Precision Testing Early and Later: a Tool for Diagnosis and Better Treatment?

Background

The complexities of solid tumours are now evident for all. A better understanding of determinants of tumour behaviour and response to treatment is gained every day, and the term “precision testing” is often used. In 2021 SPCC conducted a series of webinars and is continuing to work on this topic.

Knowledge of the tests needed and their potential role in guiding treatment choices are important topics, as are accessibility and reimbursement of these tests. From treatment target evaluation to molecular oncology and advanced genomics, precision testing is aimed at ensuring that the right treatment is administered to the right patient at the right time, leading to a better outcome. Some tests may play a role in early detection and help to avoid unnecessary treatment and reduce costs. The most unacceptable cost is the use of ineffective therapy. From the healthcare system perspective, precision testing brings more certainty on treatment outcomes and improves the sustainability and efficiency of healthcare. From the patient perspective, precision testing makes it possible to find the best available treatments and improves outcomes and quality of life.

However, due to regulatory, access and reimbursement barriers, even well-proven precision testing is not offered to all patients in Europe, not to speak of on global level. There is also a lack of the infrastructure needed to support and take advantage of genomic and molecular testing, including the development of networks to discuss the implications of the results in specific tumour boards. Even in countries where the infrastructure does exist, health care providers need more adequate information, knowledge and awareness, and patients require education and empowerment in order to ensure proper molecular characterisation of every patient’s tumour.

Course Goals

The course programme will lead to a better understanding of:

• potential of precision testing techniques
• limits of use of these technique
• regulatory issues

Target Group

Oncologists – Pathologists - HCPs - Patients’ Representatives - Professionals working in Cancer Institutes - Healthcare Public Authorities

Course Format

The course will be held online with the participation of world-renowned experts, some of them already involved in the 2021 SPCC Precision Testing webinars.
It will be free of charge and can be accessed by registering on SPCC's OncoCorner e-learning platform. The material will remain available on-demand.

Course Content

The event will consist of 2 consecutive days of live sessions with recorded and live contributions.

Under the auspices of:

Organising Secretariat

Sharing Progress in Cancer Care
Via Vincenzo Vela, 6
6500 Bellinzona – Switzerland

Annalisa Musco
annalisa.musco@spcc.net - Tel: +39 331 6832686

CME Accreditation and Certificates

Application for CME accreditation has been submitted to the Accreditation Council of Oncology in Europe (ACOE) and 4 CME credits have been granted to this event.

Participants will be issued a certificate of attendance (minimum attendance: 75% of the entire course). An online evaluation questionnaire and learning assessment test will need to be completed in order to get the certificate that will be issued by email.

Acknowledgements

Sharing Progress in Cancer Care wishes to express its appreciation to Bayer and Lilly for their unrestricted funding support and unrestricted educational grant.

Event attendance will be free of charge, but registration is required by Wednesday 18 May 2022.
Please register at https://www.oncocorner.net/online-events/48

INVITED FACULTY
Anne-Marie Baird, LuCE Lung Cancer Europe, Bern, Switzerland
Anna Batistatou, University of Ioannina, Faculty of Medicine, Ioannina, GR
Alastair Burt, University of Adelaide, AU and Newcastle University, UK
Milo Frattini, Institute of Pathology, Cantonal Hospital, Locarno, CH
Allan Hackshaw, Cancer Research UK & UCL Cancer Trials Centre, University College London, UK
Nadia Harbeck, Breast Center, LMU University Hospital, Munich, DE
Mark Lawler, European Cancer Organisation and Queen's University Belfast, UK
Holger Moch, European Society of Pathology and University Hospital Zurich, CH
Jordi Remon-Masip, Centro Integral Oncología Clara Campal - HM Delfos, Barcelona, ES
Eric Van Cutsem, University of Leuven, BE
Marzia Zambon, EUROPA DONNA - The European Breast Cancer Coalition, Milan, IT