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

Recent Progress in Targeted Therapies and Individualized Treatment Selection for Breast Cancer
Cancer Summaries and Commentaries, Vol. 2, No. 4

1 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™
Release Date: December 22, 2009
Expiration Date: December 22, 2010

Publication Overview

Authors

Medical writer: Kristin Garcia, PhD; Medical writer: Timothy Quill, PhD; Reviewed by: Mohammed Jahanzeb, MD, FACP

Overview and Purpose

Recent clinical trial data illustrate the ever-expanding therapeutic options for patients with breast cancer and the increased desire to tailor therapies to particular tumor subtypes. There has been a substantial focus on targeted therapies for the treatment of breast cancer, although proper clinical application of these new therapeutic strategies can be complex. The novel approach of targeting DNA repair pathways through inhibition of poly(ADP) ribose polymerase (PARP) in triple-negative breast cancer has gained attention, with PARP inhibitors demonstrating significant efficacy in this difficult-to-treat tumor subtype. Additionally, investigations are continuing to examine the optimal chemotherapeutic partners for antiangiogenic monoclonal antibodies and tyrosine kinase inhibitors in metastatic breast cancer (MBC), including novel taxane formulations and antimetabolites. In HER2+ breast cancer, the role of focal HER2-amplified clones on HER2 testing and benefit from therapy is currently under investigation. Lastly, HER2-targeted antibody-drug conjugates are demonstrating substantial activity in patients with disease progression on standard HER2-targeted therapy and are increasing the therapeutic options beyond progression. Ultimately, optimizing disease outcome for patients with breast cancer is dependent on physicians staying informed of therapeutic options with careful patient selection, management of toxicities, and enrollment on appropriate clinical trials.

The purpose of this activity is to update physicians on clinically important data regarding the integration of targeted therapies into the treatment of patients with breast cancer and the selection of therapy based on biologic tumor characteristics.

Target Audience

This educational activity is intended for medical 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:

  • Assess the efficacy and safety of PARP inhibitors in the treatment of triple-negative MBC
  • Evaluate the efficacy and safety of antiangiogenic agents in combination with first-line chemotherapy for HER2– MBC
  • Evaluate the efficacy and safety of combining a chemotherapeutic agent with an antiangiogenic multitargeted kinase inhibitor in locally advanced/metastatic breast cancer
  • Assess the efficacy of an antibody-drug conjugate in patients with HER2+ MBC that has progressed following prior HER2-directed therapy
  • Assess the prognostic and predictive value of focal HER2-amplified clones in patients with early-stage breast cancer
  • Assess the prognostic and predictive value of breast cancer molecular subtypes in node-positive, early-stage disease as defined by immunohistochemistry using tissue microarrays

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 December 22, 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.

Mohammed Jahanzeb, MD, FACP
Research Funding – Genentech, Inc., OXiGENE, Inc., Pfizer Inc.; Advisory Board – Abraxis BioScience, LLC; AstraZeneca, Bayer Pharmaceuticals Corporation, Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Eisai Inc., Eli Lilly and Company, Genentech, Inc., GlaxoSmithKline, ImClone Systems Incorporated, Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, Onyx Pharmaceuticals, Inc., OXiGENE, Inc., Pfizer Inc., sanofi-aventis U.S.; Speaker’s Bureau – Abraxis BioScience, LLC; AstraZeneca, Genentech, Inc., GlaxoSmithKline, Roche Pharmaceuticals, sanofi-aventis U.S.

PER Editorial 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 Genentech BioOncology.

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Banner Illustration
Illustrators: 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.

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Editor, Cancer Summaries and Commentaries
Physicians’ Education Resource
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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. Genentech BioOncology