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 1 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

New Developments in Frontline Therapy and Beyond for Metastatic Non–Small-Cell Lung Cancer
Advances in Lung Cancer Vol. 9, No. 1

1 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™
Release Date: November 24, 2009
Expiration Date: November 24, 2010

Publication Overview

Authors

Medical writer: Aarati Ranganathan, PhD; Medical writer: Bing-e Xu, PhD; Reviewed by: George Simon, MD, FACP, FCCP; Reviewed by: Giorgio Scagliotti, MD, PhD; Reviewed by: H. Jack West, MD

Overview and Purpose

Most patients with non–small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) are diagnosed at an advanced stage. Standard frontline treatment of advanced NSCLC includes platinum-based chemotherapy doublets, and to improve the therapeutic ratio of platinum doublets, new cytotoxic agents with similar efficacy but less toxicity compared to old cytotoxic agents have been incorporated into first-line chemotherapy regimens. Targeted agents, such as monoclonal antibodies against vascular endothelial growth factor or epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), have improved survival when combined with frontline chemotherapy in eligible patients with advanced NSCLC. Other approaches to improving treatment outcomes of frontline regimens include the administration of maintenance therapy, or early second-line therapy, immediately following first-line treatment in patients with nonprogressive disease. Recent phase III trials have demonstrated a survival benefit with maintenance therapy using either an antifolate or an EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor compared to placebo. Personalized therapy based on clinical and/or molecular characteristics of the tumor has also been demonstrated to be feasible. Histological subtypes and biomarkers predictive of efficacy from cytotoxic or targeted agents are now playing important roles in choosing the optimal therapy for individual patients with advanced NSCLC.

The purpose of this activity is to update physicians on frontline regimens, maintenance therapy, and personalized therapy in 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:

  • Evaluate approaches to optimize frontline regimens for patients with advanced NSCLC
  • Compare the clinical outcomes of maintenance therapy with chemotherapeutic or targeted agents after frontline treatment of advanced non–small-cell lung carcinoma
  • Discuss personalized therapy based on tumor characteristics in advanced NSCLC

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.

Complete the test(s) and evaluation by November 24, 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.

Aarati Ranganathan, PhD
No relevant relationships to disclose

Bing-e Xu, PhD
No relevant relationships to disclose

Giorgio Scagliotti, MD, PhD
Advisory Board – AstraZeneca, Eli Lilly and Company, Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, Roche Pharmaceuticals, sanofi-aventis U.S.; Speaker’s Bureau – Eli Lilly and Company, GlaxoSmithKline, sanofi-aventis U.S.

H. Jack West, MD
Paid Consultant – Eli Lilly and Company, Bristol-Myers Squibb Company; Speaker’s Bureau – Eli Lilly and Company

George Simon, MD, FACP, FCCP
Paid Consultant – Eli Lilly and Company, Genentech, Inc.; Speaker’s Bureau – Eli Lilly and Company, Genentech, Inc., 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 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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Banner Illustration
Illustrator: Pam Curry

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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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, Advances in Lung Cancer
Physicians’ Education Resource
3500 Maple Ave.
Suite 700
Dallas, TX 75219
Phone: (214) 367-3400
Fax: (214) 367-3304
E-mail: editor@cancerlearning.com

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Educational Grants

An educational grant for this activity was provided by:


  1. Eli Lilly and Company