Medical Crossfire®: NTRK Fusions Across Solid Tumors: Toward Harmonization of Pathology and Oncology to Optimize Diagnosis and Management

Release Date: February 28, 2020
Expiration Date: February 28, 2021
Media: Internet - based

Activity Overview

NTRK fusions have been identified at low incidence rates in many tumor types and are particularly common in some rare cancers. TRK-specific inhibitors and multikinase inhibitors with efficacy in NTRK-fusion-driven tumors can be highly effective. Identifying which patients to test and understanding the landscape of treatments available is critical to optimizing patient care. However, there is a lack of consensus guidelines on molecular testing, and a multitude of tests are available and in use at different academic centers and commercial laboratories. In this program, the expert panel discusses interpretation of emerging data for NTRK-fusion-driven cancer therapies and testing. This expert perspective on how to apply emerging data can help improve your understanding of the prevalence and treatment of NTRK-fusion-positive tumors.

Benefits of Participating

• Learn about which tumor types commonly have NTRK fusions and when to test for this alteration
• Gain perspectives on how to appropriately test tumor samples for NTRK fusions
• Identify emerging treatment options to optimize outcomes for patients with NTRK fusions in first-line and later lines of treatment
• Hear expert perspective on how testing for NTRK fusions and TRK-targeted therapies can be integrated into clinical practice

Acknowledgement of Commercial Support

This activity is supported by educational grants from Bayer HealthCare and Genentech, a member of the Roche Group.

Target Audience

This educational program is directed toward pathologists and medical oncologists involved in the treatment of solid tumors. Other allied healthcare professionals interested in the treatment and management of patients with solid tumors are also invited to participate.

Learning Objectives

Upon successful completion of this educational activity, you should be better prepared to:

• Assess the prevalence and pathobiology of NTRK fusions across solid tumors and resistance mutations associated with TRK inhibitor therapy
• Identify the challenges and advantages associated with different methods for determining rare molecular alterations in solid tumors for which targeted therapies are available
• Integrate emerging data regarding targeted therapies for NTRK fusions into the context of clinical scenarios for patients with solid tumors
• Formulate a plan of care to identify and manage adverse events associated with the use of TRK targeted therapy in patients with NTRK fusions

Faculty, Staff, and Planners’ Disclosures

Faculty

Alexander E. Drilon, MD
Acting Chief, Early Drug Development Service
Associate Attending Physician, Thoracic Oncology Service
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
New York, NY

Disclosures: Consultant: Medscape, OncLive, PeerVoice, Physicians’ Education Resource^®, Tyra Biosciences, Targeted Oncology, MORE Health, Research To Practice, Foundation Medicine, PeerView, AstraZeneca, Genentech/Roche, Bayer, Ignyta, Loxo, TP Therapeutics, Pfizer, Blueprint Medicines, Genentech/Roche, Takeda, Helsinn Therapeutics, BeiGene, Hengrui Therapeutics, Exelixis, Wolters Kluwer, PharmaMar.

Marc Ladanyi, MD
Attending Pathologist and Chief, Molecular Diagnostics Service
Member, Human Oncology & Pathogenesis Program
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
New York, NY

Disclosures: Grant/Research Support: Bayer (Loxo) Oncology; Consultant: Bayer.

Marcia S. Brose, MD, PhD
Associate Professor of Cancer Genetics
Abramson Cancer Center
Department of Otorhinolaryngology
Head and Neck Surgery
University of Pennsylvania Health System
Philadelphia, PA

Disclosures: Grant/Research Support: Bayer (Loxo), Blueprint Medicines, Eisai, Exelixis, Genzyme, Progenics; Consultant: Bayer, Eisai; Honoraria: Bayer, Exelixis, Eisai.

Balazs Halmos, MD, MS
Professor of Clinical Medicine
Director, Thoracic/Head and Neck Oncology
Director, Clinical Cancer Genomics
Albert Einstein College of Medicine/Montefiore Medical Center
Bronx, NY

Disclosures: Grant/Research Support: AbbVie, AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Guardant Health, GlaxoSmithKline, Merck, Mirati, Novartis, Pfizer; Consultant: AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim, Bristol-Myers Squibb, GH360, Merck, Novartis, Pfizer.

The staff of Physicians' Education Resource^®, LLC (PER^®) have no relevant financial relationships with commercial interests to disclose.

Disclosure Policy and Resolution of Conflicts of Interest (COI)

As a sponsor accredited by the ACCME, it is the policy of PER^® to ensure fair balance, independence, objectivity, and scientific rigor in all of its CME activities. In compliance with ACCME guidelines, PER^® requires everyone who is in a position to control the content of a CME activity to disclose all relevant financial relationships with commercial interests. The ACCME defines “relevant financial relationships” as financial relationships in any amount occurring within the past 12 months that creates a COI.

Additionally, PER^® is required by ACCME to resolve all COI. PER^® has identified and resolved all COI prior to the start of this activity by using a multistep process.

Off-Label Disclosure and Disclaimer

This CME activity may or may not discuss investigational, unapproved, or off-label use of drugs. Participants are advised to consult prescribing information for any products discussed. The information provided in this CME activity is for continuing medical education purposes only and is not meant to substitute for the independent clinical judgment of a physician relative to diagnostic or treatment options for a specific patient’s medical condition.

The opinions expressed in the content are solely those of the individual faculty members and do not reflect those of PER^® or the company that provided commercial support.