Advances in Treating HER2-Postive Metastatic Breast Cancer: Optimizing Pharmacotherapeutic Management Strategies

Details

Activity Description / Statement of Need:

In this online, self-learning activity:

Over a quarter million women and almost 2,700 men in the U.S. are diagnosed with breast cancer each year, and it is the second leading cause of cancer death in women. The prognosis associated with breast has improved in the last few decades due in large part to earlier detection. However, while detection at the loco-regional stage is associated with a five-year overall survival (OS) rate of 90%, patients with metastatic breast cancer (mBC) may expect five-year OS rates closer to 28%.

Because it is not curable, the goals of care in mBC are: palliation of symptoms, improvement of quality-of-life, and extension of survival. Hormone receptor positivity (HR+) in the absence of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 overexpression (HER2+) has traditionally conferred a better prognosis. In contrast, HER2+ status is associated with a more negative prognosis, as it is associated with an increase in growth signals that are associated with accelerated tumor growth patterns, faster rates of recurrence, and higher mortality rates.

This activity has been designed to bring healthcare professionals’ knowledge of the rationale behind treatment of HER2+ mBC up to date and to improve their competence and performance in treating it.

Target Audience:

Medical oncologists; physician assistants, nurse practitioners, and pharmacists who practice in oncology; and any other healthcare professionals with an interest in or who clinically encounter patients with breast cancer.