STATEMENT OF NEED/TARGET AUDIENCE

It is important for practicing oncologists to be aware of similarities and differences between his or her practice patterns, those of others in community practice and those of breast cancer clinical investigators. It is also important for oncologists to recognize that heterogeneity exists in the oncology community, especially in clinical situations for which there is suboptimal research evidence.

This program focuses on the self-described practice patterns of randomly selected medical oncologists on a variety of key clinical issues in cancer. Also included are clinical investigator commentary and references addressing these issues. This CME program will provide medical oncologists with information on national cancer patterns of care to assist with the development of clinical management strategies.

GLOBAL LEARNING OBJECTIVES FOR THE PATTERNS OF CARE SERIES

• Compare and contrast management strategies of community oncologists and cancer clinical investigators for the treatment of breast cancer in the adjuvant and metastatic settings.
• Discuss cancer management issues for which relative agreement and heterogeneity exist in patterns of care.
• Counsel cancer patients about multiple acceptable treatment options when they exist.

PURPOSE OF THIS ISSUE

The purpose of this issue of Patterns of Care is to support these objectives by comparing the perspectives of 150 community medical oncologists with 50 breast cancer specialists and to offer in-depth commentary from faculty regarding their practice patterns in the management of breast cancer.

ACCREDITATION STATEMENT

Research To Practice is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

CREDIT DESIGNATION STATEMENT

Research To Practice designates this educational activity for a maximum of 3.25 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

HOW TO USE THIS CME ACTIVITY

This CME activity contains both audio and print components. To receive credit, the participant should listen to the CDs, review the Internet content and complete the Evaluation Form located at www.PatternsofCare.com/CME. www.PatternsofCare.com contains edited comments, clinical trial schemas, graphics and references that supplement the audio program, as well as links to relevant full-text articles, abstracts, trial information and other web resources.

COMMERCIAL SUPPORT

This program is supported by educational grants from Abraxis BioScience, AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP, Genentech BioOncology, Genomic Health Inc and Sanofi-Aventis.

PHARMACEUTICAL AGENTS DISCUSSED IN THIS PROGRAM

This educational activity includes discussion of published and/or investigational uses of agents that are not indicated by the Food and Drug Administration. Research To Practice does not recommend the use of any agent outside of the labeled indications. Please refer to the official prescribing information for each product for discussion of approved indications, contraindications and warnings. The opinions expressed are those of the presenters and are not to be construed as those of the publisher or grantors.

CONTENT VALIDATION AND DISCLOSURES

Research To Practice is committed to providing its participants with high-quality, unbiased and state-of-the-art education. We assess potential conflicts of interest with faculty, planners and managers of CME activities. Real or apparent conflicts of interest are identified and resolved by a peer review content validation process. The content of each activity is reviewed by both a member of the scientific staff and an external independent reviewer for fair balance, scientific objectivity of studies referenced and patient care recommendations.

The scientific staff and consultants for Research To Practice are involved in the development and review of content for educational activities and report the following real or apparent conflicts of interest, either current or within the past 12 months, for themselves (or their spouses/partners) that have been resolved through a peer review process: Melanie Elder, Karen Green, MD, Richard Kaderman, PhD, Neil Love, MD, Douglas Paley, Margaret Peng, Lilliam Sklaver Poltorack, PharmD, Erin Wall and Kathryn Ault Ziel, PhD — no real or apparent conflicts of interest to report; Aviva Asnis-Alibozek, PA-C, MPAS — salary: AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP; shareholder of: AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP; Sally Bogert, RNC, WHCNP— shareholder of: Amgen Inc and Genentech BioOncology. Research To Practice receives educational grants from Abraxis BioScience, Amgen Inc, AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP, Bayer Pharmaceuticals Corporation/Onyx Pharmaceuticals Inc, Biogen Idec, Genentech BioOncology/OSI Pharmaceuticals Inc, Genomic Health Inc, GPC Biotech, ImClone Systems, Roche Laboratories Inc and Sanofi-Aventis, who have no influence on the content development of our educational activities.

In addition, the following faculty (and their spouses/partners) have reported real or apparent conflicts of interest that have been resolved through a peer review process:

Dr Burstein — No financial interests or affiliations to disclose.

Dr Schwartzberg — Consulting Fees: Sanofi- Aventis; Fees for Non-CME Services Received Directly from Commercial Interest or Their Agents: AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP, Genentech BioOncology.

Financial disclosures for other oncologists quoted in this issue may be found in the cited CME pieces of origin.

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