TARGET AUDIENCE
This activity is intended for medical oncologists, hematology-oncology fellows and other healthcare providers involved in the treatment of head and neck cancers and thyroid cancer.

OVERVIEW OF ACTIVITY
Thyroid cancer is one of the most rapidly increasing cancers in the United States with an estimated 62,450 new cases expected to be diagnosed in the United States in 2015. Most patients with thyroid cancer can be cured with local treatments and radioactive iodine. Medical oncology intervention typically only occurs for those patients with progressive metastatic disease. Head and neck cancers account for approximately 3% of all cancers in the United States. Treatment for patients with head and neck cancer is complex and requires a multidisciplinary team of individuals with expertise in the special care of these patients.

Published results from ongoing trials lead to the continuing emergence of new therapeutic agents and changes in the indications for existing treatments. In order to offer optimal patient care, the practicing medical oncologist must be well informed of these advances. This program uses one-on-one discussion with Dr Ezra Cohen about treatment controversies and the integration of key data sets into the practical management of cancers of the head, neck and thyroid.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

• Apply the results of emerging clinical trial data to the best-practice care of patients with cancers of the head, neck and thyroid.
• Formulate strategies to mitigate tyrosine kinase inhibitor-related side effects to maintain patients with thyroid cancer on active therapy while minimizing its effects on quality of life.
• Develop an understanding of emerging efficacy and side-effect data with novel agents (eg, mTOR inhibitors, BRAF inhibitors) under evaluation for thyroid cancer.
• Counsel patients with HPV-positive squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN) about the contribution of the virus to the etiology and prognosis of their disease, and use this information and other relevant clinical factors to guide treatment decision-making.
• Recall the efficacy of promising investigational checkpoint inhibitors and EGFR inhibitors being evaluated in SCCHN.

ACCREDITATION STATEMENT
Research To Practice is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

CME credit is no longer available for this issue

CREDIT DESIGNATION STATEMENT

CME credit is no longer available for this issue

HOW TO USE THIS CME ACTIVITY
This CME activity consists of a video component.

CME credit is no longer available for this issue

CONTENT VALIDATION AND DISCLOSURES
Research To Practice (RTP) is committed to providing its participants with high-quality, unbiased and state-of-the-art education. We assess potential conflicts of interest with faculty, planners and managers of CME activities. Real or apparent conflicts of interest are identified and resolved through a conflict of interest resolution process. In addition, all activity content is reviewed by both a member of the RTP scientific staff and an external, independent physician reviewer for fair balance, scientific objectivity of studies referenced and patient care recommendations.

FACULTY — The following faculty (and his spouse/partner) reported real or apparent conflicts of interest, which have been resolved through a conflict of interest resolution process:

Ezra EW Cohen, MD
Professor, Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine
Associate Director for Translational Science, UC San Diego Moores Cancer Center
Co-leader, Solid Tumor Therapeutics Program
La Jolla, California

Consulting Agreements: AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP, Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals, Eisai Inc, Merck, Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation; Speakers Bureau: Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals, Biodesix Inc.

MODERATOR — Dr Love is president and CEO of Research To Practice, which receives funds in the form of educational grants to develop CME activities from the following commercial interests: AbbVie Inc, Amgen Inc, Astellas Scientific and Medical Affairs Inc, AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP, Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals, Biodesix Inc, Biogen Idec, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals Inc, Boston Biomedical Pharma Inc, Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Celgene Corporation, Clovis Oncology, Daiichi Sankyo Inc, Dendreon Corporation, Eisai Inc, Exelixis Inc, Foundation Medicine, Genentech BioOncology, Genomic Health Inc, Gilead Sciences Inc, Incyte Corporation, Janssen Biotech Inc, Jazz Pharmaceuticals Inc, Lilly, Medivation Inc, Merck, Myriad Genetic Laboratories Inc, Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, Novocure, Onyx Pharmaceuticals, an Amgen subsidiary, Pharmacyclics Inc, Prometheus Laboratories Inc, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Sanofi, Seattle Genetics, Sigma-Tau Pharmaceuticals Inc, Sirtex Medical Ltd, Spectrum Pharmaceuticals Inc, Taiho Oncology Inc, Takeda Oncology, Teva Oncology, Tokai Pharmaceuticals Inc and VisionGate Inc.

RESEARCH TO PRACTICE STAFF AND EXTERNAL REVIEWERS — The scientific staff and reviewers for Research To Practice have no real or apparent conflicts of interest to disclose.

This educational activity contains discussion of published and/or investigational uses of agents that are not indicated by the Food and Drug Administration. Research To Practice does not recommend the use of any agent outside of the labeled indications. Please refer to the official prescribing information for each product for discussion of approved indications, contraindications and warnings. The opinions expressed are those of the presenters and are not to be construed as those of the publisher or grantors.

This activity is supported by educational grants from AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals Inc, Eisai Inc and Onyx Pharmaceuticals, an Amgen subsidiary.

Hardware/Software Requirements:
A high-speed Internet connection
A monitor set to 1280 x 1024 pixels or more
Internet Explorer 7 or later, Firefox 3.0 or later, Chrome, Safari 3.0 or later
Adobe Flash Player 10.2 plug-in or later
Adobe Acrobat Reader
(Optional) Sound card and speakers for audio

Last review date: July 2015
Expiration date: July 2016