Finding a low-cost way to detect endemic Burkitt Lymphoma earlier

Children that get malaria in sub-Saharan Africa are more at risk of developing a cancer of the immune system called endemic Burkitt Lymphoma. This cancer is often undiagnosed, mis-diagnosed or found so late that treatment is not effective. The first symptom is a swelling of the jaw that is often mistaken for a tooth infection, resulting in visits to dentists and alternative healers such as witch doctors rather than medical centres. Because of this, many children diagnosed with Burkitt Lymphoma in Sub-Saharan Africa die, with only two in ten children surviving their disease. If it could be diagnosed earlier and children and families taught about Burkitt Lymphoma, then treatment could start earlier.  

The research team at the University of Cambridge, led by Dr Suzanne Turner, is working with the Uganda Cancer Institute in Kampala, who first discovered Burkitt Lymphoma. Over the past two years they have been working together to collect tumour samples and equip a lab. They are now ready to use these resources to develop a way to test for Burkitt Lymphoma with a low-cost blood test that could be used to check all children at malaria clinics in Uganda.  The blood test will look for the Epstein Barr Virus which is known to play a part in the development of this cancer, as well as look for pieces of genetic code that get released from tumour cells. The test will use a relatively new technology called MinION which allows low-cost genetic sequencing to take place in the field.

Dr Suzanne Turner and her team want to help low-income countries improve their childhood cancer care, especially when, in high-income countries, over nine in ten children survive Burkitt Lymphoma. If children at risk can be found and taught about Burkitt Lymphoma, more children could be given treatment which could save lives.