Understanding Breast Cancer and Improving Outcomes in Malawi

Purpose Despite the increasing breast cancer burden in sub-Saharan Africa, outcomes are suboptimal as a result of limited screening, limited diagnostic infrastructure, advanced stage, and limited treatment availability. In Malawi, we established the first prospective cohort of patients with breast cancer to comprehensively and longitudinally describe breast cancer in this environment. Methods Since December 2016, we have been enrolling patients with pathologically confirmed breast cancer at Kamuzu Central Hospital in Lilongwe, Malawi. All patients receive standardized baseline and follow-up evaluations and treatment that is consistent with National Comprehensive Cancer Network harmonized guidelines for sub-Saharan Africa. Results From December 2016 to May 2018, 70 women with breast cancer were enrolled. The median age was 48 years (range, 21 to 78 years) and 16 patients (23%) were HIV positive. Of 63 patients who could be formally staged, 54 (86%) had stage III and IV disease, including 40 (63%) with T4 tumors, 50 (79%) with at least N1, and 19 (30%) with distant metastases. Of 65 tumors histologically graded, 30 (46%) were grade 3 and 22 (34%) were grade 2. Of 66 biopsies evaluated, 31 (47%) were estrogen or progesterone receptor positive. Fifty biopsies were additionally evaluated for human epidermal growth factor receptor 2, of which 12 (22%) were positive and 15 (30%) triple negative. Thirty-nine women (56%) received curative-intent treatment, including eight with modified radical mastectomy followed by adjuvant chemotherapy, and 31 with neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by modified radical mastectomy for localized bulky disease that was initially felt to be unresectable. Adjuvant/neoadjuvant chemotherapy was typically administered as doxorubicin plus cyclophosphamide. Twenty-five patients (36%) received palliative-intent chemotherapy, typically with single-agent paclitaxel. Six patients (9%) received no cancer treatment, with two patients dying before chemotherapy and four refusing cancer treatment. Median follow-up time was 7.8 months and overall survival was 88% at 12 months (95% CI, 76% to 96%) with no significant differences between HIV-positive and HIV-negative women ( P = .198). Conclusion Women at a national teaching hospital in Lilongwe, Malawi, presented with young age and advanced, bulky, high-risk breast cancer, but short-term survival was good in the context of a structured treatment program. Continued improvements for this population are needed for all aspects of the care cascade, including early detection, diagnosis, treatment, and palliation, to improve outcomes further. AUTHORS' DISCLOSURES OF POTENTIAL CONFLICTS OF INTEREST The following represents disclosure information provided by authors of this manuscript. All relationships are considered compensated. Relationships are self-held unless noted. I = Immediate Family Member, Inst = My Institution. Relationships may not relate to the subject matter of this manuscript. For more information about ASCO's conflict of interest policy, please refer to asco.org or ascopubs.org . No COIs from the authors.