Developmental Therapeutics Symposium

Course Description

The goals of this activity are to help participants examine synthesized data from completed studies, discuss the novel investigational agents available in ongoing clinical trials, and describe the rational for and results of studies that include novel agents for the treatment of patients with advanced cancer. This knowledge will enable them to appropriately utilize new treatments available to cancer patients, provide support for current and future oncology clinical trials, and become stronger leaders in the area of oncology research. In sum, this program will convey information on how to better implement precision medicine in oncologic care, leading to better outcomes for patients suffering from cancer.

Learning Objectives

At the conclusion of this activity, participants will be able to:

• Recall new approaches to pre- and post-FDA approval for dosing and scheduling of anti-cancer agents;

• Recognize the therapeutic ratio of novel agents and approaches to define dose reductions that maintain efficacy;

• State the clinical effects of novel immunotherapeutic agents, including novel checkpoint inhibitors, bispecific antibodies, and novel cellular therapies;

• Identify how to assess patient suitability for participation in ongoing and upcoming cancer clinical trials and projects;

• Cite the relevant pharmacologic and biologic effects of novel anti-cancer agents through the use of blood and tissue samples as well as standard and novel imaging approaches, including novel PET tracer imaging and circulating tumor DNA assays;

• Describe advances in the use of systemic therapies for cancer, including those targeting specific molecular alterations such as DNA repair mutations, specific chromosomal translocations, and tyrosine kinase mutations;

• Assess the status of and developmental pathway for antibody-drug conjugates in solid and hematologic tumors.