Cancer is a global health problem that finds itself among the leading causes of unnatural deaths. The countries in the MENA region are almost equally affected by cancer regardless of their social or economic conditions. According to the WHO (World Health Organization), despite lacking data on the prevalence of cancer in the MENA region, these countries can expect an increase in various cancer incidences in the coming years.
This increase in incidences can be due to many factors like changes in cancer risk exposure, population aging, and most importantly, improved cancer diagnostics. Cancer’s global burden is higher in low and middle-income countries like MENA, thus to manage and reduce the growing burden, it is necessary to implement cancer control strategies.
Lung Cancer In The MENA Region
Lung cancer has a significantly high ratio in MENA countries. This is due to the increasing consumption of smoking, tobacco products, and many other factors. Many countries in the MENA region do not have access to proper clinical trials.
Estimated incidences of lung cancer in MENA were around 79,887 cases in 2018. It had a 5-year survival rate of 8%. Countries like Tunisia and Morocco showed the highest death rates, while Yemen and Egypt had the lowest deaths. This variation of incidences of lung cancer in the MENA region is due to factors like the prevalence of smoking and access to therapeutics and diagnostic options.
The surgical treatment method for lung cancer has improved in the MENA due to the higher recruitment of trained oncologists. As for radiation therapy, there are variations among the countries based on the availability of machines, the geographical distribution of the centers, and the general population. For chemotherapy, the MENA region has been using standard agents like taxanes, pemetrexed, and platinum. The availability of targeted therapy and immunotherapy, however, is still limited.
Currently, several pharma and biotech companies including Eli Lilly and Company, AbbVie, AstraZeneca, Merck, Novartis, and several others are actively exploring various therapies for the lung and breast cancers in the MENA region. Many of the therapies are in various stages of clinical development and are expected to enter the market in the coming years. With the positive outcome of the ongoing clinical trials, the cancer treatment scenario in the MENA region is expected to improve immensely in the future.
Source: Cancer diagnosis in the MENA region: Headway toward a better future – By DUPHAT.
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