Cancer Epidemiology
Lead Research Organisation:
London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine
Department Name: UNLISTED
Abstract
Our research on the underlying causes of cancer in Uganda will be conducted within the context of our existing research platforms, in particular our General Population Cohort (GPC). The GPC was initiated in 1989, and comprises the population of 25 adjacent villages in rural Uganda; these individuals have been studied intensively for 30 years and a great deal of information about health and disease has been amassed. We have found that cancer is a major cause of death in this population and that the most important causes of cancer are underlying infections. The work of my Programme, is therefore focused on trying to understand the burden and transmission of these infections with a view to intervening to reduce the burden of associated disease.
Technical Summary
We will build on our work showing that the malignant and non-malignant consequences of oncogenic infections (including HIV) are a major cause of morbidity and mortality in Uganda and that lifestyle risk-factors such as tobacco are currently relatively less important in this setting. We will i) examine the transmission dynamics of oncogenic infections, ii) initiate preventive interventions and, iii) conduct aetiological research on specific cancers. For example, the determinants and immune correlates of suppression and transmission of Kaposi’s sarcoma associated herpesvirus (which exists at higher prevalence in our rural cohort than has been reported anywhere else in the world) will be studied. Working within our population platforms, we will: i) examine the impact of a national HPV vaccination scheme on circulating subtypes of HPV; ii) assess the feasibility of H. pylori eradication in a population in which infection is ubiquitous; iii), conduct a feasibility study of Hepatitis C Virus cure and iv) develop further work on understanding liver disease and progression of chronic infection with Hepatitis B virus. We will also seek external funding to conduct a randomised-controlled trial of low-technology methods (a package of post-harvest measures) in combination with a bio-control approach to reduce aflatoxin levels, which we have previously shown to be an important exposure. Comparative research on the epidemiology and aetiology of haematological malignancies in Uganda and in the UK will be further developed, in conjunction with studies of the HIV-related cancers Kaposi’s sarcoma and conjunctival carcinoma.
People |
ORCID iD |
Rob Newton (Principal Investigator) |
Publications
Kalyesubula R
(2018)
Impaired renal function in a rural Ugandan population cohort
in Wellcome Open Research
Mugisha J
(2019)
A Study of Knowledge, Experience, and Beliefs About Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) Infection in South Western Uganda.
in Frontiers in public health
Mcnaughton A
(2019)
SAT-183-High resolution insight into hepatitis B virus infection and immunity in Africa to inform on intervention strategies
in Journal of Hepatology
Tino S
(2019)
Predictors of loss to follow up among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus attending a private not for profit urban diabetes clinic in Uganda - a descriptive retrospective study.
in BMC health services research
Arunga S
(2019)
Traditional eye medicine use in microbial keratitis in Uganda: a mixed methods study
in Wellcome Open Research
Stockdale L
(2019)
Cross-sectional study of IgG antibody levels to invasive nontyphoidal Salmonella LPS O-antigen with age in Uganda.
in Gates open research
Newton R
(2019)
Dyslipidaemia in Africa-comment on a recent systematic review.
in The Lancet. Global health
Gertrude N
(2019)
Caring for a stroke patient: The burden and experiences of primary caregivers in Uganda - A qualitative study.
in Nursing open
Namale G
(2019)
Sustained virological response and drug resistance among female sex workers living with HIV on antiretroviral therapy in Kampala, Uganda: a cross-sectional study.
in Sexually transmitted infections
Arunga S
(2019)
Delay Along the Care Seeking Journey of Patients with Microbial Keratitis in Uganda.
in Ophthalmic epidemiology
Labo N
(2019)
Mutual detection of Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus and Epstein-Barr virus in blood and saliva of Cameroonians with and without Kaposi's sarcoma.
in International journal of cancer
Nalwoga A
(2019)
Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus seropositivity is associated with parasite infections in Ugandan fishing communities on Lake Victoria islands.
in PLoS neglected tropical diseases
Arunga S
(2020)
Epidemiology of Microbial Keratitis in Uganda: A Cohort Study.
in Ophthalmic epidemiology
Nalwoga A
(2020)
Risk Factors for Kaposi's Sarcoma-Associated Herpesvirus DNA in Blood and in Saliva in Rural Uganda.
in Clinical infectious diseases : an official publication of the Infectious Diseases Society of America
Kalyesubula R
(2020)
How to estimate glomerular filtration rate in sub-Saharan Africa: design and methods of the African Research into Kidney Diseases (ARK) study.
in BMC nephrology
Arunga S
(2020)
Risk Factors of Microbial Keratitis in Uganda: A Case Control Study.
in Ophthalmic epidemiology
McNaughton AL
(2020)
Hepatitis B virus seroepidemiology data for Africa: Modelling intervention strategies based on a systematic review and meta-analysis.
in PLoS medicine
Chen WC
(2020)
Johannesburg Cancer Study (JCS): contribution to knowledge and opportunities arising from 20 years of data collection in an African setting.
in Cancer epidemiology
Stockdale L
(2020)
Cytomegalovirus Antibody Responses Associated With Increased Risk of Tuberculosis Disease in Ugandan Adults.
in The Journal of infectious diseases
Related Projects
Project Reference | Relationship | Related To | Start | End | Award Value |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
MC_UU_00027/1 | 01/02/2018 | 31/03/2023 | £2,855,127 | ||
MC_UU_00027/2 | Transfer | MC_UU_00027/1 | 01/02/2018 | 31/03/2023 | £1,326,187 |
MC_UU_00027/3 | Transfer | MC_UU_00027/2 | 01/02/2018 | 31/03/2023 | £1,829,053 |
MC_UU_00027/4 | Transfer | MC_UU_00027/3 | 01/02/2018 | 31/03/2023 | £959,532 |
MC_UU_00027/5 | Transfer | MC_UU_00027/4 | 01/02/2018 | 31/03/2023 | £932,836 |