The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine is launching a novel multimedia educational program, "Optimizing Adjuvant Breast Cancer Strategies: From Biomarkers to Treatment Selection," to present recent key research data on the latest advances in breast cancer treatment.
In recent years, advancements in the treatment of breast cancer have led to chemotherapeutic and biologic treatment combinations that are increasingly tailored to the specific type of tumor, thus improving patients' long-term outcomes and decreasing treatment-related side effects. It can be difficult, however, for the busy practicing oncologist to keep up to date with the rapid pace of innovation.
This accredited educational program addresses the oncologists' needs for concise, expert reporting on the significance of recent research. Antonio C. Wolff, MD, FACP, Associate Professor of Oncology and member of the Breast Cancer Research Program at the Johns Hopkins Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, will serve as Program Chair and will discuss the current status of predictive, prognostic biomarkers in breast cancer, analytical issues, and interpretation considerations.
Harold J. Burstein, MD, PhD, a medical oncologist at the Breast Oncology Center at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, and Harvard Medical School, will present on recent developments in chemotherapy-biologic treatments for early and metastatic breast cancer. Ana Maria Gonzalez-Angulo, MD, MSc, Assistant Professor of Medicine at the Departments of Breast Medical Oncology and Systems Biology at The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, will discuss minimizing cardiac risks with combination therapies, and the particular importance of this toxicity in the treatment of early breast cancer.
This program, available at www.virtualbreastcancer.com beginning Tuesday, October 14, 2008, will employ a novel format for educational programs in the health care industry: the virtual e-conference. This immersive platform will allow participants to experience a simulated conference environment, and attend virtual didactic and poster presentations, case studies, and as a bonus, the faculty will offer a Live "Meet the Experts" case study discussion and Q&A on October 14, 2008, from 12:00-2:00 pm (EDT). Faculty presentations, as well as questions and answers generated on October 14, will remain available for one year.
The course is jointly presented by The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and PharmacoMedia LLC. It is supported by an educational grant from sanofi-aventis U.S. and available at no cost to participants.