OVERVIEW OF ACTIVITY
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer mortality in the United States in both men and women, resulting in more deaths than breast, prostate, colon and pancreatic cancer combined. Progress in the screening, prevention and treatment of this disease has been limited, and approximately 85 percent of patients who develop lung cancer will die of it. Traditional chemotherapy, surgery and radiation therapy have had a modest effect on patient outcomes. However, with the advent of biologic agents, recent improvements have been seen in time to progression and survival in lung cancer clinical trials. Published results from ongoing and completed studies lead to the continual emergence of novel therapeutic strategies and changes in the indications for existing treatments. In order to offer optimal patient care — including the option of clinical trial participation — the practicing clinician must be well informed of these advances. Featuring information on the latest research developments published or presented during the past year, along with experts’ perspectives on these data, this CME program is designed to assist medical oncologists, hematologists and hematology-oncology fellows with the formulation of up-to-date clinical management strategies for the care of patients with lung cancer.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
- Compare and contrast the efficacy and toxicity profiles of bevacizumab and cetuximab when selecting a front-line chemobiologic regimen for patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
- Define the relative and absolute contraindications for the safe use of bevacizumab in the systemic management of lung cancer.
- Apply the results of recent clinical research to the rational selection of EGFR- or VEGF-inhibiting agents for patients with metastatic NSCLC.
- Communicate the benefits and risks of maintenance cytotoxic and/or biologic treatment to patients with metastatic NSCLC who successfully complete first-line systemic therapy.
- Summarize the early clinical findings and ongoing research strategies with novel multikinase inhibitors exhibiting activity in NSCLC.
- Counsel appropriately selected patients with lung cancer about participation in ongoing clinical trials.
ACCREDITATION STATEMENT
Research To Practice is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians.
CREDIT DESIGNATION STATEMENT
Research To Practice designates this educational activity for a maximum of 2 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
HOW TO USE THIS CME ACTIVITY
This CME activity contains print and slide components. To receive credit, the participant should read the text portion, review the slides and complete the Post-test and Educational Assessment and Credit Form located at CME.ResearchToPractice.com. The text portion of this activity contains edited comments and abbreviated slide set presentations, as well as links to relevant full-text articles, abstracts, trial information and other web resources.
COMMERCIAL SUPPORT
This program is supported by educational grants from AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP and Genentech BioOncology & OSI Oncology.
PHARMACEUTICAL AGENTS DISCUSSED IN THIS PROGRAM
This educational activity includes 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.
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 their spouses/partners) reported real or apparent conflicts of interest, which have been resolved through a conflict of interest resolution process: Dr Hanna — Consulting Agreement: Celgene Corporation. Dr Herbst — Consulting Agreements: Amgen Inc, AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP, Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Genentech BioOncology, Lilly USA LLC, Pfizer Inc, Sanofi-Aventis; Paid Research: Amgen Inc, AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP, Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Genentech BioOncology, Sanofi-Aventis. Dr Kris — Advisory Committee: AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals Inc, Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, Pfizer Inc; Consulting Agreements: GlaxoSmithKline, Schering-Plough Corporation. Dr Lara — Advisory Committee: Bayer Pharmaceuticals Corporation, Genentech BioOncology, Lilly USA LLC, Pfizer Inc, Wyeth; Consulting Agreements: Bayer Pharmaceuticals Corporation, Eisai Inc, Genentech BioOncology, GPC Biotech, Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, Pfizer Inc, Wyeth; Paid Research: Millennium Pharmaceuticals Inc; Speakers Bureau: Bayer Pharmaceuticals Corporation, Genentech BioOncology, Pfizer Inc. Dr Lilenbaum — Advisory Committee: AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP, Genentech BioOncology, Sanofi-Aventis. Dr Natale — Advisory Committee: Amgen Inc; Consulting Agreements: AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP, Lilly USA LLC; Paid Research: Celgene Corporation, Millennium Pharmaceuticals Inc, Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation; Speakers Bureau: Genentech BioOncology, Lilly USA LLC, OSI Oncology.
EDITOR — Neil Love: 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: Abraxis BioScience, Amgen Inc, AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP, Bayer Pharmaceuticals Corporation/Onyx Pharmaceuticals Inc, Biogen Idec, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals Inc, Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Celgene Corporation, Centocor Ortho Biotech Services LLC, Cephalon Inc, Eisai Inc, EMD Serono Inc, Genentech BioOncology, Genomic Health Inc, Genzyme Corporation, GlaxoSmithKline, ImClone Systems Incorporated, Lilly USA LLC, Merck and Company Inc, Millennium Pharmaceuticals Inc, Monogram Biosciences, Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, OSI Oncology, Roche Laboratories Inc, Sanofi-Aventis and Wyeth.
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.
Hardware/Software Requirements:
An Internet connection that is at least 28.8 Kbps
A monitor set to 1280 x 1024 pixels or more
Netscape 7.x or newer, Internet Explorer 5.x or newer, or Firefox
Macromedia Flash plug-in 6.0 or greater
Adobe Acrobat Reader
(Optional) Sound card and speakers for audio
Last review date: December 2009
Expiration date: December 2010
