Antananarivo

This registry collects detailed information about children diagnosed with cancer who are treated in pediatric oncology units affiliated with the French African Oncology Group in French-speaking Africa. Its goal is to gather data on patient numbers, cancer stage, treatments received, and outcomes to support better planning and delivery of pediatric oncology care in the region. The registry aims to provide valuable insights for local and national health authorities to improve pediatric cancer programs. Children and adolescents under 18 years old who present at participating pediatric oncology units and have any type of cancer are included in this observational registry. Data collected includes demographic information, socioeconomic status, clinical details, treatment status, vital status, treatment abandonment, and loss to follow-up. The information is entered online using the REDCap system and securely stored by the IT department at Gustave ROUSSY in Paris. Participants information is gathered continuously during their treatment and follow-up at the hospital units. The main measures tracked include the number of children suspected of having cancer within 12-month periods, their vital status, illness status, and treatment status. This ongoing data collection helps monitor outcomes and supports healthcare planning. Participation involves no experimental treatment and is focused on data recording and observation over time.

Researchers are conducting a phase III randomized controlled trial called INTENSE-TBM to evaluate treatments aimed at reducing death rates in adolescents and adults with tuberculous meningitis, including those with or without HIV infection in sub-Saharan Africa. The trial compares intensified tuberculosis meningitis treatment using high-dose rifampicin and linezolid against the World Health Organizations standard treatment, and also examines the effects of aspirin compared to a placebo. This study is carried out across multiple countries including Cte dIvoire, Madagascar, Uganda, and South Africa. Participants are randomly assigned to one of four groups standard WHO tuberculosis meningitis treatment with aspirin placebo, standard treatment with aspirin, intensified treatment with aspirin placebo, or intensified treatment with aspirin. The intensified treatment includes high doses of rifampicin and linezolid for the first eight weeks, followed by standard doses of rifampicin and isoniazid until week 40. Aspirin or placebo is taken daily during the first eight weeks. After week 8, all participants continue with standard treatment until week 40. During the 40-week follow-up, participants undergo regular assessments to monitor survival, neurological events, adverse effects, and disability. Laboratory tests, including culture and drug resistance evaluations, as well as pharmacokinetic studies in subsets of patients, are conducted. HIV-infected participants will have additional monitoring of AIDS-related illnesses, viral load, and immune cell counts. The primary outcome measures the rate of death from any cause up to 40 weeks, with secondary outcomes assessing safety, effectiveness, and quality of life related factors.

This research aims to improve treatment for children with Burkitts Lymphoma across at least 14 Sub Saharan countries, some new to this type of study. It focuses on earlier evaluation of children with stage I and II disease and earlier assessment of treatment response to decide if changes are needed. It also intends to intensify treatment for children with stage IV disease. Starting in 2026, the study will assess adding rituximab to current treatments and compare results with earlier implementations in two specific centers. The study involves observing the ability of treatment centers to follow the established GFA LMB2019 protocol for Burkitts Lymphoma. In two units, an amendment adds four rituximab injections during induction treatment, given on day 1 and day 6 of each induction cycle, depending on the risk group and treatment regimen. Other centers will continue using the original GFA LMB2019 treatment protocol without rituximab. Participants will be monitored over five years to evaluate the number of cases diagnosed with local disease and by stage, the treatments given, follow-up after treatment, and relapse rates. The study will also assess how well therapeutic recommendations are applied. This long-term observation helps understand treatment outcomes and the impact of adding rituximab in selected centers.

Researchers are investigating a new approach to target Plasmodium vivax malaria, which persists due to dormant liver stages called hypnozoites that can cause relapses weeks to months after initial infection. This cluster-randomised Phase 3 trial in Madagascar and Ethiopia aims to evaluate the feasibility, acceptability, and effectiveness of Plasmodium vivax Serological Testing and Treatment PvSeroTAT to identify and treat individuals recently exposed to the parasite and reduce relapses and transmission. The study involves 48 clusters randomly assigned to either the PvSeroTAT intervention or a control arm. In the intervention clusters, participants undergo two rounds of serological testing at baseline and six months to detect antibodies indicating recent infection. Those with positive results receive targeted treatment with primaquine plus chloroquine or artesunate-amodiaquine depending on the country, after confirming normal G6PD enzyme activity and no contraindications. Control clusters receive serological testing without treatment. Malaria incidence is monitored passively for up to 18 months after the first intervention, and cross-sectional surveys with blood sampling occur at months 12 and 18 to assess malaria prevalence. Participants will be monitored for side effects and adherence during the first week of treatment, with blood tests to check hemoglobin levels and detect any hemolysis. The main outcome measured is the proportion of individuals with detectable P. vivax infections six months after the second intervention round. Secondary outcomes include infection prevalence and clinical malaria incidence at various timepoints, safety assessments, and treatment coverage. The study runs from May 2025 to April 2027, with ongoing monitoring and surveys to understand the impact of this targeted serological testing and treatment approach.

This research aims to evaluate how well treatment units follow therapeutic recommendations for children diagnosed with Nephroblastoma, a type of kidney cancer. It builds on two previous studies by the French Africa Pediatric Oncology Group GFAOP and focuses on treatment compliance and outcomes for children receiving care. The study also seeks to assess improvements in treatment adherence and reporting to better tailor future treatment programs to local conditions. The study involves children with suspected Nephroblastoma who receive standard care while clinical data are collected. Researchers will gather information on the clinical stage, treatments given, any treatment-related side effects, outcomes after treatment, and follow-up care. This observational study does not involve experimental treatments but monitors how existing protocols are applied and their results over time. Participants will be followed for up to five years, during which data on disease stage at diagnosis, treatment details, and follow-up visits will be recorded. The primary outcomes include the number of cases with localized and advanced disease, treatment regimens used, and compliance with follow-up care. Secondary outcomes examine reasons for treatment failure. This long-term monitoring helps understand treatment effectiveness and areas for improvement in care delivery.

This research aims to improve outcomes for children with retinoblastoma, a type of eye cancer, particularly in low-income African countries where survival rates are lower compared to high-income countries. The study focuses on children with stage II disease and hopes that early diagnosis and timely treatment can greatly enhance survival. This is an observational study designed to collect and analyze data on disease stage, treatments used, and patient outcomes over time. The study follows therapeutic recommendations for treating children diagnosed with retinoblastoma. It observes how well these treatment protocols are implemented and whether they lead to better survival rates. The study does not involve administering experimental treatments but monitors the treatments given according to these recommendations. Participants will be monitored and followed for up to 10 years to assess various outcomes, including the number of retinoblastoma cases at participating hospitals, the number of cases at stage II disease, the feasibility of applying these therapeutic recommendations in the African setting, and treatment evaluations. Follow-up care and data collection will support understanding the effectiveness and practicality of early diagnosis and treatment in improving survival.