OBJECTIVES: Nephroblastoma (Wilms Tumour) is one of the most common paediatric solid tumours in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Nephroblastoma is a highly curable paediatric cancer in high-income settings, with overall survival (OS) rates exceeding 90% when using multidisciplinary approaches. Population-based data on nephroblastoma survival rates in SSA are scarce, particularly for 5-year survival estimates. In 2018, the WHO launched the Global Initiative for Childhood Cancer, aiming for a minimum paediatric cancer survival rate of 60% by 2030. This report examines nephroblastoma survival rates across 7 countries in SSA to determine survival rates across the region and highlight key reasons for treatment failure.

METHODS: We collate results on nephroblastoma survival rates from published research based on retrospective treatment results for patients diagnosed with histologically confirmed nephroblastoma in Uganda, Rwanda, Malawi, Sudan, Ethiopia, Ghana, and Cameroon.

RESULTS: Paediatric nephroblastoma survival rates vary across SSA, depending on region, institution, and cancer stage at presentation. Across the countries in our comparison, end-of-treatment survival ranged from 11-61%. In Uganda, data from three centres revealed 1-year survival rate of between 55% and 59.3%, though 3-year survival rates were less concor­dant. There is a general trend in increased survival rates with time between 2010-2014, and 2015-2020 cohorts both within and across SSA.

CONCLUSIONS: Paediatric nephroblastoma survival rates in SSA continue to fall short of WHO 2030 targets. Treatment failures may be attributed to barriers in access to care, late-stage presentation, and treatment abandonment. However, both single-country and collaborative multi-country reports reveal trends in increased survival rates. Introduction of multi-centre collaborative projects and multi-centre adapted treatment guidelines may be linked to increased treatment success and reduced treatment abandonment.