General CME Information
This activity has been approved for AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™
Needs Statement
The World Health Organization estimates that in 2020, 15 million people will be diagnosed with cancer and 10 million will die globally.1 While the myriad of cancer treatments has increased survival for most cancers over the past few decades, millions of people will still succumb to the disease. Many of these deaths however, will have been preventable through the early screening, detection and diagnosis of their cancers. The use of molecular markers as an indicator of cancer status has been a hallmark of early screening and detection in a small number of cancers but only recently has begun to expand to other tumors.2 The initiative to incorporate these biomarkers into cancer treatment plans, is even more novel.
Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) expression is one such noteworthy molecular marker being studied today. For example, in head and neck cancer, it is thought that high EGFR expression may correlate with a higher risk of relapse. Therefore patients with high EGFR expression could benefit from more aggressive chemotherapy regimens or introduction of an EGFR inhibitor into the treatment regimen.3 EGFR expression is also believed to play a role in multiple other cancers such as breast, colon, lung, brain and endometrial. This conference will take an in depth look at EGFR and other biomarkers currently in development and use.
As the discovery of potential molecular markers in cancer has rapidly multiplied, the need for more focused and systematic research to fully implement and utilize these biomarkers has increased. By quickly and consistently identifying high-quality biomarkers, these advances will allow clinicians to diagnose patients earlier, predict susceptibility to cancer, monitor progression and provide more personalized care to their patients when they need systemic treatment.
This meeting will present an opportunity for oncology professionals to discuss two vital components of molecular marker research, alleviating the challenges of distinguishing the most practical and effective biomarkers, and the most current research on their therapeutic use.
1 Stewart BW, Kleihues P. World cancer report. Geneva: WHO; 2003.
2 Chatterjee SK, Zetter BR. Cancer biomarkers: knowing the present and predicting the future. Future Oncol 1(1): 37-50, 2005
3 Ang KK, Berkey, BA, Tu X, et al. Impact of epidermal growth factor receptor expression on survival and pattern of relapse in patients with advanced head and neck carcinoma. Cancer Res 62(24): 7350-6, 2002
Target Audience
This meeting is designed for clinicians, pathologists, laboratory scientists, statisticians and representatives from the pharmaceutical industry as well as the regulatory agencies who are interested in cancer.
Learning Objectives
Upon participation in this activity, attendees will be able to:
- Investigate the current use of molecular markers for the screening, early detection, diagnosis and treatment of cancer
- Improve patient outcomes through the appropriate use chemotherapy and biologic agents by developing effective molecular markers
- Assess the clinical development challenges of molecular markers and the utility of laboratory assays and techniques
- Identify successful methods of molecular marker clinical trial development
Disclaimer and Unlabelled Usage Statement
The information presented is that of the contributing faculty and does not necessarily represent the views of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC), the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and/or any named commercial entity providing financial support. Specific therapies discussed may not be approved and/or specified for use as indicated by the faculty presenters. Therefore, before prescribing any medication, please review the complete prescribing information including indications, contraindications, warnings, precautions and adverse effects.
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