Establishing an evidence-base for breast cancer control in developing countries

Reports about breast cancer (BC) research in low and middle income countries (LMCs) are difficult to access. A bibliographic database was constituted and is described in the present review. Six databases and cancer conference proceedings were searched. The search included publications focusing on the prevention, early detection, diagnosis, treatment and supportive/palliative care of BC in LMCs (2000–2008). Biological/genetic studies or animal studies were excluded. In all, 44,096 publications were identified of which 4362 met the inclusion criteria, including 210 reports of randomized controlled trials. Only 53% of publications were indexed in Medline. Publications about treatment represented the largest contribution (29%). Mainland China produced the most published research (18%). Only 2.4% of all publications related to palliative care of BC patients. More research is needed in the fields of BC prevention, awareness-raising, early detection, and palliative care in LMCs. Systematic reviews are needed to select those studies that can be safely regarded as “best evidence”.