Interactive Case Study: Treatment Options for Patients With Metastatic Breast Cancer in the First-line Setting

CASE AUTHOR

Adam Brufsky, MD, PhD
Associate Professor of
  Medicine
Associate Chief, Division of
  Hematology-Oncology
Department of Medicine
University of Pittsburgh
  School of Medicine
Director, Women’s Cancer
  Center
Magee-Womens Hospital of
  UPMC
Co-Director, Magee-Womens
  Breast Cancer Program of
  UPMC Cancer Centers
Pittsburgh, PA

December 2007
1 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit^™

Release date: December 22, 2007
Expiration date: December 22, 2008

Instructions for Participation

Read the following information before beginning the educational activity.
Study the educational activity.
Complete the CME test.
Answer the evaluation questions.
After successful completion of the CME test and evaluation, you will receive your certificate of credit online.

The CME test and evaluation must be completed by December 22, 2008, in order for you to receive your certificate of credit.
You will be permitted to take the online test only once.

Overview and Purpose

Although taxanes play a critical role in the treatment of both metastatic and early-stage breast cancer and their efficacy has validated the microtubule as a target in breast cancer treatment strategies, difficulty in delivery due to their hydrophobic nature as well as their susceptibility to resistance mechanisms has led to the development of new agents that target the microtubule. Recent research has focused on new microtubule-targeting agents such as epothilones. These agents inhibit microtubule function by binding tubulin at different sites than do taxanes or through alternative mechanisms than do taxanes, which could minimize cross-resistance. In addition, the epothilones appear to be less susceptible to multidrug resistance transport proteins. They have displayed activity in taxane-resistant cells and tumors both in preclinical and clinical studies. In metastatic breast cancer, these agents have demonstrated significant efficacy when combined with fluoropyrimidine analogues and have recently been approved for use in this setting. With the number and variety of active agents now available for metastatic breast cancer, treatment options have greatly expanded, with a corresponding increase in the complexity of the decision-making process.

Target Audience

This educational activity is intended for medical oncologists involved in the care of patients with breast cancer. No specific skills or knowledge other than a basic training in oncology are required for successful participation in this activity.

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this educational activity, you should be able to:

Discuss options for patients with residual disease following preoperative therapy for early-stage breast cancer
Assess the efficacy and safety of epothilones as first-line therapy in anthracycline- and taxane-refractory metastatic disease
Review the efficacy of epothilones in anthracycline-, taxane-, and fluoropyrimidine-refractory metastatic breast cancer

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Physicians’ Education Resource is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

Physicians’ Education Resource designates this educational activity for a maximum of 1 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

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It is the policy of Physicians’ Education Resource to ensure balance, independence, objectivity, and scientific rigor in all of its educational activities. As an organization accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), Physicians’ Education Resource requires everyone who is in a position to control the content of an educational activity to disclose all relevant financial relationships with any commercial interest. The ACCME defines “relevant financial relationships” as financial relationships in any amount occurring within the past 12 months that create a conflict of interest. Physicians’ Education Resource has implemented a mechanism to identify and resolve all conflicts of interest prior to the activity.

Adam Brufsky, MD, PhD
Paid Consultant – Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation
Speaker’s Bureau – Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation

PER Editorial Staff
No relevant relationships to disclose

This CME activity might include discussion of investigational and/or unlabeled uses of drugs. If the activity includes discussion of investigational and/or unlabeled uses of a drug, specific information is located on the title page. Please refer to the full prescribing information for each drug discussed in this newsletter for FDA-approved dosing, indications, and warnings.

Commercial Support

An educational grant for this activity was provided by Bristol-Myers Squibb.

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Banner Illustration

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Editor, Interactive Case Study: Treatment Options for Patients With Metastatic Breast Cancer in the First-line Setting
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