This paper highlights the gap in the use of genomic data of Africans for global research efforts for disease cures. Genomic data represents an important tool used in disease research for understanding how diseases affect several populations and how these differences can be harnessed for the development of effective cures especially vaccines that have an impact at the genetic level e.g., RNA vaccines.This paper then provides a review of global genomic data status where three continents are reported to be the major contributor of genomic data to repositories used for disease research and the development of vaccines and medicines around the world.We reviewed the most recently published information about genetic data inclusiveness of populations, explaining how genomic data of Africans is lacking in global research efforts that cater towards the eradication of pandemics via the development of vaccines and other cures. We also discuss the implication of this non-inclusiveness for global disease burdens and indicate where changes need to be made in the last part of the paper.Lastly, the entire centers on some general policy recommendations to fully include African genomic data in such global genetic repositories. These recommendations can be implemented in African countries to improve genetic data collection, storage, and usage policies.

PURPOSE: Africans have been associated with more aggressive forms of breast cancer (BC). However, there is a lack of data regarding the incidence and distribution of different subtypes on the basis of phenotypic classification. This scoping review and meta-analysis was undertaken to determine the distribution pattern of BC phenotypes (luminal, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 [HER2]+, and triple-negative breast cancer [TNBC]) across the African region. METHODS: Four online databases (PubMed, Scopus, ProQuest, and EBSCOhost) were accessed to identify studies published between 2000 and 2022 reporting the representation of receptor status (estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, and HER2) in African patients with BC. Furthermore, the meta-analysis was carried out using a random-effects model and pooled using the inverse variance method and logit transformation. 95% CI and I² statistics were calculated using the Clopper-Pearson method to estimate between-study heterogeneity. RESULTS: A total of 2,734 records were retrieved, of which 2,133 were retained for further screening. After the screening, 63 studies were finally selected for the scoping review and meta-analysis. The pooled frequency of luminal, HER2-positive (HER2+), and TNBC was estimated at 56.30%, 12.61%, and 28.10%, respectively. Northern Africa had the highest frequency of the luminal subtype, while West Africa showed higher frequencies of HER2+ and TNBC subtypes. The review also had a representation of only 24 countries in Africa. CONCLUSION: Our results highlight the disparity in the representation of molecular subtypes among the people in different regions of Africa. There is a need to incorporate routine molecular subtyping into the management of African patients with BC.

Background: β-catenin is an important unit of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, a conserved process involving several physiological activities, encompassing differentiation and cell proliferation, etc. The dysfunction or mutation in β-catenin causing the initiation and advancement of various neoplasm types, including colorectal cancer, breast cancer, etc., has been reported. Therefore, β-catenin is a therapeutic target. Hence, designing new inhibitors targeted against β-catenin will prevent cancerous cells’ involvement and eliminate the diseases. Studies showed that Vitis vinifera, a well-known grape species, contains different phytochemical substances, including aromatic acids, flavonoids, phenolic compounds, proanthocyanins, etc. V.vinifera exerts different anticancer properties such as apoptosis, cell proliferation, cell cycle arrest, and inhibition in cancerous cells. Structural bioinformatics methods, including molecular docking, molecular mechanics generalized Born surface area (MM/GBSA), absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion studies (ADMET), and pharmacophore modeling approach, were used to determine the potential β-catenin inhibitors from V.vinifera bioactive compounds. Result: Cis-astringin, rutin, caftaric acid, trans-caftaric acid, procyanidin B3, cis-Miyabenol C, and ampelopsin H are shown to be suitable inhibitors against β-catenin due to their binding affinity and interaction with the amino acids residues at the binding sites of β-catenin compared to Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved drugs leucovorin Calcium and Xeloda prescribed to cure colorectal cancer. Conclusions: This study suggests that V. vinifera could be a good plant source for compounds that might treat cancer by inhibiting the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway.

Cancer is one of the leading causes of death worldwide and a major global public health concern, especially in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Recent advances in the five pillars of cancer treatment: surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, targeted therapies, and immunotherapy have enhanced the treatment of cancers, with immunotherapy leading as a frontier in the treatment of cancers. However, in SSA, there are limitations to the application of this frontier treatment due to minimal or no representation of Africans in most clinical trials involving cancer immunotherapy. To achieve desired treatment successes in SSA, special attention needs to be paid to how these advances can be applied in SSA settings. In this chapter, we examine major barriers to the adoption of immunotherapy, such as high treatment costs, a lack of biomarker testing and genomic sequencing, underrepresentation in clinical trials, and insufficient healthcare infrastructure. We concluded with strategic proposals for overcoming these constraints, including greater funding for cancer research in SSA, extension of local clinical trials, capacity training, and policy reforms. Addressing these disparities is critical for ensuring equitable access to immunotherapy and improving cancer outcomes throughout SSA.

Background Breast cancer is one of the most common cancer types among women, especially in developing and underdeveloped nations like Nigeria. Anexelekto (AXL) is one of the well-known proteins that is implicated in various cancer types, including breast cancer, and it remains one of the focuses of targeted therapy. However, several drugs have been identified as inhibitors of this oncogenic protein, but they often come with toxic concerns in addition to their unaffordability to people of low- or middle-income countries. Thus, there is a crucial need to identify pocket-friendly inhibitors with negligible side effects targeting AXL. Therefore, bioactive compounds from plants such as Echinacea purpurea may be a promising agent in this regard. Objective The study sought to investigate the potential of bioactive compounds derived from Echinacea purpurea to inhibit the AXL protein implicated in breast cancer. Methods Structural bioinformatics via molecular docking and density functional theory (DFT) analysis was utilised for the identification of novel AXL inhibitors from Echinacea purpurea bioactive compounds. The compounds were further subjected to pharmacokinetic and drug-likeness analysis. Results obtained from the compounds were compared against those of Foretinib, a known AXL inhibitor. Additionally, their complexes with AXL were subjected to a 100 ns molecular dynamics (MD) simulation analysis utilising the Desmond v2020-4 software in Schrödinger (Academic version) in a Linux environment. Results Among all favourable binding scores, Kaempferol-7-o-Neohesperidoside, Kaempferol 3-gentiobioside-7-rhamnoside, and Kaempferol 3-o-beta-d-glucopyranosyl-7-o-alpha-L-rhamnopyranoside showed the highest binding score of -9.2, -8.9, and − 8.6 Kcal/mol, respectively, compared to Foretinib (-8.1 Kcal/mol). Stigmasterol and β-sitosterol also showed a higher binding affinity and binding score of -8.4 and − 8.3 Kcal/mol, respectively, against the AXL compared to the standard drug. DFT analysis revealed that Kaempferol 3-o-beta-d-glucopyranosyl-7-o-alpha-L-rhamnopyranoside has the highest LUMO-HOMO gap of -4.354 eV, suggesting greater potential for electron donation and high drug-enzyme reactivity. Also, the pharmacokinetic profiling of the selected compounds is favourable. Findings from MD simulation showed that the protein-ligand complexes formed by these compounds maintained structural stability, compactness, and low atomic fluctuations throughout a 100-ns simulation period. Conclusion In silico studies show that E. purpurea-derived compounds, especially Kaempferol 3-o-beta-d-glucopyranosyl-7-o-alpha-L-rhamnopyranoside, have better inhibitory potential against AXL and better pharmacokinetic profiles when compared with Foretinib. These compounds are thus proposed as novel AXL inhibitors for the treatment of breast cancer. Further, in vivo studies are needed to confirm the potency of the studied compounds.