Current Perspectives in the Use of Phytotherapy for the Treatment of Breast Cancer

Breast cancer is  the most commonly diagnosed cancer leading to death among women worldwide. However, there is a significant improvement in the treatment of breast cancer. Today, the conventional treatment of breast cancer combines surgery , chemotherapy, radiation, targeted therapy, hormone therapy and immunotherapy.  Despite the advances in the diagnosis skills and in the treatment of breast cancer it has been observed that the recurrence rate experienced by breast cancer patients  is quite high. Moreover, the conventional treatment is often accompained with side effects. Thus, there is a need to search for new bioactive molecules.  Plant derived natural compounds can play a major role as sources of new bioactive substances for the treatment of breast cancer. Many plants have been reported to have anti-breast cancer properties. While investigations are being made to demonstrate the cytotoxic activities of many plants, the use of phytomedicine is not generating fully attention by mainstream practitioners. Some significant results were observed by patients with breast cancer history by combining phytotherapy and the conventional medicines.  Hence, plant extracts are more being used   in the treatment of breast cancer as adjuvant therapy. In this review we will present a summary of the advances of the researches on the efficacity of phytotherapeutic products when discussing their use in the treatment of breast cancer

Some Medicinal Plants with Anti-breast Cancer Activity and the Input of Phytotherapy in the Treatment of Breast Cancer

Aim: Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer leading to death among women worldwide. Despite the advances in the diagnosis skills and in the treatment of breast cancer, it has been observed that the recurrence rate experienced by breast cancer patients is quite high. Many plants have been reported to have anti-breast cancer properties. This paper focuses on determining the role of phytotherapy in the treatment of breast cancer. Methods: The following key search terms were used on Pubmed, Google scholar, and Researchgate: breast cancer, breast cancer cell lines, phytotherapy, medicinal plants in the treatment of breast cancer, treatment of breast cancer, cytotoxics effects of plant extracts on breast cancer in vitro/ in vivo, integrative oncology, and natural products as sources of drugs. Pertinent reviews in English language were examined. Results: It has been observed that many studies were conducted in vitro and in vivo to demonstrate the anti-breast cancer activities of a myriad of plants. While investigations are being made to prove the anti-breast cancer effects of many plants, the use of phytomedicine is not generating enough attention by mainstream practitioners. Some significant results were observed by patients with breast cancer history through the combination of phytotherapy and conventional medicines. Discussion: The conventional treatment of breast cancer is often accompanied with side effects. Many patients in low-income countries are faced off with the enormous cost of conventional treatment. Hence, there is a need to search for new bioactive substances in the treatments of breast cancer. Phytotherapy is a promising approach and herbal preparations are to be used in the same way as conventional medicine in the treatment of breast cancer. Conclusion: Phytotherapeutics products are used more often in the treatment of breast cancer as adjuvant therapy. In Africa, the use of herbal products in the treatment of breast cancer still remains in the hands of traditional-practitioners, without any control of quality and efficacy. Standard methods for the preparation of herbal products are to be determined in order to adopt phytotherapy in the treatment of breast cancer as much as conventional treatment

HPV vaccination in Africa in the COVID-19 era: a cross-sectional survey of healthcare providers’ knowledge, training, and recommendation practices

IntroductionAlthough the burden of cervical cancer in Africa is highest, HPV vaccination coverage remains alarmingly low in this region. Providers’ knowledge and recommendation are key drivers of HPV vaccination uptake. Yet, evidence about providers’ knowledge and recommendation practices about the HPV vaccine against a backdrop of emerging vaccine hesitancy fueled by the COVID-19 pandemic is lacking in Africa.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted in 2021–2022 among healthcare providers involved in cervical cancer prevention activities in Africa. They were invited to report prior training, the availability of the HPV vaccine in their practice, whether they recommended the HPV vaccine, and, if not, the reasons for not recommending it. Their knowledge about the HPV vaccine was assessed through self-reporting (perceived knowledge) and with three pre-tested knowledge questions (measured knowledge).ResultsOf the 153 providers from 23 African countries who responded to the survey (mean age: 38.5 years, SD: 10.1), 75 (54.0%) were female and 97 (63.4%) were based In countries with national HPV immunization programs. Overall, 57 (43.8%) reported having received prior training on HPV vaccine education/counseling, and 40 (37.4%) indicated that the HPV vaccine was available at the facility where they work. Most respondents (109, 83.2%) reported recommending the HPV vaccine in their practice. Vaccine unavailability (57.1%), lack of effective communication tools and informational material (28.6%), and need for adequate training (28.6%) were the most commonly reported reasons for not recommending the HPV vaccine. While 63 providers (52.9%) reported that their knowledge about HPV vaccination was adequate for their practice, only 9.9% responded correctly to the 3 knowledge questions.ConclusionTo increase HPV vaccination coverage and counter misinformation about this vaccine in Africa, adequate training of providers and culturally appropriate educational materials are needed to improve their knowledge of the HPV vaccine and to facilitate effective communication with their patients and the community

Présentation des registres des cancers au Bénin

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Cancer du sein en Afrique subsaharienne : des disparités fondées sur l’ethnicité

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Étude de facteurs de risques génétiques du cancer du sein au Bénin

International audienceLe cancer du sein est le premier cancer chez la femme au Bénin aussi bien en termes d’incidence que de mortalité et affecte des patientes jeunes. Bien que la connaissance des types moléculaires de cancer du sein des femmes béninoises reste encore limitée, les études disponibles montrent clairement que ces femmes font plus de cancers triples négatifs, formes particulièrement agressives. Objectifs: Actuellement, aucune analyse génétique du cancer du sein au Bénin n’a été effectuée et donc aucune information sur les gènes qui abritent le plus souvent des mutations pathogènes dans cette population n’est disponible. Les objectifs de nos travaux sont d’évaluer la survie en fonction du stade de diagnostic, de l’accès au traitement mais aussi d’identifier les gènes du cancer du sein qui abritent le plus souvent des mutations pathogènes dans la population béninoise.Méthodes/Résultats: Les progrès technologiques permettent aujourd’hui de rechercher des mutations sur plusieurs gènes de façon simultanée. Une étude prospective et rétrospective à partir de bloc de paraffine est réalisée, le séquençage à haut débit va nous permettre de tester un ensemble de gènes susceptibles d’intervenir dans la prédisposition au cancer du sein et d’identifier des variations dont il faudra définir le caractère délétère ou non (selon la classification en 5 classes). Afin de classer les variants de signification inconnue potentiellement identifiés lors de cette étude, des tests fonctionnels seront développés. Conclusion: Compte tenu des ressources limitées pour le dépistage chez les béninoises par mammographie, ces informations génétiques sont d’autant plus importantes pour l'identification des femmes présentant un risque particulièrement élevé de cancer du sein, utile pour concentrer les efforts de dépistage et leur proposer un suivi personnalisé

Épidémiologie des cancers digestifs primitifs de l’adulte dans trois centres sanitaires spécialisés de Cotonou (République du Bénin)

International audienceHealth research studies are increasingly focusing on digestive cancers because of their increasing frequency and severity. The objective of this work was to study the epidemiological aspects of primary digestive cancers in adults in three hospital centers in the commune of Cotonou. A total of 676 cases of digestive cancers were identified out of 25,093 patients received during the study period (2.7%). The mean age was 54 ± 14.1 years: [16-96] and the sex ratio was 2:1. The most frequent cancers were those of the liver (259; 38.3%) and colon-rectum (154; 22.8%). The next most common cancers in descending order were gastric cancer (12%), esophageal cancer (11.4%), pancreatic cancer (11.4%), anal cancer (1.9%), hail cancer (1.5%) and biliary cancer (0.7%). The average time to visit was 9 months. The main risk factors found were viral hepatitis B and C, alcoholism, diabetes, obesity, colonic polyps, smoking, excessive consumption of salt and dietary nitrates. Lethality was 58.4%, with cancers of the liver, colon-rectum, pancreas, and esophagus in descending order of mortality. The average overall survival was 10 months. Digestive cancers most often affect people in their fifties, who are usually men in Cotonou. They are dominated by liver cancer and colorectal cancer. Modifiable risk factors are often found. The control of these factors and early diagnosis could help improve the survival of patients affected

Surgical management of erosive adenomatosis of the nipple: A case report

International audienceIntroduction and importance: Known as a very uncommon disease, erosive adenomatosis of the nipple is a benign neoplasm of the breast. However, its destructive process can have a considerably negative impact on patient's quality of life.Case presentation: We report the case of a 45-year-old woman who presented at the visceral surgery department of the National Teaching Hospital of Cotonou-Benin (CNHU-HKM) for a burgeoning mass of the left nipple. She was diagnosed an erosive adenomatosis of the nipple and underwent a nipple resection with reconstruction.Clinical discussion: Erosive adenomatosis is one differential diagnosis for lesion of the nipple. Clinically, it should be discussed with malignant nipple tumours including Paget's disease.Conclusion: Surgery is the cornerstone of the treatment, and the prognosis is excellent

Connaissances, Attitudes et Pratiques des médecins généralistes sur le cancer du sein dans le département du Littoral en République du Bénin

International audienceLe cancer du sein est le cancer le plus diagnostiqué au monde et la première cause de décès par cancer chez la femme. Bien que l'incidence en Afrique au sud du Sahara soit la plus faible au monde, la mortalité y est la plus élevée. Au Bénin, les médecins généralistes (MG) sont parmi les premiers acteurs de la prise en charge. Notre objectif était d'évaluer les connaissances, attitudes et pratiques (CAP) des MG sur le cancer du sein dans le département du Littoral au Sud du Bénin

Cancers du pancréas au Centre National Hospitalier Universitaire de Cotonou: aspects épidémiologiques, diagnostiques, thérapeutiques et pronostiques

International audienceIntroduction: cancer is a major cause of death in the world. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the epidemiological, clinical, therapeutic and prognostic features of cancers of the pancreas (CP) at the National Hospital and University Center of Cotonou.Methods: we conducted a cross-sectional descriptive and analytical study with a prospective and retrospective data collection over a period of ten years, from 1 October 2009 to 31 October 2019.Results: out of 15.102 hospitalizations, we identified 72 cases of CP, reflecting a hospitalization rate of 0.5%. The average age of patients was 59 years. The sex-ratio (H/F) was 1.5. The main reason for consultation was abdominal pain. More than half (51.4%) of patients had metastatic tumor at the time of diagnosis. Histological evidence of adenocarcinoma was only reported in 15.1% of cases. The rate of operable patients was 37.5% while the rate of resectable patients was 2.7%. Palliative chemotherapy was given to 13.9% of patients. The average cost of treatment was 955.882,4 FCFA (23.9 times the Guaranteed Interprofessional Minimum Wage in Benin). Median overall survival was 6 months. Mortality rate was 86.9% (53/61), survival rate at one year was 31.4%, and zero at five years. Palliative surgery (p = 0.021) and chemotherapy (p = 0.023) improved patient survival.Conclusion: cancer of the pancreas, due to its non-specific signs and insidious outcome, is often diagnosed at a late stage. A metastatic tumor and the limited individual and institutional therapeutic possibilities lead to more pejorative prognosis