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Case Studies in Oncology Vol. 9, No. 1

Release Date: September 24, 2008
Expiration Date: September 24, 2009

Publication Overview

Author

Andrew H. Ko, MD

Overview and Purpose

Pancreatic cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer death in the United States, with 37,680 new cases expected in 2008, nearly 90% of which will succumb to advanced disease within 1 year. Of these patients, 34,290 are projected to die in 2008, representing 91% of those diagnosed. Surgical resection of disease is the only cure for pancreatic cancer, but only 20% of the patients with newly diagnosed disease are candidates for surgery. Standard first-line systemic therapy for advanced/metastatic pancreatic cancer is treatment with a deoxycytidine antimetabolite, which is associated with a 1-year survival rate of only < 20%. Options for second-line therapy have been limited in a patient population plagued by poor performance and functional status. Examining emerging data from clinical trials of salvage therapy in patients with advanced pancreatic cancer is critical in helping physicians devise treatment strategies when an important therapeutic option is enrollment in clinical trials. Ongoing clinical trials continued to address the lack of therapeutic standards for this patient population.

The purpose of this activity is to discuss therapeutic options for patients with advanced pancreatic cancer who have previously been treated with a deoxycytidine antimetabolite.

Target Audience

This activity is intended for medical oncologists involved in the care of patients with pancreatic cancer. No specific skills or knowledge other than a basic training in oncology is required for successful participation in this activity.

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this educational activity, you should be able to:

  • Compare benefit from treatment regimens containing cytotoxic agents reported in clinical trials in patients with gemcitabinerefractory metastatic pancreatic cancer
  • Identify appropriate second-line strategies for patients with advanced/metastatic pancreatic cancer
  • Evaluate the utility of combined targeted agent–based therapy or deoxycytidine antimetabolite–refractory pancreatic cancer

Instructions for Participation

  1. Read the following information before entering the educational activity.
  2. Complete the Pre Test.
  3. Study the educational activity.
  4. Complete the CME test.
  5. Answer the evaluation questions.
  6. After successful completion of the CME test and evaluation, you will receive your certificate of credit online.
  • CME credit will be granted for only 1 form of participation, either online or via the printed publication.

Read all of the conditions in the Activity Terms box below. You must accept the Activity Terms in order to continue:

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It is the policy of Physicians’ Education Resource to ensure balance, independence, objectivity, and scientific rigor in all of its educational activities. As an organization accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), Physicians’ Education Resource requires everyone who is in a position to control the content of an educational activity, including spouses/partners, to disclose all relevant financial relationships with any commercial interest. The ACCME defines “relevant financial relationships” as financial relationships in any amount occurring within the past 12 months that create a conflict of interest. Physicians’ Education Resource has implemented a mechanism to identify and resolve all conflicts of interest prior to the activity.

Andrew H. Ko, MD
Research Funding – Eli Lilly and Company, Genentech, Inc., sanofi-aventis U.S.
Speaker’s Bureau – Roche Pharmaceuticals

PER Editorial Staff

Erin Grothey, MS (spouse)
Research Funding – sanofi-aventis U.S.
Paid Consultant – Amgen; Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Genentech, Inc., Roche Pharmaceuticals, sanofi-aventis U.S.

Other PER Staff
No relevant relationships to disclose

This CME activity might include discussion of investigational and/or unlabeled uses of drugs. If the activity includes discussion of investigational and/or unlabeled uses of a drug, specific information is located on the title page. Please refer to the full prescribing information for each drug discussed in this newsletter for FDA–approved dosing, indications, and warnings.

Commercial Support
An educational grant for this activity was provided by Genentech BioOncology.

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Illustration

Computed tomography scans of a patient with metastatic pancreatic cancer revealing a pancreatic head mass with associated pancreatic ductal dilatation (A) and multiple subcentimeter pulmonary nodules at baseline (B)

Disclaimer

The views and opinions expressed in this activity are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the sponsor, supporter, or publisher. Although great care has been taken in compiling and checking the information given in this activity to ensure accuracy, the authors, and Physicians’ Education Resource and its servants or agents shall not be responsible or in any way liable for the continued currency of the information or for any errors, omissions, or inaccuracies in this activity, whether arising from negligence or otherwise howsoever or for any consequences arising therefrom.

Please consult full prescribing information for any drugs or procedures discussed within.

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©Copyright 2008 by Physicians’ Education Resource. No material may be reproduced in whole or in part, in any form, without written permission from the publisher.

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Editor, Case Studies in Oncology
Physicians’ Education Resource
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