Female leadership in oncology-has progress stalled? Data from the ESMO W4O authorship and monitoring studies.

BACKGROUND

Exploratory research showed that female oncologists are frequently under-represented in leadership roles. European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Women for Oncology (W4O) therefore implemented gender equality programs in career development and established international studies on female representation at all stages of the oncology career pathway.

METHODS

For 2017-2019, data were collected on (i) first and last authorship of publications in five major oncology journals and (ii) representation of women in leadership positions in oncology-as invited speakers at National/International congresses, board members or presidents of National/International societies and ESMO members. The 2015/2016 data from the first published W4O Study were incorporated for comparisons.

RESULTS

Across 2017-2019, female oncologists were significantly more likely to be first than last authors (P < 0.001). The proportion of female first authors was similar across years: 38.0% in 2017, 37.1% in 2018, 41.0% in 2019 (P = 0.063). The proportion of female last authors decreased from 30.4% in 2017 to 24.2% in 2018 (P = 0.0018) and increased to 28.5% in 2019 (P = 0.018). Across 2015-2019, invited speakers at International/National oncology congresses were significantly less likely to be female than male (P < 0.001; 29.7% in 2015 to 36.8% in 2019). Across 2016-2019, board members of International/National oncology societies were significantly less likely to be female than male (P < 0.001; 26.8% in 2016 to 35.8% in 2019). There were statistically significant increasing trends in female speakers and board members across the study periods (P < 0.001 for both). Societies with a female president had a higher proportion of female board members across these periods (P = 0.026).

CONCLUSIONS

Reported progress towards gender equality in career development in oncology is real but slow. Women in leadership positions are essential for encouraging young women to aspire to and work towards similar or greater success. Therefore, continued monitoring is needed to inform ESMO W4O initiatives to promote gender balance at all stages of the career pathway.

Informations de copyright

Copyright © 2021. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Déclaration de conflit d'intérêts

Disclosure ASB: has research support from Daiichi Sankyo (≤€10 000), Roche (>€10 000) and honoraria for lectures, consultation or advisory board participation from Roche, Bristol Myers Squibb (BMS), Merck, Daiichi Sankyo (all <€5000) as well as travel support from Roche, Amgen and AbbVie. CS: nothing to declare for this manuscript. JCHY: advisory or consultancy services: Amgen, AstraZeneca, Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim, BMS, Celgene, Chugai Pharmaceutical, Daiichi Sankyo, Eli Lilly, Hansoh Pharmaceuticals, Merck KGaA, Merck Sharp & Dohme (MSD), Novartis, Ono Pharmaceuticals, Pfizer, Roche/Genentech, Takeda Oncology, Yuhan Pharmaceuticals. ZT: nothing to declare for this manuscript. JT: nothing to declare for this manuscript. JTab: reports personal financial interest in form of scientific consultancy role for Array BioPharma, AstraZeneca, Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim, Chugai, Daiichi Sankyo, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd, Genentech, Inc., HalioDx SAS, Hutchison MediPharma International, Ikena Oncology, IQVIA, Lilly, Menarini, Merck Serono, Merus, MSD, Mirati, Neophore, Novartis, Orion Biotechnology, Peptomyc, Pfizer, Pierre Fabre, Samsung Bioepis, Sanofi, Seattle Genetics, Servier, Taiho, Tessa Therapeutics and TheraMyc. Educational collaboration: Imedex, Medscape Education, MJH Life Sciences, PeerView Institute for Medical Education and Physicians Education Resource (PER). SP: consultation/advisory role: AbbVie, Amgen, AstraZeneca, Bayer, Beigene, Biocartis, Bio Invent, Blueprint Medicines, Boehringer Ingelheim, BMS, Clovis, Daiichi Sankyo, Debiopharm, Eli Lilly, Elsevier, F. Hoffmann-La Roche/Genentech, Foundation Medicine, Illumina, Incyte, IQVIA, Janssen, Medscape, MSD, Merck Serono, Merrimack, Mirati, Novartis, PharmaMar, Phosplatin Therapeutics, Pfizer, Regeneron, Sanofi, Seattle Genetics, Takeda, Vaccibody. Talk in a company’s organized public event: AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim, BMS, e-cancer, Eli Lilly, F. Hoffmann-La Roche/Genentech, Illumina, Medscape, MSD, Novartis, PER, Pfizer, Prime, RTP, Sanofi, Takeda. Receipt of grants/research supports: (sub)investigator in trials (institutional financial support for clinical trials) sponsored by Amgen, AstraZeneca, Biodesix, Boehringer Ingelheim, BMS, Clovis, F. Hoffmann-La Roche/Genentech, GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), Illumina, Lilly, MSD, Merck Serono, Mirati, Novartis, and Pfizer, Phosplatin Therapeutics. HL: nothing to declare for this manuscript. AL: nothing to declare for this manuscript. JH: advisory board: BMS, Achilles Therapeutics, BioNTech, Immunocore, Gadeta, Ipsen, MSD, Merck Serono, Pfizer, Molecular Partners, Novartis, Neogene Therapeutics, Roche, Sanofi, Third Rock Venture. Stocks/shares: Neogene Therapeutics. Research grant: BMS, BioNTech US, MSD, Amgen, Novartis. EG: speaker: MSD, Roche, Thermo Fisher, Lilly. Advisory board: Genentech, Roche, Ellipses Pharma, Neomed Therapeutics, Boehringer Ingelheim, Janssen, Seagen, TFS HealthScience, Alkermes, Thermo Fisher, BMS, MAB Discovery, Anaveon. Research funding: Novartis, Roche, AstraZeneca, Thermo Fisher, Taiho Oncology. MCG: reports grants and personal fees from Eli Lilly, personal fees from Boehringer Ingelheim, grants and personal fees from Otsuka Pharma, grants and personal fees from AstraZeneca, grants and personal fees from Novartis, grants and personal fees from BMS, grants and personal fees from Roche, grants and personal fees from Pfizer, grants and personal fees from Celgene, grants and personal fees from Incyte, personal fees from Inivata, personal fees from Takeda, grants from Tiziana Sciences, grants from Clovis, grants from Merck Serono, grants and personal fees from Bayer, grants and personal fees from MSD, grants and personal fees from GSK S.p.A., grants and personal fees from Sanofi Aventis, grants and personal fees from Spectrum Pharmaceuticals, grants and personal fees from Blueprint Medicines, personal fees from Seattle Genetics, personal fees from Daiichi Sankyo, grants from United Therapeutics Corporation, grants from Merck KGaA, personal fees from Janssen, non-financial support from MSD, non-financial support from Eli-Lilly, grants from Turning Point, grants from Ipsen, grants from MedImmune, grants from Exelixis, grants from Pfizer, personal fees from Mirati Therapeutics, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, grants from BMS and Celgene. Non-financial interests: principal investigator Keynote 189, MSD – MISP sunitinib in thymic malignancies (Pfizer), MISP ramucirumab plus carbo-taxol in thymic malignancies (Eli Lilly), MISP pembrolizumab in low expressors PD-L1(<50%) (MSD), FAME trial metformin and cisplatin pemetrexed in LKB1 loss patients, AIFA grant Thymic Malignancies. AJSF: speaker fees from BMS, Ipsen, Esai, Consultancy Fees from Sangamo Therapeutics. EF: advisory board: Abbvie, Amgen, AstraZeneca, Bayer, Blueprint Medicines, Boehringer Ingelheim, BMS, Eli Lilly, GSK, Janssen, Merck, Mabxience, MSD, Novartis, Pfizer, Puma Biotechnology, Roche, Sanofi, Genzyme. Invited speaker: AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim, BMS, Eli Lilly, Medscape, MSD, Novartis, PeerVoice, Pfizer, Prime Oncology, Roche, Springer, Takeda, Touchime, Cme Outfitters. Research funding: Merck Serono. GD: nothing to declare for this manuscript. UD: honorarium as Member of the Tumor Agnostic Evidence Generation Working Group of Roche, outside the submitted work. SPC: nothing to declare for this manuscript. SB: advisory role: Amgen, AstraZeneca, Epsilogen, Genmab, GSK, Immunogen, Mersana, MSD, Merck Serono, Oncxerna, Pfizer, Roche. Lecture, CME: Amgen, Pfizer, AstraZeneca, Tesaro, GSK, Clovis, Takeda, Medscape, Research to Practice, Peerview. Research support (paid to institution) for PI role: global lead Verastem, European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC), AstraZeneca, Lady Garden Foundation Charity. National PI: Immunogen, Genmab, Seagen, Tesaro, GSK, Wellbeing of Women Charity, AstraZeneca, Lady Garden Foundation Charity. JB: nothing to declare for this manuscript. AAA: nothing to declare for this manuscript. PG: advisory board: AbbVie, Amgen, AstraZeneca, Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim, BMS, GSK, Janssen, Lilly, MSD, Novartis, Pfizer, Roche, Takeda. Invited speaker: AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim, BMS, Janssen, MSD, Novartis, Pfizer, Roche, Takeda Research funding: Novartis, Janssen, AstraZeneca, Pfizer, Blueprint Medicines, Apollomics, Amgen, Array BioPharma.