Cancer Biomarkers Conference Satellite Symposium

Since the last Cancer Biomarkers Conference, new tests have emerged for predictive biomarkers used to select cancer patients for new molecular-targeted therapies. New immune therapies for their cancer treatment have also emerged. New technologies, such as liquid biopsy, have advanced. Revised guidelines, as well as new guidelines have also been published. Pathologists and oncologists need to know the answers to a host of questions in this rapidly developing field of biomarkers in order to offer the best patient care.

 

 

HOW TO OBTAIN AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™

1. Register for the CME activity.
2. View the course materials above.
3. After viewing the video, click the "Start Evaluation" button to take the activity evaluation, above.
4. Print/download your personalized CME certificate.

If you need to review the course materials at later date, click the "already registered" link found under the registration button, and login with your email address and confirmation number found in your confirmation email. 

ACTIVITY INFORMATION
Release Date: 11/21/2018
Expiration Date: 11/20/2019

DESCRIPTION

The session will focus on the integration of current biomarker testing into daily practice, to help practitioners develop insight into acceptable resource utilization with the goal of defining patient populations who benefit from biomarker testing.

The biomarker arena is faced with two problems - overutilization and under adoption. The former problem often stems from an incomplete knowledge of the data's value, and the latter from a variety of causes including education, nihilism and cost. The learners are the practitioners who will use the session to help make informed decisions in their own practice regarding the biomarkers discussed.

The learners need to understand the scope of testing that has been demonstrated to help patient outcomes. This is a data driven activity that culminates in a recommendation that has strong, intermediate or weak evidence. This evidence based approach is critical to avoid overutilization, but also feeds into preventing nihilism. Also, it enables the learner to value the testing.

While recommendations are often made at the national level, local adoption requires examination of the institution specific case volumes and practitioners. Algorithms around testing may be different based on the local needs, and the topics will specifically address the "minimum" required implementation versus a more extensive implementation that may drive clinical trials or tertiary type care.

Adoption of established tests (e.g. EGFR mutation in lung adenocarcinoma) takes time and education. Despite being known for many years, compliance with guidelines fail to reach benchmarks of 90%. The rapid evolution of the field is a concern, as the volume of potential new markers exceeds their clinical utility, so learners need to sift through a great deal of information to avoid under adoption of the truly impactful biomarkers.

The goal is to align what is known in the use of these biomarkers to the learner's local practice. Specifically, the goal would be to adopt algorithms that guarantee as close to 100% compliance with biomarker performance in patient populations with the tumor histology or tumor stage for which the highest level of evidence exists.

EDUCATIONAL OBJECTIVES  

At the conclusion of this activity, the participant should be able to: 

• Describe where new markers of tumor mutation burden and microsatellite instability fit into their practice
  
• Define future testing scenarios for PDL1 and TMB
  
• List scenarios in which repeat testing may be indicated, and where such testing is over-utilization

TARGET AUDIENCE  

Physicians in specialties such as Pathology, Oncology, Hematopathology, Cytopathology, Molecular Genetic Pathology, Cancer Genetics, and Anatomic Pathology, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, nurses, research scientists, and residents/fellows. 

ACCREDITATION AND CREDIT DESIGNATION STATEMENTS 

Houston Methodist is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

Houston Methodist designates this enduring material for a maximum of 1.5 AMA PRA Category 1 CreditsTM. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity. 

COMMERCIAL SUPPORT ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

The original live activity was supported by an educational grant from Bristol-Myers Squibb