Veritas Institute for Medical Education, Inc.   Wednesday, September 08, 2010
Statement of Need/Program Overview
The progression of new therapies for patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) from the bench to bedside has been rapid, in parallel with the swift advances in molecular biology. The impact of molecular biology on the diagnosis, monitoring, and treatment strategies for CML has also been substantial. Although community clinicians have access to a number of CME/CE activities regarding available treatments and the associated clinical data, a need remains for education regarding the correlation of molecular response with the well-understood hematologic and cytogenetic response. Community clinicians need to understand molecular response, its association with residual disease, how it is measured, and the interpretation and application of molecular tests.

Although the technologies, facilities, and educators to address these issues are readily available at most academic medical centers, they are not within reach of most community oncologists and their staffs. Utilizing a true workshop format, these regional meetings will combine the presentation of actual clinical situations (illustrated by the faculty presenter) with an in-depth inquiry and interactive discussion related to critical decisions. Finally, community clinicians—physicians, nurses, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants—will have access to the hands-on education they need regarding the basis for and evidence supporting recent guidelines and recommendations concerning the monitoring of molecular response to available therapies.

Target Audience
Hematologists, hematologist/oncologists, medical oncologists, oncology nurses, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants who treat patients with chronic myeloid leukemia

Learning Objectives
  1. You will assess the methodologies used for monitoring response and evaluate the relationship between cytogenetic response, molecular response, and residual disease.
  2. You will evaluate the prognostic significance of the timing, depth, and stability of molecular response and be better able to use molecular monitoring results in guiding management decisions.
  3. You will be able to explain molecular response results in relation to the development of resistance-conferring mutations and disease progression, validating the role of frequent molecular testing in guiding management decisions.
  4. In light of updated recommendations and guidelines, you will be able to implement frequent molecular monitoring into your practice.

Accreditation/Designation of Credit Statements
Veritas Institute for Medical Education, Inc. is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

Veritas Institute for Medical Education, Inc. designates this educational activity for a maximum of 2.0 AMA PRA Category 1 CreditsTM. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Nurse Practitioners
Veritas Institute for Medical Education, Inc. approved as a provider for nurse practitioner continuing education by the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners: AANP Provider Number 040309. This program has been approved for 2.0 contact hours of continuing education (which includes 2.0 hours of pharmacology).

Nurses
Veritas Institute for Medical Education, Inc. approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing, Provider #13986 for 2.0 Contact Hours.

Financial and Off-Label/Investigational Uses of Drugs/Disclosure Statement
The relevant financial relationships of those persons in a position to control the content of this CME activity will be disclosed prior to the start of the educational activity. Participants are advised that this CME activity will contain references to unlabeled/unapproved/investigational uses of drugs to treat patients with CML.

Sponsorship and Support
Sponsored by Veritas Institute for Medical Education, Inc.
Supported by educational grants from Bristol-Myers Squibb and Novartis Oncology, with additional support from MolecularMD.