Cervical cancer in Ethiopia - predictors of advanced stage and prolonged time to diagnosis.

INTRODUCTION: In Ethiopia, most cervical cancer patients present at advanced cancer stages, long time after they experience first symptoms. We investigated possible predictors of long time spans between symptom onset and pathologic diagnosis (patient intervals). We also aimed to seek out predictors for advanced cancer stage diagnosis. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cohort study among 1575 cervical cancer patients who were registered at Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital (TASH), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia between September 2008 and September 2012. Cox proportional hazards regression was used to find predictors of long patient intervals. Cumulative odds ordinal logistic regression was used to identify predictors of cancer stage at diagnosis. RESULTS: Median patient interval was 30 weeks, with the interval substantially longer in patients residing in rural than urban areas. Longer patient intervals were associated with more advanced cancer stages at pathologic diagnosis. HIV-positive women had an almost 1.5 times increased risk of diagnosis at a more advanced stage. CONCLUSION: Cervical cancer patients are diagnosed after long time periods leading to advanced stages at diagnosis. Measures to raise awareness about cervical cancer, to increase screening and to shorten the time interval from recognition of symptoms to diagnosis are urgently needed.

Cervical Cancer in Ethiopia: The Effect of Adherence to Radiotherapy on Survival.

BACKGROUND: Discontinuation of radiotherapy (RT) for cervical cancer (CC) in sub-Saharan Africa is common because of patient- and health service-related reasons. This analysis describes toxicities and the effect of adherence on survival. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 788 patients with CC (2008-2012) who received RT at Addis Ababa University Hospital were included. External beam RT without brachytherapy was performed according to local guidelines. We previously described survival and prognostic factors. Now we analyzed adherence and survival according to total doses received. Adjustment via multivariate cox regression analysis was done. RESULTS: One-year overall survival (OS) after radical RT (n = 180) for International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stages IIA-IIIA was 89% for discontinuation (<72 Gy) and 96% for adherence (≥72 Gy; hazard ratio [HR], 1.3; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.5-3.3). One-year OS after nonradical RT (n = 389) for FIGO stages IIIB-IVA was 71% for discontinuation (<40 Gy) and 87% for adherence (44-50 Gy; HR, 3.1; 95% CI, 1.4-6.9). One-year OS for FIGO stages IIIB-IVB (n = 219) after one compared with two or more palliative single fractions of 10 Gy were 14% and 73% respectively (HR, 7.3; 95% CI, 3.3-16). Reasons for discontinuation were toxicities, economic background, and RT machine breakdown. Grade 1-2 late toxicities were common (e.g., 30% proctitis, 22% incontinence). Grade 3 early and late toxicities were seen in 5% and 10% respectively; no grade 4 toxicities occurred. CONCLUSION: Patients who adhered to guideline-conforming RT had optimum survival. Better supportive care, brachytherapy to reduce toxicities, socioeconomic support, and additional radiation capacities could contribute to better adherence and survival. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: This study presents the effect of adherence on survival of 788 patients with cervical cancer receiving external beam radiotherapy without brachytherapy in Ethiopia. Discontinuation of planned radiotherapy according to local guidelines considerably reduced survival for all International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stages treated (hazard ratios were 1.3, 3.1, and 7.3 for FIGO stages IIA-IIIA and IIIB-IVA and the palliative approach, respectively). Early toxicity (5% grade 3) should be treated to improve adherence. Economic difficulties and machine breakdown should also be addressed to reduce discontinuation and improve survival.

Cervical cancer patients presentation and survival in the only oncology referral hospital, Ethiopia: a retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Women infected with Human Immune Deficiency Virus (HIV) are assumed to be at higher risk of developing Cervical Cancer (CC). This is due to a rapid progression of pre-invasive to invasive lesions. However, evidences suggest, due to the availability of antiretroviral therapy (ART) and care services; an improved survival and treatment outcome of CC patients (CCPs) with HIV infection is expected. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to examine the clinical characteristics and survival of of CCPs registered at the radiotherapy center of Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital (TASH), Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cohort study. Data from 1655 CCPs diagnosed between September 2008 and September 2012 were included. The primary endpoint was death from any cause. Kaplan-Meier estimates were compared using the log-rank test. Cox proportional hazards regression model was used to identify predictors of death. Data were analyzed using STATA version IC/14. RESULTS: The mean age of all patients was 49 years (SD = 11.6 years). Of all CCPs, 139 (8.4%) were HIV positive, 372 (22.5%) patients had a known negative HIV status and 1144 (69.1%) patients were asymptomatic with unknown HIV status. Due to late stage and waiting times, only 13.5% of the patients received curative radiotherapy doses. HIV-positive CCPs presented more often with advanced disease compared to HIV negative CCPs ((44.6%) versus 39.7%, p = 0.007). There was no significant difference in survival between HIV-positive and HIV-negative CCPs. Older age (HR = 2.01; 95% CI, 1.01,-4.05), advanced disease (HR = 2.6; 95% CI, 1.67-4.04) and baseline anemia (HR = 1.65; 95% CI, 1.24, 2.20) were independent predictors for higher risk of death. CONCLUSION: Survival rates of CCPs did not differ according to HIV status. The risk of death was higher for patients with older age, advanced disease and anemia. HIV patients should be screened for CC according to guidelines to avoid late presentation.

Cervical cancer in Ethiopia: survival of 1,059 patients who received oncologic therapy.

BACKGROUND: Almost 500,000 women are newly diagnosed with cervical cancer (CC) every year, the majority from developing countries. There is little information on the survival of these patients. Our primary objective was to evaluate consecutive CC patients presenting over 4 years at the only radiotherapy center in Ethiopia. METHODS: All patients with CC from September 2008 to September 2012 who received radiotherapy and/or surgery were included (without brachytherapy). Vital status was obtained through telephone contact or patient cards. RESULTS: Of 2,300 CC patients, 1,059 patients with standardized treatment were included. At the end of the study, 249 patients had died; surviving patients had a median follow-up of 16.5 months; the 10% and 90% percentiles were 3.0 and 32.7 months, respectively. Mean age was 49 years (21-91 years). The majority of patients presented with International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics stage IIb-IIIa (46.7%). Because of progression during the waiting time (median 3.8 months), this proportion declined to 19.3% at the beginning of radiotherapy. The 1- and 2-year overall survival probabilities were 90.4% and 73.6%. If assuming a worst-case scenario (i.e., if all patients not available for follow-up after 6 months had died), the 2-year survival probability would be 45.4%. CONCLUSION: This study gives a thorough 4-year overview of treated patients with CC in Ethiopia. Given the limited treatment availability, a relatively high proportion of patients survived 2 years. More prevention and early detection at all levels of the health care system are needed. Increasing the capacity for external-beam radiation as well as options for brachytherapy would facilitate treatment with curative intention.