Real-world data on oncology in Morocco: a narrative review of four decades of national evidence

Abstract

PURPOSE: Real-world data (RWD) has become essential to guide oncology practice and policy. However, in Morocco, the extent and quality of available oncology RWD remain unclear. This study aims to address this gap by examining the current status of RWD in oncology in the Moroccan context. METHODS: We systematically identified and synthesized 308 Moroccan cancer studies (1985-2025) drawn from different electronic databases. Eligible studies included those based on population registries, as well as retrospective and prospective clinical cohorts, molecular and genetic studies, and psycho-oncological or health-system analyses. Data were extracted across five domains: (1) epidemiology, (2) molecular biology, (3) treatment outcomes, (4) survivorship and quality of life, and (5) system-level and public health interventions. RESULTS: Breast (25%), colorectal (12%), and lung cancers (10%) were the most frequently studied. Most RWD outputs originated from Casablanca (34%), followed by Rabat (27%) and Fez (18%). Clinical and epidemiological studies (56%) were the most predominant study types while molecular papers (21%) highlighted actionable biomarkers: EGFR, KRAS, TP53, BRCA1/2, and VEGF.56 CONCLUSION: Morocco has transitioned from case-series oncology research to integrated molecular-epidemiologic RWD networks. Strengthening national data interoperability, biobank integration, and linkage between registries and clinical outcomes is now imperative.