Optimizing Bone Health in Cancer Patients

• Introduction
• Activity Overview
• Podcast
• Take Post-Test

Activity Overview

Please read the following information about this continuing education activity before accessing the presentation using links located at the bottom of this page.

Accreditation for Pharmacists

The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education as a provider of continuing pharmacy education. The activity provides 1 hour (0.1 CEU) of continuing pharmacy education credit (program number 204-000-11-409-H01P).

Methods and Format

This continuing education activity is available in two formats:

• Web-Based. An online activity consisting of audio and slide presentations, a post-test, and a post-activity evaluation tool.
• Podcast. An audio-only version of the presentations that can be downloaded to your computer or portable MP3 player, slides (included in optional PDF handout), a post-test, and a post-activity evaluation tool.

Participants must view or listen to the presentation, take the activity post-test, and complete the post-activity course evaluation to receive continuing education credit. A minimum score of 70% is required on the post-test for credit to be awarded.  Participants may print their official statement of continuing education credit immediately after successful completion of the post-test and post-activity evaluation. The estimated time to complete this activity is 1 hour. This activity is provided free of charge.

Target Audience

The activity will be beneficial for pharmacists who have an interest in oncology and the treatment of breast cancer and solid tumors or work in oncology.

Activity Content

Improvements in cancer treatment have increased survival and the need for effective interventions to reduce the risk for skeletal-related events including pathologic bone fractures, spinal cord compression, need for surgery or radiation therapy to bone, and hypercalcemia of malignancy.  Many cancer therapies cause bone loss, which increases the risk for fractures.  Bisphosphonates are useful for treating bone metastases and slowing or preventing cancer treatment-induced bone loss (CTIBL).  These drugs also may reduce the risk of recurrence and improve survival in patients with early breast cancer or other solid tumors.  RANK-ligand Inhibitors have also been shown to decrease skeletal-related events in patients with bone metastases from solid tumors. Other agents for the treatment of bone metastases are under investigation.  Knowledge of the role of bisphosphonates and new and emerging bone-targeted therapies in treating patients with bone metastases or CTIBL will enable pharmacists to take an active role in the management of these patients.

Learning Objectives

After participating in this knowledge-based activity, participants should be able to

1. Describe the prevalence, morbidity, mortality, and impact on quality of life of skeletal-related events in patients with cancer.
2. Explain normal bone remodeling and the pathogenesis of skeletal-related events in patients with cancer.
3. Discuss the mechanism of action, efficacy, and safety of agents used for treating bone metastases and slowing or preventing cancer treatment-induced bone loss (CTIBL).
4. Recommend a pharmacologic regimen for a patient with bone metastases or CTIBL.
5. Identify new or emerging bone-targeted therapies for patients with bone metastases and describe mechanisms of action and potential roles in improving bone health in cancer patients.

Faculty

Disclosure Statement

In accordance with the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education’s Standards for Commercial Support and the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education’s Guidelines for Standards for Commercial Support, ASHP Advantage requires that all individuals who have control in planning or presenting educational content disclose all relevant financial relationships with any commercial interest.  This includes faculty, teachers, authors, activity directors, and members of planning committees. An individual has a relevant financial relationship if the individual or his or her spouse/partner has a financial relationship (e.g., employee, consultant, research grant recipient, speaker’s bureau, or stockholder) in any amount occurring in the last 12 months with a commercial interest whose products or services are discussed in the educational activity content over which the individual has control.The existence of these relationships is provided for the information of participants and should not be assumed to have an adverse impact on presentations.

All faculty and planners for ASHP Advantage educational activities are qualified and selected by ASHP Advantage and required to disclose any relevant financial relationships with commercial interests.  ASHP Advantage identifies and resolves conflicts of interest prior to an individual’s participation in development of content for an educational activity.

The faculty and planners report the following relationships:

Chad M. Barnett, Pharm.D., BCOP, Initiative Co-Chair and speaker
Dr. Barnett declares that he has no relationships pertinent to this activity.

Jane Pruemer, Pharm.D., BCOP,  FASHP,  Initiative Co-Chair 
Dr. Pruemer declares that she has no relationships pertinent to this activity.

Erika Thomas, M.B.A., B.S. Pharm.
Ms. Thomas declares that she has no relationships pertinent to this activity.

Launch Presentation*

*Allow additional time to complete the post-test and evaluation.

Listen to the podcast format of this activity if you prefer.

Download Post-Test

Print the post-test for your reference. Please note that to be eligible for continuing pharmacy education credit, you must go to the ASHP CE Center and complete the test online.

Additional Resources

For additional education and resources about this topic or to sign-up to be notified when new resources are available, visit www.optimizingbonehealth.com

Planned and conducted by ASHP Advantage and
supported by an educational grant from Novartis Oncology.