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OVERVIEW 
This free activity, entitled "Epigenetics in Hematologic Malignancies: Pathogenesis and Therapy," consists of a program overview, 5 presentations with Q&A, a Learning Assessment, and an Evaluation form. The content of this virtual lecture is derived from a symposium presented on December 9, 2011, in San Diego, California.

MEDIUM: Virtual Lecture
INTERNET RELEASE DATE: February 22, 2012
CE AVAILABLE UNTIL: August 22, 2013
CME credit is no longer available for this activity.

Estimated time to complete this activity: 3.25 hours

     


TARGET AUDIENCE
This activity is designed for hematologists, oncologists, nurses, social workers and other healthcare professionals who wish to enhance their knowledge of advances in epigenetic research and implications in treating patients with hematologic malignancies.


STATEMENT OF NEED
Conventionally, scientists have paid close attention to how mutations in DNA sequence can develop into disease.1 However, new technologies and approaches have begun to focus on the consequences of DNA modifications altering gene expression, known as epigenetics, as having a critical role in tumorigenesis. Epigenetic changes are more common and persistent than genetic lesions in cancer, and these epigenetic markers may have the potential to be independent clinical predictors.2 The successes that epigenetic therapy has had in hematopoietic malignancies not only drives home the point of the importance of DNA alterations at a therapeutic level but also will be essential to understanding how these modifications can aid in prevention, diagnosis, risk stratification and outcome.3 It is critical that healthcare professionals who treat patients with various hematological malignancies remain abreast of key findings regarding the importance of epigenetics and its implications in future research, management and patient outcomes.

1 Lichtman, Kipps, et al. Williams Hematology. 8th ed. McGraw-Hill professional, 2010.
2 Melnick A. Best Pract Res Clin Haematol. 2010;23:463-468.
3 Taby R, Issa JP. CA Cancer J Clin. 2010;60:376-392.


EDUCATIONAL OBJECTIVES
After completing this activity, the participant should be better able to:

  • Describe how epigenetic changes affect gene expression and contribute to malignant changes in blood cancer cells
  • Discuss new strategies for the development of blood cancer therapies which inhibit factors that produce epigenetic changes in blood cancer cells
  • Discuss the therapeutic potential of targeting epigenetic changes as they relate specifically to leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma
  • Utilize the information presented from current trials and best practices focusing on epigenetic therapies to better manage their patients with hematologic malignancies

FACULTY

Stephen B. Baylin, MD
Deputy Director, The Sidney Kimmel
Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins
Research Professor of Oncology
Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, MD

James E. Bradner, MD
Attending Physician, Hematology-Oncology
Assistant Professor of Medicine
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Harvard Medical School
Boston, MA

Jean-Pierre Issa, MD
Professor of Medicine
Director, Fels Institute for Cancer
Research & Molecular Biology
Temple University School of Medicine
Philadelphia, PA

Ross L. Levine, MD
Associate Member, Human Oncology & Pathogenesis Program
Associate Attending Physician, Leukemia Service, Department of Medicine
Geoffrey Beene Junior Faculty Chair
Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center
Assistant Professor of Medicine and Ce./Developmental Biology
Weill Cornell Medical College
New York, NY

Jonathan D. Licht, MD
Johanna Dobe Professor and Chief
Division of Hematology/Oncology
Associate Director, Clinical Sciences
Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center
Northwestern University
Chicago, IL


PHYSICIAN CONTINUING EDUCATION INFORMATION
ACCREDITATION STATEMENT
This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the Essential Areas and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education through the joint sponsorship of Postgraduate Institute for Medicine and RMEI, LLC. The Postgraduate Institute for Medicine is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

CREDIT DESIGNATION
The Postgraduate Institute for Medicine designates this enduring material for a maximum of 3.25 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only the 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 February 22, 2012 through February 22, 2013, participants must read the learning objectives and faculty disclosures and study the educational activity.

PIM supports Green CME by offering your Request for Credit online. If you wish to receive acknowledgment for completing this activity, please complete the post-test and evaluation on www.cmeuniversity.com. On the navigation menu, click on "Find Post-Test/Evaluation by Course" and search by course ID 8064. Upon registering and successfully completing the post-test with a score of 70% or better and the activity evaluation, your certificate will be made available immediately. Processing credit requests online will reduce the amount of paper used by nearly 100,000 sheets per year.


CONTINUING EDUCATION INFORMATION FOR NURSES AND SOCIAL WORKERS
Approval for nurses has been obtained by the National Office of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society under provider number CEP 5832 to award 3.25 continuing education contact hours through the California Board of Registered Nursing.

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS), provider number 1105, is approved as a provider for social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) www.aswb.org Approved Continuing Education Program (ACE). Approval Period: December 2011 – December 2014. LLS maintains responsibility for the program. Social workers should contact their regulatory board to determine course approval. Social workers will receive 3.25 CE clinical clock hours.

Upon successful completion of the entire program, post-test (grade of 70% or higher) and submission of the activity evaluation, a certificate of completion will be issued to you within 30 days, via email or US mail based on your designation on the evaluation.


DISCLOSURE OF CONFLICTS OF INTEREST
Postgraduate Institute for Medicine (PIM) assesses conflict of interest with its instructors, planners, managers and other individuals who are in a position to control the content of continuing medical education (CME) activities. All relevant conflicts of interest that are identified are thoroughly vetted by PIM for fair balance, scientific objectivity of studies utilized in this activity and patient care recommendations. PIM is committed to providing its learners with high-quality CME activities and related materials that promote improvements or quality in healthcare and not a specific proprietary business interest of a commercial interest.

The faculty reported the following financial relationships or relationships to products or devices they or their spouse/life partner have with commercial interests related to the content of this CME activity:

  • Stephen B. Baylin, MD, has affiliations with Johns Hopkins University (Salary); and MDxHealth, Bionumerick Pharmaceuticals, and Constellation Pharmaceuticals (Consultant).
  • James E. Bradner, MD, has affiliations with Shape Pharmaceuticals, Acetylon Pharmaceuticals, and Tensha Therapeutics (Patent and Stock).
  • Jonathan D. Licht, MD, has affiliations with Celgene (Research and Honoraria) Glaxo-Smith Kline and SYNDAX (Consultant); Merck and Eisai (Research); and Novartis and Johnson & Johnson (Honoraria).
  • Ross L. Levine, MD, has an affiliation with Agios (Research).
  • Jean-Pierre Issa, MD, has affiliations with Abcam and EMD Biosciences (Royalties); and Epizyme, Inc. (Research).

The planners and managers reported the following financial relationships or relationships to products or devices they or their spouse/life partner have with commercial interests related to the content of this CME activity:

THE LEUKEMIA & LYMPHOMA SOCIETY

  • Richard C. Winneker, PhD has no affiliations with commercial interests to disclose.

RMEI, LLC

  • Sherri Kramer, MD, has no affiliations with commercial interests to disclose.
  • Nora Hartley has no affiliations with commercial interests to disclose.

Postgraduate Institute for Medicine

The following PIM staff serve as clinical content reviewers and/or participate in planning CME/CE activities in a manner that may affect content:, Laura Excell, ND, NP, MS, MA, LPC, NCC; Trace Hutchison, PharmD; Samantha Mattiucci, PharmD, CCMEP; Jan Schultz, RN, MSN, CCMEP; and Patricia Staples, MSN, NP-C, CCRN hereby state that they or their spouse/life partner do not have any financial relationships or relationships to products or devices with any commercial interests related to the content of this CME/CE activity of any amount during the past 12 months.


DISCLOSURE OF UNLABELED USE
This educational activity may contain discussion of published and/or investigational uses of agents that are not indicated by the FDA. Postgraduate Institute for Medicine (PIM), RMEI, Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Celgene Corporation and Allos Therapeutics do not recommend the use of any agent outside of the labeled indications.

The opinions expressed in the educational activity are those of the faculty and do not necessarily represent the views of PIM, RMEI, Millennium: The Takeda Oncology Company, Celgene Corporation or Allos Therapeutics. Please refer to the official prescribing information for each product for discussion of approved indications, contraindications, and warnings.


DISCLAIMER
Participants have an implied responsibility to use the newly acquired information to enhance patient outcomes and their own professional development. The information presented in this activity is not meant to serve as a guideline for patient management. Any procedures, medications, or other courses of diagnosis or treatment discussed or suggested in this activity should not be used by clinicians without evaluation of their patient’s conditions and possible contraindications on dangers in use, review of any applicable manufacturer’s product information and comparison with recommendations of other authorities.


STATEMENT OF SUPPORT
This activity is jointly sponsored by RMEI, LLC and Postgraduate Institute for Medicine in collaboration with The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and is supported by educational grants from Millennium: The Takeda Oncology Company, Celgene Corporation and Allos Therapeutics, Inc.


FEE INFORMATION
There is no fee for this educational activity.


QUESTIONS AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE
For questions regarding the content of this activity, contact the Information Resource Center (IRC) at 800-955-4572, or visit the LLS website at www.LLS.org. For technical assistance, contact jungsen@rmcom.net.


SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS
Hardware/Software requirements include:
• Windows XP, 2000, Vista, Windows 7   
  - Internet Explorer 6.0+

• Macintosh 9.2, OS X 10.1+
  - Safari 4+

• Additional Requirements
  - Adobe Flash Player 10
  - Internal/external speakers
  - Broadband connection (DSL/cable) recommended

 

 

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Questions, grievances, assistance for people with disabilities or for more information on LLS programs, please contact an LLS Information Specialist at (800) 955-4572.