Alex A. Adjei, MD, PhD, Professor and Chair, Department of Medicine, Katherine Anne Gioia Chair in Cancer Medicine, Senior Vice President, Clinical Research, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, discusses eye toxicity from MEK inhibitors.

The most concerning side effect from treatment with MEK inhibitors is eye toxicity. Though blurred vision is the most common side effect, one patient experienced retinal vein thrombosis. This case caused a delay in the development of MEK inhibitors as a whole.

After testing MEK inhibitors extensively, Adjei says, researchers and physicians have found that eye toxicities are resolved when treatment is stopped. A patient can then receive a reduced dose and tolerate it well.

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Dr. Adjei on Adverse Events From MEK Inhibitors

Alex A. Adjei, MD, PhD, Professor and Chair, Department of Medicine, Katherine Anne Gioia Chair in Cancer Medicine, Senior Vice President, Clinical Research, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, discusses the 10th International Congress on Targeted Therapies in Cancer (ICTTC), which is designed to provide information on targeted anticancer therapies.

For many practices and oncologists, it can be a challenge to keep up to date on the development of new therapies and drugs, as well as how to manage side effects, how to best utilize new drugs, and what populations the drugs should be used in. A number of new advances will be discussed at ICTTC, including c-Met inhibitors, MEK inhibitors, and immunotherapy.

Adjei says that with so many new advances, the ICTTC is more relevant than ever. At the meeting, recently approved drugs such as vemurafenib and crizotinib will be discussed in addition to newer drugs that have not yet entered the clinical setting. There will also be a section focused on immunotherapy that will deal with the tumor microenvironment.

The meeting is held August 17-18, 2012, at the Mayflower Renaissance Hotel, in Washington, DC. 

Dr. Alex Adjei, from Roswell Park Cancer Institute, on the Need for Targeted Therapy Education

Alex A. Adjei, MD, PhD

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Dr. Adjei on Adverse Events From MEK Inhibitors

Dr. Adjei on the Need for Targeted Therapy Education