Introduction

University of Nottingham-European Association for Cancer Research Workshop

Meeting the challenge of treating cancer in low and middle income countries

Over 5 million people in low and middle income countries (LMIC) are estimated to die of cancer each year, almost twice as many as in more developed regions and cancer rates in LMIC are rising faster and the types of cancer, and often the causes of cancer, are different from higher income countries (HIC). The overwhelming majority of evidence on cancer prevention, diagnosis and treatment comes from HIC, where targeted therapies, immunotherapies and vaccination is transforming outcomes for cancer patients, most of whom are over 60. In LMIC cancer strikes earlier, in economically active people in their 30s, 40s and 50s, and few of these treatments are available, and in many cases are unproven, due to paucity of data and clinical trials on LMIC cancers.

To address this issue, we propose to develop a LMIC Cancer Treatment Taskforce that will work towards implementing location-appropriate, economically viable, methods of treating developing world cancers. Cancer in HIC is diagnosed early by high tech screening programs and treated based on molecular characterisation of each cancer (personalised medicine). In LMIC cancers are driven by additional causes - infection (HPV, EBV, parasites), immune deficiency (including HIV), different carcinogen exposure - and occur on a different genetic and immunological background. They are identified later, rarely stratified or treated with targeted therapy and outcomes are substantially worse. Personalised medicine is not supported by either access to targeted therapies, or the knowledge of who to use them on. 

Who should attend?

Researchers interested in novel solutions for developing world cancers, including clinical trial specialists interested in novel trial design, early detection specialists, bioengineers, circulating tumour cell and DNA experts, PDX model specialists, people with interests in early detection and in LMIC specific or enriched cancers – for example, Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma, oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma, cholangiocarcinoma and hepatocellular carcinoma.

Topics to be covered

This workshop will focus on the three challenges of successfully treating people with cancer in LMIC: early detection, stratification and delivery of personalised medicine.

1. Developing early detection methodologies that are cost-effective and applicable in LMIC
2. Identify and validate strategies to molecularly stratify cancers in LMIC;
3. Identify how to deliver personalised medicines in LMIC through innovative clinical trial design

Scientific Programme Committee Chair

David Bates, BSc PhD, F.Physiol. FRSB

Professor of Oncology, Head of Cancer Biology,Division of Cancer and Stem Cells

School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Queen's Medical Centre

This workshop is jointly organised by the University of Nottingham and the European Association for Cancer Research