Setting up a pediatric oncology program in Cambodia: successes and challenges

Angkor Hospital for Children (AHC) is a Cambodian pediatric teaching hospital providing free treatment. In addition to the many challenges faced by health workers in developing countries, Cambodia suffered the decimation of its medical workforce by the Khmer Rouge and subsequent civil war. In the last 2 decades, the country has been rebuilding and retraining doctors and nurses. However, most of the pediatric morbidity and mortality in Cambodia arises from infectious diseases and perinatal complications, where consequently the majority of resources are focused. This leaves most pediatric oncology patients without access to diagnostics or treatment.

In October 2013, AHC commenced a hematology-oncology project. An oncology fellow was appointed in 2015, and a multidisciplinary team gradually developed, comprising nursing, laboratory, pharmacy, and social work departments. In 2017, the Hematology-Oncology Unit was formed, incorporating 2 senior doctors, which rendered the project more sustainable. This program is supported by a partnership between the American Society of Hematology (incorporating various specialist partners) and Health Volunteers Overseas (ASH-HVO). They provide on-site, off-site, and remote training and technical support and pathology services.

We aim to show how a pediatric oncology program can be set up in a low-resource setting without in-country expertise, using external networks, and to discuss the inherent challenges.

The core AHC and off-site team are shown in Table 1. They are supported by the general medical and nursing staff, a wider network of international volunteers, and in particular by the hospital management, including the chief executive officer, who devised the strategic plan.

The partnership with ASH-HVO incorporates pediatric oncologists from Seattle Children’s Hospital, Wisconsin Children’s Hospital, and St Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, who provide regular remote technical advice and guidance on case diagnosis and management. They are supported by a wider network of multidisciplinary HVO volunteers (laboratory, pharmacy, and nursing) from children’s hospitals across the United States. ASH-HVO also enabled AHC to join the VIVA-St. Jude network, bringing further training and support from regional specialists.

AHC has a Skype conference with ASH-HVO pediatric oncologists twice per month, allowing for case discussion and advice, mentoring, and education. In between these conferences, they provide technical advice as required via email. This is supported by face-to-face teaching at AHC at least 3 times per year for the oncology team and the general medical and nursing staff. In addition to the medical volunteers, ASH-HVO has sent oncology nurses, a hematopathologist, and an oncology pharmacist to the site. The ASH-HVO nurses have helped to develop an oncology-nursing curriculum, and the ASH-HVO oncologists have helped to develop protocols and guidelines for treating various oncological conditions and preparing and administering chemotherapy. All such protocols are approved by AHC’s medical department before use.

The AHC oncology fellow attends the annual pediatric oncology St. Jude-VIVA forum (along with 1 oncology nurse and our ophthalmologist) and has completed two 4- to 6-week clinical placements in the oncology department at Wisconsin Children’s Hospital. The ophthalmologist learned focal therapy (laser) at St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital.

AHC’s oncology social worker also received training in Singapore through a connection made at the St. Jude-VIVA forum.

AHC decided to start by treating retinoblastomas because we had the only pediatric ophthalmologist in Cambodia, and he can provide focal treatment as well as enucleation, the chemotherapy is available in-country, has relatively low toxicity, and the regimen duration is 6 months. In 2016 to 2017, we started to treat low-risk solid tumors, such as Wilms and yolk sac tumors, as well as chronic myeloid leukemia (CML; treatment provided free of charge in Phnom Penh). The plan is to gradually increase the number and acuity of oncological conditions treated, as resources allow. ASH-HVO’s training is designed to support this plan.

Histopathology, flow cytometry, immunophenotyping, and genetic studies are provided through the ASH-HVO network.

Since October 2013, 42 AHC patients have received chemotherapy: 37 patients with retinoblastoma, 2 with CML, and 3 with Wilms tumor.

Figure 1 shows the number of patients presenting annually to AHC and the number who received chemotherapy. The 2014 data was incomplete due to staff transition. Figure 2 illustrates the outcomes of retinoblastoma patients before (2007-2013) and after (2014-2015) the availability of curative treatment. Treatment for other conditions only started in 2016 to 2017 (CML, Wilms, and yolk sac tumor). Figure 3 shows from where in Cambodia our retinoblastoma cases originated. Table 2 shows the most common oncological conditions at AHC.

Some challenges remain. As the service expands, we will need to provide more chemotherapy and diagnostic services. Expertise in palliative care, particularly in pain management and psychological support for children and families, is still needed.

Despite many barriers, the oncology program at AHC continues to grow. An active local education program coupled with strong support and direct involvement from AHC hospital management and training and guidance from overseas experts have been key components of progress. A successful partnership requires external partners to listen to the site staff and adjust for local context and resources.

The authors thank Claudia Turner, Khauv Phara, Sath Saingnhan, Varun Kumar, Hour Putchhat, Path Bory, Bun Ly, Sinn Chhomrath, and Kim Dalen (Angkor Hospital for Children); Catherine Lam (St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital); David Yang (University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health); Mary Kluck (Medical Mercy Cambodia; funded by the Max Foundation); Kazuyo Watanabe (Asian Children’s Care League); Paige Johnson (Children’s Mercy Hospital); and Elizabeth Sniderman (Anne and Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital).

Conflict-of-interest disclosure: S.H. and P.V: American Society of Hematology (consultancy); L.K.: Bristol-Myers Squibb (consultancy), Kymab Ltd (research funding), Regeneron (research funding), Juno (research funding). Other authors: No competing financial interests declared.

Correspondence: Prom Vireak, Angkor Hospital for Children, Siem Reap, Cambodia; e-mail: promvireak@angkorhospital.org.