Article Details - Overview
Expanding Options for the Treatment of Metastatic Breast Cancer
Summaries of Selected Lectures From the Seventh International Congress on the Future of Breast Cancer
Koloa, HI
July 23-26, 2008
Release Date: October 29, 2008
Expiration Date: October 29, 2009
Publication Overview
Author
PER Editorial Staff
Overview and Purpose
Breast cancer therapies have rapidly evolved over the past decade, and many new strategies involving both novel targeted agents and innovative combinations of cytotoxic drugs continue to be evaluated. Angiogenesis inhibitors and novel agents designed to attenuate pathologic HER2 signaling have shown promise, and combinations of these agents with existing chemotherapy have been approved for use in advanced and metastatic breast cancer. The question remains whether polychemotherapy using cytotoxic drugs or cytotoxic/biologic combinations result in better clinical outcomes than single-agent sequential approaches. These options need to be carefully balanced against quality-of-life issues in clinical scenarios in which palliation of symptoms is a primary goal. Breast cancer is a complex neoplasia with many variations that can inluence the efectiveness of particular treatments. Optimization of therapy therefore requires attention to many possible clinical and pathologic variables, and careful analysis of existing clinical trial data is needed to provide the best possible patient care using the rapidly growing armamentarium of available treatment options.
The purpose of this activity is to apprise physicians of current data on the use of targeted therapies and cytotoxic combinations for advanced and metastatic breast cancer and to highlight key issues involved in selecting treatment plans based on particular clinical and pathologic variables.
Target Audience
This activity is intended for oncologists involved in the care of patients with breast 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:
- Evaluate the safety and efficacy of current and investigational options in the treatment of HER2+ metastatic breast cancer (MBC) progressing on prior HER2-targeted therapies
- Evaluate current data on the use of combination chemotherapy regimens for the treatment of advanced or metastatic breast cancer
- Assess the safety and efficacy of cytotoxic/antiangiogenic combination regimens for the first-line treatment of HER2– MBC
- Discuss the safety and efficacy of investigational treatments using antiangiogenic small-molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitors in MBC
Instructions for Participation
- Read the following information before entering the educational activity.
- Complete the Pretest
- Study the educational activity.
- Complete the CME test.
- Answer the evaluation questions.
- 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.
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