Biologic Therapies for the Treatment of Breast Cancer: An Introduction for Oncology Nurses

This program was presented as a continuing education symposium for oncology nurses during the ONS APN Conference and ONS 9th Annual IOL.

Friday, November 14, 2008
6:00 – 7:45 am (Pacific Time Zone)
Grand Ballroom C
Sheraton Seattle Hotel
Seattle, Washington

Release Date: November 2008
Expiration Date: October 2009
Estimated Time to Complete Activity: 1 hour 39 minutes (Adobe Flash Player and Adobe Acrobat Reader required)

Target Audience

This activity has been designed to meet the educational needs of oncology nurses and nurse practitioners treating patients with breast cancer.

Purpose

To educate oncology nurses and advanced practice oncology nurses on clinical trial data and nursing management strategies related to molecularly targeted therapies for the treatment of breast cancer.

Program Overview

Led by breast cancer physician and nurse thought leaders, this symposium will highlight the latest clinical trial data on molecularly targeted agents likely to affect nursing practice in 2009 and will describe the best practices for managing treatment-related side effects. The program will consist of sessions on each of the three major classes of biologic agents used in the treatment of early stage and metastatic breast cancer: human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 inhibitors, vascular endothelial growth factor inhibitors, and dual kinase inhibitors. Following each thought leader presentation, time will be reserved for an interactive panel discussion and audience question-and-answer session. Attendees will not only receive an up-to-date introduction to biologic approaches to treating breast cancer, they will also come away with evidence-based side-effect assessment and treatment guidelines to incorporate into their routine nursing practices.

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this program, participants should be better able to:

Describe ongoing research on molecularly targeted agents likely to influence breast cancer treatment choices in 2009
Identify best nursing management strategies to ensure safe drug administration of molecularly targeted agents to patients with breast cancer
Identify nursing management strategies to minimize or alleviate side effects associated with targeted agents
Outline appropriate clinical algorithms for monitoring patients receiving targeted agents

Disclosure of Unlabeled Use

This educational activity may contain discussion of published and/or investigational uses of agents that are not indicated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. IMER and Genentech BioOncology do not recommend the use of any agent outside of the labeled indications.

The opinions expressed in the educational activity are those of the faculty and do not necessarily represent the views of IMER and Genentech BioOncology. Please refer to the official prescribing information for each product for discussion of approved indications, contraindications, and warnings.

Disclosure of Conflicts of Interest

IMER requires instructors, planners, managers, and other individuals who are in a position to control the content of this activity to disclose any real or apparent conflict of interest they may have as related to the content of this activity. All identified conflicts of interest are thoroughly vetted by IMER for fair balance, scientific objectivity of studies mentioned in the materials or used as the basis for content, and appropriateness of patient care recommendations.

Disclaimer

Participants have an implied responsibility to use the newly acquired information to enhance patient outcomes and their own professional development. The information presented in this activity is not meant to serve as a guideline for patient management. Any procedures, medications, or other courses of diagnosis or treatment discussed or suggested in this activity should not be used by clinicians without evaluation of their patients’ conditions and possible contraindications on dangers in use, review of any applicable manufacturer’s product information, and comparison with recommendations of other authorities.

Faculty

G. Lita Smith, MSN, RN, NP (Chairperson)
University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center

Ms. Smith is an acute care nurse practitioner at the University of Michigan Breast Cancer Center, Ann Arbor. Prior to joining the Breast Care Center in 2001, Ms. Smith worked at the University of Michigan Health System for 11 years. She also served as a nurse practitioner in gynecologic oncology and worked as a staff and infusion nurse. Ms. Smith’s clinical interests pertain to breast cancer symptom management.

G. Lita Smith, MSN, RN, NP, reported a financial interest/relationship or affiliation in the form of: Consultant, Genentech BioOncology; Speakers' Bureau, Genentech BioOncology, GlaxoSmithKline plc., Genomic Health, Inc., and Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation.

Georgia E. Litsas, MSN, RN, APRN, BC, AOCNP®
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute

Ms. Litsas is a nurse practitioner within the Division of Breast Oncology at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston. She received her master’s degree in nursing from Northeastern University, Boston. She is an active member of the Massachusetts Nurses Association, Sigma Theta Tau Honor Society, Oncology Nursing Society, and the Boston Oncology Nursing Society, and lectures regularly on topics related to the care of patients with cancer.

Georgia E. Litsas, MSN, RN, APRN, BC, AOCNP®, reported a financial interest/relationship or affiliation in the form of: Speakers' Bureau, Genentech BioOncology, AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP, and Pfizer, Inc.

Edward H. Romond, MD
University of Kentucky

Dr. Romond is professor of medicine at the University of Kentucky College of Medicine and Markey Cancer Center in Lexington. He received his doctor of medicine from the University of Kentucky College of Medicine. Dr. Romond completed his residency and fellowship in hematology-oncology at Michigan State University in Lansing. He is the study chair for the National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project (NSABP) and principal investigator on the NSABP B-31 trial, a recently reported pivotal trial for the treatment of women with HER2-positive primary breast cancer.

Edward H. Romond, MD, reported a financial interest/relationship or affiliation in the form of: Consultant, Genentech BioOncology.

Accreditation Statements

This educational activity for 1.65 contact hours will be provided by IMER. IMER is an approved provider of continuing education by the Georgia Nurses Association, an accredited approver by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation.

IMER is approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing, Provider Number 14763 for 1.98 contact hours.

A statement of credit will be issued only upon receipt of a completed activity evaluation form.

Safeguards Against Commercial Bias

IMER affirms that the content and format of its CE activities and related materials promote improvements and quality in healthcare and do not promote a specific proprietary business interest of a commercial entity. To this end, IMER employs several strategies to ensure the absence of commercial bias, including but not limited to review of all planned content for CE activities sponsored by IMER to ensure adherence to the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s criteria and operational requirements and the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education’s content validation statements and resolution of any actual or perceived conflict of interest that exist. We employ three metrics as we review materials:

1. Fair balance

a.
Recommendations or emphasis must fairly represent and be based on a reasonable and valid interpretation of the information available on the subject matter

b.
No single product or service is overrepresented when other equal competing products or services are available for inclusion

2.	Scientific objectivity of studies mentioned in the materials or used as the basis for content

3. Appropriateness of patient care recommendations made to learners

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We use the Information to grade your posttest and to send you a certificate of completion of the educational activity. If we use a third-party company to grade your posttest and issue certificates of completion, we will give the Information to that company for that purpose only.

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Method of Participation

There are no fees for participating and receiving nursing contact hours for this activity.

Participants must complete the posttest by recording the best answer to each question. Once you finished your test and completed the subsequent evaluation form, click submit test to send your responsed to us. Your test will be immediately reviewed and if you receive a passing grade of 70% or better, you will then be directed to print your certificate online.

Media

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