Please follow the link below to access Gaining Confidence in Predicting and Assessing Response to Cancer Immunotherapies: Practical Strategies for Biomarker Testing and Pathologic Response Assessment on PeerView's website. This program was developed through the collaboration between the United States and Canadian Academy of Pathology (USCAP) and Peerview.
Authors: Tricia Cottrell, MD, PhD and Lynette M. Sholl, MD
CME / ABIM MOC 1
Released: March 14, 2023
Valid for credit through: April 13, 2024
Activity Description
With the continued expansion of the cancer immunotherapy arsenal, reliable biomarkers to identify patients most likely to benefit from specific agents or combinations have become crucial. Predictive biomarkers such as measurement of PD-L1 expression and assessment of MSI/MMR or TMB status have an established role in some tumor types and settings, but a number of challenges related to testing and interpretation of results persist, and significant improvements are needed. There is also a need for ways to assess response to immunotherapies as they transition to early-stage, curative-intent settings as part of perioperative multimodal management of solid malignancies. Recently, pathologic response assessment has emerged as a potential new gold standard for measurement of impact of neoadjuvant immunotherapy. However, there has been limited guidance on how to define pathologic response, process and evaluate resected specimens, and report and apply assessment results in the settings of clinical trials and practice.
This PeerView educational activity, based on a recent live symposium, focuses on current and emerging immunotherapy biomarkers, the rationale for and practicalities of biomarker testing as a guide for immunotherapy selection for different solid tumors, and the nuances of pathologic response assessment after neoadjuvant immunotherapy. Additionally, practical guidance is provided to help multidisciplinary coordination of care based on biomarker testing and pathologic response assessment so that more patients receive personalized immunotherapy and experience improved outcomes.
Target Audience
This activity has been designed to meet the educational needs of pathologists, oncologists, surgeons, pulmonologists, and other healthcare professionals involved in the biomarker-driven diagnosis, treatment, and response assessment of patients with solid tumors.Educational Objectives
Upon completion of this activity, participants should be better able to:- Explain the evidence and rationale for the role of biomarkers to predict and assess response to cancer immunotherapy in metastatic and resectable solid malignancies
- Conduct cancer immunotherapy biomarker testing and pathologic response assessment congruent with the latest evidence, requirements, and recommendations
- Personalize cancer immunotherapy treatment and response assessment by collaborating with multidisciplinary care team members to optimally select and interpret biomarkers
Disclosures
The activity titled “Gaining Confidence in Predicting and Assessing Response to Cancer Immunotherapies: Practical Strategies for Biomarker Testing and Pathologic Response Assessment” has been registered to offer 1.0 Lifelong Learning credit in the American Board of Pathology’s (ABPath) Continuing Certification program. It is the CME activity provider’s responsibility to submit participant completion information to ACCME for the purpose of granting ABPath Continuing Certification credit.Tricia Cottrell, MD, PhD
Assistant Professor, Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, Queen's University
Senior Investigator, Canadian Cancer Trials Group (CCTG) Clinician Scientist I, Ontario Institute for Cancer Research Kingston, Ontario, Canada
Tricia Cottrell, MD, PhD, has a financial interest/relationship or affiliation in the form of: Speakers Bureau participant with AstraZeneca.
Lynette M. Sholl, MD
Associate Pathologist, Brigham and Women’s Hospital
Associate Professor, Pathology Harvard Medical School Boston, Massachusetts
Lynette M. Sholl, MD, has a financial interest/relationship or affiliation in the form of: Consultant and/or Advisor for AstraZeneca; Genentech, Inc.; and Lilly. Grant/Research Support from Bristol Myers Squibb and Genentech, Inc.
Planning Committee and Reviewer Disclosures
Planners, independent reviewers, and staff of PVI, PeerView Institute for Medical Education, do not have any relevant financial relationships related to this CE activity unless listed below.
Accreditation, Support, and Credit
In support of improving patient care, PVI, PeerView Institute for Medical Education, is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.
Support
This activity is supported through educational grants from Bristol Myers Squibb and Merck & Co., Inc.
Physicians
PVI, PeerView Institute for Medical Education, designates this enduring material for a maximum of 1 AMA PRA Category 1 CreditsTM. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
Continuing Certification Statement
The activity titled “Gaining Confidence in Predicting and Assessing Response to Cancer Immunotherapies: Practical Strategies for Biomarker Testing and Pathologic Response Assessment” has been registered to offer 1.0 Lifelong Learning credit in the American Board of Pathology’s (ABPath) Continuing Certification program. It is the CME activity provider’s responsibility to submit participant completion information to ACCME for the purpose of granting ABPath Continuing Certification credit.
Participation information will be shared through the ACCME’s Program and Activity Reporting System (PARS).
Through an agreement between the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education and the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, medical practitioners participating in the Royal College MOC Program may record completion of accredited activities registered under the ACCME’s “CME in Support of MOC” program in Section 3 of the Royal College’s MOC Program.