Multimodality Therapy of Localized Gastric Adenocarcinoma
Surgical resection is the primary method of obtaining a potential cure for patients with gastric adenocarcinoma. However, chemotherapy or chemoradiotherapy offer significant improvement in survival over surgery alone. Much of the difficulty in deciding the optimal treatment strategy is choosing between perioperative chemotherapy or adjuvant chemoradiotherapy. Adding to the complexity is the potential for incorporating treatment strategies based on clinical trials performed in Asia. There is likely a difference in tumor biology between Eastern and Western patients with gastric adenocarcinoma, in addition to the clear differences in screening, pathologic assessment, and surgical technique. Even among tumors in Western populations, heterogeneity of histology, anatomy, and staging among studies make cross-trial comparisons difficult. There is also active controversy surrounding the staging and management of gastroesophageal junction tumors. Lastly, the benefit of extended lymph node dissection is not clear based on the existing studies and has not been firmly established as a surgical standard of care for all patients. Future goals include better classification of gastric cancer, continued pursuit of randomized trials in Western populations, standardization of surgical technique, and incorporation of targeted therapies.
Target Audience
This activity has been designed to meet the educational needs of physicians and nurses involved in the management of patients with cancer.
Learning Objectives
Upon completion of this activity, participants will be able to:
- Compare and contrast gastric cancer tumor biology, staging, surgical techniques and incorporation of adjuvant therapy between Eastern and Western clinical trial populations
- Summarize the need for a broad multidisciplinary approach to the management of patients with gastric cancer
Disclosure of Relevant Financial Relationships
All faculty and activity planners participating in NCCN continuing education activities are expected to disclose any relevant financial relationships with a commercial interest as defined by the ACCME’s, ANCC’s, and ACPE’s Standards for Commercial Support. All faculty presentations have been reviewed for adherence to the ACCME’s Criterion 7: The provider develops activities/educational interventions independent of commercial interests (SCS 1, 2, and 6) by experts on the topics. Full disclosure of faculty relationships will be made prior to the activity.
The author has disclosed that he has no financial interests, arrangements, affiliations, or commercial interests with the manufacturers of any products discussed in this article or their competitors.
EDITOR:
Kerrin M. Green, MA, Assistant Managing Editor, JNCCN—Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network
Ms. Green has disclosed that she has no relevant financial relationships.
CE AUTHORS:
Deborah J. Moonan, RN, BSN, Director, Continuing Education, hasdisclosed that she has no relevant financial relationships.
Kristina M. Gregory, RN, MSN, OCN, Vice President, Clinical Information Operations, has disclosed that she has no relevant financial relationships.
Rashmi Kumar, PhD, Senior Manager, Clinical Content, has disclosed that she has no relevant financial relationships.
Hema Sundar, PhD, Oncology Scientist/Senior Medical Writer, has disclosed that she has no relevant financial relationships.
The ACCME/ANCC/ACPE defines “conflict of interest” as when an individual has an opportunity to affect CE content about products or services of a commercial interest with which he/she has a financial relationship.
ACCME, ACPE, and ANCC focuses on financial relationships with commercial interests in the 12-month period preceding the time that the individual is being asked to assume a role controlling content of the CE activity. ACCME, ACPE, and ANCC have not set a minimal dollar amount for relationships to be significant. Inherent in any amount is the incentive to maintain or increase the value of the relationship. The ACCME, ACPE, and ANCC defines “’relevant’ financial relationships” as financial relationships in any amount occurring within the past 12 months that create a conflict of interest.
All faculty for this continuing education activity are competent in the subject matter and qualified by experience, training, and/or preparation to the tasks and methods of delivery.
Physicians
The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians.
NCCN designates this journal-based CME activity for a maximum of 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
Nurses
NCCN is accredited as a provider of continuing nursing education by the American Nurses Credentialing Center`s Commission on Accreditation.
NCCN designates the education activity for a maximum of 1.0 contact hour. Accreditation as a provider refers to recognition of educational activities only; accredited status does not imply endorsement by NCCN or ANCC of any commercial products discussed/displayed in conjunction with the educational activity. Kristina M. Gregory, RN, MSN, OCN, is our nurse planner for this educational activity.
All clinicians completing this activity will be issued a certificate of participation.
Available Credit
- 1.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™
- 1.00 ANCC contact hours
- 1.00 Participation
Price
Required Hardware/software
To access this activity, users will need:
- A device with an Internet connection
- Adobe Reader or other PDF reader software for article and certificate viewing/printing