Correspondence

Anaemia could develop in polycythemia vera (PV) due to phlebotomy-caused iron-deficiency and cytotoxic effect of cytoreductive therapy. Ropeginterferon alfa-2b treatment was not associated with ≥grade 3 anaemia in two recent clinical studies of 78 patients with PV. Only four cases of grade 2 anaemias occurred, the anaemia resolved. The mean haemoglobin levels were above 120.0 g/L. Therefore, ropeginterferon alfa-2b treatment does not lead to clinically significant anaemia and appears to manage PV without affecting normal erythropoiesis. “Both trials were registered at clinicaltrials.gov (A19-201: NCT04182100; A20-202: NCT05485948)”.

Oncology is a rapidly evolving field globally, with a growing need to maintain research integrity. The African Organization for Research and Training in Cancer (AORTIC) has initiated a comprehensive training program to enhance research quality and integrity in African oncology. This program covers topics such as predatory publishing, data manipulation, plagiarism, “paper mills,” gender equity, and the critical appraisal of clinical trials and meta-analyses beyond statistical significance. This emphasizes the importance of ethical conduct and responsible research in enhancing cancer care through research. The commitment of the AORTIC serves as a model for other oncology societies in low- and middle-income countries, highlighting the importance of education and training to reduce disparities in cancer research and empower African researchers.