Biological Basis of Breast Cancer: Implications for Clinical Diagnosis and Treatment:

Article Outline

• Statement of Need
• Target Audience
• Educational Objectives
• Method of Participation
• Accreditation Information
• Credit Instructions
• Certificate
• Acknowledgement of Commercial Support
• Educational Inquiries
• Disclaimer
• Disclosure of Unlabeled Uses
• Disclosure of Financial Relationships With Any Commercial Interest
• Disclosure of Potential Conflicts of Interest
• Institutional Disclosure

Date of Original Release: May 30, 2007

Date of Expiration: May 30, 2008

Estimated time to complete this activity: 90 minutes

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Statement of Need 

Research into the biology of breast cancer has revealed a number of molecular signaling processes involved in growth, proliferation, invasion, and metastasis. As our understanding of the relationship between specific tumor molecular signatures and both clinical prognosis and response to therapeutic agents improves, a more personalized approach to therapy becomes possible. Testing patients for the presence of novel predictive and prognostic markers enables physicians to optimize treatment by applying more aggressive therapies to patients with the poorest prognosis, while sparing patients with a more favorable prognosis from potentially toxic side effects. In addition, markers have been identified that may predict response to specific therapeutic agents. These markers can aid clinicians in the selection of therapies most likely to produce favorable patient outcomes. This educational activity will focus on the latest developments in molecular and cellular diagnostics and therapeutics. Participants will be able to utilize this information to understand how the application of these new breakthroughs might impact future treatment options for patients with breast cancer.

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Target Audience 

This activity is intended for medical oncologists, advanced practitioners, and other health care professionals interested in the treatment of breast cancer.

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Educational Objectives 

After participating in this educational activity, participants should be able to:

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Method of Participation 

This journal supplement will be utilized to engage attendees and enhance the learning process.

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Accreditation Information 

Physicians: The CBCE^™ (The Center for Biomedical Continuing Education) is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians. This CME activity was planned and produced in accordance with the Essential Areas and policies of the ACCME.

The CBCE designates this educational activity for a maximum of 1.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits^™. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in this activity.

Physician Assistants: AAPA accepts category 1 credit from AOACCME, prescribed credit from AAFP, and AMA category 1 CME credit for the PRA from organizations accredited by the ACCME.

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Credit Instructions 

Successful completion of this activity includes the following:

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Certificate 

The CME Evaluation and Request for Credit Form and CME Test must be completed and returned to the CBCE following this activity to obtain credit. A minimum CME test score of 70% must be achieved to successfully complete this activity and receive credit. Certificates of credit for successful completion of this activity will be mailed to participants 4-6 weeks after submission of the form.

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Acknowledgement of Commercial Support 

The CBCE gratefully acknowledges the educational grants provided by AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP and Bristol-Myers Squibb Company.

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Educational Inquiries 

For further information, please contact the CBCE, 1707 Market Place Blvd., Suite 370, Irving, TX 75063; Telephone: (214) 260-9024; Fax: (214) 260-0509; E-mail: info@thecbce.com.

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Disclaimer 

The content and views presented in this educational activity are those of the faculty and do not necessarily reflect the opinions or recommendations of the CBCE, AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP, or Bristol-Myers Squibb Company. This material has been prepared based on a review of multiple sources of information, but is not exhaustive of the subject matter. Participants are advised to critically appraise the information presented, and are encouraged to consult the available literature on any product or device mentioned in this program.

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Disclosure of Unlabeled Uses 

This educational activity may contain discussion of published and/or investigational uses of agents that are not approved by the US Food and Drug Administration. For additional information about approved uses, including approved indications, contraindications, and warnings, please refer to the prescribing information for each product, or consult the Physician’s Desk Reference.

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Disclosure of Financial Relationships With Any Commercial Interest 

As a provider accredited by the ACCME, it is the policy of the CBCE to require that everyone who is in a position to control the content of an educational activity disclose all relevant financial relationships with any commercial interest, and identify and resolve all conflicts of interest prior to the educational activity. The CBCE defines “relevant financial relationships” as any amount occurring within the past 12 months.

Financial relationships are those relationships in which the individual benefits by receiving a salary, royalty, intellectual property rights, consulting fee, honoraria, ownership interest (eg, stocks, stock options, or other ownership interest, excluding diversified mutual funds), or other financial benefit. Financial benefits are usually associated with roles such as employment, management position, independent contractor (including contracted research), consulting, speaking and teaching, membership on advisory committees or review panels, board membership, and other activities for which remuneration is received or expected. The CBCE considers relationships of the person involved in the educational activity to include financial relationships of a spouse or partner.

Faculty who refuse to disclose relevant financial relationships will be disqualified from being a planning committee member, a teacher, or an author, and cannot have control of, or responsibility for, the development, management, presentation, or evaluation of the educational activity. For an individual with no relevant financial relationship(s), the participants must be informed that no relevant financial relationship(s) exist.

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Disclosure of Potential Conflicts of Interest 

The CBCE assesses conflicts of interest with its faculty, planners, and managers of CME activities. Identified conflicts of interest are thoroughly evaluated by the Planning Committee for fair balance, scientific objectivity relative to studies utilized in this activity, and patient-care recommendations. The CBCE is committed to providing its learners with high-quality, unbiased, and state-of-the-art education.

The following faculty have reported real or apparent conflicts of interest, and these conflicts have been resolved through a peer-review process:

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Institutional Disclosure 

The CBCE receives educational grants from the pharmaceutical industry and other commercial sources. Companies providing grants to the CBCE include the commercial supporters of this activity as well as the manufacturer(s) of certain drugs and/or devices discussed in this activity.