Insights & Outcomes™ Melanoma Research Highlights from the 33rd ESMO Congress

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Continuing Medical Education Information

Target Audience

Dermatologists, surgical oncologists, general surgeons, medical oncologists, and oncology nurses involved in the management of patients with melanoma.

Statement of Need

The European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Congress, held in Stockholm, Sweden, September 12-16, 2008, was an important forum for discussion of the latest research in many areas of oncology, including melanoma, as well as current approaches to optimize patient care. This publication offers a comprehensive overview of the most important presentations on melanoma for those healthcare providers who were unable to attend this significant meeting.

Educational Objectives

• Identify proposed changes in the upcoming 7th Edition of the AJCC melanoma staging system compared with the 6th Edition
• Discuss the overall survival results from the phase III trial comparing extended-schedule temozolomide and dacarbazine in advanced melanoma patients
• Describe the latest findings from phase II trials of ipilimumab and tremelimumab for the treatment of advanced melanoma
• Identify the cyclin D1 (CCND1) polymorphisms that may be a biomarker for increased melanoma risk, and describe a possible mechanism of action
• Discuss possible variables that may predict response to adjuvant IFN-a2b therapy in patients with stage IIB-III melanoma

Accreditation and Credit Designation

MelanomaCare, LLC is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians. .

MelanomaCare, LLC designates this educational activity for a maximum of 1.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)TM.

Each physician should claim only those credits commensurate with the extent of his or her participation in the activity.

Grantor Support

This educational activity is supported by an educational grant from Schering-Plough Corporation.

This educational activity is sponsored by MelanomaCare, LLC, Orangeburg, NY.

Release date:February 15, 2009
Expiration date: February 15, 2010
Estimated time to complete activity: 1.5 hours

Instructions for Participation

To receive a CME certificate of participation, participants should:

• Read the entire publication, including the Continuing Medical Education Information
• Complete the posttest questions and evaluation form on pages 15 and 16 and mail or fax the evaluation form with answer key (page 16) to MelanomaCare, 523 Rt. 303, Orangeburg, NY 10962; Fax: 888-256-5055.
• A certificate of participation will be issued 4 to 6 weeks after receipt of a completed activity evaluation form and a completed posttest with a score of 70% or better.

Faculty Disclosures

In accordance with ACCME requirements on disclosure, faculty and contributors are asked to disclose any

Contributing Authors and Disclosures

John M. Kirkwood, MD
Director, Melanoma and Skin Cancer Center
Professor and Vice Chairman for Clinical Research
University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
Grant/Research Support: Berlex, Pfizer Inc, Schering-Plough Corporation
Speakers� Bureau: Schering-Plough Corporation
Retained Consultant: Eleos Inc

Axel Hauschild, MD
Professor, Department of Dermatology
University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein
Kiel, Germany
Grant/Research Support: Schering-Plough Corporation
Speakers� Bureau: Schering-Plough Corporation
Retained Consultant: Schering-Plough Corporation

Dirk Schadendorf, MD
Director, Department of Dermatology
University Hospital Essen
Essen, Germany
Grant/Research Support: Schering-Plough Corporation
Speakers� Bureau: Bristol-Myers Squibb, Schering-Plough Corporation
Retained Consultant: Astra Zeneca, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Merck Serono, Schering-Plough Corporation

Resolution of Conflict of Interest

MelanomaCare, LLC has implemented a system to resolve conflicts of interest for each continuing medical education activity to help ensure content objectivity, independence, fair balance, and that the content is aligned with the interest of the public. Conflicts, if any, are resolved through one or more processes, including peer review.