Antananarivo

Researchers are collecting detailed information about children with cancer who are treated at pediatric oncology units in French-speaking Africa. This registry aims to provide accurate data on the number of cases, disease stage, treatments, and outcomes to help improve pediatric cancer care and support local and national health planning. The project focuses on children and adolescents under 18 years old diagnosed with any type of cancer. The data includes demographic and socioeconomic details along with clinical status and treatment results. Information on vital status, treatment abandonment, and loss to follow-up is also gathered. Data is entered locally into an online system called REDCap and securely stored by the IT department at Gustave ROUSSY in Paris-Villejuif. Participants are children under 18 who come to participating hospitals for cancer treatment. Researchers track the number of children suspected of having cancer, their health status, treatment progress, and survival over any 12-month period. This ongoing registry helps monitor outcomes and supports efforts to improve pediatric oncology services in the region.

Researchers are conducting the 4th Burkitt's Lymphoma (LMB) study led by the French African Pediatric Oncology Group (GFAOP) across at least 14 Sub-Saharan countries, including some new participants. The study aims to improve early diagnosis and treatment evaluation of children with Burkitt's lymphoma, focusing on earlier detection of stage I and II disease and assessing response so treatment changes can be made as needed. Additionally, the study seeks to intensify treatment for children with stage IV disease. Starting from March 15, 2026, rituximab will be introduced to evaluate its toxicity and effectiveness alongside current treatment recommendations. The intervention is observational, monitoring the ability of participating centers to treat according to the protocol and assess outcomes for children with stage I and II disease. The study will compare results with earlier experiences at two GFAOP units in Burkina Faso and Ivory Coast. Rituximab's addition will be prospectively evaluated in terms of safety and treatment response. Participants will be followed for five years to evaluate the number of cases with local disease, disease stage at diagnosis, treatments given, follow-up after treatment, and relapse rates. This long-term monitoring will help understand treatment effectiveness and outcomes in African children with Burkitt's lymphoma, supporting improved care strategies in the region.

Plasmodium vivax malaria is challenging to eliminate because it can form dormant liver stages called hypnozoites, which can reactivate weeks to months after the initial infection and cause repeated malaria episodes. These relapses contribute significantly to ongoing parasite spread and illness. Since direct detection of hypnozoites is not currently possible, researchers developed a test that measures antibodies from recent blood-stage infections to identify individuals infected within the last nine months, roughly the lifespan of hypnozoites. This trial evaluates a new approach called Plasmodium vivax Serological Testing and Treatment (PvSeroTAT). The study randomly assigns 48 clusters in Ethiopia and Madagascar to either receive the PvSeroTAT intervention or serve as controls. In the intervention clusters, participants will be tested twice (at month 0 and month 6) for antibodies against P. vivax. Those who test positive will have their G6PD enzyme activity measured to ensure safety before receiving targeted treatment with primaquine and either chloroquine or artesunate-amodiaquine, depending on the country. Control clusters also have two rounds of antibody testing, but positive results do not lead to treatment. Participants will be monitored for side effects and medication adherence during the first 7 days after treatment. Malaria incidence will be tracked through local health posts for 18 months after the first intervention. Additionally, blood samples will be collected at months 12 and 18 to measure P. vivax and P. falciparum prevalence using PCR assays. The main outcome is the proportion of individuals with detectable P. vivax infections six months after the second treatment or blood draw, helping to assess the feasibility and impact of the PvSeroTAT strategy.

This research aims to evaluate how well medical units follow treatment recommendations for children with nephroblastoma, a type of kidney cancer. It builds on results from two previous studies by the GFAOP and focuses on treatment compliance and outcomes in children receiving care. The study also seeks to improve how treatment adherence and reporting are monitored to better support future treatment programs adapted to local conditions. The study involves collecting data on clinical disease stage, treatments given, and any observed side effects. Researchers will track treatment outcomes and follow-up care for participating children. This data collection helps assess whether units are meeting protocol recommendations and identifies areas for improvement. Participants will be monitored over a period of five years to evaluate the number of cases with local disease and advanced stage IV disease. Treatment methods and follow-up care will also be reviewed throughout this time. These long-term evaluations aim to understand treatment effectiveness and adherence over time in children aged six months to 18 years.

This research aims to improve the survival outcomes for children with retinoblastoma, especially those with stage II disease, in low-income African countries. Although survival rates in high-income countries exceed 95%, this study focuses on early diagnosis and early application of therapeutic recommendations to enhance survival in resource-limited settings. The study collects data to analyze disease stage, treatment, and outcomes to demonstrate potential improvements. The study observes the results of children treated according to these therapeutic recommendations without introducing new treatments. The intervention involves following established treatment protocols and monitoring their application in participating hospitals. The study does not involve experimental drugs or procedures but focuses on assessing treatment feasibility and outcomes over a long period. Participants will be monitored for up to 10 years to record the number of retinoblastoma cases, the number of stage II cases, the feasibility of applying the treatment recommendations in African settings, and the treatments given. Follow-up includes evaluating survival and treatment outcomes. This long-term observational approach allows researchers to understand the effectiveness of early diagnosis and treatment adherence in improving survival rates for children with retinoblastoma in the study regions.