How the Experts Treat Hematologic Malignancies in 2009: A CME Webcast

Release date: December 31, 2009
Expiration date: December 31, 2010
Estimated time to complete activity: 5.0 Hours
Credit Expired

Statement of Need

Heterogeneous in nature the management of leukemia, lymphoma and multiple myeloma all present complex clinical problems, requiring an ever evolving multidisciplinary approach to diagnosis and treatment. Recognizing that patient quality of life and survival are significantly improved when these cancers are detected early and treated appropriately there is a need for physicians to remain current on advances in the diagnosis and treatment of these hematological malignancies. This online educational program has been designed by experts in the field of hematology, and will address the educational needs of those physicians who diagnose and treat patients with leukemia, lymphoma, and multiple myeloma. Controversies in key areas will be examined, and changes in treatment paradigms will be profiled and discussed.

Target Audience

This activity is designed to educate medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, hematology/oncology fellows, oncology nurses and other allied health care professionals who will benefit from a review and update on the latest advances in the diagnosis and treatment of lymphoma, leukemia, myelodysplastic and myeloproliferative disorders, and multiple myeloma.

Learning Objectives

At the conclusion of this educational activity participants should be able to:

• Provide an update on the new molecular and immunological treatments being developed for hematologic malignancies
• Discuss the rationale for newly targeted diagnostic and evolving therapeutic strategies used in the care of patients with lymphoma, myeloma, acute and chronic leukemia and myelodysplasia
• Review role and timing of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in the management of younger and older patients’ hematologic malignancies
• Summarize the evolving therapeutic strategies in the treatment of hematologic malignancies

Method of Participation

There are no fees for participating in this CME activity. To receive credit during the period December 31, 2009 to December 31, 2010, participants must (1) read the learning objectives and disclosure statements, (2) study the educational activity, (3) complete the posttest, and (4) complete the activity evaluation form, including the certificate information section.

The posttest can be accessed at the end of the activity. Please e-mail any questions to jkagan@coh.org.

Medium

The Internet was selected as the instructional format to accommodate the learning preferences of a significant portion of the target audience.

Accreditation Statement

The City of Hope National Medical Center is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

The City of Hope National Medical Center designates this educational activity for a maximum of 5.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits.™ Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Disclosure

The City of Hope National Medical Center adheres to ACCME Essential Areas, Standards for Commercial Support, and Policies regarding industry support of continuing medical education. Disclosure of the commercial relationships of everyone in a position to control content of an educational activity will be made at the activity. Speakers are also required to openly disclose discussion of any off-label, experimental, or investigational use of drugs or devices in their presentations.

The following City of Hope National Medical Center CME Committee members/planners have indicted they have nothing to disclose: Lucille Leong, MD, Crystal Saavedra, Anna Pawlowska, MD, Karl Gaal, MD, Mary Mendelsohn, Jo Hanson, Christina Eckhart, Khanh Nguyen, MD, Paul Lin, MD, and Teresa Ball.

The following planners have indicated a conflict with the following corporate organizations:

• Jean Kagan discloses that she is a stock shareholder with Amgen/Zimmer
• Robert Morgan, MD, discloses that he is a stock shareholder with Abbott
• Fouad Kandeel discloses that he is a consultant for MicoCHIPS, Inc. and he has other financial or material interest with Medtronic Minimed
• Ravi Bhatia, MD, discloses that he is a consultant with Novartis
• J. Martin Hogan, MD, discloses that he has other financial or material interest with Johnson & Johnson
• Matthew Loscalzo discloses that he is a member of the speakers bureau with Lilly Pharma.

Any potential conflicts relative to the previous disclosure have been resolved.

CJP Medical Communications Discloure

The employees of CJP Medical Communications have no financial relationships to disclose.

Faculty Disclosures

In accordance with the ACCME’s Standards for Commercial Support, all CME providers are required to disclose to the activity audience the relevant financial relationships of everyone in a position to control content of an educational activity. A relevant financial relationship is a relationship in any amount occurring in the last 12 months with a commercial interest whose products or services are discussed in the CME activity content over which the individual has control. Relationship information appears below:

• Raymond L. Comenzo, MD, discloses that he is on the Scientific Advisory Board for Millennium
• Eric J. Feldman, MD, does not have any relevant financial disclosures
• Sergio A. Giralt, MD, discloses that he receives an honorarium from Millennium, Celgene, Novartis, and Genzyme
• Mark H. Kirschbaum, MD, discloses that he is a speaker/consultant for Celgene and Gloucester Pharmaceuticals; and he receives research funding, is a speaker, or is on the Board of Directors or advisory committees for Merck and Novartis.
• Amrita Y. Krishnan, MD, discloses that she is a speaker/consultant for Celgene; she is a speaker for Millennium; and she is a stockholder with Celgene
• Alexandra M. Levine, MD, discloses that she is a consultant for Genentech and is a speaker/consultant for Abbott
• Auayporn Nademanee, MD, discloses that she is a consultant for Genzyme

Disclaimer

Carden Jennings Publishing and the City of Hope present this resource for educational purposes only. Participants are expected to use their own expertise and judgment while engaged in the practice of medicine. Please consult full prescribing information for any drugs or procedures discussed within this activity. The views and opinions expressed in these presentations are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the co-sponsors, supporter, or publisher. Although great care has been taken in compiling and checking the information given in this publication to ensure accuracy, the authors, City of Hope and Carden Jennings Publishing and their 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 publication, whether arising from negligence or otherwise howsoever or for any consequences arising therefrom.

Disclosure of Unlabeled/Investigational Use

This reference may contain discussion of published and/or investigational uses of agents that are not approved by the US Food and Drug Administration. For additional information about approved uses, including approved indications, contraindications, and warnings, please refer to the prescribing information for each product, or consult the Physician’s Desk Reference.

Dr. Giralt discloses that he will discuss the investigational use of lenalidomide for upfront therapy.

Copyright

All rights reserved; for personal use only. No part of this presentation may be translated, reproduced 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.