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BREAST
CANCER
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Cardiotoxicity in Primary Breast Cancer: Expert Responses to Frequently Asked Questions
Anthracyclines, taxanes, and HER2 inhibitors have revolutionized the treatment of primary breast cancer. While disease-free and overall survival rates have improved dramatically over the past several years, management of side effects remains a critical issue. The Institute for Medical Education & Research (IMER) has developed several educational initiatives on breast cancer focusing on treatment-related side effects, including cardiotoxicity. During this interactive, 2-hour educational program, oncology and cardiology expert faculty will answer frequently asked questions regarding cardiotoxicity compiled from oncology nurse submissions at various IMER-sponsored educational symposia on breast cancer. Additional questions and real-life patient challenges submitted by oncology nurses in the months leading up to the symposium will be included.
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The Complex Role of the Oncology Nurse in Breast Cancer: Bridging the Gap Between Science and Compassion
Caring for patients with breast cancer can present challenges due to treatment and psychosocial issues faced by patients. It is the responsibility of the oncology nurse to remain cognizant of advances in treatment options as well as strategies for the management of the emotional well-being of the patient during this very difficult time. The delivery of high quality care requires that oncology nurses provide a diverse offering of information and supportive services. Successfully managing these nontreatment issues can be time consuming and requires the oncology nurse to accurately assess the individual needs of each patient and provide appropriate support. This symposium will educate oncology nurses about unique resources that are available to patients with breast cancer so that nurses can provide the element of compassion by directing their patients to credible support and information tools.
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Novel Microtubule-Targeting Agents in Metastatic Breast Cancer: Nurse Centric Case Discussions
In 2008, patients with MBC will have the benefit of several new treatment options, including novel chemotherapeutic agents that target the microtubule. It is critical that oncology nurses remain cognizant of research developments as novel agents become more widely used in clinical practice. This educational symposium will compare the mechanisms of action of several breast cancer chemotherapies, particularly antimicrotubulins, via 3-D video animation. Data from recent clinical trials involving the use of novel microtubule-targeting chemotherapeutics will be presented. Oncology nurse-centric case discussions will provide a detailed review of the administration and side effects of these novel agents.
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Biologic Therapies for Breast Cancer: Frequently Asked Questions
Biologic therapy has revolutionized the treatment of breast cancer. As patients seek the latest information on treatment options and experience symptoms associated with novel agents, new questions continue to emerge from the oncology nursing community. This educational symposium will provide oncology nurses with up-to-date answers to commonly asked questions regarding adjuvant and metastatic breast cancer biologic treatments, side-effect management, and current research directions. To address the ongoing educational needs of oncology nurses, questions compiled by the Institute for Medical Education & Research (IMER) in the months leading up to the symposium will also be presented and discussed. The goal is to highlight clinical roles in the academic and community settings, as well as geographic disparities in the treatment of breast cancer.
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Epothilone Chemotherapies for Metastatic Breast Cancer: What, When, and How?
Epothilone chemotherapies have gained considerable attention in MBC clinical research. In this program, breast oncology experts will provide comprehensive answers to oncology nurses’ most pressing questions as they begin to administer these agents in clinical practice. What are epothilones and how are they able to overcome multidrug resistance (MDR)? These questions will be addressed via 3-D video animation. A breast oncology expert will then describe how and when epothilones are indicated in MBC. The latter part of the presentation will focus on practical issues that oncology nurses will face in everyday practice. What measures should be taken to ensure that epothilones are administered safely? What side effects should be anticipated? How should oncology nurses assess and manage these side effects? Program attendees will receive side-effect assessment and clinical management tools, as well as sample patient education materials, to utilize in their individual clinical practices.
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CME Activity for Oncologists
Advances in Chemotherapy Options for Metastatic Breast Cancer: The Introduction of Epothilones
More than 50,000 women will develop recurrent or
metastatic breast cancer in 2007. Treatment for patients
whose tumors are not hormone-sensitive or are
refractory to hormone manipulation typically includes
systemic chemotherapy with or without a biologic agent.
Among the various treatment options, targeting of the
microtubule has been shown to be an effective means
of producing anticancer effects, as evidenced by the
widespread incorporation of vinca alkaloids and taxanes
into treatment regimens. However, these treatments are
often associated with a narrow margin between benefit
and toxicity, and resistance develops with continued
use. The epothilones, with broad-spectrum antitumor
effects, are a new addition to the antimicrotubule
chemotherapy class. These agents have been under
investigation in metastatic breast cancer in recent
years. Epothilones have demonstrated antitumor activity
in taxane-resistant cancer cells and they are now under
investigation as single agents and in combination with
other chemotherapies and biologic agents in patients
who have failed taxane therapy. This program is
intended to educate oncologists about current clinical
research on epothilones, their mechanism of action, and
how this class of agents fits in the treatment landscape
for metastatic breast cancer.
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The treatment landscape for primary breast cancer is changing. This
educational symposium will begin with a presentation from a breast
cancer oncologist who will discuss how primary breast cancer is
diagnosed, new treatment planning resources, and emerging data on
how patients with primary breast cancer can be treated today. New
perspectives on treatment combinations, dosing and scheduling based
on ER-, PR-, HER2-, and nodal status will be discussed. Following this
presentation, an expert panel of oncology nurses specializing in breast
malignancies will moderate an interactive discussion regarding the
assessment and management of toxicities common among primary
breast cancer patients, including neurotoxicities, myelotoxicities,
cardiotoxicity, and osteoporosis/menopausal sympoms. Program
attendees will receive several clinical tools for side-effect assessment
and management, as well as sample patient education tools, to utilize in
their individual clinical practices.
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In this educational symposium, a breast cancer oncologist will
present an overview of the current role of targeted therapies
used in the treatment of breast cancer and provide an update
on emerging clinical trial data expected to markedly influence
practice patterns. The focus will be on issues that affect nurses
most, such as agents they can expect to administer, and
dosing and scheduling modifications based on new data. The
latter half of the program will consist of an interactive workshop
in which an expert panel of breast cancer oncology nurses will
present and discuss model algorithms for assessing and
managing common toxicities specific to breast cancer targeted
therapies. An interactive question-and-answer activity will lead
participants through common toxicity management algorithms
and will help to identify barriers (i.e., institutional, personal,
cultural) to algorithm implementation. Strategies for overcoming
these barriers will be identified and discussed, ultimately
providing attendees with a working model for incorporating upto-
date standards into their routine nursing practices. Program
attendees will receive several side-effect assessment and
management clinical tools, as well as sample patient education
tools, to utilize in their individual clinical practices.
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This activity will present an overview of treatment options for
metastatic breast cancer (MBC) and include 3-D animation that
will illustrate the biological rationale for targeting the
microtubule as well as the mechanisms of actions of agents
with antimicrotubule activity. A physician key opinion leader will
review current therapeutic options for taxane-refractory breast
cancer and advanced practice nurse will discuss strategies for
managing therapy-related toxicities in women with advanced
metastatic disease. The program will conclude with a questionand-
answer session. Audience response technology will be
used to elicit the experiences of program attendees and
stimulate practice-change discussions. Program attendees will
receive several clinical tools for side-effect assessment and
management, as well as sample patient education materials to
utilize in their clinical practices.
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In recent years, paradigm shifts in the multimodal treatment of
breast cancer have occurred based on the successful
incorporation of targeted therapies. Since 2004, several
educational initiatives on this topic have been held, and
excellent oncology nurse questions worthy of detailed
responses have been submitted, addressing such issues as
targeted therapy mechanisms of action, current and expected
future targeted therapy clinical applications, and nursing
management strategies. During this interactive, 2-hour
educational program, expert panelists will present these
frequently asked questions. Attendees’ understanding of
presented issues and their own practice patterns will be
questioned via audience response technology. Finally, the
program will conclude with a tribute to singer-songwriter
Soraya, who lost her battle with breast cancer in 2006. Soraya
was a national spokesperson for breast cancer causes and
urged women everywhere to empower themselves and make
educated treatment choices.
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Despite the high incidence of cancer in older adults, our
knowledge of specific treatment regimens and nursing
interventions for this population is poor. This program will
address the current treatment landscape for older adults with
lung, prostate, breast, and gastrointestinal (GI) malignancies,
and will highlight ways in which practice may be improved. In
addition to current research on the use of aggressive
therapies and treatment guidelines for the older adult
population, a review of a comprehensive geriatric assessment
and symptom management issues will be covered. National
key opinion leaders will present cases of patients with breast,
lung, prostate, and GI malignancies to illustrate the clinical
applications of chemotherapy regimens studied in older
adults.
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Advances in Chemotherapy Options for Metastatic Breast Cancer: The Introduction of Epothilones
More than 220,000 cases of newly diagnosed breast cancer
are expected this year in the United States. Approximately
25% will have recurrent or metastatic disease, treatment for
which typically includes systemic chemotherapy with or
without a biologic agent. Targeting of the microtubule has
been shown to be an effective means of producing anticancer
effects, as evidenced by the widespread incorporation of vinca
alkaloids and taxanes into treatment regimens. However,
these treatments are often associated with a narrow margin
between benefit and toxicity, and resistance develops over
continued use. Epothilone chemotherapies, with broadspectrum
antitumor effects, have been under investigation in
metastatic breast cancer in recent years. Epothilones have
demonstrated antitumor activity in taxane-resistant cancer
cells and they are now under investigation as single agents
and in combination with biologic agents in patients who have
failed taxane therapy. This program is intended to educate
oncology nurses about epothilones so they may better
educate patients and prevent and/or manage unique side
effects that may be experienced. A 3-D video will be used to
illustrate the mechanism of action of epothilones and other
chemotherapies targeting the microtubule.
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With advances in the understanding of cellular and
molecular signaling transduction in breast cancer, novel
biologic therapies that target a variety of signaling
pathways have emerged within the last decade. More
recently, therapies acting on targets involved in tumor
angiogenesis and proliferation in breast cancer have
demonstrated positive results, which will lead to
changing paradigms in breast cancer treatment. Also,
based on positive outcomes of recent clinical trials,
targeted therapies are now being employed in the
adjuvant setting. All of these topics will be discussed, as
well as their evolving role in the treatment of breast
cancer. It is critical that oncology nurses understand
recent emerging data on these novel therapies to better
support breast cancer patients. This educational
symposium will review the most recent innovations in
targeted therapies for breast cancer. A case-based
interactive discussion will highlight the nurse’s role in
optimal management of these patients.
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With advances in the understanding of cellular and
molecular signaling transduction in breast cancer, novel
biologic therapies that target a variety of signaling
pathways have emerged within the last decade. More
recently, therapies acting on targets involved in tumor
angiogenesis and proliferation in breast cancer have
demonstrated positive results, which will lead to
changing paradigms in breast cancer treatment. Also,
based on positive outcomes of recent clinical trials,
targeted therapies are now being employed in the
adjuvant setting. All of these topics will be discussed, as
well as their evolving role in the treatment of breast
cancer. It is critical that oncology nurses understand
recent emerging data on these novel therapies to better
support breast cancer patients. This educational
symposium will review the most recent innovations in
targeted therapies for breast cancer. A case-based
interactive discussion will highlight the nurse’s role in
optimal management of these patients.
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Recently, exciting clinical data on targeted therapies in breast cancer have been presented, and changes in clinical practice are beginning to occur. This live panel discussion will feature real cases of breast cancer patients from the practices of key opinion leader oncology physician and nurse panelists. A well known oncology nurse breast specialist will moderate the event, leading each case discussion from initial diagnosis to actual clinical course, including treatment choices, side effects experienced and their management, and patients’ concerns. Questions posed to the audience and panelists will facilitate discussions and reinforce learning objectives.
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A recent key advancement in the treatment of breast cancer has been the use of therapies directed against specific molecular targets involved in the processes of tumor cell growth, proliferation, and invasion. Recent clinical trial data have emerged on targeted therapies in the first-line treatment of metastatic breast cancer and the adjuvant treatment of HER2-positive primary breast cancer. These data will be reviewed and discussed in this case-based symposium.
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Recently, exciting clinical data on targeted therapies in breast cancer have been presented, and changes in clinical practice are beginning to occur. This live panel discussion will feature real cases of breast cancer patients from the practices of key opinion leader oncology physician and nurse panelists. A well known oncology nurse breast specialist will moderate the event, leading each case discussion from initial diagnosis to actual clinical course, including treatment choices, side effects experienced and their management, and patients’ concerns. Questions posed to the audience and panelists will facilitate discussions and reinforce learning objectives.
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