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Review
. 2024 Jun;25(6):e270-e280.
doi: 10.1016/S1470-2045(24)00038-X.

Addressing challenges in low-income and middle-income countries through novel radiotherapy research opportunities

May Abdel-Wahab  1 , C Norman Coleman  2 , Jesper Grau Eriksen  3 , Peter Lee  4 , Ryan Kraus  5 , Ekaterina Harsdorf  4 , Becky Lee  6 , Adam Dicker  7 , Ezra Hahn  8 , Jai Prakash Agarwal  9 , Pataje G S Prasanna  2 , Michael MacManus  10 , Paul Keall  11 , Nina A Mayr  12 , Barbara Alicja Jereczek-Fossa  13 , Francesco Giammarile  4 , In Ah Kim  14 , Ajay Aggarwal  15 , Grant Lewison  16 , Jiade J Lu  17 , Douglas Guedes de Castro  18 , Feng-Ming Spring Kong  19 , Haidy Afifi  4 , Hamish Sharp  16 , Verna Vanderpuye  20 , Tajudeen Olasinde  21 , Fadi Atrash  22 , Luc Goethals  4 , Benjamin W Corn  23
Affiliations
Review

Addressing challenges in low-income and middle-income countries through novel radiotherapy research opportunities

May Abdel-Wahab et al. Lancet Oncol. 2024 Jun.

Abstract

Although radiotherapy continues to evolve as a mainstay of the oncological armamentarium, research and innovation in radiotherapy in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs) faces challenges. This third Series paper examines the current state of LMIC radiotherapy research and provides new data from a 2022 survey undertaken by the International Atomic Energy Agency and new data on funding. In the context of LMIC-related challenges and impediments, we explore several developments and advances-such as deep phenotyping, real-time targeting, and artificial intelligence-to flag specific opportunities with applicability and relevance for resource-constrained settings. Given the pressing nature of cancer in LMICs, we also highlight some best practices and address the broader need to develop the research workforce of the future. This Series paper thereby serves as a resource for radiation professionals.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of interests RK reports receiving support from the University of Utah Huntsman Cancer Institute for attending meetings and for travel. PGSP declares support from the National Cancer Institute's Radiation Research Program for contributions to this Series paper and for attending meetings and conferences. MM reports receiving grants from the Australian National Health and Medical Research Council for clinical trials paid to his institution; a grant for an investigator-initiated clinical trial that Varian has agreed to, but the payment of this grant is pending; travel support from Varian to deliver a presentation at a national research meeting; and honoraria for lectures from Varian that have been donated to his institution. PK is a recipient of grants from the Australian Government National Health and Medical Research Council and the Cancer Institute NSW Translational Program; has US patents on MRI-LINAC radiotherapy and x-ray-guided radiotherapy; and has stock in SeeTreat. NAM is a recipient of payment for expert testimony as a consultant in a medical legal case whose subject matter was unrelated to the field of research in this manuscript; and has served in a leadership role on the committee of the Radiosurgery Society: the Clinical Working Group of the GRID, LATTICE, Microbeam, and FLASH Working Group. BAJ-F is a recipient of institutional grants from Accuray, the Italian Association for Cancer Research, and the Fondazione Instituto Europeo di Oncologia-Centro Cardiologico Monzino for her institution; has received honoraria from the European Society for Radiotherapy and Oncology for lectures and presentations, from the European School of Oncology and the American Society of Clinical Oncology for lectures and masterclasses, and from Roche, Bayer, Janssen, Carl Zeiss, Accuray, Astellas, Elekta, IBA, Technologie Avanzate, and ACCMED for lectures; and has participated on advisory boards for Janssen, AstraZeneca, and Bayer, and on a steering committee for Seagen. AA reports receiving an Advanced Fellowship from the National Institute for Health Research. F-MSK has received research grants from Varian Medical, Merck, and Shenzhen Science and Technology Commission Programme (KQTD20180411185028798); she has also received a speaker's honorarium from AstreZeneca. All other authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

Figure 1:
Figure 1:
Trial papers and their funding source across country income levels* *Percentages do not add up to 100 as some trials receive funding from more than one source.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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