•

Moshe Talpaz, MD – Chair
Professor of Medicine
University of Michigan
Associate Director for Translational Research
University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center
Associate Chief/Director of Hematologic Malignancies
Division of Hematology/Oncology
Ann Arbor, Michigan

Susan Branford, PhD
Medical Scientist
Division of Molecular Pathology
Institute of Medical and Veterinary Science
Associate Professor
School of Medicine
University of Adelaide
Adelaide, South Australia

Jorge E. Cortes, MD
Professor of Medicine
Deputy Chair, Department of Leukemia
University of Texas
MD Anderson Cancer Center
Houston, Texas

Jerald P. Radich, MD
Member, Clinical Research Division
Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center
Professor of Medicine
University of Washington School of Medicine
Seattle, Washington

STATEMENT OF NEED
The treatment of CML continues to challenge healthcare providers and patients. Integration of recent therapeutic advances in CML management strategies requires careful consideration of patient-specific characteristics, physician expertise, clinician comfort with the newer therapies, and availability of health system resources. Potential barriers to optimizing CML therapy include rapid advancement in development of novel therapeutic agents, lack of physician awareness of the most recent clinical trial data, swiftly evolving treatment guidelines, reduced awareness of pharmacogenetics and the impact of new assays to monitor patients with CML and concerns about management of potentially significant toxicities from the newer therapeutic agents. If optimal treatment of patients with CML is to be realized, these barriers must be overcome.

TARGET AUDIENCE
The target audience for this educational initiative is medical oncologists, hematologists, hematologist-oncologists, pathologists, and allied healthcare professionals.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES
Upon completion of this educational program, participants should be better able to:

• Discuss the potential benefits of dose escalation of TKIs and the role of pharmacogenetics to identify probable patient responses
• Identify potential roles for second-generation BCR-ABL TKIs in both first-line therapy and in imatinib-refractory CML
• Describe the potential barriers for optimal utilization of alloHSCT therapy and the possibility of improved outcomes with regimens combining alloHSCT and TKIs
• Analyze the impact of BCR-ABL by FISH and PCR assays on monitoring patients with CML, and discuss the implications of the results of those assays on treatment continuation
• Interpret available clinical data reviewing the implications of genetic mutations in refractory CML, and the potential activity of subsequent treatment selections
• Summarize rational treatment approaches for different patient scenarios representing a range of CML prognostic markers and clinical characteristics
  

PHYSICIAN CONTINUING EDUCATION

ACCREDITATION STATEMENT
Educational Concepts Group, LLC is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

CREDIT DESIGNATION STATEMENT
Educational Concepts Group, LLC designates this educational activity for a maximum of 2 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

METHOD OF PARTICIPATION
There are no fees for participating and receiving CME credit for this activity. During the period June 11, 2009 through June 10, 2010, participants must
1) read the learning objectives and faculty disclosures; 2) study the educational activity; 3) complete the post-test. Participants must view each section in its entirety to receive full credit for this program.

CME CREDIT
Physicians who complete the post-test with a score of 70% or better may view and print their credit letter or statement of credit via the website, www.educationalconcepts.net.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF COMMERCIAL SUPPORT
This activity is supported by an educational grant from Novartis Oncology.

None of the contents may be reproduced in any form without prior written permission from the publisher. This activity may be accessed at www.educationalconcepts.net.

FACULTY DISCLOSURE STATEMENT
All faculty participating in continuing education activities sponsored by ECG are expected to disclose to the audience any real or apparent commercial financial affiliations related to the content of their presentations/materials.

Educational Concepts Group, LLC (ECG) has declared the following financial relationships:
ECG receives educational grants from pharmaceutical industry and other commercial supporters. Planners, managers, and other staff members at ECG have no relevant financial relationships to disclose.

This presentation was selected by the American Society of Clinical Oncology^® as an independent educational activity held adjunct to the ASCO Annual Meeting. This presentation is not sponsored or endorsed by ASCO.