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ESMO DCTF-AORTIC-SLACOM-UICC-
WHO Joint Symposium:
Independent and publicly funded
research: A new global model
132IN GLOBAL CANCER RESEARCH; CURRENT SITUATION AND
CHALLENGES
E.L. Cazap
Latinamerican & Caribbean Society for Medical Oncology (SLACOM), Buenos
Aires, ARGENTINA
Clinical research is vital to the development and improvement of methods to prevent,
detect and treat cancer. The majority of clinical trials take place in the developed world
through sponsored pharmaceutical company research. The corresponding lack of
research in developing countries results in two unmet needs related to cancer
treatment in the developing world. First, recommended treatments do not reflect
ethnic (genetic), cultural and resource differences between developed countries and
developing countries that are not subject to clinical research. Second, there is little
research conducted on those cancers that are primarily found in developing countries.
Thus the ability to diagnose and treat these diseases is impaired. This general picture
reflects today’s situation globally, then it is critical to promote clinical research in
developing countries mainly with training of all levels of research professionals (data
managers, research nurses, etc.) in a local context, and training on identifying
resources to fund research outside of pharmaceutical company sponsorship.
Disclosure: E.L. Cazap: Leadership Position SLACOM, ASCO, UICC Consultant:
Bayer; Schering Pharma Honoraria: Bayer; Bristol-Myers Squibb; Fresenius Research
Funding: Poniard Pharmaceuticals; Daiichi Sankyo Pharma; Breast Cancer Research
Foundation (BCRF).
133IN INDEPENDENT CANCER RESEARCH IN LATIN AMERICA: A
NEW MODEL
C. Vallejos-Sologuren
Division of Research, Oncosalud SAC, Lima, PERU
It is well known that pharmaceutical Industry leads the cancer research in Latin America,
but also is well known that there is a large pool of well-trained oncologists and basic
scientists able to lead successfully scientific research of complex designs. A recent survey
by Gomez et al (presented in the extended educational session at ASCO Annual Meeting
2011), that involved the perception of oncologist from low income countries; reveals the
desires of Latin American medical oncologists to participate in clinical research from the
international cooperative groups. We - the Latin-American researchers- have learned that
the academical investigation and the participation in the concept of study and research
design is the best way to achieve academicals status. We have bet in the formation of local
and regional cooperative groups, and we are doing efforts to implement research sites of
excellence, improve our quality of data and seeking for collaboration of scientist from
more developed countries to perform research involving complex procedures (eg.
molecular analysis). Nowadays, the goal for our young researchers is get trained in
renamed international institutions and establish strong links with other worldwide
scientists. The future of research in our region reveal a landscape where we work together
to fight the cancer in benefit of our patients.
Disclosure: The author has declared no conflicts of interest.
134IN WHO AND CANCER RESEARCH
No abstract submitted at time of going to press.
135IN CANCER RESEARCH IN AFRICA
I. Adewole
Obstetrics and Gynaecology, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan,
NIGERIA
Cancer remains a public health challenge worldwide, and its fast rising nature in
Africa is occasioned by the changing demographic and environmental characteristics.
The epidemic is further propelled by HIV/AIDS, poverty and ignorance within the
continent. At the moment, cancer is currently responsible for more than 7 million
deaths per year. By 2030, it is projected that cancer alone will account for about 1.27
million new cases and about a million deaths per annum.
Disease prioritization is often a product of cutting edge research, and it is also a driver
for follow-up implementations. The differential opportunity for sound translational
research between developed countries and Africa is one of the key causal factors
responsible for disease outcome between the two settings. At moment, the quality of
cancer research is yet to offer the much-needed platform to generate a momentum for
cancer prioritization in Africa. Cancer research from Africa is mostly donor funded,
lacks depth of contextual framework - sociocultural, minimal multi-national outlook,
lean basic science component, and low translational potential. Other challenges
include poor research friendly environment (laboratory, incentives and recognition);
lack of mentoring programs, public funding comparable to NIH is non-existence, lack
of robust cancer registry with necessary resources, and poor political support. The
African Organisation for Research and Training in Cancer (AORTIC) has the vision of
transforming the orientation of cancer researchers within the continent through
provision of research capacity building opportunities, generation of a critical mass of
cancer researchers that will form the core of the network, leading advocacy for local
funding of cancer research in Africa, and promotion of center of excellence in cancer
research at national and sub-regional level. It is imperative that cancer research in
Africa charts a course that is visionary, pragmatic, multidisciplinary and sustainable as
well as avoiding a “one perch approach”. A holistic approach to cancer research that
will use both inductive and deductive reasoning philosophy is hereby advocated.
Disclosure: The author has declared no conflicts of interest.
136IN INTERNATIONAL RESEARCH
Annals of Oncology 23 (Supplement 9): ix65, 2012
doi:10.1093/annonc/mds489
T. Cufer
Department of Medical Oncology, University Clinic Golnik, Golnik, SLOVENIA
Substantial increase in international clinical cancer research (CCR) observed during
the last decade is due to fragmentation of major cancer types in biological subtypes
with plethora of new treatment agents, both requiring a larger number of CCR
participants, as well as to improved infrastructure and skills needed to perform CCR
in developing countries. Based on ClinicalTrials.gov registry approx. one third of both
academia- and industry-driven CCR is running on international basis nowadays: and
the number of countries serving as trial sites in CCR reports published in prestigious
journals doubled during the last decade. The scientific and logistical imperative for
international CCR is clear, it shortens the time for clinical testing, offers an early
access to new treatment strategies worldwide and lowers costs by establishing
international networks of CCR. Clinical trials cooperative groups, already established
as regional international groups (e.g. NCI-CTG, RTOG, NCIC, EORTC, CECOG,
BIG, etc.), offer an excellent platform for exchange of scientific ideas, avoid
unnecessary duplication of trials and represent a solid base for expanding international
collaboration. But, there are still a lot of regulatory, logistical, financial and scientific
issues to be solved to further improve international CCR and maximize its outcome.
Regulatory requirements and oversight of the CTs need to be harmonized with data
and tissue handling representing one of the main issues. Protection of publication
rights and access to trial data is of upmost importance for transparency of CCR in
developing countries. The drugs being evaluated in CCR must be available in
participating countries, when approved. Formal training programs in CCR and ethics
intended to future CCR leaders in developing countries, such as ICTW courses
organized by ASCO and other academia organized GCP courses, need to be
promoted. Effective collaboration between industry and cooperative groups has to be
established. Our ability to establish international collaboration in CCR will results in
maximization of our resources and patients, thus permitting international community
to further improve cancer control globally through effective CCR.
Disclosure: The author has declared no conflicts of interest.
Volume 23 | Supplement 9 | September 2012 doi:10.1093/annonc/mds489 | ix65