Abuja: Prof. Kunle Odunsi, a Clinician-Scientist and Director of the University of Chicago Medicine Comprehensive Cancer Centre, has called for an urgent transformation in the cancer care system of Nigeria. During a public lecture and the induction of Nigerian Academy of Science (NAS) fellows in Abuja, Odunsi advocated for the adoption of precision oncology, immunotherapy, and expanded cancer research infrastructure to tackle the country’s cancer challenges.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the event also marked the inauguration of the NAS museum and library. The public lecture was themed ‘Redefining Cancer Care in the Era of Immunotherapy and Precision Oncology: Implications for Research, Treatment and Policy in Nigeria.’ Odunsi emphasized that Nigeria’s current cancer care system is insufficient to handle the increasing cancer burden, with about 80,000 Nigerians dying annually from the disease and survival rates lagging behind those in developed nations.
The clinician attributed these poor outcomes to several factors, including late diagnosis, inadequate screening systems, a shortage of specialists, weak research infrastructure, and high out-of-pocket healthcare costs. Currently, Nigeria has only about 10 radiotherapy centers and approximately 70 oncologists to serve over 200 million people.
Odunsi stressed the need for a paradigm shift in cancer care, advocating for the implementation of precision oncology and immunotherapy. He underlined that precision oncology leverages the genetic and molecular profiles of patients and tumors to guide diagnosis and treatment decisions, allowing for tailored therapies rather than conventional chemotherapy. Immunotherapy, meanwhile, reactivates the body’s immune system to identify and destroy cancer cells.
To address these challenges, Odunsi recommended establishing a National Cancer Registry to help identify population-specific genetic risk factors and improve prevention and treatment strategies. He also highlighted the need for expanded cancer screening programs, particularly for breast and colorectal cancers, noting that the majority of Nigerian patients are diagnosed at advanced stages. Additionally, he called for the creation of regional cancer centers of excellence, genomics laboratories, and a national precision oncology initiative.
Odunsi further emphasized the necessity for increased investment in cancer clinical trials in Africa, pointing out that the continent hosts only 109 cancer clinical trials compared to nearly 8,000 in the U.S.