Estimated Time to Complete Activity: 75 minutes

T-cell lymphomas (TCLs) are a biologically diverse and uncommon group of diseases. Most patients afflicted with TCLs are diagnosed primarily with a subtype of nodal peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL) or extranodal cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL). In Western populations, PTCLs represent approximately 12%-15% of all non-Hodgkin lymphomas (NHLs). PTCLs are largely unexplored and optimal treatment is ill-defined because of the rarity and heterogeneity of disease. This leads to a poor prognosis among most PTCL subtypes, with 5-year survival rates ranging from 15%-30%. Future clinical trials that are focused specifically on PTCL are needed to advance our understanding of the disease and define optimal treatment modalities. CTCLs represent a heterogeneous group of extranodal NHLs characterized by skin infiltration of neoplastic T lymphocytes. The most common types of CTCLs, mycosis fungoides (MF) and Sézary syndrome (SS), represent roughly 70% of cutaneous lymphoma cases. While life expectancy for patients with limited skin involvement is excellent, the 5-year survival rate for patients with lymph node involvement drops to 40% and 30% for MF and SS, respectively. With the involvement of any other organ, the 5-year survival rate drops to 0%. Because conventional treatments result in only a transient remission without cure, there is considerable need for new therapeutic options for the treatment of patients with CTCL.

Nurses contribute to all aspects of care of patients with TCL. Their role is central to helping   patients manage their disease and maintain the best possible quality of life. Important aspects of caring for patients with TCL include preventing and managing complications (of both the disease and its treatments) and being an accessible source of information and support. Thus, oncology nurses must be knowledgeable of the increasing number of treatment options for patients with TCL and effective strategies to manage the associated treatment side effects. At the conclusion of this program, participants will be able to describe the current and emerging treatment regimens for TCL, identify potential side effects of drugs used to treat TCL, and apply strategies for improving treatment outcomes by effectively managing drug-related adverse events.

Upon completion of this activity, participants will be able to

1. Discuss the incidence, classification, and difficulty in reaching definitive diagnoses of TCL subtypes.
2. Assess the safety, efficacy, and patient-related issues regarding treatment options for patients with PTCL.
3. Evaluate the latest data on optimal treatment and management of adverse events for patients with CTCL.

This activity can be accessed using an iPhone^® or iPod touch^® and will be a featured program on the CBCE CME app, which may be downloaded from the Apple^® App Store. 

Nurses: The CBCE™ (The Center for Biomedical Continuing Education) is accredited as a provider of continuing nursing education by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation.

The CBCE designates this educational activity for 1.25 contact hours.

Accreditation by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation refers to recognition of educational activities and does not imply approval or endorsement of any product.

Successful completion of this activity includes the following:

• Score 70% or above on the posttest.
• Complete the Evaluation and Request for Credit Form.   
• Fax the completed posttest and form to the CBCE, (214) 260-0509.

 Participants will receive their certificate 4-6 weeks after the CBCE receives their posttest and form.

Successful completion of this activity includes the following:

• Complete the online posttest and score 70% or above.
• Complete the online Evaluation and Request for Credit Form.

Participants will receive their certificates via e-mail 4-6 weeks after submission of the online Evaluation and Request for Credit

Participants of the live activity are not eligible to receive credit for this activity.

The CBCE gratefully acknowledges the educational grant provided by Allos Therapeutics, Inc.

For further information, please contact the CBCE, 1707 Market Place Blvd., Suite 370, Irving, TX 75063; Phone: (214) 260-9024; Fax: (214) 260-0509; E-mail: info@thecbce.com.

The content and views presented in this educational activity are those of the faculty and do not necessarily reflect the opinions or recommendations of the CBCE or Allos Therapeutics, Inc. This material has been prepared based on a review of multiple sources of information but is not comprehensive. Participants are advised to critically appraise the information presented, and they are encouraged to consult the available literature on any product or device mentioned in this program.

As a provider accredited by the ACCME, it is the policy of the CBCE to require that everyone who is in a position to control the content of an educational activity disclose all relevant financial relationships with any commercial interest, and identify and resolve all conflicts of interest prior to the educational activity. The CBCE defines “relevant financial relationships” as any amount occurring within the past 12 months.

Financial relationships are those relationships in which the individual benefits by receiving a salary, royalty, intellectual property rights, consulting fee, honorarium, ownership interest (eg, stocks, stock options, or other ownership interest, excluding diversified mutual funds), or other financial benefit. Financial benefits are usually associated with roles such as employment, management, independent contractor (including contracted research), consulting, speaking and teaching, membership on advisory committees or review panels, board membership, and other activities for which remuneration is received or expected. The CBCE considers relationships of the person involved in the educational activity to include financial relationships of a spouse or partner.

Faculty who refuse to disclose relevant financial relationships will be disqualified from being a planning committee member, a teacher, or an author, and cannot have control of or responsibility for the development, management, presentation, or evaluation of the educational activity. For an individual with no relevant financial relationship, participants must be informed that no relevant financial relationship exists.

The CBCE assesses conflicts of interest with its faculty, planners, and managers of CBCE activities. Identified conflicts of interest are thoroughly evaluated for fair balance, scientific objectivity relative to studies utilized in this activity, and patient-care recommendations. The CBCE is committed to providing participants with high-quality, unbiased, and state-of-the-art education.

The following faculty reported real or apparent conflicts of interest, and these conflicts have been resolved through a peer-review process:

Christopher R. Friese, RN, PhD, AOCN^®
Honoraria
Amgen Oncology

Steven M. Horwitz, MD
Consultant
Allos Therapeutics, Inc.
Eisai Inc.
Genentech, Inc.
Gloucester Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Merck & Co., Inc.
Grant/Research Support
Allos Therapeutics, Inc.
Genzyme Corporation
Gloucester Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Medarex, Inc.
Honoraria
Gloucester Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Medarex, Inc.

Sue McCann, MSN, RN, DNC
Advisory Board
Dermatology Nursing Institute
Consultant
Dermatology Nursing Institute
Honoraria
Eisai Inc.

Institutional Disclosure

The CBCE receives educational grants from the pharmaceutical industry and other commercial sources. Companies providing grants to the CBCE include the commercial supporter of this activity as well as the manufacturers of certain drugs and/or devices discussed in this activity.

The CBCE staff have declared they have no financial relationships that require disclosure.