Preprint Review Version 1 Preserved in Portico This version is not peer-reviewed

Breast Cancer in the Arabian Gulf Countries

Version 1 : Received: 19 September 2023 / Approved: 19 September 2023 / Online: 20 September 2023 (13:51:45 CEST)

A peer-reviewed article of this Preprint also exists.

Al-Shamsi, H.O.; Abdelwahed, N.; Abyad, A.; Abu-Gheida, I.; Afrit, M.; Abu ElFuol, T.; Alasas, R.; Lababidi, B.; Dash, P.; Ahmad, M.; Dreier, N.W.; ul Haq, U.; Joshua, T.L.A.; Otsmane, S.; Al-Nouri, A.; Al-Awadhi, A.; Tirmazy, S.H.; Alterkait, F.; Elsabae, S.; Khan, N.; Albastaki, N.K.; Sonawane, Y.; Jouda, M.; Perdawood, F.; Iqbal, F.; Jaafar, H. Breast Cancer in the Arabian Gulf Countries. Cancers 2023, 15, 5398. Al-Shamsi, H.O.; Abdelwahed, N.; Abyad, A.; Abu-Gheida, I.; Afrit, M.; Abu ElFuol, T.; Alasas, R.; Lababidi, B.; Dash, P.; Ahmad, M.; Dreier, N.W.; ul Haq, U.; Joshua, T.L.A.; Otsmane, S.; Al-Nouri, A.; Al-Awadhi, A.; Tirmazy, S.H.; Alterkait, F.; Elsabae, S.; Khan, N.; Albastaki, N.K.; Sonawane, Y.; Jouda, M.; Perdawood, F.; Iqbal, F.; Jaafar, H. Breast Cancer in the Arabian Gulf Countries. Cancers 2023, 15, 5398.

Abstract

Breast cancer stands as the prevailing malignancy across all six Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) nations. In this literature review, we highlighted the incidence and trend of BC in the GCC. Most of the studies reported a consistent increase in BC incidence over the past decades, which was particularly attributed to the adoption of a westernized lifestyle in the region and the implications of emerging risk factors and other environmental and societal factors, the increase in screening uptake, as well as the improvement in data collection and reporting in the GCC. The data about BC risk factors in GCC was limited. In this geographic region, breast cancer frequently manifests with distinctive characteristics, including an early onset, typically occurring before the age of 50, an advanced stage at presentation, and a higher pathological grade. Additionally, it often exhibits more aggressive features such as human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) positivity or the presence of triple-negative (TN) attributes, particularly among younger patients. Despite the growing body of literature on breast cancer in the GCC, data pertaining to survival rates are, regrettably, meager. Reports on breast cancer survival rates emanating from the GCC region are largely confined to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). In the UAE, predictive modeling reveals 2-year and 5-year survival rates of 97% and 89%, respectively, for the same period under scrutiny. These rates, when compared to Western counterparts such as Australia (89.5%) and Canada (88.2%), fall within the expected range. Conversely, Saudi Arabia reports a notably lower 5-year survival rate, standing at 72%. This disparity in survival rates underscores the need for further research directed towards elucidating risk factors and barriers that hinder early detection and screening. Additionally, there is a pressing need for expanded data reporting on survival outcomes within the GCC. In sum, a more comprehensive and nuanced understanding of breast cancer dynamics in this region is imperative to inform effective strategies for prevention, early detection, and improved patient outcomes.

Keywords

Breast Cancer; Malignancy; Gulf Cooperation Council(GCC); Survival; HER2; Triple Negative

Subject

Medicine and Pharmacology, Oncology and Oncogenics

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