Publication Details - Overview

This activity is part of PER's Integrated Oncology Learning Series: A Focus on Thoracic Malignancies

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Continuing Education Information

Physicians' Education Resource is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

Physicians' Education Resource designates this educational activity for a maximum of 0.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

The Role of Maintenance Therapy and Biomarkers in Frontline Therapy for Advanced Non–Small-Cell Lung Cancer
Oncology Briefings Vol. 7, No. 4

0.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™
Release Date: July 30, 2009
Expiration Date: July 30, 2010

Publication Overview

Authors

Medical writer: Bing-e Xu, PhD; Reviewed by: H. Jack West, MD

Overview and Purpose

Several new approaches to improve the outcomes of frontline therapy for advanced non–small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) have recently been undertaken, including the administration of maintenance therapy immediately following first-line treatment in patients with nonprogressive disease. Several recent phase III trials demonstrated that maintenance therapy using second-line agents such as taxanes, antifolates, or tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) significantly prolonged progression-free survival in patients with advanced NSCLC. Another approach is the investigation of biomarkers to select patients who are most likely to benefit from targeted therapy. For example, activating EGFR mutations have been demonstrated to be predictive of deriving clinical benefit from first-line therapy with EGFR TKIs. Considerable effort is also being invested to identify biomarkers for anti-EGFR antibodies. These new strategies will likely aid the optimization of first-line therapy and the development of personalized treatment for patients with advanced NSCLC. 

The purpose of this activity is to update physicians on maintenance therapy and personalizing targeted therapy based on biomarkers in first-line treatment of patients with advanced NSCLC.

Target Audience

This educational activity is intended for medical oncologists involved in the care of patients with NSCLC. 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:

  • Assess the efficacy and safety of an antifolate as maintenance therapy following first-line treatment of advanced NSCLC
  • Describe the clinical data on maintenance therapy using an EGFR TKI in advanced NSCLC
  • Discuss the value of biomarkers in predicting clinical benefits from EGFR inhibitors

Instructions for Participation

  1. Read the following information before entering the educational activity.
  2. Complete the Pretest.
  3. Study the educational activity.
  4. Complete the Posttest.
  5. Answer the evaluation questions.
  6. After completion of the Pretest and successful completion of the Posttest and evaluation, you will receive your certificate online.

You will be permitted 2 attempts to successfully complete the Posttest.

The tests and evaluation must be completed by July 30, 2010, in order for you to receive your certificate.

Complete the test(s) and evaluation by July 30, 2010 to receive your certificate online.

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

Disclosure Policy
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.

Bing-e Xu, PhD
No relevant relationships to disclose

H. Jack West, MD
Paid Consultant – Eli Lilly and Company, ImClone Systems Incorporated
Speaker’s Bureau – Eli Lilly and Company

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 activity for FDA-approved dosing, indications, and warnings.

Commercial Support
An educational grant for this activity was provided by Eli Lilly and Company.

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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.

This activity is not sanctioned by, nor a part of, the 45th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology.

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All rights reserved. No part of this activity may be translated, reproduced, stored, or transmitted by any means or in any type of media form including electronic, mechanical photocopying, recording, broadcasting, or otherwise without prior permission from the publisher.

©Copyright 2009 by Physicians’ Education Resource. No material may be reproduced in whole or in part, in any form, without written permission from the publisher.

All correspondence should be directed to:
Editor, Oncology Briefings
Physicians’ Education Resource
3500 Maple Ave.
Suite 700
Dallas, TX 75219
Phone: (214) 367-3400
Fax: (214) 367-3304
E-mail: editor@cancerlearning.com

Download a Print Version of this Publication*

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Educational Grants

An educational grant for this activity was provided by:


  1. Eli Lilly and Company