Cancer Burden Among Adolescents and Young Adults in Guinea: A Retrospective Study From a National Referral Center, 2016-2023
Kalil Cissé, Ibrahima K. Condé, Mamadou B. Souaré, Mamady Keita, Abou Camara, Malick Bah, Arbaba Baldé, Bangaly TraoréPurpose
Adolescents and young adults (AYAs) exhibit a distinct cancer profile between pediatric and adult malignancies. Data from West Africa remain scarce, particularly in Guinea, where evidence is largely based on hospital data because of the absence of a structured cancer registry. This study aimed to describe the burden and profile of cancers among AYAs treated at the largest national referral hospital in Guinea.
Materials and Methods
This was a retrospective descriptive study conducted from 2016 to 2023 in the oncology department of Donka University Hospital, Conakry. All AYAs (age 15-39 years) with histologically confirmed cancers were included. Sociodemographic and clinical data were collected from medical records, hospital registries, and the department's database.
Results
A total of 739 newly diagnosed AYAs were included, representing 27.7% of all histologically confirmed cancer cases. The number of cases increased from 28 in 2016 to 183 in 2023. The median age was 31 years (IQR, 26-35), and 71.2% were female. Breast cancer was the most common malignancy (38.2%), whereas lymphomas (15.0%) and liver cancers (12.2%) predominated among males. Sarcomas were the most common among 15- to 19-year-olds (44.4%). Overall, 58.9% were diagnosed at locally advanced stage and 27.7% were diagnosed with metastatic disease.
Conclusion
Cancers among AYAs increased substantially over the study period in our context, with distinct age- and sex-related patterns. The predominance of advanced stages underscores ongoing challenges in early detection and access to care. These findings emphasize the need for strengthened cancer surveillance, earlier diagnosis strategies, and AYA-adapted supportive care in Guinea.