies examined, 14 reported 32 dysregulated miRNAs with significant prognostic impact in pediatric ALL patients. Only one Brazilian study reported no significant prognostic effect of 7 miRNAs, while the seventh miRNA (miR-100) showed prognostic significance in a Chinese study. Using DIANA-TarBase v7.0 of DIANA-miRPath v3.0, pathway enrichment analysis revealed 25 miRNAs modulated 24 molecular pathways involved in cancer development. To remove the effect of salvage therapy, 9 studies carried out multivariate cox regression analysis for both relapse-free survival and disease-free survival to develop a panel of 23 miRNAs acting as independent prognostic biomarkers. To enhance the clinical application, utility, and validity of the miRNAs discussed here, their potential prognostic value should be confirmed in larger cohort studies within different ethnicities and different ALL protocols adjusted for other contemporary validated prognostic factors in childhood ALL.

Pediatric diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma: where do we stand?

Pediatric diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG) represents approximately 20% of all pediatric CNS tumors. However, disease outcomes are dismal with a median survival of less than 1 year and a 2-year overall survival rate of less than 10%. Despite extensive efforts to improve survival outcomes, progress towards clinical improvement has been largely stagnant throughout the last 4 decades. Focal radiotherapy remains the standard of care with no promising single-agent alternatives and no evidence for improvement with the addition of a long list of systemic therapies. A better understanding of the biology of DIPG, though not easy due to obstacles in obtaining pathological material to study, is promising for the development of specific individualized treatment for this fatal disease. Recent studies have found epigenetic mutations to be successful predictors and prognostic factors for developing future management policies. The aim of this review is to give a global overview about the epidemiology, diagnosis, and treatment of DIPG. We further examine the controversial biopsy and autopsy issue that is unique to DIPG and assess the subsequent impact this issue has on the research efforts and clinical management of DIPG.

The outcome of childhood adrenocortical carcinoma in Egypt: A model from developing countries.

Adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is a rare, aggressive endocrine neoplasm. Complete surgical resection is the single most important treatment. Most available information has been learned from experience with its more frequent adult counterpart. In this study, we assessed the features and survival outcome of patients with ACC at Children's Cancer Hospital Egypt (CCHE). Patients diagnosed at CCHE between July 2007 and November 2016 were followed up on until November 2018. Patients with stages I and II were operated upon, while stages III and IV had received combinations of doxorubicin, etoposide, platinol, and mitotane (DEPM) beside the attempt to conduct surgery when feasible. Data belonging to 18 patients (7 men and 11 women) were analyzed; median age at diagnosis was 48.5 months. Sixteen patients had presented with secreting tumors. Six patients were diagnosed with stage I disease; four with stage II; three with stage III; and five with stage IV carcinoma. By the end of this study, 10 patients have survived; five-year overall survival of 66.3%. Surviving patients were all of stage I or II diseases and were all in remission. Seven patients who did not survive died due to tumor progression, while one patient died after chemotherapy. The prognosis of ACC is essentially dependent on a successful complete resection of the tumor and thus on the initial tumor stage. The mitotane and DEP protocols may help control tumor growth in the advanced stages for only short periods. Key pointsInitial stage and resectability are the main indicators of outcomes in adrenocortical carcinoma.Chemotherapeutic agents used in developed countries did not achieve the same outcomes.Further molecular-pharmacology differentiation is needed for various ethnic populations.

Risk of second malignancies among survivors of pediatric thyroid cancer.

BACKGROUND: Thyroid carcinoma is a very rare tumor in the pediatric age group, accounting for only 1.5-3% of childhood carcinomas in the United States and Europe. We aimed to identify the risk of a second malignancy among pediatric thyroid cancer survivors. METHODS: The cohort analysis consisted of pediatric cancer patients aged less than 20 years, diagnosed with a primary thyroid cancer, identified by site code ICD-0-3: C739, and reported to the SEER 9 database between 1973 and 2013. They were followed up until December 31, 2013; the end of the study period, or up to death if earlier. RESULTS: Out of 1769 patients diagnosed primarily with thyroid carcinoma, 42 patients had a total of 45 incidences of subsequent malignancies. The mean age of patients at the initial diagnosis of thyroid cancer was 16 years. Females (90.5%) had a significantly higher incidence of second malignancies (SM) than males (9.5%). The overall Standardized Incidence Ratio (SIR) of SM in the study patients was higher than expected (SIR = 1.48). Some specific sites showed significantly higher incidences: the salivary glands (SIR = 33.95), the gum and other parts of the mouth [excluding the lips, tongue, salivary glands and floor of the mouth] (SIR = 24.53)*** and the kidneys (SIR = 5.72). The overall risk of SM in patients who had received radioactive iodine was higher than expected (SIR = 4.41). The cumulative incidence of SM after treatment of thyroid cancer in children increases steadily over 40 years (11.92%). CONCLUSIONS: Race, gender, histological subtypes, and radioactive iodine are potentially significant prognostic factors for the development of SM among pediatric thyroid cancer survivors. Identification of underlying mechanisms that raise the risk of SM is important for both treatment and follow-up strategies.

Nonfunctioning Adrenocortical Carcinoma in Pediatric Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia: A Case Report of a Rare Multiple Primaries Combination.

Childhood adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is a rare tumor and its association with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is even rarer. One such case is discussed in this case report. A 3-year-old patient was concomitantly diagnosed with ALL and an initially nonmetastatic ACC. Management started by following the Total XV protocol without a window phase. Left adrenalectomy was conducted after the consolidation phase. Recurrence of a mass at the tumor bed was discovered at week 33 of the continuation phase. Reexcision was conducted, followed by the administration of an ACC protocol including cisplatin, etoposide, and doxirubicin. Mitotane was added when a pulmonary metastasis was discovered and then stopped after the patient suffered from an arachnoid cyst and speech difficulties. The ALL protocol was resumed from week 34 of the continuation phase. Progression of pulmonary nodules was noted after week 45. A pulmonary metastectomy was performed. The ALL protocol was resumed up to week 51 with a good response as proven by assessment of minimal residual disease. A further recurrence was diagnosed at the abdominal tumor bed with a paravertebral mass and a pulmonary nodule. The patient was assigned to palliative treatment and died after a 32-month survival. Such rare associations need more extensive discussions of the best possible management in scientific literature.

A change roadmap towards research paradigm in low-resource countries: retinoblastoma model in Egypt.

Research on childhood diseases represents a great global challenge. This challenge is maximized in both childhood cancer disciplines and developing world. In this paper, we aim at describing our institution experience in starting a structured childhood cancer research program in one of the developing countries in a short time based on philanthropic efforts. We used retinoblastoma as an example for what was conducted in this program. Starting in 2008, this program included improving clinical practice and its related supporting services besides developing new research services that both complement the clinical activities and pave the way towards creating a research foundation in the country. Results included developing hospital standard treatment protocols, developing national clinical trials, joining international consortia for childhood cancers clinical trials, developing data collection tools and real-time analytics, establishing a biobanking facility, and developing highly qualified team for conducting clinical, epidemiologic, and translational research studies. Moreover, this effort resulted in improving both clinical practice and patients' awareness nationally. This model can be used for other startup facilities that aim at finding answers for their national health problems in low-resource setting.

Environmental, maternal, and reproductive risk factors for childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia in Egypt: a case-control study.

BACKGROUND: Acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) is the most common pediatric cancer. The exact cause is not known in most cases, but past epidemiological research has suggested a number of potential risk factors. This study evaluated associations between environmental and parental factors and the risk for ALL in Egyptian children to gain insight into risk factors in this developing country. METHODS: We conducted a case-control design from May 2009 to February 2012. Cases were recruited from Children's Cancer Hospital, Egypt (CCHE). Healthy controls were randomly selected from the general population to frequency-match the cumulative group of cases by sex, age groups (<1; 1 - 5; >5 - 10; >10 years) and region of residence (Cairo metropolitan region, Nile Delta region (North), and Upper Egypt (South)). Mothers provided answers to an administered questionnaire about their environmental exposures and health history including those of the father. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95 % confidence intervals (CI) were calculated using logistic regression with adjustment for covariates. RESULTS: Two hundred ninety nine ALL cases and 351 population-based controls frequency-matched for age group, gender and location were recruited. The risk of ALL was increased with the mother's use of medications for ovulation induction (ORadj = 2.5, 95 % CI =1.2 -5.1) and to a lesser extend with her age (ORadj = 1.8, 95 % CI = 1.1 - 2.8, for mothers ≥ 30 years old). Delivering the child by Cesarean section, was also associated with increased risk (ORadj = 2.01, 95 % CI =1.24-2.81). CONCLUSIONS: In Egypt, the risk for childhood ALL appears to be associated with older maternal age, and certain maternal reproductive factors.

Maternal supplementation with folic acid and other vitamins and risk of leukemia in offspring: a Childhood Leukemia International Consortium study.

BACKGROUND: Maternal prenatal supplementation with folic acid and other vitamins has been inconsistently associated with a reduced risk of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Little is known regarding the association with acute myeloid leukemia (AML), a rarer subtype. METHODS: We obtained original data on prenatal use of folic acid and vitamins from 12 case-control studies participating in the Childhood Leukemia International Consortium (enrollment period: 1980-2012), including 6,963 cases of ALL, 585 cases of AML, and 11,635 controls. Logistic regression was used to estimate pooled odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs), adjusted for child's age, sex, ethnicity, parental education, and study center. RESULTS: Maternal supplements taken any time before conception or during pregnancy were associated with a reduced risk of childhood ALL; odds ratios were 0.85 (95% CI = 0.78-0.92) for vitamin use and 0.80 (0.71-0.89) for folic acid use. The reduced risk was more pronounced in children whose parents' education was below the highest category. The analyses for AML led to somewhat unstable estimates; ORs were 0.92 (0.75-1.14) and 0.68 (0.48-0.96) for prenatal vitamins and folic acid, respectively. There was no strong evidence that risks of either types of leukemia varied by period of supplementation (preconception, pregnancy, or trimester). CONCLUSIONS: Our results, based on the largest number of childhood leukemia cases to date, suggest that maternal prenatal use of vitamins and folic acid reduces the risk of both ALL and AML and that the observed association with ALL varied by parental education, a surrogate for lifestyle and sociodemographic characteristics.

Impact of physical activity on postural stability and coordination in children with posterior fossa tumor: randomized control phase III trial.

BACKGROUND: Posterior fossa tumor is a type of brain tumor that is located at the borders of both the brain stem and cerebellum. The cerebellum is the brain region in charge of balance and coordination. Pediatric patients diagnosed with posterior fossa tumor have been reported to fall frequently. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study is to investigate the effectiveness of balance and coordination training in these children. METHODS: This randomized control clinical trial (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04528316) was carried out between September 2020 and April 2021 at Children's Cancer Hospital-57357. The inclusion criteria were patients with posterior fossa tumor in maintenance phase and, age between 5 and 12 years. The exclusion criteria were patients who had a genetic disorder or suffer from mental retardation, a chronic lung disease, severe cardiomyopathy, or a neuromuscular disease that does not relate to tumor. The study participants were randomly assigned into three groups: Group I/Control group: they received Pilates core stability exercises program, Group II/Postural stability group: they received the same program plus HUMAC balance program, and Group III/Coordination group: they received the same program plus coordination exercises of BOT-2. The semi-parametric proportional odds model was used to compare follow-up scores of the Postural stability group vs Control, and Coordination group vs Control, while adjusting for baseline values. All tests were two sided, with alpha set to 0.05. RESULTS: Sixty children including 38 boys and 22 girls were enrolled in this study. In all three groups, postural stability and coordination improved significantly in terms of modified clinical test of sensory integration of balance, center of pressure, limits of stability, bilateral coordination, and upper-limb coordination. CONCLUSION: The current study supports the value of adding postural stability and coordination training to the physiotherapy plan for children with posterior fossa tumor. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER AND DATE OF REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04528316 on August 27, 2020.

Germline De Novo Mutations as a Cause of Childhood Cancer.

Germline de novo mutations (DNMs) represent one of the important topics that need extensive attention from epidemiologists, geneticists, and other relevant stakeholders. Advances in next-generation sequencing technologies allowed examination of parent-offspring trios to ascertain the frequency of germline DNMs. Many epidemiological risk factors for childhood cancer are indicative of DNMs as a mechanism. The aim of this review was to give an overview of germline DNMs, their causes in general, and to discuss their relation to childhood cancer risk. In addition, we highlighted existing gaps in knowledge in many topics of germline DNMs in childhood cancer that need exploration and collaborative efforts.

MicroRNA childhood cancer catalog (M3Cs): a resource for translational bioinformatics toward health informatics in pediatric cancer.

MicroRNA childhood Cancer Catalog (M3Cs) is a high-quality curated collection of published miRNA research studies on 16 pediatric cancer diseases. M3Cs scope was based on two approaches: data-driven clinical significance and data-driven human pediatric cell line models. Based on the translational bioinformatics spectrum, the main objective of this study is to bring miRNA research into clinical significance in both pediatric cancer patient care and drug discovery toward health informatics in childhood cancer. M3Cs development passed through three phases: 1. Literature Mining: It includes external database search and screening. 2. Data processing that includes three steps: (a) Data Extraction, (b) Data Curation and annotation, (c) Web Development. 3. Publishing: Shinyapps.io was used as a web interface for the deployment of M3Cs. M3Cs is now available online and can be accessed through https://m3cs.shinyapps.io/M3Cs/. For data-driven clinical significance approach, 538 miRNAs from 268 publications were reported in the clinical domain while 7 miRNAs from 5 publications were reported in the clinical & drug domain. For data-driven human pediatric cell line models approach, 538 miRNAs from 1268 publications were reported in the cell line domain while 211 miRNAs from 177 publications in the cell line & drug domain. M3Cs acted to fill the gap by applying translational bioinformatics general pathway to transfer data-driven research toward data-driven clinical care and/or hypothesis generation. Aggregated and well-curated data of M3Cs will enable stakeholders in health care to incorporate miRNA in the clinical policy. Database URL:https://m3cs.shinyapps.io/M3Cs/.

Natural Radioactivity Assessment and Radiation Hazards of Pegmatite as a Building Material, Hafafit Area, Southeastern Desert, Egypt.

Sixty-seven sites of Hafafit pegmatite from the Southeastern Desert of Egypt were investigated radiometrically in the field using an in situ γ-ray spectrometer to determine eU, eTh, and K contents. The obtained results ranged from 0.4 to 6 ppm for eU with a mean value of 2.5 ppm, from 0.2 to 32 ppm for eTh with a mean value of 6.7 ppm, and from 0.7% to 5.4% for K with a mean value of 3.3%. Consequently, the radiological effects from these rocks were estimates by determination of the environmental parameters: gamma activity concentration index Iγ, external hazard index Hex, internal hazard index Hin, external absorbed dose rates in outdoor, and external absorbed dose rates in indoor air. The results obtained in this study showed that values U, Th, and K lie in the range of the acceptable world values. In addition, the calculated radiation hazard parameters (Iγ, Hex, and Hin) have values lower than the world values, while the calculated external absorbed dose rates (Dair) have values higher than the world and Egyptian permissible levels.

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Pandemic across Africa: Current Status of Vaccinations and Implications for the Future.

The introduction of effective vaccines in December 2020 marked a significant step forward in the global response to COVID-19. Given concerns with access, acceptability, and hesitancy across Africa, there is a need to describe the current status of vaccine uptake in the continent. An exploratory study was undertaken to investigate these aspects, current challenges, and lessons learnt across Africa to provide future direction. Senior personnel across 14 African countries completed a self-administered questionnaire, with a descriptive analysis of the data. Vaccine roll-out commenced in March 2021 in most countries. COVID-19 vaccination coverage varied from low in Cameroon and Tanzania and up to 39.85% full coverage in Botswana at the end of 2021; that is, all doses advocated by initial protocols versus the total population, with rates increasing to 58.4% in Botswana by the end of June 2022. The greatest increase in people being fully vaccinated was observed in Uganda (20.4% increase), Botswana (18.5% increase), and Zambia (17.9% increase). Most vaccines were obtained through WHO-COVAX agreements. Initially, vaccination was prioritised for healthcare workers (HCWs), the elderly, adults with co-morbidities, and other at-risk groups, with countries now commencing vaccination among children and administering booster doses. Challenges included irregular supply and considerable hesitancy arising from misinformation fuelled by social media activities. Overall, there was fair to reasonable access to vaccination across countries, enhanced by government initiatives. Vaccine hesitancy must be addressed with context-specific interventions, including proactive programmes among HCWs, medical journalists, and the public.

MET canonical transcript expression is a predictive biomarker for chemo-sensitivity to MET-inhibitors in hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines.

PURPOSE: Long interspersed nuclear element 1 (LINE-1 or L1) is a dominant non-long terminal repeat (non-LTR) retrotransposon in the human genome that has been implicated in the overexpression of MET. Both the canonical MET and L1-MET transcripts are considered to play a role in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) development. The aim of this study was to assess the utility of canonical MET, L1-MET, and MET protein expressions as predictive biomarkers for chemo-sensitivity to MET-inhibitors in HCC cell lines in vitro. Additionally, we assessed their expression in tumour tissues from Egyptian HCC patients. METHODS: MET and L1-MET expressions were assessed by qRT-PCR in six liver cancer cell lines (SNU-387, SNU-475, SK-HEP-1, PLC/PRF/5, SNU-449 and SNU-423) and 47 HCC tumour tissues. MET protein expression was measured by western blot in cell lines and immunohistochemistry in the tumours. Cell proliferation assay was used to assess the effect of crizotinib and tivantinib on the six liver cancer cell lines in correlation with the expression of MET, L1-MET and MET. RESULTS: The antitumor effect of crizotinib and tivantinib correlated with MET gene expression but not with L1-MET transcript or MET protein expressions. No significant difference was observed between HCC tumours and non-tumour samples in MET and L1-MET transcripts expression. There were no significant correlations between the 2-year overall survival rate and the MET, L1-MET transcripts and the MET protein expression. CONCLUSION: MET RNA expression could be useful biomarker for tivantinib and crizotinib targeted therapy in HCC. The value of assessment of MET protein expression is limited.

Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) in Egypt: A comprehensive overview.

BACKGROUND: Worldwide, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a universal problem and its epidemiological data showed variation from place to place. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the sixth and fourth common cancer in worldwide and Egypt, respectively. Egypt ranks the third and 15th most populous country in Africa and worldwide, respectively. The aim of this review is to compare the status of HCC in Egypt to that in the worldwide from different issues; risk factors, screening and surveillance, diagnosis and treatment, prevention, as well as research strategy. MAIN BODY: The risk factors for HCC in Egypt are of great importance to be reported. The risk factor for HCC are either environmental- or host/genetic-related risk factors. In the last years, there is a tangible improvement of both screening and surveillance strategies of HCC in Egypt. The unprecedented national screening campaign launched by the end of 2018 is a mirror image of this improvement. While the improvement of the HCC prevention requires the governmental health administration to implement health policies. Although the diagnosis of Egyptian HCC patients follows the international guidelines but HCC treatment options are limited in terms of cost. In addition, there are limited Egyptian reports about HCC survival and relapse. Both basic and clinical HCC research in Egypt are still limited compared to worldwide. SHORT CONCLUSION: Deep analysis and understanding of factors affecting HCC burden variation worldwide help in customization of efforts exerted to face HCC in different countries especially large country like Egypt. Overall, the presence of a research strategy to fight HCC in Egyptian patients will help in the optimum allocation of available resources to reduce the numbers of HCC cases and deaths and to improve the quality of life.

Response to the Novel Corona Virus (COVID-19) Pandemic Across Africa: Successes, Challenges, and Implications for the Future.

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic has already claimed considerable lives. There are major concerns in Africa due to existing high prevalence rates for both infectious and non-infectious diseases and limited resources in terms of personnel, beds and equipment. Alongside this, concerns that lockdown and other measures will have on prevention and management of other infectious diseases and non-communicable diseases (NCDs). NCDs are an increasing issue with rising morbidity and mortality rates. The World Health Organization (WHO) warns that a lack of nets and treatment could result in up to 18 million additional cases of malaria and up to 30,000 additional deaths in sub-Saharan Africa. OBJECTIVE: Document current prevalence and mortality rates from COVID-19 alongside economic and other measures to reduce its spread and impact across Africa. In addition, suggested ways forward among all key stakeholder groups. OUR APPROACH: Contextualise the findings from a wide range of publications including internet-based publications coupled with input from senior-level personnel. ONGOING ACTIVITIES: Prevalence and mortality rates are currently lower in Africa than among several Western countries and the USA. This could be due to a number of factors including early instigation of lockdown and border closures, the younger age of the population, lack of robust reporting systems and as yet unidentified genetic and other factors. Innovation is accelerating to address concerns with available equipment. There are ongoing steps to address the level of misinformation and its consequences including fines. There are also ongoing initiatives across Africa to start addressing the unintended consequences of COVID-19 activities including lockdown measures and their impact on NCDs including the likely rise in mental health disorders, exacerbated by increasing stigma associated with COVID-19. Strategies include extending prescription lengths, telemedicine and encouraging vaccination. However, these need to be accelerated to prevent increased morbidity and mortality. CONCLUSION: There are multiple activities across Africa to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and address misinformation, which can have catastrophic consequences, assisted by the WHO and others, which appear to be working in a number of countries. Research is ongoing to clarify the unintended consequences given ongoing concerns to guide future activities. Countries are learning from each other.