Cancer Burden Among Arab World Males in 2020: The Need for a Better Approach to Improve Outcome

Abstract

PURPOSE Cancer is a leading cause of increased morbidity and mortality worldwide. This work aims to study the Arab world males' cancers (AMCs) and the similarities and disparities with the world males' cancers (WMCs) from different burden points of view. MATERIALS AND METHODS A descriptive review of the 2020 Global Cancer Observatory revealed AMCs compared with the 2020 WMCs and the 2018 AMCs. Data on the top 27 AMCs were compared among the region's countries and the world groups. RESULTS In 2020, a total estimate of 217,203 new AMCs, 2.2% of WMCs, with an average age-standardized rate of 133.5/100,000 population, compared with 222/100,000 population of WMCs, was observed. Death estimates were 148,395, 2.7% of WMCs, with an average age-standardized rate of 95/100,000 population, compared with 120.8/100,000 population of WMCs. The five-year prevalence was observed in 442,014, 1.8% of WMCs. The average AMC mortality to incidence ratio (MIR) was 0.68, compared with 0.55 in WMCs and 0.54 in Arab females. Lung cancer was the top in incidence and mortality, whereas penile cancer was the lowest. The range of MIRs among the 27 cancer types was 0.19-0.96. CONCLUSION The descriptive review of the 2020 males' cancers in the Arab world revealed a relatively high MIR, compared with males' cancers worldwide and the females' cancers in the Arab world. This requires further evaluation to discern the underlying causes and address them systematically. More cancer control actions are warranted.

Cancer Research in Vulnerable Populations: A Call for Collaboration and Sustainability From MENAT Countries

“… 38 In spite of increasing cancer burden among people in LMICs, particularly in the MENAT region, cancer registration in this region is not well-established and is hindered by a variety of difficulties. 4 , 5 Efforts to improve cancer registration and control in the MENAT region should be prioritized.…”

“…7 , 8 Many countries in the region, including Iraq, Syria, Yemen, Sudan, Lebanon, and Occupied Palestinian Territory, are affected by recurrent and endemic conflicts, which led to weakened and fragile health systems, further increasing vulnerability in resident populations. 2 , 4 , 5 , 9 , 10 Consequently, cancer care and outcomes have been severely affected for minorities, ethnic groups, refugees, and internally displaced populations. Yet, our understanding of cancer research in these vulnerable populations remains limited, with noticeable gaps in sociobehavioral studies examining care barriers and clinical research assessing variable treatment responses.…”

“…Yet, our understanding of cancer research in these vulnerable populations remains limited, with noticeable gaps in sociobehavioral studies examining care barriers and clinical research assessing variable treatment responses. 4 , 11 - 17 …”

Arab Countries and Oncology Clinical Trials: A Bibliometric Analysis

“…Between 2018 and 2020, the estimated number of new cancer cases in Arab countries increased from 429,325 to 463,675, accounting for 2.4% of the global cancer incidence [ 2 ]. In 2020, breast, colorectal, and liver cancers ranked the highest in incidence among Arab women, whereas lung, liver, and prostate cancers had the highest incidence in Arab men [ 2 , 3 , 4 ].…”

“…Cancer is also a major cause of mortality in Arab countries, causing an estimated 281,656 total deaths in 2020, corresponding to 2.8% of global cancer deaths [ 3 ]. Notably, the cancer mortality-to-incidence ratio (MIR) in Arab countries is higher than the global rates for both men (0.68 vs. 0.55) and women (0.54 vs. 0.48) [ 2 , 3 ].…”