CME Information

Intended Audience
This activity is designed for medical oncologists, hematologists, and other health care providers involved in the management of patients with multiple myeloma and other solid tumors such breast, lung, and prostate cancer.

Activity Goal
The goal of this activity is to increase awareness among participants about: 1) the importance of monitoring bone health in patients with bone metastases being treated with chemotherapy agents, and 2) the existing options to appropriately treat bone loss as a result of recurring chemotherapy treatment.

Statement of Need
Protecting bone health for cancer patients has become an increasing priority for oncologists. The primary goal of therapy is to minimize pain and morbidity and to improve mobility and quality of life. The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) and American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) have released guidelines for screening for bone metastases in specific disease types and for assessing cancer treatment–induced bone loss in patients. Radiation, surgery, anti-resorptive agents (which include bisphosphonates), and analgesics are currently used as treatments for bone metastasis and skeletal-related events. Bisphosphonates have emerged as the standard of treatment for malignant bone disease and hypercalcemia of malignancy. They inhibit bone resorption, significantly reduce the incidence of skeletal complications, and have analgesic effects on bone pain. Health care practitioners treating patients with cancer who are at risk for bone disease will benefit significantly from educational programs that present emerging data on the prevention and treatment of bone disease, emphasize early identification and treatment, and review the safety profile of available therapies. Improving patient quality of life by protecting bone health in cancer-related health care has become increasingly important, especially since current therapies continue to reduce morbidity and mortality from cancer.

Educational Objectives
After participating in this initiative, the participant will be better able to:

• Describe the pathophysiology of hypercalcemia of malignancy
• Describe the clinical signs and symptoms to better diagnose hypercalcemia of malignancy
• Choose management strategies to appropriately manage, monitor, and treat hypercalcemia of malignancy
• Compare the therapeutic benefit of traditional and novel treatment options available for hypercalcemia of malignancy

Contributing Faculty
James R. Berenson, MD, Chair
Medical and Scientific Director
Institute for Myeloma and Bone Cancer Research
West Hollywood, California

Allan Lipton, MD
Professor of Medicine & Oncology
M.S. Hershey Medical Center
Hershey, Pennsylvania

G. David Roodman, MD, PhD
Professor of Medicine
University of Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Accreditation Statement
This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the Essential Areas and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) through the joint sponsorship of Postgraduate Institute for Medicine (PIM) and M2 Communications, Inc. PIM is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

Credit Designation
Postgraduate Institute for Medicine designates this educational activity for a maximum of 3.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)^TM. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Disclosure of Conflicts of Interest
Postgraduate Institute for Medicine (PIM) assesses conflict of interest with its instructors, planners, managers, and other individuals who are in a position to control the content of CME activities. All relevant conflicts of interest that are identified are thoroughly vetted by PIM for fair balance, scientific objectivity of studies utilized in this activity, and patient care recommendations. PIM is committed to providing its learners with high-quality CME activities and related materials that promote improvements or quality in health care and not a specific proprietary business interest of a commercial interest.

The following faculty reported a real or apparent conflict of interest:

James R. Berenson, MD
Consulting Fees: Amgen Inc., Celgene Corp., Cephalon, Inc., CuraGen, Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Novartis Pharmaceuticals, OrthoBiotech, Seattle Genetics
Non-CME Services: Celgene Corp., Cephalon, Inc., Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Novartis Pharmaceuticals
Contracted Research: Amgen Inc., Celgene Corp., Cephalon, Inc., CuraGen, Cytogen, Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Novartis Pharmaceuticals, OrthoBiotech, Pfizer Inc, Seattle Genetics, Ziopharm

Allan Lipton, MD
Consulting Fees: Amgen Inc., Novartis Pharmaceuticals
Non-CME Fees: Amgen Inc., Novartis Pharmaceuticals
Other (Testimony): Novartis Pharmaceuticals

G. David Roodman, MD, PhD
Consulting Fees: Amgen Inc., Merck & Co., Inc., Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Novartis Pharmaceuticals

The following planners and managers reported a real or apparent conflict of interest:

Trace Hutchison, PharmD; Jan Hixon, RN, MSN; Linda Graham, RN; Postgraduate Institute for Medicine: No real or apparent conflicts of interest to report

Roshni Ghosh, MD, M2 Communications, Inc: No real or apparent conflicts of interest to report

Method of Participation
There are no fees for participating in and receiving CME credit for this activity. During the period November 2008 through November 30, 2009, participants must: 1) read the educational objectives and faculty disclosures; 2) study the educational activity; 3) complete the posttest by recording the best answer for each question in the answer key provided on the evaluation form; 4) complete the evaluation form; and 5) mail or fax the evaluation form with the answer key to Postgraduate Institute for Medicine.

A statement of credit will be issued only upon receipt of a completed activity evaluation form and a completed posttest with a score of 70% or better. Your statement of credit will be mailed to you within 3 weeks.

Media
Internet

Disclosure of Unlabeled Use
This educational activity may contain discussion of published and/or investigational uses of agents that are not indicated by the US Food and Drug Administration. Postgraduate Institute for Medicine (PIM), M2 Communications, Inc., or Novartis Oncology 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 PIM, M2 Communications, Inc., and Novartis Oncology. Please refer to the official prescribing information for each product for discussion of approved indications, contraindications, and warnings.

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 or dangers in use, review of any applicable manufacturer’s product information, and comparison with recommendations of other authorities.

Hardware/Software Required
Internet Connection, Flash Player Software

Estimated Time To Complete Activity
1 hour

Release Date: November 2008

Expiration Date: November 30, 2009

 
 

Jointly Sponsored by Postgraduate Institute for Medicine
and M2 Communications, Inc.

 

Supported by an educational grant from Novartis.

 
This activity has been planned and produced in accordance with the ACCME Essentials.