Date and Time: Tuesday 13th January 2026, 13:30-16:30
Cost: £90
Format: Online
Description: Delivered over one afternoon session, Dr Elaine Vickers provides an up-to-date overview of modern systemic treatment approaches given to people with bowel cancer including treatment combinations and new approaches currently being investigated in clinical trials.
Elaine first of all looks at the gene mutations and faulty processes and pathways that give rise to bowel cancer, explaining the relationship between mismatch repair deficiency (dMMR) and microsatellite instability (MSI).
She then turns her attention to antibodies that target the EGF receptor (EGFR) and also summarises why they’re only effective for some people and looks at various reasons for resistance.
Checkpoint inhibitor therapy has recently given highly promising results in trials, but only if the tumour is dMMR/MSI. Elaine will describe why this is, and explore whether immunotherapy might still hold promise for people whose cancers don’t display this characteristic.
Lastly, Elaine will look at other targeted therapies and immunotherapies that have shown recent promise in trials. These include drugs that target B-Raf, HER2 and Ras proteins.
Audience: This half day course is ideal for research nurses, clinical nurse specialists, pharmacists and clinical trials coordinators. It may also be of interest to other healthcare professionals involved in the diagnosis and treatment of people with bowel cancer, and to junior doctors.
Link to Register: Targeted treatments and immunotherapy for Bowel Cancer – Newcastle Hospitals Clinical Skills Academy