The CME-certified symposium entitled, “Controversies in Myeloma Management: Diagnosis, Initial Treatment, and the Relapsing Patient” was jointly sponsored by the IMF and the Institute for Continuing Healthcare Education, an ACCME-accredited provider of continuing medical education. The meeting co-chairmen were Bart Barlogie, MD, PhD, (University of Arkansas for Medical Science) and Brian G.M. Durie, MD, (Cedars-Sinai Comprehensive Cancer Center).

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

At the conclusion of this symposium, attendees will be able to do the following:

• Define categories of patients who are appropriate candidates for selected types of first-line myeloma therapy based on appropriate staging criteria.
• Compare the value of newer forms of remission-induction therapy to previous standards of care (melphalan + prednisone).
• Assess therapeutic options for patients in first relapse, based on their first-line therapy and their response to that therapy.
• Identify the appropriate forms of supportive care for newly diagnosed or newly relapsed patients.
• Evaluate the role of recent surgical techniques in the maintenance of spinal integrity.

TARGET AUDIENCE

This symposium has been designed to meet the educational needs of hematologists, hematologic oncologists, and other physicians treating patients with multiple myeloma.

CASE STUDY EXAMPLE

• 59-year-old woman presented with right-sided pain/right clavicular fracture.
• Needle biopsy of clavicular mass showed kappa clonal plasma cells.
• Bone marrow revealed 10% plasma cells with aggregates.
• Serum protein was negative for monoclonal protein and hypergammaglobulinemia.
• 24-hour urine protein was <150 mg.
• A diagnosis of multiple myeloma was established.

How would you stage this patient, and what would you recommend as first-line therapy?

ACCREDITATION

This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the Essential Areas and Policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) through joint sponsorship of the Institute for Continuing Healthcare Education and the International Myeloma Foundation. The Institute for Continuing Healthcare Education is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

The Institute for Continuing Healthcare Education designates this educational activity for a maximum of 3 category 1 credits toward the AMA Physician’s Recognition Award. Each physician should claim only those credits that he/she spent in the activity.

The American Medical Association has determined that physicians not licensed in the United States who participate in this CME activity are eligible for AMA PRA category 1 credit.

PROGRAM CO-CHAIRS                                                

	Bart Barlogie, MD, PhD University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Myeloma and Transplantation Research Center Little Rock, Arkansas
	Brian G. M. Durie, MD Cedars-Sinai Comprehensive Cancer Center Los Angeles, California

FACULTY

	Sigurd H. Berven, MD University of California, San Francisco San Francisco, California
	James D. Cavenagh, MD  St Bartholomew’s Hospital London, England
	Morie A. Gertz, MD Mayo Clinic College of Medicine Rochester, Minnesota
	Heinz Ludwig, MD Wilhelminen Hospital Vienna, Austria
	Gareth J. Morgan, MD The Royal Marsden Hospital Sutton, Surrey, England

The IMF’s sponsorship of the symposium is part of their mandate as the oldest and largest myeloma organization in existence, reaching more than 100,000 members in 106 countries worldwide. The IMF is dedicated to improving the quality of life of myeloma patients and their families through funding and creating groundbreaking research, providing education, lending support and promoting advocacy initiatives, while working toward prevention and cure.

Click here to register for this program or call 215-446-8088 ext. 1170. There is no registration fee for attending this program.