Abstract IA44: Colorectal cancer in Nigeria

Abstract Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a growing problem in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). We began studying CRC in Nigeria in 2011. We chose CRC because its incidence is growing rapidly in Nigeria and other LMICs. The one-year mortality rate is over 50% after patients present to centers in our consortium. We also found Nigerian patients had a higher rate of peritoneal metastases compared to American patients. In addition, patients presented at later stages, which may be due to poor access to care or differences in tumor biology. To determine the etiology of these differences we have created an NCI-recognized consortium (ARGO) that now comprises 5 hospitals in Nigeria in partnership with MSK. Late in 2013 we began to prospectively collect data and tissue from patients with CRC, funded by a pilot grant from the NCI (Nigerian IRB#ERC/2013/09/01). In addition, we have a prospective colonoscopy screening study (IRB #ERC/2013/02/17). Both studies have demonstrated obstacles to banking, tracking, and studying tissue specimens in Nigeria that we have overcome. Our data now suggests some biologic differences in CRC in Nigeria may explain poor responses to 5-FU based chemotherapy and poorer outcomes compared to similar stage American patients. We have also validated a risk model for identifying patients at high risk for colorectal cancer to attempt to limit the number of patients that should be offered colonoscopy. Citation Format: T. Peter Kingham, Olusegun Isaac Alatise. Colorectal cancer in Nigeria. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Ninth AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2016 Sep 25-28; Fort Lauderdale, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2017;26(2 Suppl):Abstract nr IA44.