Kelsen Updates (Gastroesophageal Adenocarcinoma) Monograph

September 2007

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Accreditation

Lippincott CME Institute, Inc. is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

Credit Designation

Lippincott Continuing Medical Education Institute, Inc. designates this educational activity for a maximum of 1 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)^TM. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Commercial Support

This CME activity is supported by an educational grant from sanofi-aventis U.S.

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This CME activity is intended for oncologists and gastroenterologists with an interest in recent advances in the diagnosis and treatment of gastroesophageal cancers.

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According to the National Cancer Institute¹, it is estimated that there will be 21, 260 new cases and 11,210 deaths form stomach (gastric) cancer in the United States in 2007. Adenocarcinoma histology accounts for 90% to 95% of all gastric malignancies.

Although there have been numerous clinical trials regarding adjuvant therapy, chemotherapy, or radiation therapy^2,3 for newer treatment options and overall survival (OS) for patients with gastric and gastroesophageal cancers, additional evaluation of ongoing clinical trials as well as newer clinical trials are needed to increase remissions, prolong OS, and have a favorable safety profile in patients with gastric and gastroesophageal cancers.^4–6

In order to fulfill the evidence-based practice competency standards cited by the Institute of Medicine⁷ to integrate best research with clinical expertise and patient values for optimum care and participate in learning and research activities to the extent feasible, a more complete understanding of current and possible future treatments for patients with gastric and gastroesophageal cancers is required. Due to the amount of information being presented worldwide, new ongoing research and information on clinical trials need to be more widely disseminated to practicing gastroenterologists and oncologists.

The educational design (print-based, distance-learning activity) of this CME program will provide participants with the latest research on the diagnosis and treatment of gastric and gastroesophageal cancers directly from leading experts. The publication’s Editor-in-Chief (David Kelsen, MD) recruited recognized experts in the area of gastric and gastroesophageal cancers to author the CME activity’s content. The participating authors worked with the Editor to establish the activity’s learning objectives based on the target audience’s educational needs and developed CME quiz questions. The format and design of this CME activity has previously proven to be a credible and well-liked vehicle for the continuing medical education of physicians and to help improve overall patient care. This is evidenced by the numbers of physicians participating in such activities over the last two years, as evidenced by data compiled by the ACCME from its accredited providers.

Participants will have an opportunity to complete an evaluation assessment questionnaire that will facilitate an overall metric to assess program outcomes and lead to improvement of LCMEI’s overall CME mission: quality of education, fair balance, value/applicability of learned material within clinical practice, and provide participants with the opportunity to suggest topics for future development of gastroenterology CME activities.

References

1. National Cancer Institute: Gastric Cancer (PDQ®): Treatment. Available at: www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/treatment/gastric/healthprofessional.
2. Cunningham D, et al. N Engl J Med 2006;355:11–20.
3. Sasako M, et al. Randomized phase III trial comparing S-1 monotherapy versus surgery alone for stage II/III gastric cancer patients (pts) after curative D2 gastrectomy (ACTS-GC study). 2007 Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium, Orlando, Florida; 2007. Abstract 8.
4. Tetzlaff ED, et al. Cancer 2007;109:1989–1995.
5. Jatoi A, et al. J Support Oncol 2007;5:41–46.
6. Richards DA, et al. Expert Opin Investig Drugs 2007;16:1059-1068.
7. Institute of Medicine: Health Professions Education: A Bridge to Quality. Available at: www.iom.edu/?id=12749.

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Faculty Credentials and Disclosure Information

Editor-in-Chief

David P. Kelsen, MD
Chief, GI Oncology Service
Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center
New York, NY
Dr. Kelsen has disclosed that he has no relationships with, or financial interests in, any commercial companies pertaining to this educational activity.

Editorial Board

John M. Daly, MD
Dean
Temple University School of Medicine
Philadelphia, PA
Dr. Daly has disclosed that he has no relationships with, or financial interests in, any commercial companies pertaining to this educational activity.

Scott E. Kern, MD
Professor of Medicine
The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
Baltimore, MD
Dr. Kern has disclosed that he has no relationships with, or financial interests in, any commercial companies pertaining to this educational activity.
                                                                                                     
Bernard Levin, MD
Vice President for Cancer Prevention
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
Houston, TX
Dr. Levin was/is the recipient of research grants from Pfizer Inc; was/is a consultant for Enterix Inc., and GI View Ltd.

Authors

Putao Cen, MD
Fellow, Department of Medical Oncology
The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center
Houston, TX
Dr. Cen has disclosed that he has no relationships with, or financial interests in, any commercial companies pertaining to this educational activity.

Jaffer A. Ajani, MD
Professor, GI Medical Oncology
The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center
Houston, TX
Dr. Ajani was/is the recipient of research grants from Ascenta, Bristol Myers Squibb Co., Pfizer Inc., Taiho, Ltd.,  and sanofi-aventis; was/is on the speakers bureau for Bristol Myers Squibb Co., Pfizer Inc., Taiho, Ltd., and sanofi-aventis.

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Identification and Resolution of Faculty Conflict of Interests

Lippincott CME Institute, Inc. has identified and resolved any faculty conflicts of interest regarding this educational activity.

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Off-label or Investigational Usage Discussion

The authors have disclosed that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has not approved epirubicin, irinotecan, S-1, oxaliplatin, and capecitabine for the treatment of advanced gastroesophageal cancers in the manner discussed in this article. Please consult the products labeling information for approved indications and usage.

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Learning Objectives

After participating in this educational activity, oncologists and gastroenterologists should be able to:
1) Discuss the current standards of care and the most recent advances in the management of gastric and gastroesophageal cancers;
2) Describe emerging pharmacologic therapies and targeted agents in the management of gastric and gastroesophageal cancers; and
3) Discuss potential complications of and prognosis for gastric and gastroesophageal cancers.

Method of Physician Participation

To earn CME credit, a participant must read the article and complete the quiz and evaluation assessment questionnaire, answering at least 70% of the questions correctly. Participants must make a photocopy of the completed answer form for their own files and send their original answer form to Lippincott CME Institute, Inc., 770 Township Line Road, Suite 300, Yardley, PA 19067; fax: (267­) 757-­0651. Only the first entry will be considered for credit and must be received by LCMEI by August 31, 2009. A credit certificate will be sent to you within 6 to 8 weeks of participation. There is no fee for participation in this CE activity.

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Evaluation Methods

Eight evaluation assessment questions are included as part of the CME Quiz. These questions ensure that Lippincott CME Institute determines that each activity’s learning objectives have been met, that the activity was of educational value to the target audience and was unbiased, assess whether or not the CME activity has resulted in a change in physician practice behavior, and offer participants a method of feedback.

Participation Expiration Date

August 31, 2009

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