Teaching ultrasound guided breast biopsies using the mobile ultrasound unit and a breast phantom. Dr. Liz Sutton, breast training program in Ile Ife, Nigeria.
The GCDI program and the ARGO consortium focus on clinically meaningful research questions. Our goal is to combine research, capacity building, and patient care in projects that will lead to a long-term, sustainable improvement in outcomes for people with cancer. While initially we focused on colorectal cancer, once a robust ARGO infrastructure was established, we expanded our efforts to breast cancer. We envision additional expansion to include other cancer types that disproportionately affect patients in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) in future research projects. Current and planned research studies are described below.
Colorectal Cancer Research
- Prospective collection and banking of colorectal cancer specimens and a database containing clinical information
- Development and testing of a point-of-care urine-based screening test for colorectal cancer in Nigeria (supported by NIH/NCI grant UH3CA257869-03)
- A multidisciplinary study to determine the risk-factor profile and biology of colorectal cancer in Nigeria (supported by NIH/NCI grant R01CA246620-01A1)
- Microbiome study in Nigerian patients with colorectal cancer
- Investigation of the utility of fecal immunochemical testing (FIT) in the Nigerian population (supported by the Prevent Cancer Foundation)
- Qualitative study of Nigerian patient perceptions and knowledge of colorectal cancer
- Comparison of outcomes and biology of colorectal tumors between MSK and Nigerian patients
Breast Cancer Research
Our collaborative approach to breast cancer research centers on the WHO Global Breast Cancer Initiative 3 Pillars of action
Pillar 1: Health Promotion and Early Diagnosis
- Study of iBreast, a handheld device for detecting breast tumors, in Nigeria
- Access to Breast Cancer Screening and Treatment in Nigeria: The Triple Mobile Assessment and Patient Navigation Model
- Access to Essential Breast Imaging in Nigeria
Pillar 2: Timely Breast Diagnostics
- Pilot study of ultrasound-guided breast biopsy in Nigeria (supported by NIH/NCI R21CA239784-01)
- Establishing Early Breast Cancer Diagnosis in Nigeria – The Pathology Perspective
- Needs Assessment and Pathway to Consistent Breast Pathology Reports in Africa
- MSK Global Pathology Academy: Developing an Online Breast Pathology Fellowship
- Assessment of Diagnostic Performance of an Artificial Intelligence Tool To Support Clinical Decision-Making of Sonographic Breast Findings
Pillar 3: Comprehensive Breast Cancer Management
- A retrospective breast radiotherapy needs assessment of Nigerian breast cancer patients
- Pilot study of quality of life among Nigerian women with breast cancer, post-mastectomy and treated with adjuvant chemotherapy
- Prospective collection and banking of breast cancer specimens and a database containing clinical information
- Addressing global inequities in breast cancer genetic testing, counselling and management among breast cancer patients in Nigeria
- The clinicopathological and psychosocial profile of breast cancer survivors in a Nigerian cohort: A mixed-method analysis
- Retrospective analysis of NCCN sub-Saharan Africa Guideline concordance and survival outcomes in non-metastatic breast cancer patients in Nigeria
- Psychosocial impact of breast cancer surgery in Nigeria
- Improving Guideline-Concordant Breast Cancer Treatment and Quality Oncology Care Delivery in Nigeria
- Evaluating the prevalence and determinants of breast cancer-related Lymphoedema
- Molecular profile of TNBC in Nigeria vs. North America
- Out-of-pocket cost of breast cancer care in Nigeria
- Pilot study of white adipose tissue inflammation (WATI) in Nigerian patients with breast cancer
Other Ongoing Research
- Analysis of a Nigerian gastric cancer database
- Study of the financial toxicity of oncology care in Nigeria
- Evaluation of how distance to a cancer center impacts oncology outcomes in Nigerian patients
- Diabetes study led by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and endocrinologists in Nigeria to determine the optimal diagnostic test for diabetes mellitus in Nigeria; a cohort of patients with diabetes will be followed to determine cancer risks