AORTIC 2009 7 INTERNATIONAL CANCER CONFERENCE

AORTIC 2009
7
TH
INTERNATIONAL
CANCER CONFERENCE
CANCER IN AFRICA – THE NEW REALITY
11-14 NOVEMBER 2009
DAR ES SALAAM, TANZANIA
The AORTIC 2009 Abstract Book
is proudly sponsored by MSD
A CD version can be collected at the
GARDASIL/MSD exhibition stand
in the Kikwete Hall

HOW TO USE THIS BOOK
This book contains the abstracts selected from the AORTIC 2009 Call for Abstracts, which will be
given as oral or poster presentations. It also includes abstracts from many of the Invited Speakers,
on the topics they will address in workshops and plenary sessions.
Abstracts are listed by ABSTRACT REFERENCE NUMBER. Please note that the ABSTRACT
REFERENCE NUMBERS are in numerical order, but not every number has a corresponding abstract,
so there are gaps in the numbering.
Use this book in conjunction with the detailed programme in the AORTIC 2009 CONFERENCE
HANDBOOK. If a topic on the programme has a corresponding abstract, an ABSTRACT REFERENCE
NUMBER will be shown in front of the topic, in parentheses.
SAMPLE PROGRAMME ENTRY FROM AORTIC 2009 CONFERENCE HANDBOOK:
(267) Palliative care in advanced breast
cancer
TA Olasinde (Nigeria)
In this sample, (267) refers to the ABSTRACT REFERENCE NUMBER. Abstract 267 can be found in
numerical order in this abstract book
Copyright for the abstracts published in this volume rests with the author/s and any enquiries
should be directed to the corresponding author/s.

1
1
APPRAISAL AND SCALING UP SEXUAL AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH SERVICES AMONG THE GERIATRICS
IN IBADAN, NIGERIA
ABSTRACT REFERENCE NUMBER: 1
AUTHOR/S: Odor, King
AFFILIATION/S: Dept of Health Promotion and Education, Faculty of Public Health College of Medicine,
University of Ibadan
CORRESPONDENCE: [email protected]
BACKGROUND: Most studies on sexual behaviours in Africa especially Nigeria focus on young people
and adults with limited attention paid to elderly people. There is dearth of information on geriatric
reproductive health challenges and involvement in risky sexual activities. This study determined the
need for SRH appraisal among Geriatrics in Nigeria.
METHODOLOGY: The study was descriptive and cross sectional in design. 400-geriatrics aged 65 years
and above were selected using a three-stage sampling technique. Validated questionnaire was designed
from six Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) findings. The FGDs and questionnaires data were analysed
using thematic approach and descriptive/Chi-square statistics respectively.
FINDINGS/RESULTS: The participants’ mean age was 71.8 years. Slightly more than half, (50.5%) were
males. A total of 25% of the participants had extramarital sex since they attained 65 years. Among this
subgroup, very few (6.8%) used condom. More males (5.3%) than females (1.5%) used condom during
the episode (p<0.05). Low condom-use was attributed to the belief that condom is unnecessary (34.5%)
and the perception (50%) condom is not for the elderly. Majority (68.8%) was of the view that having sex
with virgin could boost their immunity against STI/HIV; which comprised 65.1% males and 34.9%
females. Majority of the males (56.4%) and females (66.7%) agreed that engagement in sex has a healing
effect on the elderly.
CONCLUSION/POLICY IMPLICATIONS: Appreciable proportion of the elderly was involved in risky sexual
activities, while majority’s perceptions about Sexual behaviour were negative. Therefore, there is need
for appraisal of elderly sexual needs including scaling-up of SRH services to address the problem.
3
MANAGEMENT OF FEBRILE NEUTROPENIA IN PATIENTS RECEIVING CHEMOTHERAPY FOR SOLID
TUMORS IN A LOW RESOURCE SETTING: A RETROSPECTIVE STUDY OF TWENTY CASES FROM THE
RADIOTHERAPY CENTER, KORLEBU TEACHING HOSPITAL, ACCRA, GHANA
ABSTRACT REFERENCE NUMBER: 3
AUTHOR/S: V Vanderpuye, J Yarney, K Beecham
AFFILIATION/S: National Radiotherapy and Nuclear Medicine Center, Korle-bu Teaching Hospital

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CORRESPONDENCE: V Vanderpuye: [e-mail]
PURPOSE: To study the compounding factors, evaluate the use of empiric antimicrobials and outcome of
febrile neutropenic patients in Ghana, a low resource country.
PATIENTS AND METHODS: Records of twenty patients with confirmed evidence of febrile neutropenia
who were admitted to the inpatient service of our department from February 2005 to February 2008
were retrospectively analyzed. Primary site of cancer, site of infection, temperature on admission,
chemotherapy drugs used, number of cycles received prior to fever, antimicrobial/antifungal drug used,
duration of neutropenia and fever, use of granulocyte stimulating factors and mortality rate were
analyzed.
RESULTS: The male to female ratio was 3:2. Median age was 24 years (Range: 15 – 68 years). The mean
temperature was 38.8 degrees C (Range 38.0 – 39.8 degrees C) on admission. The mean absolute
neutrophil count (ANC) was 0.2 (range: 0.0 to 0.6.) Fifty five percent (n=11) had head and neck cancer
with nasopharyngeal cancer (n=9) in the majority, thirty five percent (n=7) had breast cancer, ten
percent (n=2) had anorectal cancer. Sixty five percent (n=13) received Cisplatin, twenty five percent
(n=5) received Adriamycin, ten percent (n=2) received Paclitaxel alone or Cyclophosphomide,
Methotrexate, 5 Fluorouracil (CMF). Fifty percent (n=10) developed febrile neutropenia with the first
cycle of chemotherapy, and thirty percent (n=6) in the second cycle. Twelve patients (60%) had oral
infection and four patients had gastroenteritis (20%). There were single episodes of respiratory and
urinary tract infections. No site of infection was identified in two patients. Site of infection was
determined by history and physical examination as immediate culture and sensitivity laboratory test
were either unavailable or unaffordable. Eleven received Ceftriaxone and Gentamycin (55%), five cases;
Levofloxacin or ciprofloxacin and Augumentin +/-metronidazole (25%), two cases; Ceftazidime and
Gentamycin (10%), two cases: Meronem (10%). Twelve patients (60%) had antifungal upfront for oral
Candida. One patient received antifungal after five days. Only one patient on ceftriaxone/ gentamycin
needed to be switched to meronem. Five patients out of six who received augumentin/ciprofloxacin or
levofloxacin had to be switched to another antibiotic. GCSF was given in eight patients (40%) for an
average of three days. Two received it upfront, the rest after 5 days of persistent neutropenia. Mean
duration of fever was 4.5 days (range 1-10 days) and the mortality rate was 10% (n=2).
CONCLUSION: Febrile neutropenia can be managed in low resource countries with comparable
outcomes as developing countries in spite of several limitations. A good history and physical are
important components of management and impacts the choice of empiric antimicrobials.
Aminoglycosides are an important component of combination empiric antibiotic treatment in our
setting. In the near future we need to evaluate the economics of risk of death of this serious
complication of anticancer therapy and the cost of GCSF.
KEY WORDS: febrile, neutropenia, empiric, antimicrobial, antifungal, chemotherapy
5
OUTCOME AND CLINICAL FEATURES OF RETINOBLASTOMA: REPORT OF 36 PEDIATRICS CASES
ABSTRACT REFERENCE NUMBER: 5
AUTHOR/S: S Barsaoui (1), Y Tlili (1), F Oubich (1), H Bouguila (2), K Ben Romdhane (3), H Frikha (3)

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AFFILIATION/S: (1) Pediatric Oncology Unit, Children’s Hospital, (2) Ophthalmology Institute, (3) Salah
Azaiz Cancer Institute
CORRESPONDENCE: S Barsaoui: [e-mail]
INTRODUCTION: Retinoblastoma (RB) is the most frequent intraocular tumor in the pediatric age group,
representing 3% of all childhood neoplasms. It can affect one of both eyes and the disease can be
inherited. Altered discoloration of the pupil and strabismus are the usual symptoms that lead to medical
attention. The prognosis delay of diagnosis was 7 months (ranges from 1 month to 24 months).
Symptoms at diagnosis were leukokonia, strabismus, exophthalmia and reduced visual sharpness. Thirty
children presented unilateral RB. Eight patients had bilateral RB. One children had trilateral disease. 22
patients had extra ocular retinoblastoma. Four children have metastasis disease and were given
palliative care. 34 patients have been enucleated. 16 patients received neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Four
children have intrathecal chemotherapy. Twenty eight eyes received external beam radiotherapy.
Median follow-up is 36 months (range from 3 to 93 months). 32 patients were valuables, non toxic
death recorded. Four children dead of progressive disease (12 per cent). 91 per cent of patients
achieved complete response. 30 per cent relapsed (8 patients had central nervous system
dissemination).
CONCLUSION: The mortality in our series is high compared to other publications. These results are
explained by the high number of local spread or metastases due to delay in diagnosis. Survival and
prognosis can be improved by early diagnosis and multidisciplinary care.
6
CHARACTERISTICS OF PROSTATE SPECIFIC ANTIGEN AND DIGITAL RECTAL EXAMINATION IN A
POPULATION OF SENEGALESE MEN SCREENED FOR PROSTATE CANCER
ABSTRACT REFERENCE NUMBER: 6
AUTHOR/S: Mohamed Jalloh (1, 2), Lamine Niang (1, 2), Charnita Zeigler-Johnson (3), Maguette Sylla-
Niang (1, 2), Issa Labou (1, 2), Medina Ndoye (1), Timothy R Rebbeck (3), Serigne M Gueye (1, 2)
AFFILIATION/S: (1) Université Cheikh Anta Diop de Dakar, (2) Hôpital General de Grand Yoff, (3) Center
for Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Pennsylvania
CORRESPONDENCE: Mohamed Jalloh: [e-mail]
OBJECTIVES: Screening for prostate cancer is poorly described in African men. We describe
characteristics of PSA and DRE in the detection of prostate cancer among a population of unselected
Senegalese men.
METHODS: We examined 575 men at the Hôpital General de Grand Yoff (Dakar, Senegal) during a
community outreach program. All participants were assessed for prostate related symptoms (voiding
dysfunction), underwent DRE, and provided a blood sample for serum PSA testing. In the case of
abnormal DRE and/or PSA≥ 4 ng/ml, a prostate biopsy was performed to distinguish prostate cancer
(cases) from non cancer (controls). All prostate cancer cases had a PSA≥ 4 ng/ml and/or abnormal DRE.