OVERVIEW OF ACTIVITY
The myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) are a diverse group of hematologic disorders associated with ineffective production of myeloid blood cells. Patients with MDS generally experience resultant cytopenias, and their disease also has the significant potential for transformation to acute leukemia, leading to shortened survival. MDS is a disease that primarily affects older adults. Clinical care for the elderly is complicated by the myriad of physical, cognitive and psychosocial changes associated with aging, necessitating that medical oncologists and allied cancer professionals be able to individualize the treatment of these patients.

To offer optimal patient care — including the option of clinical trial participation — practicing medical oncologists, hematologists and hematology-oncology fellows must be well informed of advances in this field. Meet The Professors uses relevant case-based discussions between community oncologists and clinical investigators to assist practicing clinicians with the incorporation of this information into their management strategies for MDS.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

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

CME credit is no longer available for this issue

CREDIT DESIGNATION STATEMENT

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AMERICAN BOARD OF INTERNAL MEDICINE (ABIM) — MAINTENANCE OF CERTIFICATION (MOC)

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HOW TO USE THIS CME ACTIVITY
This CME activity consists of a video component

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CONTENT VALIDATION AND DISCLOSURES
Research To Practice (RTP) is committed to providing its participants with high-quality, unbiased and state-of-the-art education. We assess conflicts of interest with faculty, planners and managers of CME activities. Conflicts of interest are identified and resolved through a conflict of interest resolution process. In addition, all activity content is reviewed by both a member of the RTP scientific staff and an external, independent physician reviewer for fair balance, scientific objectivity of studies referenced and patient care recommendations.

FACULTY — The following faculty (and their spouses/partners) reported relevant conflicts of interest, which have been resolved through a conflict of interest resolution process:

Harry P Erba, MD, PhD
Albert F LoBuglio Endowed Chair for Translational Cancer Research
Chair, SWOG Leukemia Committee
Professor, Internal Medicine
Director, Hematologic Malignancy Program
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Birmingham, Alabama

Consulting Agreements: Amgen Inc, ARIAD Pharmaceuticals Inc, Celgene Corporation, Daiichi Sankyo Inc, Incyte Corporation, Janssen Biotech Inc, Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, Pfizer Inc, Seattle Genetics, Sunesis Pharmaceuticals Inc; Contracted Research: Agios Pharmaceuticals, Amgen Inc, Astellas Pharma Global Development Inc, Celator Pharmaceuticals Inc, Seattle Genetics, Takeda Oncology; Data and Safety Monitoring Board: GlycoMimetics Inc; Speakers Bureau: Celgene Corporation, Incyte Corporation, Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation.

Guillermo Garcia-Manero, MD
Professor of Medicine
Chief, Section of Myelodysplastic Syndromes
Department of Leukemia
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
Houston, Texas

No relevant conflicts of interest to disclose.

COMMUNITY ONCOLOGISTS — The following community oncologists (and their spouses/partners) reported relevant conflicts of interest, which have been resolved through a conflict of interest resolution process:

Warren Brenner, MD
The Center for Hematology/Oncology
Lynn Cancer Institute
Boca Raton, Florida

Speakers Bureau: Celgene Corporation, Takeda Oncology.

Neil I Morganstein, MD
Chair of Leukemia/Lymphoma Board
Carol G Simon Cancer Center
Overlook Medical Center
Summit, New Jersey

No relevant conflicts of interest to disclose.

Erik J Rupard, MD
Chief, Section of Hematology-Oncology
McGlinn Cancer Institute
The Reading Hospital and Medical Center
West Reading, Pennsylvania

No relevant conflicts of interest to disclose.

MODERATORDr Love is president and CEO of Research To Practice, which receives funds in the form of educational grants to develop CME activities from the following commercial interests: AbbVie Inc, Acerta Pharma, Agendia Inc, Amgen Inc, Array BioPharma Inc, Astellas Pharma Global Development Inc, AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP, Baxalta Inc, Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals, Biodesix Inc, bioTheranostics Inc, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals Inc, Boston Biomedical Pharma Inc, Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Celgene Corporation, Clovis Oncology, CTI BioPharma Corp, Daiichi Sankyo Inc, Dendreon Pharmaceuticals Inc, Eisai Inc, Exelixis Inc, Foundation Medicine, Genentech BioOncology, Genomic Health Inc, Gilead Sciences Inc, ImmunoGen Inc, Incyte Corporation, Janssen Biotech Inc, Jazz Pharmaceuticals Inc, Lilly, Medivation Inc, Merck, Merrimack Pharmaceuticals Inc, Myriad Genetic Laboratories Inc, NanoString Technologies, Natera Inc, Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, Novocure, Onyx Pharmaceuticals, an Amgen subsidiary, Pharmacyclics LLC, an AbbVie Company, Prometheus Laboratories Inc, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Sanofi, Seattle Genetics, Sigma-Tau Pharmaceuticals Inc, Sirtex Medical Ltd, Spectrum Pharmaceuticals Inc, Taiho Oncology Inc, Takeda Oncology, Teva Oncology, Tokai Pharmaceuticals Inc and VisionGate Inc.

RESEARCH TO PRACTICE STAFF AND EXTERNAL REVIEWERS — The scientific staff and reviewers for Research To Practice have no relevant conflicts of interest to disclose.

This educational activity contains 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 grantor.

This activity is supported by an educational grant from Celgene Corporation.

Hardware/Software Requirements:
A high-speed Internet connection
A monitor set to 1280 x 1024 pixels or more
Internet Explorer 7 or later, Firefox 3.0 or later, Chrome, Safari 3.0 or later
Adobe Flash Player 10.2 plug-in or later
Adobe Acrobat Reader
(Optional) Sound card and speakers for audio

Last review date: August 2016
Expiration date: August 2017