|
|
|
Extracorporeal Photopheresis: Defining a Role in the Treatment of Chronic GvHD |
Program Overview
Graft-versus-host disease (GvHD) is a common side effect of an allogeneic bone marrow or cord blood transplant. An allogeneic transplant uses blood-forming cells donated by a family member, unrelated donor or cord blood unit. In GvHD, the immune cells from the donated marrow or cord blood (the graft) attack the body of the transplant patient (the host). GvHD occurs when a donor’s immune cells (known as T cells) attack cells in the recipient’s body. Selecting a closely matched donor or cord blood unit can help reduce the risk of getting GvHD. However, when GvHD appears, it is important to begin treatment as early as possible for the best results. For both acute and chronic GvHD, the main treatment is to give steroids that weaken the immune system. Researchers are working to fi nd other ways to treat GvHD, including using extracorporeal photopheresis (ECP). This program discusses the results of treating chronic GvHD with extracorporeal photopheresis.
Target Audience
Adult and pediatric hematologists, oncologists, immunologists, and marrow transplant physicians and other healthcare professionals and administrators with an interest in allogenic blood and marrow transplantation, GvHD, or photopheresis.
Learning Objectives
Through didactic presentations and interactive “questions and answers” the symposium speakers will:
- Provide an update on current company-sponsored trials using photopheresis in patients with GvHD.
- Review the results of ongoing investigator-initiated studies using photopheresis to treat patients with GvHD.
- Outline current plans for future photopheresis studies in GvHD.
Program Faculty
Daniel R. Couriel, MD
Assistant Professor of Medicine
Department of Blood and Marrow Transplantation
University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center
Houston, TX
Mary Evelyn D. Flowers, MD
Director, Adult Clinical Care Long-Term
Follow-Up Program (LTFU)
Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center
Seattle, WA
Francine M. Foss, MD
Professor, Medical Oncology
Director of Immunotherapy
Yale Cancer Center
New Haven, CT
Accreditation Statement
The Medical College of Wisconsin is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education provide continuing medical education for physicians.
Designation of Credit Statement
The Medical College of Wisconsin designates this educational activity for a maximum of 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
Faculty Disclosure
Consistent with the current Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education policy, the provider must be able to show that everyone who is in a position to control the content of an individual educational activity has disclosed all relevant financial relationships. The presenting faculty members have all made the proper disclosures, and the following relationships are relevant.
Daniel R. Couriel, MD, has received honoraria from and has been a speaker for Therakos. He also has received grants from Celgene and is a participant in clinical trial research for Celgene.
Francine M. Foss, MD, has received honoraria from Ligand, Therakos and SuperGen. She also has been a speaker for Ligand, Therakos and SuperGen.
Mary Evelyn D. Flowers, MD, has received honoraria from Therakos and SuperGen. She is a member of the Advisory Committee for Therakos and SuperGen, and she has been a speaker for Therakos.
Disclaimer
Graft-versus-host disease (GvHD) is not currently approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration as an indication for the treatment under discussion.The information presented in this activity is for continuing medical education purposes only and is not meant to substitute for the independent medical judgment of a physician regarding diagnosis and treatment of a specific patient’s medical condition.
Privacy & Confidentiality Statement
Carden Jennings Publishing Co., Ltd., the publisher of Bloodline,
does not collect or track personal information from participants in
this CME activity. Generic information from server logs may be used to
track and analyze the number of visits to the site, and to find out
what types of browser software are used by visitors. This information
will be used only in aggregate form, and used solely for improving
website design and performance.
|
|
