Mechanism of Action and Biological Activity of Emerging Therapies in Non-small Cell Lung Cancer: The Road Ahead

Title:

Mechanism of Action and Biological Activity of Emerging Therapies in Non-small Cell Lung Cancer: The Road Ahead
Topic: Oncology/ Hematology
Relevant Terms: Pulmonary Disease
Primary Audience: Primary Care Physicians; Pain Medicine Specialists; Physician Assistants; Nurse Practitioners
Launch Date: 20-May-10
Credits: 0.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™
Expiration Date: 19-May-11

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of the activity, participants should be able to:

  1. Develop comprehensive treatment plans for patients with NSCLC to improve survival rates.
  2. Develop treatment plans based on patient histology to personalize therapies and decrease toxicities.
  3. Identify those patients most likely to benefit from combination chemotherapy and targeted therapies to improve patient outcomes.
  4. Summarize emerging clinical trial data on combination therapies for non-small cell lung cancer in order to better select therapies for individual patients.
  5. Incorporate biomarkers when developing treatment plans for patients with NSCLC to personalize therapies and decrease toxicities.

    Faculty

    David S. Ettinger, MD
    Alex Grass Professor of Oncology
    Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center
    Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
    Baltimore, MD
     Jyoti D. Patel, MD
    Assistant Professor
    Division of Hematology/Oncology
    Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine
    Chicago, IL
     Suresh Ramalingam, MD 
    Associate Professor of Hematology/Oncology
    Emory University School of Medicine
    Chief of Thoracic Oncology
    Winship Cancer Institute
    Atlanta, GA
    Presented by The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.

     

    Supported by educational grants from Bristol-Myers Squibb and EMD Serono, Inc.

    ESTIMATED TIME TO COMPLETE THIS ACTIVITY
    30 minutes

    OVERVIEW
    Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that lung cancer is responsible for 1.4 million deaths per year, accounting for 17% of all cancer deaths across the globe.1 In the United States, lung cancer continues to be the principal cause of cancer-related deaths in both men and women, with 2007 estimates predicting 215,050 new lung cancer cases to be diagnosed and 161,840 deaths from this disease.2 Despite advances in therapy, only 15% of patients with lung cancer survive beyond 5 years from diagnosis.2 In recent years, a decrease in lung cancer incidence and mortality has been seen in the United States, led primarily by a declining incidence in men, and has been linked to a drop in smoking rates over the last several decades.3,4

    Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) accounts for 80-85% of all lung cancer cases and has two major types: non-squamous carcinoma, which includes adenocarcinoma, large-cell carcinoma, other cell types; and squamous cell (epidermoid) carcinoma. Adenocarcinoma is the most common NSCLC histology seen in the United States.    2 NSCLC is often advanced at initial presentation, with 32% of patients diagnosed with stage III disease and 36% with stage IV disease.5 For those patients initially diagnosed with early stage NSCLC (stage I or II), progression to advanced disease is common. The 5-year survival rates for stage I, II, III, and IV NSCLC are 47%, 26%, 8%, and 2% respectively.

    1. World Health Organization. Fact Sheet: World Health Organization; 2009.
    2. National Comprehensive Cancer Network. NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology. Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer. Vol 2009:73.
    3. American Cancer Society. Cancer Facts & Figures 2008. 2008:72. http://www.cancer.org/downloads/STT/2008CAFFfinalsecured.pdf. Accessed March 17, 2009.
    4. Ozols RF, Herbst RS, Colson YL, et al. Clinical cancer advances 2006: major research advances in cancer treatment, prevention, and screening--a report from the American Society of Clinical Oncology. J Clin Oncol. Jan 1 2007;25(1):146-162.
    5. Ettinger DS. Clinical implications of EGFR expression in the development and progression of solid tumors: focus on non-small cell lung cancer. Oncologist. Apr 2006;11(4):358-373.

    TARGET AUDIENCE
    This program is intended for primary care physicians, pain medicine specialists, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, and other healthcare professionals interested in treatment and management of patients with NSCLC.
     
    There are no prerequisites for this educational program.

    RESPONSIBILITY STATEMENT
    The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine takes responsibility for the content, quality, and scientific integrity of this CME activity.

    ACCREDITATION STATEMENT
    The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

    CREDIT DESIGNATION STATEMENT
    The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine designates this educational activity for a maximum of 0.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. Participants should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

    TO OBTAIN CME CREDITS
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    1. Read, complete, and submit answers to the examination and evaluation questions online.
    2. You must pass the examination with a score of 70% or higher in order to receive credit for this activity.
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    As a provider accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), it is the policy of the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine to require the disclosure of the existence of any relevant financial interest or any other relationship a faculty member or a sponsor has with the manufacturer(s) of any commercial product(s) discussed in an educational presentation. The presenting faculty reported the following: 
     
    David Ettinger, MD is a consultant for AstraZeneca, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Celgene Corporation, Eisai Inc., Eli Lilly and Company, Genentech, Inc., GlaxoSmithKline, ImClone LLC, Merck & Co., Inc., Novartis Corporation, Poniard Pharmaceuticals, Pfizer Inc., sanofi-aventis U.S. LLC.
     
    Jyoti Patel, MD has no relevant financial interests to disclose.
     
    Suresh Ramalingam, MD is a consultant for Amgen Inc., Eli Lilly and Company, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd, Genentech, Inc., ImClone LLC.

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