Melanoma is one of the rarer types of skin cancer but causes the majority of skin cancer related deaths. According to the National Cancer Institute, there were an estimated 68,720 new cases and 8,650 deaths from melanoma in the United States in 2009. The incidence of many common cancers is falling, but the incidence of melanoma is rising faster than that of any of the seven most common cancers. Early diagnosis and effective treatment are imperative to prevent morbidity and mortality from this cancer.
Despite many years of intensive laboratory and clinical research, the most effective cure is surgical resection of the primary tumor. Systemic treatment is critical to control the growth of existing tumors that may not be apparent on diagnostic assays or on physical exam, as well as prevent development of new tumors. However, current adjuvant treatment with interferon is at best modestly effective. Melanoma has a high likelihood of metastasis if treatment is unsuccessful, and a high mortality rate. At this time, standard treatments for metastatic melanoma are effective in only a small percentage of patients; thus education on new approaches to treatment is crucial to optimize patient outcomes.
Data on new medical, surgical, immunotherapeutic, and combination strategies for management of melanomas are emerging at a rapid rate, and oncologists need education on the newest advances in treatment.
Novel approaches to treatment of metastatic melanoma (MM), such as ipilimumab or administration of the gp100:209-217 (210M) vaccine prior to treatment with high-dose IL-2, have shown promise in recent clinical trials. New regimens, including those utilizing imatinib mesylate for a small subset of patients with c-Kit mutations, are being evaluated, and disseminating these results to oncologists who treat patients with melanoma may have important implications for patient outcomes.
Other areas of great interest to practicing oncologists include translational research that is yielding new insights into the genetic basis of melanoma. Such research may ultimately provide clues to promising new therapeutic targets. Additionally, findings will be presented from studies in which cells from patients' own tumors and blood samples are used to provide individualized immune therapy.
A highly interactive approach will enhance the relevance, retention, and clinical applicability of the information presented. Topics will be grouped into plenary sessions, each of which will be chaired by a moderator. Each section will be followed by a discussion session in which participants will be able to ask questions about recent developments in each specialty area, discuss controversial and novel findings with presenting faculty, and apply pertinent information from presentations to patient care.
This course will enable participants to:
Friday - Saturday, March 26-27, 2010
9 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits
Room Veranda AB
Red Rock Conference Center
11011 West Charleston Boulevard
Las Vegas, NV
Registration Fees
$295 Physicians
$195 Nurses/Allied Health Professionals
$50 Non-Yale/NVCI Residents/Fellows
Complimentary Yale & NVCI Residents/Fellows*
Registration fee includes all conference materials, hot breakfast, refreshment breaks, and lunch.
*A letter of verification from department head must accompany registration. If registering online, letter should be sent separately to Yale CME address below:
All cancellations must be received in writing (or via email) at least one week prior to the start of the conference to receive a refund. Any requests for refunds received after this date, or by telephone, will not be honored.
Center for Continuing Medical Education
333 Cedar Street
PO Box 208052
New Haven, CT
06520-8052
Accreditation Statement
The Yale School of Medicine is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to sponsor continuing medical education for physicians.
The American Medical Association has determined that physicians not licensed in the US who participate in this CME activity are eligible for AMA PRA Category 1 Credit.
Designation Statement
The Yale School of Medicine designates this educational activity for a maximum of 9 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
Disclosure Policy
It is the policy of Yale School of Medicine, Continuing Medical Education, to ensure balance, independence, objectivity and scientific rigor in all its educational programs. All faculty participating as speakers in these programs are required to disclose any relevant financial relationship(s) they (or spouse or partner) have with a commercial interest that benefits the individual in any financial amount that has occurred within the past 12 months; and the opportunity to affect the content of CME about the products or services of the commercial interests. The Center for Continuing Medical Education will ensure that any conflicts of interest are resolved before the educational activity occurs.
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