Cancer research in the Arab world

Abstract

Cancer research is needed in the Arab world to provide evidence to healthcare workers and health policy makers. This chapter examines the literature on cancer research productivity in the Arab world, and the output of the 22 countries with respect to the number of publications, main types of cancers studied and top journals that researchers aim to publish their findings in. Although the Arab region is lagging in its cancer research output, it is reassuring that productivity has been on the rise in the last decade. There are great variations between countries in their contribution to cancer research, with Egypt and Saudi Arabia contributing the most and sub-Saharan Arab countries the least. Breast cancer is the most researched cancer in the Arab countries, overshadowing other leading cancers. The top journals that researchers published their work in are the Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention, Pan African Medical Journal, Saudi Medical Journal, Tunisie Medicale, the Gulf Journal of Oncology and the Journal of the Egyptian National Cancer Institute. The last two occupied the fifth rank equally. All these journals are Q3 journals except for the first, which is a Q2 journal. The challenges and barriers facing researchers in the Arab world should be examined and sources of cancer research funding expanded. Collaborations with researchers in international academic institutions should be encouraged to improve the quantity and quality of cancer research.