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Epidemiological, pathological, and molecular characteristics of lung cancer in Casablanca, Morocco: a retrospective study

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Introduction: lung cancer remains a significant global health concern, responsible for the highest number of cancer-related deaths worldwide. In Morocco, it is the most prevalent cancer among men. This study aimed to describe the epidemiological characteristics of lung cancer and to explore the molecular profile of lung adenocarcinoma cases. Methods: a retrospective analysis was carried out over a 24-month period, from January 2020 to December 2021, at the Pathology Department of Ibn Rochd University Hospital in Casablanca, Morocco, encompassing 1,426 lung cancer cases. Statistical analyses were performed using GraphPad Prism 8 software. Results: our study reveals that the mean age was 59.9±12.06 years (median: 61 years, IQR: 54-67). A clear male predominance was observed in 75.9% (n=1,083). The most common histological type was adenocarcinoma, representing 49.6% (n=708). In adenocarcinoma cases, thyroid transcription factor-1 (TTF-1) expression was positive in 95.5% (n=469). Programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) was mostly negative, with a tumor proportion score (TPS) <1% in 59.7% (n=83), 1-49% in 13.7% (n=19), and ≥50% in 26.6% (n=37). Anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) expression was positive in only 4.1% (n=3) of cases. Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations were found in 22.2% (n=24), predominantly Ex19Del in 66.6% (n=16). All ALK-positive cases were PD-L1 negative (100%, n=3), while PD-L1 expression (TPS≥1%) was detected in 38.9% (n=7) of EGFR-mutated adenocarcinomas. Conclusion: this study characterizes lung adenocarcinoma as the predominant histological type, elucidates its principal molecular features and enables the determination of possible correlations between EGFR status, PD-L1 and ALK expression among Moroccan patients.

Source: Pan African Medical Journal

DOI: 10.11604/pamj.2025.51.79.44198