Current landscape of cancer genomics research in sub-Saharan Africa – a review of literature
Cancer poses a significant public health challenge in sub-Saharan Africa, a region that has traditionally struggled with infectious diseases. Although communicable diseases remain the leading cause of mortality in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), there has been a rise in the morbidity and mortality rates a...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-04-01
|
| Series: | Frontiers in Oncology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fonc.2025.1512005/full |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1850146668032294912 |
|---|---|
| author | Lemchukwu C. Amaeshi Kehinde S. Okunade Kehinde S. Okunade Rose I. Anorlu Rose I. Anorlu |
| author_facet | Lemchukwu C. Amaeshi Kehinde S. Okunade Kehinde S. Okunade Rose I. Anorlu Rose I. Anorlu |
| author_sort | Lemchukwu C. Amaeshi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Cancer poses a significant public health challenge in sub-Saharan Africa, a region that has traditionally struggled with infectious diseases. Although communicable diseases remain the leading cause of mortality in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), there has been a rise in the morbidity and mortality rates associated with non-communicable diseases (NCDs), in recent years. As of 2019, NCDs accounted for 37% of deaths, representing an increase from the 24% recorded in 2000. Cancer is fundamentally a genetic disorder, and genomic research has provided a deeper understanding of its biology leading to identification of biomarkers for early cancer detection and advancement in precision oncology. However, despite Africa’s rich genomic diversity and significant cancer burden, the continent remains underrepresented in global genomic research. This underrepresentation is mainly due to challenges such as insufficient funding, inadequate infrastructure, and a limited pool of trained professionals. However, despite these obstacles, initiatives like the H3Africa Consortium, African BioGenome Project, and Prostate Cancer Transatlantic Consortium (CaPTC), amongst others, have made significant strides in funding and developing local capacity and infrastructure for genomic research. In this review, we discuss the unique genomic characteristics of common cancers in Africa, highlight challenges faced in the implementation of genomic research, and explore potential solutions and current initiatives instituted to foster genomic research in the region. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-437bd62f95d542b1b51d4c7d6c99d06b |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2234-943X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Oncology |
| spelling | doaj-art-437bd62f95d542b1b51d4c7d6c99d06b2025-08-20T02:27:46ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Oncology2234-943X2025-04-011510.3389/fonc.2025.15120051512005Current landscape of cancer genomics research in sub-Saharan Africa – a review of literatureLemchukwu C. Amaeshi0Kehinde S. Okunade1Kehinde S. Okunade2Rose I. Anorlu3Rose I. Anorlu4Montefiore Medical Center, Department of Medicine, Bronx, NY, United StatesOncology and Pathological Unit, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Lagos, NigeriaLagos University Teaching Hospital, Lagos, NigeriaOncology and Pathological Unit, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Lagos, NigeriaLagos University Teaching Hospital, Lagos, NigeriaCancer poses a significant public health challenge in sub-Saharan Africa, a region that has traditionally struggled with infectious diseases. Although communicable diseases remain the leading cause of mortality in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), there has been a rise in the morbidity and mortality rates associated with non-communicable diseases (NCDs), in recent years. As of 2019, NCDs accounted for 37% of deaths, representing an increase from the 24% recorded in 2000. Cancer is fundamentally a genetic disorder, and genomic research has provided a deeper understanding of its biology leading to identification of biomarkers for early cancer detection and advancement in precision oncology. However, despite Africa’s rich genomic diversity and significant cancer burden, the continent remains underrepresented in global genomic research. This underrepresentation is mainly due to challenges such as insufficient funding, inadequate infrastructure, and a limited pool of trained professionals. However, despite these obstacles, initiatives like the H3Africa Consortium, African BioGenome Project, and Prostate Cancer Transatlantic Consortium (CaPTC), amongst others, have made significant strides in funding and developing local capacity and infrastructure for genomic research. In this review, we discuss the unique genomic characteristics of common cancers in Africa, highlight challenges faced in the implementation of genomic research, and explore potential solutions and current initiatives instituted to foster genomic research in the region.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fonc.2025.1512005/fullsub-Saharan Africacancer genomicsgenomic diversitygenomic research challengescurrent initiativesgenomic research implementation |
| spellingShingle | Lemchukwu C. Amaeshi Kehinde S. Okunade Kehinde S. Okunade Rose I. Anorlu Rose I. Anorlu Current landscape of cancer genomics research in sub-Saharan Africa – a review of literature Frontiers in Oncology sub-Saharan Africa cancer genomics genomic diversity genomic research challenges current initiatives genomic research implementation |
| title | Current landscape of cancer genomics research in sub-Saharan Africa – a review of literature |
| title_full | Current landscape of cancer genomics research in sub-Saharan Africa – a review of literature |
| title_fullStr | Current landscape of cancer genomics research in sub-Saharan Africa – a review of literature |
| title_full_unstemmed | Current landscape of cancer genomics research in sub-Saharan Africa – a review of literature |
| title_short | Current landscape of cancer genomics research in sub-Saharan Africa – a review of literature |
| title_sort | current landscape of cancer genomics research in sub saharan africa a review of literature |
| topic | sub-Saharan Africa cancer genomics genomic diversity genomic research challenges current initiatives genomic research implementation |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fonc.2025.1512005/full |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT lemchukwucamaeshi currentlandscapeofcancergenomicsresearchinsubsaharanafricaareviewofliterature AT kehindesokunade currentlandscapeofcancergenomicsresearchinsubsaharanafricaareviewofliterature AT kehindesokunade currentlandscapeofcancergenomicsresearchinsubsaharanafricaareviewofliterature AT roseianorlu currentlandscapeofcancergenomicsresearchinsubsaharanafricaareviewofliterature AT roseianorlu currentlandscapeofcancergenomicsresearchinsubsaharanafricaareviewofliterature |