Advances in Breast Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment in Africa

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Abstract
Breast cancer remains a significant cause of cancer-related mortality in Africa, where late-stage diagnosis, limited access to specialised care, and underrepresentation in biomedical research continue to impede improvements in patient outcomes. At the same time, rapid advances in tumour biology, molecular diagnostics, and precision oncology are fundamentally reshaping our understanding of breast cancer globally. This review examines recent developments in breast cancer clinical research, highlighting how these developments are shaping the future of diagnostics and targeted therapeutics. We further discuss emerging technologies, including multi-omics, liquid biopsy, and artificial intelligence, and consider their potential to advance precision oncology. Importantly, we evaluate these advances within the African context, where limited molecular data, restricted access to diagnostic infrastructure, and resource constraints continue to challenge clinical implementation. Improving outcomes across the continent will require more than the adoption of emerging technologies; it will depend on generating African-relevant biological evidence, expanding representation in genomic research, and integrating molecular, clinical, and environmental data to develop equitable, context-specific precision medicine strategies. Such an approach offers the potential to transform breast cancer management while reducing longstanding disparities in cancer care across Africa.

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