Rania Alem, Loubna Omri, Sarah Naciri, El Ghissassi Ibrahim, Boutayeb Saber, Mrabti Hind, Errihani Hassan
Journal: Medpeer Publisher
ISSN: 3066-2737
Volume: 2
Issue: 8
Date of Publication: 2025/08/27
Background: Clinical research in oncology is a strategic lever to improve knowledge, therapeutic practices, and health policies in response to the incrising cancer burden in Morocco. Despite significant legislative and structural progress, this sector continues to face regional disparities and logistical constraints.
Objective: To provide an overview of clinical research in oncology in Morocco through a systematic review of national scientific production between 2013 and 2023, trends, study types, research themes, and the geographical and institutional distribution of publications are analyzed.
Methods: A systematic review was conducted according to PRISMA guidelines via PubMed. The included publications had to address biomedical oncology research with Moroccan institutional affiliations. The extracted data were analyzed descriptively and comparatively.
Results: Out of the 10,000 articles initially identified, 459 were retained. Medical oncology dominated (56.21%), followed by radiotherapy (28.10%) and surgical oncology (15.69%). Case reports (47.28%) and retrospective studies (23.31%) were predominant. Rabat accounts for more than 50% of the national scientific output, led by the National Institute of Oncology. After a peak between 2014 and 2016, a decline was noted between 2017 and 2019, followed by recovery post-2020. The Pan African Medical Journal was the most frequently used journal.
Conclusion: Moroccan oncology research shows growing potential but remains marked by institutional concentration, limited use of advanced analytical studies, and significant geographical disparities. Structural measures—such as strengthening regional capacity and promoting multicenter clinical trials—are necessary to establish equitable and internationally competitive research.
Clinical research, oncology, Morocco, systematic review, bibliometrics, PRISMA.
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