Farooq, Muhammad Zain

PURPOSE: Gender disparity persists in academic medicine. Female faculty are underrepresented in leadership positions and have lower research output. We studied gender differences in faculty rank and departmental leadership and contributing factors among academic hematologists and oncologists in the United States. METHODS: For clinical faculty at 146 hematology or oncology fellowship programs listed in the Fellowship and Residency Electronic Interactive Database, we collected data on demographics, academic rank, and research output using the Doximity and Scopus databases. We compared unadjusted characteristics of men and women by using 2-sided t tests and χ2 tests where appropriate. To predict probability of full professorship or leadership position among men versus women, we performed multivariable logistic regression analysis adjusted for clinical experience in years, number of publications, h-index, clinical trial investigator status, National Institutes of Health funding, and workplace ranking (top 20 v not). RESULTS: Two thousand one hundred sixty academic hematologists and oncologists were included. Women composed 21.9% (n = 142) of full professors, 35.7% (n = 169) of associate professors, and 45.4% (n = 415) of assistant professors. Thirty percent (n = 70) of departmental leaders were women. Female faculty, compared with male faculty, had a lower mean h-index (12.1 v 20.9, respectively; P < .001) and fewer years of professional experience since fellowship (10 v 16 years, respectively; P < .001). After adjusting for duration of clinical experience, academic productivity, and workplace ranking, the odds of obtaining professorship (odds ratio [OR], 1.05; 95% CI, 0.71 to 1.57; P = .85) or divisional leadership (OR, 0.57; 95% CI, 0.20 to 1.58; P = .28) for female physicians were not different compared with male physicians. CONCLUSION: Gender disparity exists in senior ranks of academic hematology and oncology; however, gender is not a significant predictor in achieving professorship or department leadership position.

Introduction: We have previously reported underrepresentation of female faculty at senior academic ranks in hematology/oncology (H/O). In this analysis we aimed to investigate the influence of sex in attaining leadership positions amongst academic hematologists/oncologists in United States. Methods: Faculty members were identified at 146 H/O fellowship programs listed on fellowship and residency electronic interactive database (FREIDA.) Data was collected on demographics, academic rank and research output using Doximity and Scopus databases. We compared the unadjusted characteristics of men and women by using two-sided t-tests and χ2 tests where appropriate. In primary analysis, logistic regression models were used to evaluate sex differences on probability of having full professorship (versus assistant and associate professorship) and of achieving leadership positions including division chief, Program Director (PD) and Associate Program Director (APD). Adjusted models included the following variables: clinical experience in years, number of publications, h-index, appointment at top 20 hospital, clinical trial investigator status and National Institutes of Health funding. Stratified analysis was performed adjusting for duration of clinical experience (≤15 vs >15 years) Results: Fewer women were full Professors (21.9% vs 78.1%), division chiefs (16.7% vs 83.3%), and PDs (30.5% vs 69.5) but the number was similar for Associate Program Directors (47.1% vs 52.9%). In a univariate unadjusted model, women were less likely to be full professors compared to men (OR 0.39; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.31-0.48; P<.001). However, in the multivariable adjusted model no statistically significant sex difference in full professorship was found (OR 1.05; 95% CI 0.71, 1.57; P=.85; Table). The likelihood of full professorship was positively associated with clinical experience in years, number of first/last author publications, h-index, and being a primary investigator on at least one clinical trial.In a univariate unadjusted model, women were less likely to be division chiefs as compared to males (OR 0.35; 95% CI, 0.16, 0.80; P=.01). However, in the multivariable adjusted model, there was no statistically significant sex difference in achieving the position of division chief (OR 0.57; 95% CI 0.20, 1.58; P=.28; Table). No significant difference was found between females and males for being program directors or associate program directors in both univariate and multivariate analysis. Similarly, a stratified analysis adjusting for duration of clinical experience (≤15 vs >15 years) found no significant sex differences in attaining leadership position (Table) Conclusion: We found that women are underrepresented at higher academic ranks and in leadership positions in hematology/oncology, but that sex is not a significant negative predictor to women obtaining leadership positions after correcting for traditional predictors of academic success. However, "non-traditional" and therefore less measurable and analyzable factors such as networking, mentorship, sponsorship, gender bias, balancing work and home responsibilities and many others may contribute and should be further investigated. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

e13119 Background: Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) are routinely used in the treatment of metastatic RCC and Sunitinib is approved for the use in adjuvant setting. Arterial thromboembolic events (ATEs) have been described with these agents, although the overall risk remains unclear. We did a systematic review and meta-analysis to determine the incidence associated with the use of FDA approved TKIs used in treatment of RCC. Methods: PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Central and Scopus databases were searched to identify phase 2 and 3 RCTs of TKI therapy in RCC. Trials were included if they reported ATEs defined as arterial thrombosis, cerebral ischemia or infarction, myocardial ischemia and myocardial infarction. The DerSimonian-Laird random effects meta-analysis was performed using CMAv3 software to derive pooled estimates of incidence rates of ATEs with its 95% confidence interval (CI). I2 statistic was computed to express the percentage of the total observed variability due to study heterogeneity. Risk for bias was assessed using the Cochrane Collaboration’s tool. Results: 1755 studies retrieved in the initial search, and 13 phase 2 and 3 clinical trials (n = 4983) were included in the quantitative analysis. The trials had open label design which can potentially result in bias. Risk of bias was low in all other domains. TKIs used for the treatment of RCC included sunitinib (n = 2632), sorafenib (n = 981), cabozantinib (n = 78), pazopanib (n = 844), axitinib (n = 189) and tivozanib (n = 259). The incidence of ATEs with the use of TKIs was 2.9% (95% CI: 2-3%). Cabozantinib was associated with the highest rate of ATEs (11.5%, 95% CI: 6-21%), followed by sunitinib (2.6%, 95% CI:2-3%) pazopanib (2.6%, 95% CI:2-4%) and axitinib (2.1%, 95% CI: 1-6%). The TKI with lowest event rate of ATE was tivozanib (0.8%, 95% CI:0.2-3%). Conclusions: The use of TKIs is associated with increased risk of developing ATEs. Clinicians should be aware of the possibility of increased ATEs and counsel the patients about this increased risk to enhance the process of informed decision making.

e13096 Background: Several studies have reported the association between atrial fibrillation (AF) and malignant cancer. Recently, results from a large cohort within the Women’s Health Study showed increased incident risk of breast, colon and lung cancer in patients with AF. Therefore, we performed a systematic review to assess the available evidence and a meta-analysis to define the strength of this association. Methods: MEDLINE, Cochrane and Scopus databases were searched for all prospective studies that reported the association between AF and presence of cancer. The HR for incident risk of common cancers was recorded (Breast, Lung, Colorectal) in patients with and without AF. Lung cancer was excluded because the data required for the analysis was not consistently reported. The DerSimonian-Laird random effects meta-analysis was performed to derive pooled Hazard Ratio (HR) estimates for incident risk of colorectal and breast cancer in patients with AF. Q-test was used to assess between-study heterogeneity; I2 statistic was computed to expresses the percentage of the total observed variability due to study heterogeneity. Results: A total of 390,479 participants in 3 prospective studies were included in the analysis. Mean age of participants was 66.3 ± 6.5 with mean follow up for 12.6 years. Patients with atrial fibrillation had 27% more risk of developing colorectal cancer [HR 1.27 (1.07-1.51) p < 0.005, I2= 73%] and 14% more risk of developing breast cancer [HR 1.14 (1.03-1.26) p = 0.01, I2= 37%] as compared to those without atrial fibrillation. Applying these hazard ratios to age adjusted yearly incidence ratios from 2000-2015, one in 5824 new onset AF cases will develop CRC and one in 7474 new onset AF cases will develop breast cancer. Conclusions: There is small but statistically significant increase in risk of subsequent diagnosis of colorectal or breast cancer diagnosis in patients with AF. Shared risk factors such as old age or systemic disease processes may explain this association. While the results of this analysis raise interesting questions for future search, these results should not be used as basis to initiate cancer screening for an occult cancer in a patient with AF.

Background: Poly (ADP-ribose) polymerases (PARPs) are a highly conserved family of enzymes whose main function is to preserve genomic integrity following DNA damage. PARP inhibitors (PARPi) are increasingly used in cancers with deficiencies in homologous recombination. Clinical trials in breast and ovarian cancers have led to several FDA approvals in recent years, and their use in clinical practice is continuing to rise. It is thus necessary to assess their adverse event (AE) profile. Method: Literature search was performed using Ovid MEDLINE, EMBASE, CENTRAL, and Scopus (inception through October 26, 2018). Eligible studies were phase 3, randomized, controlled trials that compared single agent PARPi to placebo or standard treatment. Number of patients treated and AEs reported were recorded. Observed incidence of AE was reported with 95% CI. Heterogeneity was evaluated using Cochran Q statistic and I2 statistics quantified the proportion of heterogeneity not due to chance. Results: Databases revealed 869 references. Of these, 6 were eligible: 2 in breast cancer (OlympiAD, EMBRACA) and 4 in ovarian cancer (NOVA, ARIEL3, SOLO1, SOLO2). PARPi included niraparib (NOVA), olaparib (OlympiAD, SOLO1, SOLO2), rucaparib (ARIEL3), and talazoparib (EMBRACA). Of 1,685 patients who received PARPi, incidence of any AE, regardless of grade, was 98.5% (95% CI, 97.2–99.2%). Common AEs were: nausea (incidence rate, 68.9% and 95% CI, 58.7%–77.5%), fatigue (56.3%, 45.3%–66.8%), anemia (46.3%, 37.2%–55.8%), vomiting (33.7%, 29.5%–38.3%), neutropenia (24.7%, 15.3%–37.4%), headache (23.9%, 19.9%–28.4%), and reduced appetite (21.7%, 19.3%–24.3%). Myeloid neoplasms were rare (1.2%, 0.7%–1.9%). Incidence of grade 3 or higher AE was 44.3% (30.2%–59.5%) and often related to myelosuppression, specifically anemia (24.7%, 15.3%–37.4%), neutropenia (10.7%, 6.6%–16.9%), and thrombocytopenia (5.0%, 1.7%–14.0%). Incidence of serious AE was 24.3% (19.4%–29.9%); dose interruption occurred in 53.3% (41.2%–65.0%) and dose reduction occurred in 39.2% (23.6%–57.4%). 10% (7.4%–13.6%) of patients discontinued therapy due to AE. Death due to AE was rare; less than 1% (0.4%, 0.2%–0.8%) in all trials. Conclusion: Myelosuppression and gastrointestinal toxicities were the most commonly reported AE in 6 randomized phase 3 trials of PARPi for breast and ovarian cancers. Therapy was rarely discontinued due to AE. It remains to be seen whether these results will be reflected in clinical practice.

263 Background: In non-metastatic CRPC with short PSA doubling time, APA or ENZA with ADT have shown to slow development of metastasis. We performed an indirect comparison of APA and ENZA clinical effectiveness (efficacy and side effects) using network meta-analysis. Methods: A search of Medline, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials was performed to identify relevant RCTs. Collected data included hazard ratio (HR) and confidence interval (CI) for primary outcome of median time to metastasis free survival (MFS) and secondary outcomes of median time to overall survival (OS), PSA progression, initiation of cytotoxic therapy and number of adverse events (AE) in each study arm. Risk for bias was assessed using the Cochrane Collaboration’s tool. We used a fixed effects model using Bayesian approach to generate pooled estimates. Results: Two randomized trials (n=2608) were analyzed. SPARTAN trial compared APA plus ADT to ADT alone and PROSPER compared ENZA plus ADT to ADT alone. Risk of bias was low. There were no statistically significant differences between APA and ENZA in MFS, OS, median time to PSA progression and initiation of cytotoxic therapy. The MFS endpoint hazard ratio (HR) was 0.97 (95% CI 0.73-1.28) for comparing the two drugs. APA had fewer reports of hypertension (HR 0.54, 95% CI 0.31–0.91) compared to enzalutamide. However, no significant differences were observed in other AEs including grade 3 or higher AE, serious AE, AE leading to death or trial discontinuation. Common AEs (nausea, diarrhea, fall, dizziness, arthralgia, weight loss) and AEs of special interests (mental impairment disorders, seizures) were also comparable between APA and ENZA. Conclusions: In non-metastatic CRPC with short PSA doubling time, APA and ENZA showed similar time to metastasis free survival. APA was associated with lower incidence of hypertension than ENZA; otherwise, side effect profile was similar. Given similar efficacy and risk profile demonstrated in this study, clinical decision making should depend on other factors such as cost and availability.