Recent Advances in Cancer Care — New Paradigms, Novel Agents and What It Means for the Oncology Nurse: Strategies to Safely and Effectively Implement Antibody-Drug Conjugates

Faculty

Program Schedule — Central Time

10:45 AM – 11:15 PM — Registration and Lunch
11:15 AM – 12:45 PM — Educational Meeting

MODULE 1: Rationale for the Use of Antibody-Drug Conjugates (ADCs) as Cancer Treatment

• Rationale for conjugating monoclonal antibodies with cytotoxic drugs to form ADCs; theoretical improvement of chemotherapy efficacy while reducing systemic exposure and toxicity
• Structural components, such as antibodies, linkers and cytotoxic payloads, of commercially available and investigational ADCs
• Direct mechanism of antitumor activity of ADCs and other means by which they can elicit an antitumor effect, such as bystander killing

MODULE 2: Current and Future Role of ADCs in Cancer Therapy

• FDA-approved indications for ADCs in various tumor types
• Clinical significance of FDA breakthrough therapy designation and current ADCs in development receiving this distinction
• Biological rationale for combining ADCs with other cancer therapies (eg, immune checkpoint inhibitors) and current and future role of this strategy in treatment
• Emerging findings with and ongoing studies evaluating ADCs for patients with non-metastatic disease
• Other promising investigational ADCs in clinical development

MODULE 3: Practical Considerations with ADCs

• Setting patient expectations regarding ADC efficacy and tolerability
• Optimal timing for initiation of approved ADCs or consideration of a clinical trial evaluating 1 of these agents
• ADC effectiveness for patients with CNS metastases
• Mechanisms of resistance to ADCs; feasibility of using multiple agents in this class sequentially for the same patient

MODULE 4: Cytopenias Associated with ADCs

• Educating patients regarding the capacity of ADCs to cause acute “chemotherapy-like” side effects
• Incidence and severity of neutropenia, thrombocytopenia and anemia with approved and investigational ADCs
• Indications for prophylactic growth factor use for patients who are about to start treatment with an ADC
• Appropriate monitoring of complete blood counts during ADC therapy; thresholds for dose modification, treatment interruption and treatment discontinuation for patients experiencing cytopenias

MODULE 5: Gastrointestinal (GI) Adverse Events (AEs) Documented with ADCs

• Rates of various GI issues (eg, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, abdominal pain) in patients receiving ADC therapy
• Indications for prophylactic antiemetics and antidiarrheals for patients who are about to start treatment with an ADC
• Role of nutritional counselling and diet modifications during ADC treatment
• Potential advantages of complementary therapies, such as acupuncture and yoga, in managing GI side effects of ADCs

MODULE 6: Recognition and Management of Interstitial Lung Disease (ILD)/Pneumonitis Associated with ADCs

• Pathophysiology of ILD/pneumonitis associated with ADCs; baseline risk factors for its development
• Rates, severity and timing of ILD/pneumonitis in clinical trial experiences with various ADCs
• Appropriate workup for patients suspected of experiencing therapy-related ILD/pneumonitis; strategies to distinguish drug-related pulmonary toxicity from other potential causes
• Guidelines for treatment modifications and discontinuation for patients experiencing ILD/pneumonitis; indications for restarting ADC therapy after resolution
• Utility of other supportive care measures, such as corticosteroids and oxygen supplementation, for patients experiencing ILD/pneumonitis

MODULE 7: Potential for Mucositis/Stomatitis with ADCs

• Incidence and severity of mucositis/stomatitis with various approved and investigational ADCs
• Counseling patients on the importance of oral hygiene during treatment with ADCs known to cause mucositis/stomatitis
• Role of steroid mouthwash, prophylactic antibiotics/antifungals and pain medications for patients who are at risk for or are experiencing mucositis/stomatitis
• Dietary recommendations for patients experiencing mucositis/stomatitis

MODULE 8: Ocular Toxicities with ADCs

• Pathophysiology of ocular AEs associated with certain ADCs; spectrum, incidence and severity of ocular toxicities with different agents
• Optimal patient counseling and education regarding signs of ocular toxicity and the importance of early reporting of symptoms
• Utility of other prophylactic and supportive care measures to mitigate and manage ocular toxicities
• Importance of interdisciplinary coordination with eye-care professionals in the identification and management of treatment-related ocular AEs

MODULE 9: Cardiovascular AEs Associated with Select ADCs

• Pathophysiology of the cardiotoxicity associated with anti-HER2 therapies, including ADCs
• Incidence of left ventricular dysfunction noted with HER2-targeted ADCs in clinical trial experiences
• Appropriate monitoring of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) at baseline and during treatment with HER2-targeted ADCs
• Threshold for treatment interruption for patients experiencing LVEF decrease; indications for restarting HER2-targeted ADC therapy after recovery
• Role of interdisciplinary coordination with cardiologists when monitoring for and managing cardiac toxicities associated with HER2-targeted ADCs

MODULE 10: Other Toxicities Reported with 1 or More ADCs

• Incidence and management of peripheral neuropathy associated with various ADCs
• Rates of alopecia reported with ADC treatment; available strategies to reduce the incidence/severity of hair loss or limit its psychosocial impact (eg, scalp-cooling methods, wigs/hair pieces)
• Available strategies to ameliorate the symptoms of rash and other cutaneous reactions associated with ADCs (eg, antihistamines, topical steroids, emollients)
• Spectrum of other toxicities (eg, fatigue, hemorrhage, effusion/edema, hyperglycemia) associated with 1 or more ADCs used in the treatment of cancer

Target Audience
This activity has been designed to meet the educational needs of oncology nurses, nurse practitioners and clinical nurse specialists involved in the treatment of cancer.

Learning Objectives
Upon completion of this activity, participants should be able to

• Consider the scientific justification for antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) as a therapeutic approach for patients with various tumor types, and recall the differential targets, structural components and mechanisms of activity of different clinically available and investigational ADCs.
• Appraise available clinical research data with novel ADCs for various cancers, and consider the current and potential role of these approaches in routine clinical care.
• Appreciate the pathophysiology and severity of common and rare toxicities associated with ADCs employed in the treatment of different tumor types.
• Understand the incidence of toxicities observed in pivotal trials evaluating novel ADCs demonstrating efficacy in the management of various tumor types, and educate patients about to commence therapy with these approaches regarding the potential development of adverse events and what to do if they are suspected.
• Recall strategies commonly employed to identify, manage and mitigate toxicities resulting from anticancer treatment with ADCs, and use this information to appropriately intervene for patients in whom these side effects are suspected or diagnosed.
• Understand the role of multidisciplinary specialists such as cardiologists, ophthalmologists and other medical professionals in the diagnosis and management of various ADC-associated toxicities, and effectively educate patients regarding the potential need for and importance of specialty referral.

Accreditation Statement
Research To Practice is accredited as a provider of nursing continuing professional development by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s (ANCC) Commission on Accreditation.

Credit Designation Statements
This educational activity for 1.5 contact hours is provided by Research To Practice.

This activity is awarded 1.5 ANCC pharmacotherapeutic contact hours.

Oncology Nursing Certification Corporation (ONCC)/Individual Learning Needs Assessment (ILNA) Certification Information
The program content has been reviewed by the Oncology Nursing Certification Corporation (ONCC) and is acceptable for recertification points. To review certification qualifications please visit https://researchtopractice.com/Meetings/ONS2026/ADCs/ILNA.

ONCC review is only for designating content to be used for recertification points and is not for NCPD accreditation. NCPD programs must be formally approved for contact hours by an acceptable accreditor/approver of nursing CE to be used for recertification by ONCC. If the NCPD provider fails to obtain formal approval to award contact hours by an acceptable accrediting/approval body, no information related to ONCC recertification or ILNA categories may be used in relation to the program.

Credit Form
To obtain a certificate of completion and receive credit for this event, nurses must attend the entire activity and return a completed Educational Assessment and Credit Form. A credit form link will be given to each participant as part of the meeting course materials.

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Content Validation and Disclosures
Research To Practice (RTP) is committed to providing its participants with high-quality, unbiased and state-of-the-art education. Any individuals in a position to control the content of an accredited continuing education activity, including faculty, planners, reviewers and others, are required to disclose all relevant financial relationships with ineligible entities (commercial interests). All relevant financial relationships will have been mitigated prior to the commencement of this activity. In addition, all activity content is reviewed by RTP scientific staff and an external, independent reviewer for fair balance, scientific objectivity of studies referenced and patient care recommendations.

FACULTY — The following faculty reported relevant financial relationships with ineligible entities:

Ms Arn — Speakers Bureaus: AbbVie Inc, AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP, Eisai Inc, Genmab US Inc, GSK, Merck, Pfizer Inc. Ms Carroll — Consulting Agreements: AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP, Lilly, Novartis. Dr Garon — Consulting Agreements: AbbVie Inc, ArriVent Biopharma, AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP, Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals, Black Diamond Therapeutics Inc, BridgeBio, Bristol Myers Squibb, Daiichi Sankyo Inc, Gilead Sciences Inc, GSK, Hexagon Bio, I-Mab Biopharma, IO Biotech, iTeos Therapeutics, LianBio, Merck, Novartis, Oxford BioTherapeutics, Pfizer Inc, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc, Samsung Bioepis, Sanofi, Servier Pharmaceuticals LLC, Strata Oncology, Synthekine, TransCode Therapeutics, Verastem Inc; Contracted Research: ABL Bio, ArriVent Biopharma, AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP, Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals, BridgeBio, Bristol Myers Squibb, Daiichi Sankyo Inc, Genentech, a member of the Roche Group, Gilead Sciences Inc, Iovance Biotherapeutics, Lilly, Merck, Novartis, Prelude Therapeutics, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc, Synthekine, TILT Biotherapeutics; Data and Safety Monitoring Boards/Committees: Bicycle Therapeutics, Nuvalent, Servier Pharmaceuticals LLC. Dr McArthur — Advisory Committees: Arvinas, AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP, Boston Scientific Corporation, Celcuity, Daiichi Sankyo Inc, Delcath Systems Inc, Genentech, a member of the Roche Group, Gilead Sciences Inc, Lilly, Merck, Novartis, Pfizer Inc; Consulting Agreements: ALX Oncology.

MODERATOR — Dr Moore — Advisory Committees: AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP, Corcept Therapeutics Inc, GSK, Mersana Therapeutics Inc; Consulting Agreements: Aadi Bioscience, AbbVie Inc, AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP, BioNTech SE, Caris Life Sciences, Corcept Therapeutics Inc, Daiichi Sankyo Inc, Duality Biologics, GSK, ImmunoGen Inc, Janssen Biotech Inc, Merck, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc, Schrödinger, Takeda Pharmaceuticals USA Inc, Verastem Inc, Whitehawk Therapeutics, Zentalis Pharmaceuticals, Zymeworks Inc; Contracted Research: Accent Therapeutics, Advaxis Inc, Allarity Therapeutics, AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP, Daiichi Sankyo Inc, GSK, Immunocore, Iovance Biotherapeutics, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc, Schrödinger, Verastem Inc; Data and Safety Monitoring Boards/Committees: Bicycle Therapeutics; Nonrelevant Financial Relationships: ASCO, GOG Partners, NRG Oncology.

RESEARCH TO PRACTICE NCPD PLANNING COMMITTEE MEMBERS, STAFF AND REVIEWERS
Planners, scientific staff and independent reviewers for Research To Practice have no relevant financial relationships to disclose.

Supporters
This activity is supported by educational grants from AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP, Daiichi Sankyo Inc, and Merck.

Location
San Antonio Marriott Rivercenter
101 Bowie St
San Antonio, TX 78205
Hotel Phone: (210) 223-1000

Meeting Room
Grand Ballroom A-F (Third Floor)

Directions
The Marriott Rivercenter hotel is conveniently located within walking distance (1.5 blocks) of the Henry B González Convention Center, where the 2026 ONS Congress is taking place.

Registration is now closed.