Estimated Time to Complete Activity: 45 minutes
Approximately 57,760 new cases of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) are expected to be diagnosed in the United States during 2009. Early detection of this disease is associated with a high survival rate; however, 30% of patients are diagnosed with RCC when it is already in the advanced or metastatic stage. The median survival for patients with metastatic RCC (mRCC) is 6-12 months, with a 2-year survival rate of 10%-20%. Prior to the advent of targeted therapies, treatment of mRCC remained largely unchanged for decades and relied on cytokine therapy and immunotherapies to prevent disease progression. The toxicity, low response rate, and short survival benefit associated with this therapeutic approach, however, necessitated increased research into the development of agents that are more successful in delaying or stopping the growth of RCC. Recent clinical trials have shown that novel agents can prolong both progression-free survival and overall survival in patients with mRCC by inhibiting key pathways involved in angiogenesis and tumor growth. Acceptance of these agents as the new standard of care in mRCC has led to the reevaluation of preexisting treatment paradigms. For example, targeted agents have the potential to impact treatment in early stages of RCC, and they are currently being investigated in adjuvant and neoadjuvant settings. Additionally, prognostic models are being reexamined, and new predictive factors are emerging that may be useful in assessing response to targeted therapy and selecting patients most likely to benefit from these agents. The widespread adoption of targeted therapeutics for the treatment of mRCC has also raised the question of whether cytoreductive nephrectomy (CRN) or metastasectomy provide a benefit when utilized along with targeted systemic treatment. This activity will address each of these issues, allowing participants to stay current regarding the evolution of the management of RCC in the era of targeted therapies.
This activity is intended for oncologists, surgeons, pathologists, nurses, pharmacists, physician assistants, and other healthcare professionals involved in the treatment and management of patients with renal cell carcinoma.
Upon completion of this activity, participants will be able to
This activity requires that your computer be configured to access the Internet. A high-speed Internet connection may be required to view large files. The webcast will be available on www.thecbce.com and will be a featured program on the CBCE CME app, which may be downloaded from the Apple® App Store for use on the iPhone® or iPod touch®.
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.
Physicians: The CBCE™ (The Center for Biomedical Continuing Education) is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians. The CBCE designates this educational activity for a maximum of .75 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in this activity. Physician Assistants: AAPA accepts certificates of participation for educational activities certified for Category 1 credit from AOACCME, Prescribed credit from AAFP, and AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ from organizations accredited by ACCME or a recognized state medical society. Physician assistants may receive a maximum of .75 hour of Category 1 credit for completing this program. 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 .75 contact hour. 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:
Participants will receive their certificate 4-6 weeks after the CBCE receives their posttest and form.
The CBCE gratefully acknowledges the educational grant provided by Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation.
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 Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation. 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.
This educational activity may contain discussion of published and/or investigational uses of agents that are not approved by the US Food and Drug Administration. For additional information about approved uses, including approved indications, contraindications, and warnings, please refer to the prescribing information for each product or consult the latest edition of the Physicians’ Desk Reference.
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: Robert Figlin, MD Consultant Avco Enron Corporation Genentech, Inc. GlaxoSmithKline Onyx Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Grant/Research Support Argos Therapeutics, Inc. Antigenics Inc. GlaxoSmithKline Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation Pfizer Inc. Wyeth Phamaceuticals Inc.
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.