AUTHOR=Olatunji Elizabeth , Patel Saloni , Graef Katy , Joseph Adedayo , Lasebikan Nwamaka , Mallum Abba , Chigbo Chinelo , Jaffee Elizabeth , Ngwa Wil 

TITLE=Utilization of cancer immunotherapy in sub-Saharan Africa

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Oncology

VOLUME=Volume 13 - 2023

YEAR=2023

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/oncology/articles/10.3389/fonc.2023.1266514

DOI=10.3389/fonc.2023.1266514

ISSN=2234-943X

ABSTRACT=This is a provisional file, not the final typeset article 292 responses were included from 28 countries in SSA. 29% of all respondents indicated their clinic has easy access to cancer immunotherapy and 46% indicated their clinic currently practices it. Of clinics that practiced immunotherapy (n = 133), 12% used genomic sequencing to assess the tumor mutational burden biomarker, and 44% assessed expression of the PD-L1 biomarker prior to immunotherapy administration. 46% of all respondents were familiar with immunotherapy. 11% indicated being adequately trained to administer it. Of these (n=33), 52% indicated also being trained to manage immune-related adverse events related to immunotherapy administration.Immunotherapy utilization and training is low in SSA and insufficient for the rising cancer burden. Increased accessibility and usage of biomarker testing to predict immunotherapy response, incorporation of immunotherapy training into continuous medical education, and increased access to immunotherapy drugs may be prerequisites for expanded utilization of immunotherapy in SSA.