Survival of retinoblastoma in less-developed countries impact of socioeconomic and health-related indicators

Abstract

Important information from LDCs is not always available in English or in major databases. Indicators of socioeconomic development and maternal and infant health were related with outcome.

Strategies to manage retinoblastoma in developing countries

“…When the outcome of patients with retinoblastoma is stratified by country-type using the World Bank's classification scheme (Table I) as an estimate for a country's level of development, there are significant differences in survival according to this variable [7]. Some variables related to the general development of society, such as the Human Development Index, are significantly correlated with the outcome of patients with retinoblastoma [7].…”

“…Some variables related to the general development of society, such as the Human Development Index, are significantly correlated with the outcome of patients with retinoblastoma [7].…”

“…Ranging from 20% to 60%, the survival of patients with retinoblastoma is dismal in most low-income countries (LICs) (Table I) [7,19,20]. In some African or Asian countries, the survival rate is virtually zero, because most patients do not complete therapy or are lost to follow-up [19][20][21].…”

“…In developing countries, the diagnosis of retinoblastoma is frequently made at later stages of the disease when extraocular dissemination has already occurred; therefore, ocular and patient survival rates are lower in these countries than in developed countries [7]. When retinoblastoma extends outside the eye, it is difficult to cure, even with sophisticated and intense treatments [8].…”

Identification of hub genes and pathways associated with retinoblastoma based on co-expression network analysis

“…The success rates in treatment of retinoblastoma vary, with developed countries having the highest success rates; however, most children with retinoblastoma in developing countries die as a result of late diagnosis and poor treatment compliance, which leads to extraocular dissemination and metastasis (Canturk et al, 2010). A recent retrospective series from China and preliminary data from a prospective multicenter study from Central America have shown a survival rate greater than 80% in children with retinoblastoma whose families were at high risk of treatment abandonment if the child was given pre-enucleation chemotherapy (Luna-Fineman et al, 2012).…”