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Upon re-analyzing the data from 2017 and restricting the search based on nationality (UAE citizen) and age group (20–49), the cancer incidence percentage remained high at 37.2% (42.4% in females and 28.9% in males). A comparable percentage of cancer incidence was observed for the 20–49 year age group in Saudi Arabia, which was 39.49%. These incidence rates were massively high when compared to other countries, such as the USA at 8.75% (p < 0.005), Canada at 8% (p < 0.005), the United Kingdom at 8.33% (p < 0.005), India at 26.75% (p < 0.005), and China at 16.15% (p < 0.005).
According to the current data, cancer incidence has increased in the UAE among people aged between 20 and 49. This alarming incidence rate demands more intensive research to identify potential risk factors. Cancer screening is the most vital component that reduces cancer mortality, yet its cost-effectiveness and utility have not been thoroughly assessed among the younger population (<40 years). UAE-based research is necessary in order to assess the country’s monitoring and regulatory system for cancer screening. More cohesive regional and international efforts are required to combat this globally alarming situation.
5. Cancer Screening Programs in the UAEThe UAE has made significant advances in cancer screening programs, yet a UAE-wide national screening program is still lacking. There are several local screening programs for each region, as outlined in Table 4 [10,11,12,13,14]. Unfortunately, no official published data are available on cancer screening uptake, but unofficial reports estimate that breast and colorectal cancer screening is used by no more than 25% of the eligible population [15]. Instead of the current opportunistic screening approach, there is a need for a UAE-wide national screening program that covers breast, colorectal, cervical, lung, and prostate cancer and includes a call-and-recall system [13,16,17]. Screening for citizens vs. non-citizens should also be evaluated as 73% of all cancer cases occur in non-citizens vs. 27% in UAE citizens [18]. Hence, currently, most of the cancer care expenditure is for non-citizens. Social barriers to cancer screening must be addressed systematically [15,19,20,21]. The utilization of approved blood-based cancer screening (e.g., Epi proColon) can be considered as an option that may be less invasive and has potential higher uptake for cancer screening [22]. Consideration for participation in active clinical trials for blood-based cancer screening tools should be prioritized [23,24,25]. 6. Modifiable Cancer Risk Factors in the UAE (Obesity/Fast Food/Smoking/HPV/HBV)The prevalence of obesity and overweight in UAE youth has been found to be consistent with other Arab countries in the Middle East, owing to the increased consumption of unhealthy diets with poor nutritional benefits [26]. We have previously addressed the UAE’s efforts to control risk factors for cancer. Obesity and smoking (including all forms) have been on the UAE government’s active agenda, with multiple initiatives to control them [2]. We also recommend displaying calories in all fast-food items and banning advertising for fast food restaurants, as this is becoming very prominent online and in the UAE’s streets [27].Cervical cancer is the 8th most common female cancer in Abu Dhabi [28]. The UAE was the first in the MENA region to launch the HPV vaccine. In 2008, the Department of Health (DOH) in Abu Dhabi introduced HPV vaccination for all eligible schoolgirls in public and private schools. In 2013, the DOH expanded the HPV vaccination program to include all females aged 15–26, regardless of nationality. The Dubai Health Authority (DHA) also recommended starting the vaccination of all girls at the age of 11–12 years [2]. There are no official reports available regarding the uptake of the vaccination since its introduction. Multiple reports and cross-sectional studies from the UAE indicate the likelihood of a low uptake due to a lack of knowledge of HPV vaccination [2,29,30,31]. We recommend improving the public, parental, and adolescent education about HPV vaccination, specifically to reduce the misconceptions and fear surrounding HPV vaccination [2,32].The Hepatitis B vaccine was introduced and mandated in 1991 in the UAE [33]. Since 2006, any new expats moving to the UAE for work must be tested for hepatitis C and B infections. If the subject is not HBV-immune, it is mandatory to receive an HBV vaccination [2]. 7. Established Comprehensive Cancer CentersThere are over 20 oncology centers/clinics across the UAE. We have previously outlined the historical background of major cancer centers in the UAE [2]. There is no official definition of a comprehensive cancer center (CCC) in the UAE. The DOH has published general standards for centers of excellence in the emirate of Abu Dhabi that are not specific to oncology [34].A CCC should be a one-stop shop for all cancer care needs. [35] In our view, the following services must be available at a facility for it to be considered a CCC: medical adult and pediatric oncology and hematology, surgical oncology, radiation oncology, nuclear medicine, and palliative care [35]. Currently, four centers can be considered CCCs (Table 5). Other major cancer centers that do not meet our CCC criteria are Dubai Hospital, Saudi German Hospital Dubai, Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City, Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, and Mediclinic Hospital Abu Dhabi. Cancer centers and hospitals in the UAE are listed in alphabetical order in Appendix B.The Al Jalila Foundation, which is a member of Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives, is planning to establish the first comprehensive cancer charity hospital in Dubai, ‘Hamdan Bin Rashid Cancer Charity Hospital’, bringing together leading experts to manage prevention, diagnosis, and treatment under one roof. The hospital, named after the late Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, will provide outpatient, ambulatory, and diagnostic services, as well as inpatient and surgical services in a nurturing environment that prides itself on personalized patient care. Patients will be accepted from anywhere in the UAE, and the medical services provided will either be free or highly subsidized to alleviate the financial burden for patients who cannot afford quality healthcare. The Al Jalila Foundation is investing AED 750 million in the first fully modular-built hospital in the region. The 250-bed hospital will be built in two phases, with phase 1 including 150 beds. Opening in 2024, the facility will be a one-stop-shop for cancer care: prevention, diagnosis, and treatment, with a capacity to treat 30,000 patients annually [36]. 8. Oncology Manpower in the UAEThere are an estimated 100 medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, and malignant hematology physicians in the UAE as of August 2022. Most oncologists are in the Abu Dhabi and Dubai emirates. Oncologists come from various nationalities, with many from the UK, the USA, and Arab countries such as Lebanon, Syria, and Jordan. Many have relocated to the UAE for better pay and the quality of life that the UAE provides. Oncologists come from different training backgrounds, with many holding American and UK board certifications. There are also many oncologists with training from neighboring countries such as Lebanon, Jordan, and Syria. The number of local UAE oncologists is around 10–12 (10% of all oncologists in the UAE). Most local UAE oncologists are Canadian- and American-trained physicians, including advanced fellowships from top institutions such as MD Anderson Cancer Centers. There is a need to encourage UAE physicians to pursue careers in oncology by increasing awareness about the specialty among medical students and physicians early in their careers.
9. Surgical Oncology and Robotic SurgeriesSurgical oncology has been practiced in the UAE for decades, yet many surgeons practicing surgical oncology in the UAE have not received formal training in surgical oncology. More formally trained surgical oncology surgeons have been joining the UAE steadily over the last few years. It is well documented that the surgeon’s training affects the outcomes of cancer patients. In 27 studies examining surgeon outcomes based on training and specialization, 25 found that specialized surgeons had better outcomes for cancer surgery than non-specialized surgeons [37]. The UAE has increased access to robotic surgery, with few cancer centers providing this modality.One of the significant challenges of surgical oncology in the UAE is the quality of surgeries performed for cancer patients. Unfortunately, many surgeons with no surgical oncology training will not refer their patients to specialized surgical oncologists for surgeries due to financial conflicts of interest and competition (with most working in private practices). Surgeries not carried out by surgeons who specialize in surgical oncology are usually not discussed with a multidisciplinary team (MDT). This leads to improper surgical management, especially in breast and rectal cancers, where patients are operated on while they need neoadjuvant therapy to improve their outcomes.
The regulators need to address this issue by mandating that an MDT must evaluate all cancer cases before any insurance approval is provided for cancer surgeries (unless it is an emergency surgery, and surgeons who carry out a high number of emergency cancer surgeries must be audited). Furthermore, the use of robotic surgery should be restricted to surgeons with accredited surgical training [38] as some surgeons attend courses for a few days and advertise themselves as robotic surgeons, which can affect cancer patients’ decisions to receive surgery. 10. Radiation Therapy in the UAECurrently, at least ten centers are providing radiation therapy services in the UAE; four in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain, five in Dubai, and one in Ras Al-Khaimah (the only radiation center in the Northern Emirates). These centers are currently operating seven linear accelerators (LINACs), one tomotherapy unit, and two brachytherapy units in the Abu Dhabi/Al Ain region. Currently, there are two linear accelerators and one ViewRay MR Linac in Ras Al-Khaimah, whereas in Dubai, there are four linear accelerators, one tomotherapy unit, one Cyberknife machine, and two brachytherapy units in use. Most LINACS in the UAE are of recent generation and new status, with Elekta Versa HD™ and Varian—TrueBeam® being the most widely used in the UAE. Complex intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT), RAPID-ARC, and volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT), accompanied by advanced image guidance radiation (IGRT), are used in all of these sites. Cyberknife radiosurgery was introduced into Neurospinal hospital in Dubai in 2022 [5]. A full Novalis system with BrainLab and Elements software, a tool for delivering precision radiotherapy and stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS), was introduced into the UAE by Burjeel Medical City in 2022 [39]. Finally, Ras Al-Khaimah is home to the Middle East’s only ViewRay—MRIdian, the first FDA-cleared MRI-Guided Radiation Therapy cancer treatment system in the Middle East, which combines magnetic resonance imaging with adaptive radiotherapy [40].The field of radiation therapy in the UAE is growing and has been successful in terms of its quality and outcomes. In the short term, at least four more centers are planning to establish radiation facilities in the UAE with advanced technologies such as gamma knife and artificial adaptive planning LINACs. Moreover, proton therapy establishment has been planned at one center, yet previous attempts to bring proton therapy to the UAE have been hampered by high cost and a low number of eligible patients for proton therapy [41]. While this indicates successful radiotherapy provider expansion and growth, we believe that further restrictions on more radiation centers will be recommended to ensure that current practices maintain the higher quality associated with a high volume of treatment.Another critical aspect of improving radiation therapy in the UAE is establishing an independent, non-biased regulator quality-control program for radiation facilities across the UAE. Adopting a change of the payment model to “per-site” rather than “per-fraction” is also highly recommended to eliminate any potential unnecessary negative clinical and financial effects on patients and healthcare systems while maintaining high quality and enhancing efficiency. The potential for fewer treatments under the episode-based payment approach will likely lead to reduced travel time required for each treatment, reduced side-effects from treatment, less time spent in a physician’s office, and more free time to engage in other social activities that can help improve patients’ overall quality of life [42]. 11. Hematopoietic Stem Cell TransplantationHematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) has become a well-established, curative, or lifesaving treatment option for various non-malignant and malignant hematologic diseases, immune disorders, and solid tumors. A total of 164 pediatric and 161 adult citizen patients underwent HSCT outside the UAE between 2016 and 2018 [6]. An estimated 200 patients, including non-citizens, need HSCT annually in the UAE.The first HSCT service has been available in the UAE since 2019, when the Abu Dhabi Stem Cell Center established it, and as of August 2022, they have completed 11 low-risk autologous non-cryopreservation HSCTs. In October 2021, Burjeel Medical City established the most comprehensive HSCT unit for both adults and pediatrics and introduced cryopreservation HSCT to the UAE with 14 cryopreserved autologous cases, as well as completing the first pediatric allogeneic HSCT with five cases. The American Hospital Dubai (AHD) became the third provider to deliver HSCT in the UAE in December 2021 and has completed nine autologous HSCT cases. Of note, all the above providers are private healthcare providers. Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City, a public hospital, has been planning an HSCT service for over a year, with an expected launch of their service late in 2022 or early 2023.
With a small estimated potential for HSCT cases annually in the UAE, it is critical to establish a national HSCT center of excellence and limit the number of providers to allow the experience to accumulate in one reference center for the UAE. We also recommend establishing a UAE National Marrow Donor Program to facilitate lifesaving HSCT for patients who do not have a compatible donor in their family.
Currently, CAR-T cell therapy is not offered in the UAE. Burjeel Medical City will be the first center to deliver this modality in the next 24 months to expand its BMT and cellular therapy programs.
12. Gynecologic OncologyWomen’s cancers were the 4th most common cancers in the UAE in 2019, with 125 cases of uterine cancer, 100 cases of ovarian cancer, and 90 cases of cervical cancers, for a total of 315 cases of women’s cancers (7.1% of malignancies in the UAE in 2019). General gynecologists and general surgeons operate on many women’s cancer cases. Currently, there are no dedicated gynecologic oncology units in the UAE. Moreover, the number of trained gynecologic oncology surgeons is very limited and is estimated to be less than ten across the UAE. There is a lack of regulations regarding the limitation of the general surgeon’s management of gynecologic oncology cases, which has been shown to lead to suboptimal clinical and oncological outcomes [43]. We recommend establishing dedicated gynecologic oncology units, mandating referrals to these units across the UAE, and restricting general surgeons from performing gynecologic oncology surgeries.The low uptake of cervical cancer screening should also be addressed, and research should address barriers to screening. The HPV vaccine, as discussed earlier, is part of the UAE’s national vaccination program for girls, with a successful implementation. Lastly, there are no gynecologic oncology fellowship training programs in the UAE, and we highly recommend establishing such programs.
13. Pediatric OncologyCancer has been identified as the second most prominent cause of death (following accidents) in children aged 5 to 14 [44]. The incidence of pediatric cancers differs worldwide, representing between 0.5% and 4.6% of all cancers. Overall incidence rates fluctuate between 50 and 200 per million children worldwide [45]. Childhood cancer results in a substantial disease burden despite a relatively low absolute number of incident cases and deaths.According to the UAE-NCR [1], in the year 2019, there were 125 children in the age group of 0–14 years diagnosed with new cancer in the UAE. This accounts for approximately 2.9% of all registered malignant cases, with females accounting for 53.6% and males accounting for 46.4%. The data indicate that the highest frequency of pediatric cancer cases was found among the age group of 0–4 years (63; 50.4%), followed by the age group of 10–14 years (38; 30.4%). It was noted that a smaller number of cancer cases in the pediatric population was diagnosed in the age group of 5–9 years (24; 19.2%).The data indicate that the most commonly occurring cancer was leukemia (35.2%), followed by brain and CNS (11.2%), connective and soft tissue (7.2%), and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (7.2%), and bone and articular cartilage cancer (5.6%) [1] (Table 6).Seven hospitals provide pediatric hematology oncology services, with an estimated 28–30 hematology oncology physicians. Tawam hospital, Sheikh Khalifa Medical City, and Dubai hospital are the public hospitals providing these services and these have the highest patient flow. Of note, the Northern Emirates has no pediatric hematology oncology services (Table 7).Burjeel Medical City is the only hospital in the UAE with a BMT pediatric unit and this facility performed five successful allogeneic BMTs for the first time in the UAE, with the first procedure performed in April 2022 [46].Pediatric hematology oncology services are fragmented between many providers for a small patient population. We recommend centralizing pediatric hematology oncology services in the UAE for better treatment outcomes [47]. 14. Palliative and Supportive CareIn the four years since the publication of the previous report titled “Palliative care in the UAE, A desperate need” in 2018 [48], palliative and supportive care have come a long way in the UAE, growing from two centers providing palliative care to four centers across the UAE. The palliative care unit at Tawam hospital was opened in 2007 to serve oncology patients at Tawam hospital, and this remains the only government-funded palliative care program in the UAE. The American Hospital in Dubai commenced its palliative care service in December 2014 [48]. Mediclinic hospital Dubai started the service in 2019. Burjeel Medical City (BMC) in Abu Dhabi was the latest hospital to offer a palliative and supportive care service in March 2020, becoming the first provider of such a service in Abu Dhabi City. In May 2022, the UAE received its first representative in the WHO’s palliative care network; Dr. Neil A. Nijhawan, the director of the palliative care services at Burjeel Medical City in Abu Dhabi, was appointed by the WHO as an expert member of the EMRO Expert Network on Palliative Care.The Emirates Medical Association (EMA) has approved the establishment of a palliative and supportive care working group under the Emirates Oncology Society (EOS) umbrella. The working group is planned to be launched in October 2022. This is an important step to raise public awareness about palliative care and advocate for the provision of palliative care in the UAE. The working group will also play an integral part in advocacy for the specialty with the stakeholders and regulators in the UAE. Education and training will also be a core mission for the group.
Improving the provision of palliative care within the UAE will require a more nuanced, structured approach than a simple transfer of the Western approach to palliative care. Our recommendations for the UAE regarding the improvement of palliative care were highlighted in our previous publication. These have been refined further as follows [49]:The development of a national palliative and supportive care strategy as part of the UAE’s cancer control plan;
The availability of essential pain and palliative care medications at all levels of care, including injectable opioids/morphine pumps for patients receiving end-of-life care at home;
Basic palliative care training for non-specialists, with a focus on pain management, as well as palliative care in undergraduate medical school and nursing curricula;
Provisions for other core multidisciplinary team member roles that require training and support (governance) include clinical nurse specialists, imams, and chaplaincy; and
Further refinement of the 2016 Allow Natural Death (AND) policy to include advance care planning and treatment-de-escalation plans [49]. 15. Cancer Survivorship ProgramCancer survivorship is an essential yet poorly recognized component of cancer care [50]. It revolves around short- and long-term treatment complications; the risk of recurrence; the potential increased risk of second primary malignancies; failure of adherence to prescribed adjuvant therapies; and recommended lifestyle changes, including weight loss and control, physical activity, and exercise [50,51]. Cancer survivorship programs remain in their infancy in the UAE, with only two centers having comprehensive cancer survivorship programs, namely, Burjeel Medical City and Tawam Hospital, with a clear unmet need in other emirates. Existing programs also need to publish experiences and challenges to inform best practices. Stakeholders need to be made aware of the importance of survivorship programs to the continuum of care for cancer patients [52]. 16. Onco-FertilityWith the global phenomenon of the increasing number of younger adults with cancer [53] and as the number of cancer patients in the UAE at the productive age is also increasing (as outlined earlier), fertility preservation is becoming increasingly important for these younger patients [54].A recent study demonstrated a significant gap between international clinical practice guidelines and current practices in fertility preservation in Arab countries. Barriers to the optimum delivery of service include the unavailability of some advanced techniques, the lack of physician training/awareness, and the lack of a dedicated fertility team/clinic within cancer centers [55].The main centers with the most experience in onco-fertility in the UAE are Al Ain Fertility Center and Fakih IVF Fertility Center. They provide cryopreservation (freezing embryos or eggs) and ovarian tissue freezing for female patients. The options for younger men with cancer include freezing sperm and/or testicular tissue. Other procedures for ovarian transposition, fertility-sparing surgery, and hormonal ovarian suppression are widely available in the cancer centers in the UAE.
Some major challenges are physicians’ awareness of the available resources for young adults with cancer for fertility preservation and insurance coverage, as many insurance policies exclude fertility preservation from their policies. This is the main issue for expat patients, whereas UAE citizens are covered for onco-fertility services.
Pre-implantation genetic diagnosis, which is the testing of pre-implantation stage embryos or oocytes for genetic defects, e.g., BRCA carriers, is not available in the UAE, and patients who require this modality are usually referred to specialized fertility centers abroad.
Focused workshops for oncology healthcare providers and participation by stakeholders, including providers, regulators, and patient advocacy groups, are required to improve fertility access for all cancer patients in the UAE.
17. Psycho-OncologyWith a new or recurrent cancer diagnosis, patients with cancer are at risk of developing emotional difficulties that range from adjustment disorder, loss of self-esteem, anxiety, and depression. It is estimated that up to 50% of cancer patients experience some form of emotional difficulty. If severe enough, emotional difficulties and distress can interfere with the patient’s ability to deal effectively with cancer, its symptoms, and treatment complications. The patients at higher risk for psychiatric illness and depression tend to have advanced cancer, poorly controlled pain, a previous psychiatric history, and other life losses or stressors [56]. Psycho-oncology concerns cancer’s social, behavioral, psychological, and ethical aspects. This subspecialty addresses the two major psychological dimensions of cancer: the psychological responses of patients to cancer at all stages of the disease and those of their families and caretakers, as well as the psychological, behavioral, and social factors that may influence the disease process [57].In the UAE, psycho-oncology is still in its infancy. There are no specialists licensed or trained explicitly in psycho-oncology, yet there are many psychiatrists and psychologists providing support for cancer patients. There is a need for the establishment of psycho-oncology clinics across the cancer centers in the UAE to support cancer patients across the UAE more effectively. Attracting trained physicians, providing scholarships for psychiatry trainees to pursue psycho-oncology fellowships and advanced training, and working with regulators and healthcare providers to address this gap is the most appropriate next step of action to accelerate the implementation of psycho-oncology across the UAE.
18. Cancer Support Programs and Support GroupsCancer support programs support cancer patients financially, whereas support groups provide psychological support. The primary issue with most financial support programs is that they have a monetary limit for each cancer patient, and in most cases, the amount covered is far less than what is required to cover the treatment cost. Indeed, there are a few exceptions with higher coverage for cancer patients. Most notably, the weekly TV show from Sharjah TV, “Alam W Amal”, which translates to “Pain and Hope,” can provide coverage of up to AED 180,000 per case. Of note, many pharmaceutical companies’ patient-support programs cover cancer drugs manufactured by those companies. This also plays an essential role in supporting cancer patients in need across the UAE. Multiple support programs help support the emotional and physical well-being of patients with cancer. Table 8 summarizes the cancer support programs and support groups available for cancer patients in the UAE. 19. Genetic Testing and CounselingThere is limited access to genetic counselors in the UAE. Most cancer centers do not have a dedicated genetic counseling section. Most counseling testing is performed by the oncologists providing treatment, with evident variations in skills and knowledge in this niche area of expertise. Most health insurances policies exclude genetic testing from their policies. Access to genetic testing is challenging for most cancer patients in the UAE. The few centers providing genetic counseling and testing have extended appointment wait times. Many tests are not covered, and if covered, testing is performed outside of the country and takes 4–6 weeks to provide results. To overcome the barriers to access to genetic testing, multiple pharmaceutical companies provide free genetic testing for some indications, such as BRCA testing for breast cancer patients. We recommend expanding genetic counseling services in cancer centers across the UAE with experienced genetic counselors. Regulators and stakeholders should work to make genetic testing widely available and accessible for all cancer patients, in keeping with international guidelines and recommendations for best practices in cancer care [58,59]. 20. Precision Oncology in the UAEPrecision oncology, defined as the molecular profiling of tumors to identify targetable alterations, is rapidly developing and has entered mainstream clinical practice [60]. Actionable biomarkers of non-small-cell lung cancer are an excellent example of precision oncology at diagnosis of advanced disease, during therapy, and at the time of progression. Without precision oncology and mutation assessments, lung cancer treatment is suboptimal nowadays [61].Precision oncology tools such as next-generation sequencing (NGS) testing are widely available and used by many oncologists in the UAE. Multiple commercial testing platforms are available, including Illumina Inc foundation medicine, the Guardant360® system, and many other NGS platforms, but all of these tests are sent abroad for testing, and none are performed locally in the UAE. Almost all payers in the UAE do not cover these tests, except for a small percentage of premium private insurance providers, which may not exceed 5% to 10% of all cancer patients requiring NGS testing with the premium private insurance that covers these tests. The current commercially available NGS testing cost is also a significant barrier preventing patients from obtaining more accurate molecular profiling of their tumors. It is necessary for a cheaper and more reliable testing platform to be made available in the UAE. Multiple small multinational companies are providing more affordable NGS testing in the UAE, but more data are needed for these platforms before they can be considered a reliable alternative.
The Oncotype DX Breast Recurrence Score® Test is a test that analyzes the activity of 21 genes that can influence how likely a cancer is to grow and respond to chemotherapy and predicts the risk of breast cancer recurrence in some early breast cancer cases. The test is commercially available in the UAE, but most payers do not cover it as it is considered genetic testing (which it is not) and is hence excluded from health insurance policies. The MammaPrint® test analyzes the 70 most important genes associated with breast cancer recurrence and has recently been covered by some insurance companies. These tests should be covered by insurance in all eligible breast cancer cases in keeping with best practices and international recommendations [62].One of the other challenges regarding precision oncology is drug coverage for non-FDA-approved actionable mutations, most of which are not covered by insurance providers. It will be challenging to obtain approval from these private insurance companies for such cases, whereas coverage will be easier to obtain (but not guaranteed) from public-funded insurance. In this regard, the molecular tumor board’s role is critical to making individualized recommendations for such cases. Currently, there is no molecular tumor board in the UAE. Most oncologists rely on their experience to make clinical decisions and their connections with other institutions with molecular tumor boards abroad to seek advice when facing such a clinical scenario. We recommend establishing a UAE-wide molecular tumor board to improve the precision of oncology practice and cancer patients’ outcomes in the UAE.
The only dedicated precision oncology clinic was established at Burjeel Medical City in May 2021.
The Emirati Genome Program, launched in July 2021, is an initiative focused on providing preventive and personalized healthcare for UAE citizens, aiming to sequence the genome of the UAE population. The general Emirati population was positive about biomedical research and optimistic about the potential value of the genome program and biobank [63].A successful program outcome will equip healthcare practitioners with high-quality information that will enable them to provide advanced diagnosis, treatment options, and personalized and preventive programs tailored to an individual’s unique genetic makeup. It will also help predict and prevent present and future genetic diseases and implement new therapies for rare and chronic diseases, including cancer [64].To advance precision oncology in the UAE, a collaborative effort is required from stakeholders and UAE-level policymaking, payers, healthcare providers, and patient advocacy groups. To make precision oncology affordable and improve cancer patient outcomes in the UAE, NGS testing and indications must be standardized, with interoperable infrastructure, funding, data, and research [65]. 21. Pathology, Molecular, and Cytogenetics TestingBefore initiating cancer therapy, a diagnostic tumor tissue sample evaluated in a pathology laboratory by a pathologist must confirm the malignancy type and provide key prognostic factors that direct the treatment offered [66]. In the UAE, there are variations in pathology reporting quality, depending on the pathologist’s training and experience. Because most laboratories are accredited by the College of American Pathologists (CAP), tumor checklists are mandatory for reporting cancer histopathology. CAP tumor checklists ensure a minimum pathology dataset to be reported in a synoptic report. Accredited laboratories are also expected to have key quality measures in place for physician competency and to expect the benchmarking of performance in report categories such as cytology, cervical smears, and thyroid FNAs. CCCs tend to have better and more reliable pathology reporting than smaller clinics and hospitals. Performance is improved with the presence of multidisciplinary tumor (MDT) boards. There are examples of international collaboration with published audited data on pathology discrepancies and the revision of primary diagnoses.There is expertise in the UAE, with various subspecialties in sociopathology with one to two larger groups. Overall, these organ-specific expert practices are performed at different hospitals and laboratories and are not centralized. The number of organ specialists boarded in their subspecialty would be limited to the American Boards (hematopathology, cytopathology, dermatopathology, neuropathology) and the Royal College UK. One of the most pressing unmet needs is cytogenetic and molecular diagnostic testing, which is not easily accessible or available in the UAE, and many specialized tests are sent abroad to international centers in the USA and Europe, resulting in significant delays in diagnosis and treatment initiation (2–4 weeks) in many cases. There is a need for centralized pathology reporting for complex suspected cancer cases, and the utilization of digital pathology can facilitate second opinions from specialized cancer centers abroad. Mandating a second pathology reading to confirm malignancies is expected in accredited labs. The second review of pathology in cancer treatment programs contributes to the quality of treatment. Even though significant changes are rare (usually 3%), minor changes can be significant [67,68]. Soft tissue and brain tumors increasingly require molecular data, and these should have integrated reports with appropriate information and tumor classification. In our opinion, recent advances in HER2 testing and their impact on therapy should require a mandatory second review, as inconsistencies can lead to errors in clinical management [69,70].A review of USA malpractice data recognized melanoma, breast, and thyroid fine needle aspiration (FNA) as the major pathology reports with the highest risk for a lawsuit. An audit of national data can also prioritize high-risk areas for improvement and mitigation via a 2nd and/or expert review [69,70,71].Our recommendations for improving pathology, molecular, and cytogenetic testing are as follows:
With the increasing adoption of digital pathology, UAE pathologists can access a larger pool of experts with an improved turn-around time for reports. A second pathologist should review all first diagnoses of malignancies. The preference is for one with organ-specific expertise.
Trained experts should review high-risk and specific organ pathologies. Centers of excellence for specific organ types should be created or identified to ensure an adequate volume of cases is seen by organ-specific specialists. These should include reviews of melanomas by dermatopathologists, brain tumors by neuropathologists, lymphoma/leukemias by hematopathologists, and thyroid FNAs by cytopathologists [62,64,65]. Likewise, limited numbers of central and reference laboratories should offer treatment-related testing such as HER2 FISH and NGS.The Dubai Health Authority (DHA) and/or the Department of Health Abu Dhabi should audit standard quality metrics and pathologist competencies.
The central pathology review process should be considered as we develop more research protocols.
The UAE should encourage the establishment of biobanking facilities to facilitate future research efforts.
22. Availability and Cost of Cancer DrugsCancer drugs, including the latest approved medications, are widely available in the UAE. The UAE approval process has been very swift, and many drugs are being approved soon after being FDA-approved. For instance, in the case of a relatively new drug for lung cancer, sotorasib, the UAE was the second country worldwide to approve the drug after the USA [72]. The issue arises when the mother company does not register some drugs, and in this case, the procurement process becomes lengthy (4–6 weeks) and expensive.Oncology biosimilars have shown comparable efficacy and safety based on clinical evidence and physicochemical quality data in real-world settings [73]. With the increasing cost of cancer drugs worldwide, biosimilars have been widely utilized to somewhat control the increasing cost of cancer drugs. Many biosimilars are approved in the UAE; their utilization varies between physicians and cancer centers. We recommend the usage of approved biosimilar cancer drugs as part of the cancer center formulary. 23. Oncology NursingThe oncology nurse shortage is not new, and COVID-19 has exacerbated the shortage of oncology nurses [74]. The UAE is no different from the rest of the world when it comes to the issue of a shortage of oncology nurses. Most oncology nurses in the UAE are from Jordan, the Philippines, India, and Lebanon. The nurses tend to circulate in the cancer centers in the UAE with better pay. More recently, the UAE has dropped the two years of experience required to become licensed in the UAE in a move to attract more nurses to join the nursing workforce in the UAE.In the United Arab Emirates, the Oncology Nursing Society (EOHNS) is the official body representing the UAE’s oncology nurses, with its main activities including CME participation. The EOHNS’s mission is to provide a community for cancer nurses in the UAE, with the aim of improving nursing care for cancer patients and their families, promoting the role of nurses in cancer care, and developing nursing leaders to shape the future of oncology nursing care. There are no structured training programs for oncology nursing training in the UAE. We recommend establishing a training program for oncology nursing to face the shortage of nurses in the UAE.
Furthermore, the role of a nurse practitioner is not very well established in the UAE. There may be a challenge in implementing such a position due to the current medical practice laws, as well as challenges with patients and their families in the UAE as they are used to being taken care of by a physician rather than a nurse; furthermore, there is an excess of oncologists in the UAE, and thus the need for nurse practitioners may not be as well established as it is in the USA, which has a shortage of oncologists.
The EOHNS has been leading oncology nurses to develop oncology nursing research and evidence-based practice, which is reflected in its mission: “to promote excellence in oncology nursing research and quality cancer care to cancer patients in the UAE.” The EOHNS has advocated for oncology nursing research and specified two tracks in their annual conference for nursing research and evidence-based practice. Developing an advanced practice role in oncology nursing in the UAE will foster and enhance oncology nursing research and evidence-based practice. The SEHA identifies and addresses research issues, attracts high-quality research nurses, supports research activities, and promotes the visibility of nursing research in Abu Dhabi. The nursing research committee has adopted a nursing research development program across all SEHA facilities to facilitate the education of registered nurses regarding evidence-based practice and research processes, emphasizing oncology nursing research studies.
We recommend that oncology nurses be encouraged to engage in cancer research with research courses and incentives for employment promotions across the UAE.
24. Artificial Intelligence and Cancer Care in the UAEThe UAE adopted artificial intelligence (AI) in cancer care earlier than other countries in the region. The IBM Watson oncology program was piloted in Tawam hospital in 2016 and was planned to aid clinical decision-making in clinics’ day-to-day cancer management. The project was then terminated when IBM suspended the Watson program as the AI technology used in Watson did not live up to expectations.
Currently, multiple AI platforms are being used in the UAE, mainly for aiding cancer diagnosis in imaging, e.g., breast and lung cancer screening. Table 9 summarizes the current AI approaches used in clinical practice in the UAE.The UAE has also been contributing to AI and cancer research. A team of researchers from New York University (NYU) in the USA and NYU Abu Dhabi has reportedly developed a new AI system to identify breast cancer in ultrasound images. The system offers “radiologist-level accuracy” and has been designed as a decision-support tool for clinicians. The findings, published in Nature, showed that the system would help radiologists significantly decrease their “false positive” and requested biopsy rates while maintaining the same level of sensitivity [75,76]. A group of researchers from Mohamed bin Zayed University for AI has also published their work on developing machine learning algorithms that can predict cancer type classifications from multi-omics data [77]. 25. COVID-19 and Cancer Care in UAEThe UAE has been a role model in managing the COVID-19 pandemic with low COVID-19-related mortality, with the first worldwide phase 3 COVID-19 vaccination clinical trial; a 100% vaccination rate for the eligible population; the continuation of all medical services for acute and chronic medical conditions during the pandemic; and finally, by providing medical aid, ventilators, testing kits, personal protective equipment, and supplies to 135 countries worldwide. The UAE has also been voted one of the best countries to live in during the pandemic [78].Early in the pandemic, many cancer patients returned to the UAE from abroad, and all were accommodated to resume treatment. In many countries, sixty-eight cancer services had been interrupted. However, cancer care has continued in the UAE; for example, chemotherapy infusion units, radiation therapy sessions, cancer surgeries, and oncology clinic visits have all continued uninterrupted throughout the entire UAE [79]. This has been largely the effect of strong communication by the Emirates Oncology Society, which encoured oncologists and healthcare providers to continue providing cancer care despite the pandemic through educational webinars and campaigns [80].There has been a significant contribution to cancer care and COVID-19 research from the UAE. The first international recommendations for cancer care during the pandemic were published early during the pandemic and have received more than 650 citations since then and were awarded the publication of the year (2020) by an oncologist journal in the USA [81,82]. It has also been listed as one of the most cited articles from the Arab world during the pandemic [83]. Other notable publications include the first pre-chemotherapy COVID-19 screening study, which was published in JAMA Oncology and was one of the trending articles at the time of its publication [84,85]. Other publications from the UAE have also been published in regional and international journals [86,87,88,89,90,91]. 26. ResearchWe performed a dedicated and systematic literature search to identify publications related to breast cancer from the UAE. We searched PubMed using the terms “breast” AND “Cancer* OR Oncol* OR malignant* OR tumor OR tumor” AND “emirates OR UAE” on 8 August 2021. A total of 203 journal publications by authors from the UAE were retrieved, with the earliest publication being from 2001. The majority were basic science/translational (45.8%) or observational (26.1%) studies, whereas 40 (19.1%) were non-data-driven publications (e.g., reviews, consensus statements, and editorials). Only six clinical trials were identified (Figure 2). Of note, among the 163 data-driven publications, only 62 (38%) were performed in the UAE.In contrast, the remaining studies were performed abroad, with most authors having dual affiliations in the UAE and centers outside the UAE, reflecting a high rate of international collaboration [
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