Investigating Wilms' Tumours Worldwide: A Report of the OxPLORE Collaboration-A Cross-Sectional Observational Study.
Ford K., Gunawardana S., Manirambona E., Philipoh GS., Mukama B., Kanyamuhunga A., Cartledge P., Nyoni MJ., Mwaipaya D., Mpwaga J., Bokhary Z., Scanlan T., Heinsohn T., Hathaway H., Mansfield R., Wilson S., Lakhoo K.
BACKGROUND: Childhood cancer is neglected within global health. Oxford Pediatrics Linking Oncology Research with Electives describes early outcomes following collaboration between low- and high-income paediatric surgery and oncology centres. The aim of this paper is twofold: to describe the development of a medical student-led research collaboration; and to report on the experience of Wilms' tumour (WT). METHODS: This cross-sectional observational study is reported as per STROBE guidelines. Collaborating centres included three tertiary hospitals in Tanzania, Rwanda and the UK. Data were submitted by medical students following retrospective patient note review of 2 years using a standardised data collection tool. Primary outcome was survival (point of discharge/death). RESULTS: There were 104 patients with WT reported across all centres over the study period (Tanzania n = 71, Rwanda n = 26, UK n = 7). Survival was higher in the high-income institution [87% in Tanzania, 92% in Rwanda, 100% in the UK (X2 36.19, p