Archived Monthly Oncology Tumor Boards: A Multidisciplinary Approach to Individualized Patient Care - Melanoma

Join Jeffrey M. Farma, MD (Surgeon) and Anthony J. Olszanski, MD, RPh (Medical Oncologist) as they present their multidisciplinary expertise on a range of cases pertaining to melanoma.

Since patients are heterogeneous, patient management should also be individualized. The cases in this webinar are designed to highlight significant clinical decision points concerning treatment selection, toxicity management, and areas of recent change or controversy in the NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology (NCCN Guidelines®) while reinforcing emerging data from clinical trials. This webinar will allow learners to understand how to apply the standards of care to their practice and healthcare setting.

Treatment of advanced melanoma has entered a new era with the approval of novel immunotherapy and targeted agents. Emerging evidence from follow-up studies of vemurafenib and ipilimumab sheds light on their use in different clinical settings, drug resistance mechanisms, and side effects management. More upcoming targeted agents (MEK inhibitor trametinib and BRAF inhibitor dabrafenib) have demonstrated survival benefits in randomized trials, which may further change the landscape of this rapidly evolving field. Research also focuses on the sequence and combination of these drugs. With the advent of targeted therapy, mutation testing has become a critical component in the routine work-up of advanced disease.

Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) is a minimally invasive technique that is important in determining staging and prognosis for melanoma patients. The MSLT-1 trial demonstrated an improvement in disease-free survival with the procedure in patients with melanoma of intermediate thickness. However, the role of SLNB is not as well-defined in thin and thick melanomas. Although melanoma is not conventionally considered radiosensitive, there is evidence supporting the role of radiation as an adjuvant therapy. A randomized trial in patients at risk for nodal relapse recently reported that radiotherapy following lymphadenectomy improved nodal field control.

In patients with melanoma, treatment decisions are made based on the stage of the disease. Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) is a minimally invasive technique that is important in determining staging and prognosis for melanoma patients. In advanced disease, clinicians need to know the prognostic markers prior to deciding on a treatment for the patient. With the advent of targeted therapy, mutation testing has become a critical component in the routine work-up of advanced disease.  Management of adverse events and response to therapy may be different than with traditional chemotherapy.  These differences should be discussed with patients prior to beginning therapy with immune-oncology agents.

Target Audience

This educational program is designed to meet the educational needs of oncologists, pathologists, nurses, pharmacists, and other health care professionals who manage patients with cancer.

Learning Objectives

Following this activity, participants should be able to:

  • Apply NCCN Guideline-based therapeutic strategies for melanoma in the treatment of patients.
  • Describe the multidisciplinary aspects of patient management for melanoma.
  • Identify the key characteristics for melanoma that trigger decision points.
  • Recognize situations where optimal care may require adapting the guideline recommendations to individual circumstances.
Additional information
Supporters: 

This activity is supported by educational grants from:

  • Daiichi Sankyo, Inc.
  • Genentech
  • Millennium: The Takeda Oncology Company
  • Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation
  • Teva Pharmaceuticals

This activity is supported by an independent educational grant from Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

This activity is supported by a grant from Onyx Pharmaceuticals.

Course summary
Available credit: 
  • 0.75 Participation
  • 0.76 Nurse
  • 0.75 Pharmacist
  • 0.75 Physician
Course opens: 
08/16/2013
Course expires: 
08/16/2014
Cost:
$0.00

Jeffrey M. Farma, MD
Fox Chase Cancer Center
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Anthony J. Olszanski, MD
Fox Chase Cancer Center
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Available Credit

  • 0.75 Participation
  • 0.76 Nurse
  • 0.75 Pharmacist
  • 0.75 Physician

Price

Cost:
$0.00
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