'Coping with Cancer from the Outside In', a new educational campaign

Biotechnology pioneer Amgen (One Amgen Center Drive Thousand Oaks, CA 91320-1799, Phone 1-805-447-1000) and ONSEdge a subsidiary of the Oncology Nursing Society (ONS), today announced that they will partner alongside celebrity make-up artist and cancer survivor Jan Ping to support a new educational campaign, Coping with Cancer From the Outside In. The initiative is aimed at educating oncology nurses about the skin-related side effects associated with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibitors that are used to treat metastatic colorectal, lung, pancreatic, and head and neck cancers.

Therapy
The EGFR plays a critical role in the control of cellular proliferation, differentiation, and survival. Abnormalities in signaling of the EGFR pathway have been found in a wide range of cancers.

EGFR inhibitor therapy aims to interrupt tumor growth by disrupting signals sent from the epidermal growth factor receptor, which is found on the surface of some cancer cells. Because EGFR is also present on other normal cells in the body, including skin cells, skin rash occurs in up to 90 percent of patients undergoing treatment with an EGFR inhibitor. This can be serious and potentially life threatening. Further, in its mild-to-moderate state, skin rash can cause patients physical discomfort and take an emotional toll, affecting body image. For most patients these side effects are mild, but moderate or severe toxicities that lead to dose modification or interruption develop in 8-17 percent of patients. Other appearance-related side effects include nail changes, skin cracking and hair disorders.

A new educational campaign
The new campaign will kick off at the 34th Annual ONS Congress on April 30, 2009 in San Antonio, Texas, where leading oncology experts and Jan Ping will host an informational seminar on coping with the appearance-related side effects that can accompany EGFR inhibitor treatments, along with other tips nurses can provide to both male and female patients for looking their best during treatment.

Seminar attendees will be invited to a meet-and-greet reception with Jan Ping and guest
speakers, and will be supplied with educational materials. Jan Ping, an Emmy® Award-winning make-up artist known for her work on E! Entertainment's Chelsea Lately Show and the Tyra Banks Show, and her work with celebrities such as Cindy Crawford and Warren Beatty, was diagnosed with breast cancer at age 45 and knows from her own experience that a patient's body changes while undergoing cancer treatment. But despite her altered appearance, Ping maintained a positive outlook, and she will lend her beauty and skin care expertise to the campaign to help patients feel confident about their appearance during treatment. "I'm excited to be taking part in an important program that provides oncology nurses with everyday tips they can teach patients to boost confidence during a difficult time."

Following the campaign launch at the Annual ONS Congress, local training seminars will also be held in the second half of this year in New York City, Los Angeles, and Miami.

• Follow-up and action points
  When talking to your patients, explain that a preventive skin treatment reduces the adverse effects of EGFR inhibitor therapy.

• More information
  For additional information on the dermatologic effects of EGFR inhibitors, download the nurse handbook - Coping With Cancer from the Outside In – Tips and Tools for the Oncology Nurse, provided to you courtesy of Amgen.

• Helpful links
  You Tube: The 34th Annual Oncology Nursing Society Congress, San Antonio, TX. Includes the keynote presentation by Geralyn Lucas
  
• Published articles
  Ivanov VN, Hei KT. Combined treatment with EGFR inhibitors and arsenite upregulated apoptosis in human EGFR-positive melanomas: a role of suppression of the PI3K-AKT pathway Oncogene 2005 Jan 20;24(4):616-26( Published online 6 December 2004)
  PubMed
  
• Ortega E, Marti RM, Yeramian A, Sorolla A, et al. Targeted therapies in gynecologic cancers and melanoma. Semin Diagn Pathol. 2008 Nov;25(4):262-73. Review.
  
• Wang W, Edington HD, Jukic DM, Rao UN, et al. Impact of IFNalpha2b upon pSTAT3 and the MEK/ERK MAPK pathway in melanoma. Cancer Immunol Immunother. 2008 Sep;57(9):1315-21. Epub 2008 Apr 3.