The Institute for Medical Education & Research Announces the first Annual Miami Melanoma Conference

Sept. 26, 2011 - PRLog -- Community physicians, oncologists, dermatologists, pathologists, and other healthcare professionals involved in the treatment of patients with advanced melanoma are invited to join Jeffrey S. Weber, MD, PhD, Ahmad Tarhini, MD, PhD, of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, and Keith T. Flaherty, MD, of Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center as they present the rationale behind new treatment approaches and give clarity surrounding the safety and efficacy of emerging agents.

Progress in our understanding of the unique biological aspects of melanoma and research advances with novel targeted agents will greatly influence melanoma treatment in 2011 and beyond. Besides expanding the treatment armamentarium, the availability of these new agents will begin to shift treatment for advanced disease from large academic centers to local hospitals, cancer care centers, and private practices. Clinicians at these facilities need to understand the latest efficacy and safety data for these agents, as well as how to manage their often unique side effects.

During the presentation, an overview of the basic science of melanoma will be provided, followed by the latest trial data on immunomodulatory antibodies, BRAF inhibitors, MEK inhibitors, antiangiogenic agents, and other investigational agents and novel combinations. Expert panel discussions will follow each didactic session and case studies will be included to highlight a diversity of clinical situations in the management of specific patient sub-populations.

By the end of this conference, participants should be better able to:

•  Identify the benefits and risks of the current standard of care for melanoma using chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy regimens
•  Describe the mechanisms of action of immunomodulatory agents and antibodies, BRAF and other targeted inhibitors, and antiangiogenic agents in the treatment of melanoma
•  Evaluate the efficacy data, unique toxicity profiles, and treatment response patterns of immunomodulatory antibodies
•  Assess the results of recent clinical studies evaluating the safety and efficacy of BRAF inhibitors, antiangiogenic agents, MEK inhibitors, and other investigational agents for the treatment of melanoma
•  Determine when to integrate novel targeted and immunomodulatory agents into current melanoma treatment paradigms or when to refer patients to a clinical trial
•  Assess the availability of currently accruing clinical trials and counsel patients accordingly
•  Describe the changing role of the community physician in the treatment of advanced melanoma

To register for the on-site conference, please visit http://imeronline.com/gxpsites/hgxpp001.aspx?11,52,312,O,...

For healthcare professionals who would like to participate in our live broadcast, please visit http://imeronline.com/gxpsites/hgxpp001.aspx?11,52,312,O,... for details and registration information

This conference is jointly sponsored by Postgraduate Institute for Medicine (PIM), Mount Sinai Medical Center, and the Institute for Medical Education & Research (IMER).  The activity is supported by educational grants from Genentech BioOncology, Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, and Prometheus Laboratories, Inc.  Jose Lutsky, MD, of the Mount Sinai Medical Center will serve as the conference host.

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IMER believes effective educational activities must address the unique needs of oncology professionals based on their specialty, practice type, and regional setting.