Breast cancer stands as the prevailing malignancy across all six Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) nations. In this literature review, we highlighted the incidence and trend of breast cancer in the GCC. Most of the studies reported a consistent increase in breast cancer incidence over the past decades, which was particularly attributed to the adoption of a Westernized lifestyle in the region and the implications of emerging risk factors and other environmental and societal factors, the increase in screening uptake, as well as the improvement in data collection and reporting in the GCC. The data on breast cancer risk factors in the GCC were limited. In this geographic region, breast cancer frequently manifests with distinctive characteristics, including an early onset, typically occurring before the age of 50; an advanced stage at presentation; and a higher pathological grade. Additionally, it often exhibits more aggressive features such as human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) positivity or the presence of triple-negative (TN) attributes, particularly among younger patients. Despite the growing body of literature on breast cancer in the GCC, data pertaining to survival rates are, regrettably, meager. Reports on breast cancer survival rates emanating from the GCC region are largely confined to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). In the UAE, predictive modeling reveals 2-year and 5-year survival rates of 97% and 89%, respectively, for the same period under scrutiny. These rates, when compared to Western counterparts such as Australia (89.5%) and Canada (88.2%), fall within the expected range. Conversely, Saudi Arabia reports a notably lower 5-year survival rate, standing at 72%. This disparity in survival rates underscores the need for further research directed toward elucidating risk factors and barriers that hinder early detection and screening. Additionally, there is a pressing need for expanded data reporting on survival outcomes within the GCC. In sum, a more comprehensive and nuanced understanding of breast cancer dynamics in this region is imperative to inform effective strategies for prevention, early detection, and improved patient outcomes.

Background The role of somatic mutations in breast cancer prognosis and management continues to be recognized. However, data on the molecular profiles of Arab women are limited. Materials and Methods This was a cross-sectional study based on medical chart review of all Arab women diagnosed with breast cancer at a single institution between 2010 and 2018 who underwent next-generation sequencing with Ampliseq 46-Gene or 50-Gene. Results A total of 78 Arab women were identified, with a median age at diagnosis of 52.3 years (range: 37–82 years; 38.5% ≤50 years). The majority of patients had stage III or IV disease (74.4%). Next-generation sequencing revealed the following somatic mutation rates: TP53, 23.1%; ATM, 2.6%; IDH1, 2.6%; IDH2, 3.8%; PTEN, 7.7%; PIK3CA, 15.4%; APC, 7.7%; NPMA1, 1.3%; MPL, 1.3%; JAK2, 2.5%; KIT, 7.7%; KRAS, 3.8%; and NRAS, 3.8%. Conclusion Our study illustrates frequencies of somatic mutations in Arab women with breast cancer and suggests potential variations from estimates reported in the Western population. These data calls for larger epidemiologic studies considering the evolving role of such mutations in prognostication and personalized management.

In 2020, breast cancer (BC) was the most diagnosed cancer worldwide, with 2.26 million new cases and 685,000 deaths. In the UAE, breast cancer was one of the leading causes of cancer deaths in 2021, with an estimated average of 9.64% of cancer deaths per year. The total number of breast cancer cases reported to the UAE National Cancer Registry among the UAE population was 1139, representing 20.3% of all malignant cases in 2021. This chapter will review published articles and research data from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to learn more about the features and outcomes of breast cancer. It will also draw attention to current unmet needs in order to focus on resource allocation and future clinical and research initiatives.

Neuroendocrine tumors (NETs), despite their increasing incidence, are considered to be rare tumors. There is no published data about the incidence or prevalence of NETs in the UAE. In a survey in 2021 for oncologists in the UAE, 43 respondents completed the survey. Thirty-one respondents (72.1%) had active patients with neuroendocrine tumors at the time of the survey. Thirty-one respondents (73.8%) indicated that GI NET was the most common NET in their practice. Six respondents (14.3%) selected lung and two (4.8%) selected gynecological NETs as the most common NETs in their practices. This is the first study to address the potential burden of NETs in the UAE. More education for family physicians, endocrinologists, and gastroenterologists in the UAE is needed to facilitate early diagnosis.

Due to demographics, greater early detection, and improved treatment, there are more cancer survivors today. Hence, it becomes important to provide these patients with a survivorship care plan with tailored check-ups and routine follow-ups to ensure their physical and psychosocial well-being and mitigate the possible long-term effects due to the disease itself and the treatments provided. In the United Arab Emirates, cancer survivorship programs and dedicated clinics have yet to be established as an integral part of caring for cancer patients. In this chapter, we will shed light on the unmet need to optimize holistic cancer care delivery and develop a national survivorship strategy tailored to cancer, cultural, and population characteristics.