Christensen, Leslie

Abstract Background Osteoarthritis is a leading cause of disability worldwide, and cell‐based treatments including adipose‐derived and bone marrow aspirate have been sought by the lay and medical community as treatment options. Objective To perform a scoping review of published literature on cell‐based injections allowed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of osteoarthritis to synthesize existing evidence and identify research gaps for future evaluation. Methods A comprehensive search of five databases was executed from inception through January 2, 2025. Studies that met the inclusion criteria were original research studies written in English on Food and Drug Administration‐allowed cell‐based treatments in adults with osteoarthritis of any joint. Results The database search yielded 4257 unique records. After screening, 84 studies met the inclusion criteria, encompassing 9996 patients and a total of 10,508 procedures. The primary research study designs were cohort studies ( n = 62), focused on treatment of knee osteoarthritis ( n = 63), and described bone marrow aspirate ( n = 42) and adipose‐derived ( n = 42) treatments. Postprocedure monitoring ranged from 6 weeks to 5 years, with most studies ≤1 year ( n = 59). Patient‐reported outcomes were reported in 83 of 84 studies; few provided imaging outcomes including magnetic resonance imaging ( n = 9) or radiographs ( n = 2). Conclusion This review identified limited randomized controlled trials, limited studies outside the knee, limited description of cell‐based treatments, and treatment protocols, along with inconsistent patient‐reported outcomes limited to 1 year in most studies. We propose establishing reporting guidelines in research on cell‐based therapies.

ABSTRACT Background and Objectives Surgery is the mainstay of treatment for localized colorectal cancer (CRC); however, little is known about survival outcomes following CRC surgery in low‐ and middle‐income countries (LMICs). Here, we examine the available data on long‐term outcomes following CRC resections in LMICs. Methods A systematic review and meta‐analysis were conducted on primary research studies reporting survival data after CRC resection with curative intent in LMICs. Disease‐free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) data were extracted, and random effects modelling was used to estimate the pooled survival rates. Results One hundred and fifty‐four studies representing 20,589 CRC patients were analyzed. Notably, only 27 (20%) of the 137 LMICs were represented in the literature. The pooled 5‐year OS estimate was 88% (95% CI: 77–95), 76% (69–81), and 57% (49–64) for Stages I, II, and III, respectively. 5‐year DFS estimates were 82% (71–90), 76% (67–84), and 59% (51–65) for stages I, II, and III, respectively. Combined OS and DFS estimates for all three stages were 76% and 69%, respectively. Survival rates varied considerably across the included studies and between income groups. Conclusions With the rising incidence of CRC globally, our work highlights the dearth of data on long‐term outcomes following CRC operations in most LMICs and emphasizes the urgent need for research capacity building.

Abstract Purpose: Colorectal Cancer (CRC) is a leading cause of death from cancer globally. Surgery is the mainstay of treatment for localized CRC; however, little is known about survival outcomes following CRC surgery in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). In this study, we examine the published literature for data on long-term outcomes following CRC resections in LMICs. Methods: We systematically reviewed PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and Global Index Medicus for original research articles reporting survival data after CRC resection with curative intent in LMICs, published between January 2005 and May 2022. LMICs were defined according to the 2020 World Bank categories. We excluded studies without English full text or involving pediatric populations (<18 years), non-primary colorectal, benign disease, and endoscopic/transanal resection only. Studies from China dominated the published literature and were excluded. Abstracts and full texts were reviewed by two independent reviewers, and a third reviewer resolved conflicts. Disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) data were extracted, and random effects modelling was used to estimate the pooled survival rates. Results: Our search returned 32,261 articles. After deduplication, 20,729 abstracts were assessed for eligibility, with 154 articles meeting inclusion criteria, representing a total of 20,589 CRC patients. 98 (63.6%) studies were from upper-middle-income (UM) countries, 55 (35.7%) from lower-middle-income (LM) countries and only one was from a low-income (L) country. Notably, only 27 (20%) of the 137 LMICs were represented in the literature. Turkey accounted for the highest frequency (29%) of included articles. Most (60%) of the studies were retrospective cohort design, and only three (3) were randomized controlled trials. The pooled 5-year OS estimate was 88% (95% CI: 77–95) for Stage I disease, 76% (69–81) for Stage II, and 57% (49–64) for Stage III. 5-year DFS estimates were 82% (71–90), 76% (67–84), and 59% (51–65) for stages I, II and III respectively. Survival rates varied considerably between income groups, with the strongest disparity seen with Stage III OS data at 18 months: 89% in UM, 86% in LM, and 50% in L (p=0.0005). Conclusion: With the rising incidence of CRC in LMICs, our work highlights the dearth of data on long-term outcomes following CRC operations in LMICs and emphasizes the urgent need for research capacity building, especially in low-income countries. Citation Format: Oluwasegun Afolaranmi, Thomas M. Diehl, Sehar Salim Virani, Qiuyu Yang, Kenechukwu Okwunze, Adel H. Khan, Nabiha Akhlaq Mughal, Daniel Schroeder, Sheida Pourdashti, Leslie Christensen, Sadaf Khan, Syed Nabeel Zafar. Survival Following Colorectal Cancer Surgery in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 13th Annual Symposium on Global Cancer Research; 2025 Sep 16. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2025;34(12_Suppl):Abstract nr 84.