Seven decades of chemotherapy clinical trials: a pan-cancer social network analysis.

Clinical trials establish the standard of cancer care, yet the evolution and characteristics of the social dynamics between the people conducting this work remain understudied. We performed a social network analysis of authors publishing chemotherapy-based prospective trials from 1946 to 2018 to understand how social influences, including the role of gender, have influenced the growth and development of this network, which has expanded exponentially from fewer than 50 authors in 1946 to 29,197 in 2018. While 99.4% of authors were directly or indirectly connected by 2018, our results indicate a tendency to predominantly connect with others in the same or similar fields, as well as an increasing disparity in author impact and number of connections. Scale-free effects were evident, with small numbers of individuals having disproportionate impact. Women were under-represented and likelier to have lower impact, shorter productive periods (P < 0.001 for both comparisons), less centrality, and a greater proportion of co-authors in their same subspecialty. The past 30 years were characterized by a trend towards increased authorship by women, with new author parity anticipated in 2032. The network of cancer clinical trialists is best characterized as strategic or mixed-motive, with cooperative and competitive elements influencing its appearance. Network effects such as low centrality, which may limit access to high-profile individuals, likely contribute to the observed disparities.

Temozolomide-induced Aplastic Anemia Treated with Eltrombopag and Granulocyte Colony Stimulating Factor: A Report of a Rare Complication.

Temozolomide is an alkylating agent used in the treatment for glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), the most frequent primary malignant brain tumor in adults. Temozolomide was approved in March 2005 for treatment of GBM, with the Stupp protocol (radiotherapy and concomitant use of temozolomide). Despite initial studies demonstrating mild and well-tolerated side effects, several recent reports describe severe hematologic adverse effects associated with temozolomide use. We report the case of a 51-year-old female diagnosed with GBM who received the standard treatment protocol of radiotherapy and concomitant temozolomide. The patient developed prolonged pancytopenia. Bone marrow biopsy demonstrated hypocellular bone marrow with diminished trilineage hematopoiesis, suggestive of drug-induced aplastic anemia. Although temozolomide is regarded as a safe drug with few side effects, severe hematologic toxicities have been reported.

Cohen Syndrome: Review of the Literature.

Cohen syndrome was initially described as a syndrome including obesity, hypotonia, mental deficiency, and facial, oral, ocular and limb anomalies. Leukopenia, especially neutropenia, was later described as a feature of Cohen syndrome. Cohen syndrome is caused by an autosomal recessive (AR) mutation of the vacuolar protein sorting 13 homolog B (VPS13B, also referred to as COH1) gene on chromosome 8q22.2.

Factor XII Deficiency Mimicking Bleeding Diathesis: A Unique Presentation and Diagnostic Pitfall.

Factor XII (FXII), also known as Hageman factor, is a coagulation protein that is necessary for the functioning of the intrinsic coagulation cascade and fibrin formation. When deficient, it results in a significant prolongation of activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT), mimicking a bleeding disorder. However, it does not result in clinical bleeding tendency. We report a case of an elderly male who was found to have prolonged aPTT, discovered during preoperative evaluation for operative repair of hip fracture. Although laboratory investigation was suggestive of bleeding tendency, he was diagnosed with factor XII deficiency and had no bleeding complications intra-operatively or in the post-operative period.

Angiosarcoma with Synchronous Cutaneous and Small Bowel Involvement: A Report of a Rare Presentation.

Angiosarcomas are mesenchymal neoplasms of vascular origin that represent approximately 2% of soft tissue sarcomas. We discuss the case of a 75-year-old female who had presented with a purple nodular rash along the bilateral nasolabial folds. Upon further work-up, she was diagnosed with angiosarcoma, with the confirmed involvement of multi-focal sites. These included biopsy proven sites of the face and duodenum along with the radiographic involvement of the lungs, liver, and osseous tissue. We report this unique presentation of a rare malignancy and the treatment course with radiation, paclitaxel, and bevacizumab. We also discuss the implications of her co-morbid liver cirrhosis and gastric antral vascular ectasia (GAVE) in terms of its influence on the development of the angiosarcoma and treatment response.