OFD 2024 Bilingual (English / French)

Program

Please note that the times below are listed in EDT.

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Saturday
November 2, 2024

Sponsored Symposium AMGEN
Advancing Small-Cell Lung Cancer: Navigating New Therapies and Their Role in the Treatment Landscape (English only)
Presenters
Lily Spasic
Photo of Lily Spasic
Photo of Lily Spasic
Lily Spasic
BScPharm, MSc, RPh
Manager, Oncology Pharmacy, Hudson Regional Cancer Centre Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre — Barrie, Ontario
Lily Spasic
Hudson Regional Cancer Centre Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre, Barrie, Ontario

Presentation Summary
This symposium will provide attendees with a complete, foundational knowledge base for the treatment and management of small-cell lung cancer (SCLC). The program will start with a review of epidemiology, pathophysiology, prognosis, and staging for SCLC, followed by a discussion on the evolving therapeutic landscape. While patient outcomes with existing agents have traditionally been poor, the program will highlight new immunotherapy options for these patients, including tarlatamab, a bispecific T-cell engager (TCE), with a focus on the pharmacy team’s involvement in monitoring and management strategies for patients receiving this treatment.

Learning objectives
At the end of this program, participants will be able to:
1. Describe the pathophysiology, epidemiology, etiology and prognosis of small-cell lung cancer (SCLC), including an overview of the current staging and treatment landscape.
2. Evaluate the role of immunotherapy and assess the positioning of emerging treatments, such as bispecific T-cell engagers (TCEs) including tarlatamab, within the evolving therapeutic landscape for SCLC.
3. Evaluate key safety considerations in the treatment of SCLC, including monitoring and management strategies of SCLC therapies.

Sponsored by Amgen.

Welcome Remarks
Plenary session
Navigating Difficult Conversations with Patients
Presenters
Sara Beattie
Kyla Bailey
Photo of Sara Beattie
Photo of Sara Beattie
Sara Beattie
Clinical, Health and Rehabilitation Psychologist, Tom Baker Cancer Centre — Calgary, Alberta

Sara Beattie, PhD. R. Psych.

Dr. Sara Beattie is a Clinical, Health and Rehabilitation Psychologist supporting the Alberta Blood and Marrow Transplant and Hematology Programs at the Tom Baker Cancer Centre. Using an integrative approach, she cares for patients and their loved ones with a focus on reducing distress and improving quality of life. Dr. Beattie has a special interest in the adolescent young adult (AYA) population and helping couples cope with cancer diagnoses, treatment, survivorship, and end of life. Dr. Beattie is a clinician investigator and is actively involved in program development, evaluation, research and collaborations with the interdisciplinary team.

Sara Beattie
Tom Baker Cancer Centre, Calgary, Alberta
Photo of Kyla Bailey
Photo of Kyla Bailey
Kyla Bailey
Clinical Fulltime, Pharmacy, Tom Baker Cancer Clinic — Calgary, Alberta
Kyla graduated from University of Saskatchewan in 2003 and currently works for Alberta Health Services at the Tom Baker Cancer Centre as a clinical hematology/BMT pharmacist. She has practiced in many diverse settings, including community, geriatrics, hospital outpatient, and oncology. Since joining the Tom Baker Cancer Centre in 2014, she first developed her oncology clinical skills in the Oral Chemotherapy Management program, before moving into the Hematology and Bone Marrow Transplant clinics. She obtained her Advanced Prescribing rights in 2014, which allows pharmacist-led supportive care management. Kyla continues to be involved as a preceptor for the Alberta Health Services Residents and the University of Alberta PharmD students during their hematology rotations.
Kyla Bailey
Tom Baker Cancer Clinic, Calgary, Alberta

Presentation Summary
Pharmacy practitioners are at the frontline of patient care and often directly involved in communication with patients experiencing high distress. Patients may express heightened emotions that lead to challenging or confrontational interactions when attempting to deliver patient care. During this presentation we will review common psychosocial challenges experienced by patients during diagnosis and treatment and strategies to implement as well as common communication behaviors to avoid when navigating difficult conversations. 

Learning Objectives:
1. Summarize common emotions expressed by patients during illness.
2. Identify patient perspectives and personal reactions during difficult interactions.
3. Discuss communication strategies for managing sensitive conversations using empathetic language.
4. Implement practical assessment of emotions and strategies through patient case scenarios.

Plenary session
BPMH in Ambulatory Oncology Pharmacy Practice
Presenters
Wendy Thompson-McGuire
Steven Riddick
Wendy Thompson-McGuire
North York General Hospital — North York, Ontario

Wendy Thompson-McGuire is a Registered Pharmacy Technician and has over 30 years of experience in various pharmacy areas. This would include community, hospital, education, clinical trials and oncology. 

She currently works as a Oncology and Hematology Drug Access Facilitator at North York General Hospital.  This position enables her to participate in Best Possible Medication History and act as a liaison between the oncology department and our outpatient pharmacy.

Her academic journey includes the University of Toronto and Centennial College.  She enjoys meeting and learning from new individuals entering the world of pharmacy and re-connecting with past pharmacy colleagues.

Wendy Thompson-McGuire
North York General Hospital, North York, Ontario
Steven Riddick
Drug Access Facilitator, North York General Hospital — North York, Ontario

Steven Riddick is a Registered Pharmacy Technician with 13 years of work experience all in the hospital setting.

He is currently employed as an Oncology and Hematology Drug Access Facilitator at North York General Hospital since 2021. Responsibilities include conducting a Best Possible Medication History for new patients and coordinating the coverage of their treatment and supporting medications.

He graduated from Centennial College’s Pharmacy Technician program in 2011.

Steven Riddick
North York General Hospital , North York, Ontario

Presentation Summary
Best Possible Medication Histories (not only a medication list) are incredibly important in ambulatory oncology.  We will review the ISMP guide to BPMH interviewing and share an adapted worksheet that we use to refresh and ensure all attendees understand what a BPMH entails.  BPMHs help identify potential issues such as drug-drug interactions, compliance issues, allergies, etc. before a patient begins anti-cancer therapy.  With input from our ambulatory oncology pharmacists, we will discuss some of the common interactions and concerns identified with the help of a BPMH.  We have conducted an informal survey of a dozen ambulatory oncology clinics in Ontario where we asked who performs a BPMH and when.  We will share the results and discuss the pros and cons of the different health care professionals who are conducting the BPMHs at their respective centers and importance of timing.

Learning Objectives:
1. Review what Medication Reconciliation (MedRec) is and why it is important.
2. Review where the Best Possible Medication History (BPMH) fits into the medication reconciliation process and the steps involved.
3. Understand what organizations support and set the standards for medication reconciliation.
4. Understand why BPMH is important in ambulatory oncology specifically.
5. Identify who conducts a BPMH in ambulatory oncology and when.

Break
Lunch Break
Plenary session
Overview of Breast Cancer
Presenters
Xue Feng
Photo of Xue Feng
Photo of Xue Feng
Xue Feng
Pharmacist, Pharmacy, Hôpital Du Sacré-coeur De Montréal — Kirkland, Quebec
Xue Feng
Hôpital Du Sacré-coeur De Montréal, Kirkland, Quebec

Presentation Summary
This presentation aims to provide new oncology pharmacists and pharmacy technicians with a fundamental understanding of breast cancer. 
First, an introduction to the epidemiology, signs and symptoms, and risk factors associated with this disease. Current recommendations for breast cancer screening will also be discussed, to better prepare pharmacists for their role in prevention and early diagnosis.
Next, a brief description of the different types of breast cancer will be presented, followed by an overview of the main treatment methods, including surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, hormone therapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy. This section will provide an overview of the treatment options available.
In more detail, pharmacological treatments commonly used to manage early and advanced breast cancer will be discussed. This aspect is crucial for pharmacists, who play a key role in optimizing treatments, monitoring patients, and managing drug interactions.
The presentation will conclude with a discussion of the role of the pharmacist and pharmacy technicians in patient education, treatment monitoring, and the management of side effects of pharmacological agents. Oncology pharmacists play a key role in supporting patients throughout their care pathway, and this presentation aims to reinforce their skills in these areas.
At the end of the course, participants will be better prepared to manage breast cancer patients, providing them with effective, well-informed pharmaceutical care.

Learning Objectives:
By the end of the session, participants will be able to:
1. Understand the epidemiology, signs & symptoms, and risk factors of breast cancer, as well as current recommendations for screening.
2. Distinguish the different types of breast cancer. 
3. Review the different treatment modalities for breast cancer 
4. Describe the main pharmacological treatments commonly used in early and advanced breast cancer. 
5. Discuss the role of pharmacists and pharmacy technicians in educating, monitoring, and managing side effects of pharmacological substances.

Plenary session
Drug-Drug Interactions with Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors
Presenters
Glenn Myers
Photo of Glenn Myers
Photo of Glenn Myers
Glenn Myers
BScPharm, ACPR, RPh
Clinical Resource Pharmacist - Oncology, Pharmacy, Horizon Health Network — Moncton, New Brunswick
Glenn Myers is a pharmacist with a focus in outpatient medical oncology at the Dr. Sheldon H Rubin Oncology Clinic in Moncton, New Brunswick. Glenn completed a BSc (Pharmacy) at Dalhousie University in 2011 and subsequently went on to complete his hospital residency at the Saint John Regional Hospital in New Brunswick. Glenn has been practicing in ambulatory oncology for over 12 years and focuses on clinical assessment and management of chemotherapy, oral anti-cancer and immune related adverse effects in patients with cancer. Glenn’s other professional interests include teaching and mentoring various levels of pharmacy learners, providing practical education to healthcare professionals, working with retail pharmacies to improve oncology patient care in the community, and performing oncology pharmacy practice-based research to advance the scope of oncology pharmacy.
Glenn Myers
Horizon Health Network, Moncton, New Brunswick

Presentation Summary
Drug-drug interactions (DDIs) in oncology can include pharmacokinetic (PK) and pharmacodynamic (PD) interactions with oral anti-cancer, chemotherapy, and monoclonal antibodies which require assessment and management by oncology pharmacists to optimize care for patients with cancer. Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are monoclonal antibodies which improve T-lymphocyte directed cytotoxicity against malignant cancer cells and have been incorporated into many treatment guidelines for hematologic and solid tumour malignancies. ICIs are not associated with traditional PK DDIs with absorption, distribution, metabolism, transport or elimination, however, various PD interactions have been identified with prospective and retrospective, observational research. Oncology pharmacists should be aware of PD DDIs identified with ICIs as retrospective evidence correlates these interactions with poorer clinical outcomes in select patient populations. This presentation will aim to improve awareness of PD DDIs with ICIs identified in the literature, and provide practical strategies for pharmacists to discuss these DDIs with patients in an effort to optimize their cancer care.

Learning Objectives: 
1. Recall clinically relevant pharmacodynamic (PD) drug-drug interactions (DDIs) with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) published in the literature. 
2. Review literature for published PD ICI DDIs and assess implications with cancer related outcomes in applicable populations.
3. Implement practical assessment and management strategies for managing PD DDIs with ICIs. 

Plenary session
Diagnostic Markers in Oncology - What Every Oncology Pharmacy Practitioner Should Know
Presenters
Marc Geirnaert
Photo of Marc Geirnaert
Photo of Marc Geirnaert
Marc Geirnaert
Director of Provincial Oncology Drug Program, Pharmacy, CancerCare Manitoba — Winnipeg, Manitoba
Marc Geirnaert graduated from the University of Manitoba with his Bachelor of Sciences in Pharmacy in 2002. Marc is a Board Certified Oncology Pharmacist (BCOP) and received his FCAPhO (Fellow of Canadian Association of Pharmacy in Oncology) designation in 2023. Marc started working in oncology and hematology in January 2003 and has worked in a variety of clinics such as lymphoproliferative diseases, genitourinary and central nervous system tumors. Since June 2014, Marc is the Director of Provincial Oncology Drug Program at CancerCare Manitoba. Marc is also the current chair of the pan Canadian Oncology Drug Review (pCODR) Provincial Advisory Group. Marc’s interests include implementation of new therapies in oncology/hematology including immunotherapies and biosimilars.
Marc Geirnaert
CancerCare Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba

Presentation summary
This presentation will provide an essential overview of the most common diagnostic tests that are used in the treatment of solid tumors and blood cancers. The participants will understand why the tests are important for drug selection and why such tests are ordered.

Learning Objectives:
1. Identify the most common diagnostic tests used in hematological cancers and the significance of the test results.
2. Explain what is meant by dMMR, MSI-H, pMMR, MSI-L and MSS.
3. List the most common diagnostic tests for breast cancer.
4. Understand the most common diagnostic tests for lung cancer.

Break
Afternoon Break
Plenary session
Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia – Tough to Say but Easy to Learn – an Overview
Presenters
Jennifer Voisey
Photo of Jennifer Voisey
Photo of Jennifer Voisey
Jennifer Voisey
Clinical Pharmacist, Pharmacy, Eastern Health — St. John's , Newfoundland and Labrador

Jennifer Voisey is a clinical pharmacist practicing in Adult Outpatient Hematology in St. John’s, Newfoundland. She graduated from Memorial University’s Pharmacy program in 2016 and shortly afterwards started working in oncology, first in solid tumor and then in Hematology. Her current practice focuses on patient education and toxicity management for a variety of hematologic malignancies.

Jennifer Voisey
Eastern Health, St. John's , Newfoundland and Labrador

Presentation Summary
This presentation is an introduction to Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia covering diagnosis, treatment options, and management of adverse effects arising from therapy. This will focus on first line treatment options and how pharmacy professionals can best support their patients throughout their treatment journey. 

Learning Objectives:
1. Explain the pathophysiology, symptoms, and diagnosis of chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML).
2. Summarize what treatment options we have available for CML.
3. Identify how to choose the most appropriate agent and dose for your patient.
4. Be able to monitor for, and manage, adverse effects of therapy.

Plenary session
Optimizing Sexual Health & Intimacy After a Cancer Diagnosis
Presenters
Reanne Booker
Photo of Reanne Booker
Photo of Reanne Booker
Reanne Booker
Nurse Practitioner, Psychosocial Resources, Tom Baker Cancer Centre — Cochrane, Alberta

Reanne is an oncology and palliative care nurse practitioner with over 20 years experience in cancer care. She works with the hematology-oncology team at the Tom Baker Cancer Centre in Calgary. Her clinical and research interests include integrating palliative care in oncology, sexuality and cancer, medical cannabis and cancer, and virtual cancer care. She is a PhD candidate in the School of Nursing at the University of Victoria. The focus of her PhD research is on the integration of palliative care for patients with hematologic malignancies. Reanne is the Immediate Past President of the Canadian Association of Nurses in Oncology.

Reanne Booker
Tom Baker Cancer Centre, Cochrane, Alberta

Presentation Summary
Sexual health and intimacy are integral aspects of being human. There are innumerable ways that a cancer diagnosis can impact sexual health and intimacy. Changes in sexual health after cancer are common, affecting patients of all ages, and are not limited to any particular type of cancer. Such changes can occur at any point along the disease trajectory, from time of diagnosis through to survivorship, as well as during end-of-life care. 
During this presentation, an overview of the potential changes in sexual health that may arise following a cancer diagnosis will be presented. Strategies and therapeutic options (pharmacological and non–pharmacological) to help manage sexual health concerns and preserve intimacy will be discussed. A summary of the resources available for oncology pharmacists as well as for patients and their partners will be provided.

Learning objectives
After participating in this presentation, attendees should be able to: 

1. Describe the potential impact of cancer & its treatment on sexual health & intimacy.
2. Discuss potential strategies to help optimize sexual health & intimacy after a cancer diagnosis.
3. Identify resources that pharmacists can use to help address/manage patients’ sexual health & intimacy concerns.

Sponsored Symposium Celltrion
Bevacizumab in the treatment of mCRC – Current indications and emerging options (English only)
Presenters
Sharlene Gill
Photo of Sharlene Gill
Photo of Sharlene Gill
Sharlene Gill
MD, MPH, MBA, FASCO, FRCPC
Medical Oncologist, BC Cancer — Vancouver, British Columbia

Dr. Sharlene Gill is a Professor of Medicine at the University of British Columbia and a GI medical oncologist at BC Cancer in Vancouver, Canada. Dr. Gill serves as the Chair of the Canadian Clinical Trials Group (CCTG) GI Disease Site Committee and as the President of the Canadian Association of Medical Oncologists. She received a BSc. in Pharmacy, and MD from the University of British Columbia in 1996 followed by residencies in Internal Medicine and Medical Oncology, subsequently completing a fellowship in Gl Oncology at the Mayo Clinic (Rochester, MN) and a Masters of Public Health from the Harvard School of Public Health (Boston, MA) before returning to Vancouver where she is presently Professor of Medicine at the University of British Columbia. In 2017, she completed an MBA from the Kenan-Flagler School of Business at the University of North Carolina. Dr. Gill’s areas of clinical expertise are in colorectal, pancreatic and hepatobiliary cancers. Her research work is focused on supporting the development and adoption of new treatments and treatment approaches for Gastrointestinal malignancies, through clinical trials and real-world studies. She is actively engaged in education and clinical research, with over 100 peer-reviewed publications and book chapters to her credit.

Sharlene Gill
BC Cancer , Vancouver, British Columbia

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a leading cause of cancer-related mortality and morbidity worldwide. Initial clinical presentation as metastatic CRC (mCRC) occurs in approximately 20% of patients and up to 50% of will develop metastases. Curative resection is only possible in a small proportion of metastatic patients with limited disease. Although several factors have contributed to improved clinical outcomes, a key development has been the introduction of novel biologic therapies targeting either epidermal growth factor signaling or angiogenesis. As such, Bevacizumab plays a significant role in the treatment of mCRC since it has demonstrated improved overall survival, and the advent of biosimilars improved the access to the treatment. Moreover, taking into consideration the localization of the tumor (left-sided vs. right sided) and biomarkers such RAS and BRAF mutational status and the analysis of microsatellite instability (MSI) has further improved clinical outcomes by personalizing the treatment strategies.

This session will discuss the position of bevacizumab in the current clinical practice for the treatment of mCRC, how it is used depending on the treatment strategy based on the biological markers, and what combinations may work the best for the patients.

Learning objectives
At the end of this symposium, participants will be able to:
1. Have a better understanding of:
       • The current place of bevacizumab in 1st line and 2nd line of therapy for the treatment of mCRC in the current clinical practice;
       • The role of biomarkers in treatment choice.
2. Acquire an up-to-date view on the most recent combinations used with bevacizumab for the treatment of mCRC.

Sponsored by Celltrion.

Celltion Logo

Closing Remarks