This course gives cancer nurses and trial staff the knowledge and confidence to discuss a wide range of targeted cancer treatments and immunotherapies with patients and colleagues.
This course focuses on cancer biology and the science behind licensed treatments for solid tumours, including monoclonal antibodies, small molecule kinase inhibitors, and immunotherapies.
Over the course of two mornings, Dr Elaine Vickers – a leading independent educator on the science of new cancer treatments – will guide you through the scientific concepts that underpin many of the most used targeted cancer treatments and immunotherapies for solid tumours.
Treatments discussed include those that target cell communication pathways (e.g. EGFR and HER2-targeted treatments) and immune checkpoint inhibitors. Elaine also describes various molecular features of cancer that underpin many other new treatments.
This content is ideal for research nurses, clinical nurse specialists, pharmacists, and clinical trials coordinators. It may also interest other healthcare professionals wanting to improve their understanding of targeted treatments and immunotherapy.
As ever, Elaine will use colourful illustrations and jargon-free explanations to help learners gain a broad understanding of the concepts covered.
The course comprises two mornings delivered online via Microsoft Teams as follows:
Over three presentations, Dr Vickers guides us through the scientific concepts underpinning many of the most used targeted cancer treatments. Beginning with the bigger picture – what we can and can’t target – she then describes the mechanisms of action of the two main types of treatment: monoclonal antibodies that target cell surface proteins and small molecules that block kinases.
Many of these treatments target cell communication pathways. Elaine will explain the function of these pathways in healthy cells and their defects in cancer cells. She’ll also describe why blocking these pathways sometimes works and sometimes doesn’t.
Lastly, Elaine turns her attention to other targets and discusses when a targeted therapy or immunotherapy approach is more likely to work.
Targeted cancer treatments – the current landscape
Treatments that target cell communication
Other targets and treatments
The focus of this morning is on cancer’s relationship with the immune system and how this knowledge is being used to improve the outlook of people with various solid tumours.
Elaine describes how checkpoint inhibitors boost cancer-fighting T cells. She also highlights some of the lessons learned through the hundreds of clinical trials with checkpoint inhibitors that have taken place over the past decade.
Lastly, Elaine explains how other forms of immunotherapy aim to create an anti-cancer immune response.
An introduction to immunotherapy
Immunotherapy with checkpoint inhibitors
Biomarkers and combinations; other forms of immunotherapy
Delegates will be given access to recordings of all sessions for three months after completion of the course. If you are unable to attend a session the recording will ensure you can review any content you have missed.
Dr Elaine Vickers, PhD of Science Communicated Ltd has worked as a cancer educator for over twenty years and has previously acted as science communicator for three of the UK’s leading
medical research charities, including four years in the Science Information team at Cancer Research UK.
Elaine is passionate about demystifying the science behind cancer biology and the latest cancer treatments such as kinase inhibitors, monoclonal antibodies and immunotherapies.
She is experienced in teaching people with any level of scientific or medical knowledge from cancer patients through to medical oncologists translating complex and often overwhelming topics into easily digestible and understandable knowledge, using colourful illustrations to explain scientific concepts.
The second edition of her book, A Beginner’s Guide to Targeted Cancer Treatments – commended by the British Medical Association book awards is due out by the end of 2024.
To book a place on this course go to Tickets at the bottom of the page.
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