Oncology Innovations: Liquid Biopsy in Lung Cancer Management

Oncology
Curriculum:
Oncology Innovations: Liquid Biopsy in Lung Cancer Management
Credits:
1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s) 1.0 ANCC Contact Hours 1.0 AAPA Category 1 Credit(s)
Launch Date:
April 26, 2023
Expiration Date:
April 26, 2024

Primary Audience:

Clinicians who manage NSCLC, including oncologists and others (nurses, PA, NPs) interested in managing NSCLC within the United States and Europe.

Relevant Terms:

Oncology, Pathology

Umberto Malapelle, PhD

Associate Professor
Department of Public Health
University of Naples, Italy

Umberto Malapelle, Ph.D., is Associate Professor at the Department of Public Health, School of Medicine, University of Naples Federico II. Currently is the Chair of Predictive Molecular Pathology Laboratory, Department of Public Health of University Federico II of Naples and the Scientific Secretary of the International Society of Liquid Biopsy.

His main research interest is in the field of genomic biomarkers validation and testing for predictive information in the field of lung cancer, metastatic colorectal cancer, melanoma and gastrointestinal stromal tumor. Moreover, he has developed skills in tailoring Next Generation Assays for a number of different applications with a special focus on the simultaneously detection of clinical relevant alterations (i.e., EGFR mutations, ALK translocation, PD–L1 expression) in the routine setting including handling of different sample types, such as tissues and/or liquid biopsy specimens.
 

Christian Rolfo, MD, PhD, MBA

Professor of Hematology and Medical Oncology
Tisch Cancer Institute
New York, NY

Christian Rolfo, MD, PhD, MBA, Dr.hc. is Professor of Medicine (Hematology and Medical Oncology) and Associate Director for Clinical Research in the Center for Thoracic Oncology at The Tisch Cancer Institute. Dr. Rolfo’s clinical and research focus is on drug development, lung cancer and other thoracic malignancies, biomarkers, resistant mechanisms discovery, and liquid biopsies. Dr. Rolfo has held academic appointments at numerous institutions, including the University of Cordoba, Argentina; University of Antwerp, Belgium; University of Palermo, Italy, and the University of Maryland and Greenbaum Comprehensive Cancer Center where he was Director of Thoracic Medical Oncology and Director of Early Clinical Trials. Dr. Rolfo earned his MD at the University of Cordoba School of Medicine, his PhD and Doctor Europaeus in Clinical and Experimental Oncology Research at University of Palermo, Italy, and an MBA in Hospital and Health Services Management and Organization at Polytechnic University of Valencia, Spain. He completed residency training in Medical Oncology at the National Cancer Institute in Milan (University of Milan, Italy).

Dr. Rolfo is President of the International Society of Liquid Biopsy (ISLB) and Chair of the Education Committee at the International Association for Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC). Dr. Rolfo served as member of the Drug Approval & First in Human Commission at the Ministry of Health in Belgium during his time as Phase I Director at Antwerp University.

Dr. Rolfo is actively working on drug development and lung cancer and mesothelioma treatment. His research is focused in molecular oncology, targeted therapies and Immunotherapy in thoracic oncology using new techniques in liquid biopsies, specifically in extracellular vesicles and circulating free tumor DNA. His research group identified ALK translocation in exosomes in NSCLC patients, and showed, for the first time, the videos of labeled EVs uptake by living lung cancer cells. He is currently working on the identification of new biomarkers involved in immunotherapy and TKI drug-resistance and early detection of lung cancer with liquid biopsy. Dr. Rolfo has contributed to the development of several compounds including erlotinib, and the pharmacokinetics of olaparib, entrectinib, selpercatinib, trastuzumab duocarmazine, among others.

Dr. Rolfo has authored more than 250 scientific articles, has made several contributions to book chapters, and has served as a book editor. He has published extensively in peer-reviewed journals including New England Journal of Medicine, Lancet Oncology, Cancer Discovery, Nature Clinical Reviews in Oncology, Journal of Thoracic Oncology, Nature Nanotechnology, Clinical Cancer Research, Annals of Oncology, and Lung Cancer among others. Dr. Rolfo is Editor in Chief of Critical Review in Oncology Hematology and Associate Editor at ESMO Open.

Alessandro Russo, MD, PhD

Oncology Department
Ospedale Papardo
Messina, Italy

Dr. Russo is a board-certified medical oncologist with interest in thoracic malignancies, immunotherapy and liquid biopsies. Dr. Russo degreed as M.D. at the University of Messina (Italy) and there he completed his residency in Medical Oncology. He had his PhD in 2019 in Medical and Surgical Biotechnologies at the University of Messina, with a research project on the role of liquid biopsies as predictive biomarkers to immune checkpoint inhibitors in advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). During his PhD, Dr. Russo joined as Visiting Researcher the Division of Thoracic Medical Oncology and Early Clinical Trials at the University of Maryland Medical Center, Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center (Baltimore, USA). From February 2020 he joined the Medical Oncology Unit of the A.O. Papardo (Messina, Italy) as medical oncologist, with focus on thoracic malignancies.

He is member of several national and international scientific societies, including the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC), the Italian Association of Thoracic Oncology (AIOT), the Italian Association of Medical Oncology (AIOM) and the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO). Dr. Russo took part to the Executive Board of the Sicilian Section of the Italian Association of Medical Oncology (AIOM) for the years 2015-2019 and the Membership Committee of the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC) as Academy Member for the years 2020-2021. Dr. Russo is co-author of several publications in peer-reviewed international journals, a book chapter and he is actively involved in clinical research in advanced NSCLC.

1. Describe the importance of broad-based genomic analysis in managing NSCLC
2. Explain the benefits and limitations of liquid biopsy for biomarker assessment in managing NSCLC

Joint Accreditation Statement 

In support of improving patient care, this activity has been planned and implemented by the Postgraduate Institute for Medicine and DKBmed, LLC. Postgraduate Institute for Medicine is jointly accredited by the American Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) to provide continuing education for the healthcare team. 

Physician Continuing Medical Education 

The Postgraduate Institute for Medicine designates this live activity for a maximum of 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity. 

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Physician Assistant Education 

Postgraduate Institute for Medicine has been authorized by the American Academy of PAs (AAPA) to award AAPA Category 1 CME credit for activities planned in accordance with AAPA CME Criteria. This activity is designated for 1.0 AAPA Category 1 CME credits. Approval is valid until April 3, 2025. PAs should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation. 

Media: Enduring 

Acknowledgement 

This activity is supported by an independent educational grant from Merck & Co., Inc. and Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 

Disclosure of Conflicts of Interest 

Postgraduate Institute for Medicine (PIM) requires instructors, planners, managers, and other individuals who are in a position to control the content of this activity to disclose any real or apparent conflict of interest (COI) they may have as related to the content of this activity. All identified COI are thoroughly vetted and resolved according to PIM policy. PIM is committed to providing its learners with high quality activities and related materials that promote improvements or quality in healthcare and not a specific proprietary business interest of a commercial interest. 

Faculty / Presenter Reported Financial Relationship 

Umberto Malapelle, PhD 

  • Advisory role - Boehringer Ingelheim, AstraZeneca, Roche, MSD, Amgen, BMS, Merck, Thermofisher, Biocartis 

  • Fees for Non-CE Services (e.g., Speakers’ Bureaus) – Boehringer Ingelheim, MSD, Amgen, Merck, BMS, Diaceutics, Roche, Eli Lilly, Thermofisher, Janssen 

  • Financial support paid directly to Dr. Malapelle’s Institution – Boehringer Ingelheim, Amgen 

Christian Rolfo, MD, PhD, MBA, Dr.hc 

  • Employee/Owner - ISLB, IASCL, ESO, Elsevier 

  • Grant/Research Support – Pfizer, U54 

  • Speakers Bureau/honoraria for non-CME – AstraZeneca, Roche, Guardanthealth, MSD, Core2Ed, Physicians Education Resource, Intellisphere, CEA 

  • Consultant/Advisory Board – Archer, Inivata, Novartis, Boston Pharm, EMD Serono, Mirati, Eisai, Daiichi Sankyo, Sanofi Genzyme Regeneron, CEA, Bayer, General Dynamics, Medstar, Janssen Scientific Affairs 

Alessandro Russo, MD, PhD 

  • Speakers Bureau/honoraria for non-CME – AstraZeneca, BMS 

  • Consultant/Advisory Board – AstraZeneca, Novartis, Pfizer, BMS, MSD 

Planners and Managers 

The PIM planners and managers have nothing to disclose. The DKBmed planners and managers have nothing to disclose. 

Disclosure of Unlabeled Use 

This educational activity may contain discussion of published and/or investigational uses of agents that are not indicated by the FDA. The planners of this activity do not recommend the use of any agent outside of the labeled indications. 
 
The opinions expressed in the educational activity are those of the faculty and do not necessarily represent the views of the planners. Please refer to the official prescribing information for each product for discussion of approved indications, contraindications, and warnings. 

Disclaimer 

Participants have an implied responsibility to use the newly acquired information to enhance patient outcomes and their own professional development. The information presented in this activity is not meant to serve as a guideline for patient management. Any procedures, medications, or other courses of diagnosis or treatment discussed or suggested in this activity should not be used by clinicians without evaluation of their patient’s conditions and possible contraindications and/or dangers in use, review of any applicable manufacturer’s product information, and comparison with recommendations of other authorities. 

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