By: Chioma Madonna Ndukwu
Experts Call for Africa-Based Cancer Trials to Save Lives
Stakeholders in cancer research have called on African governments and institutions to prioritise local clinical trials to combat prostate cancer, saying imported treatment models do not fully address the realities facing men on the continent.
The call was made in Lagos during the 20th anniversary of the Prostate Cancer Transatlantic Consortium (CAPTC), a network of scientists, doctors, and survivors working to reduce the burden of the disease among men of African descent.
Professor Folakemi Odedina of the Mayo Clinic explained that prostate cancer remains one of the most common causes of death among African men, largely due to late diagnoses. She described the illness as a “silent killer” and noted that when patients present at advanced stages, treatment outcomes are often poor.
Odedina stressed that while treatments from Europe and North America have saved lives, they may not always be effective in African populations because of genetic and environmental differences. She argued that Africa must design its own solutions tailored to local needs if mortality rates are to be reduced.
The consortium, she added, has already invested over $50 million into research, training young African scientists and clinicians to carry forward the fight. However, she insisted that greater collaboration and commitment from African governments will be critical for long-term impact.
Professor Solomon Rotimi of Covenant University also emphasised the need for homegrown clinical trials. He pointed out that most cancer drugs are tested abroad, making it difficult to measure their effectiveness in African men without considering local diets, genetics, and lifestyles.
Rotimi highlighted CAPTC’s work in genome sequencing of African men, which has helped produce more targeted therapies. He also drew attention to widespread vitamin D deficiency among Black men, linking it to higher cancer risks, and urged routine monitoring as a preventive step.
In his address, Professor Clayton Yate of Johns Hopkins School of Medicine commended CAPTC for its research breakthroughs but warned that without improved healthcare access, thousands of African men will continue to die from prostate cancer that could have been treated if detected earlier.
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