HER2 Testing in Breast Cancer: Improving IHC Performance

This one-hour CME/CMLE tumor board is the second of two designed to help pathologists understand the latest evidence regarding HER2-low breast cancer, HER2 testing guidelines, the implications for the pathology team as HER2-low therapies emerge, and ways to streamline communications with oncologists and other members of the cancer care team. The virtual tumor boards will feature authentic patient cases, scenarios, and digital slide images to engage learners.

This second virtual tumor board will help pathologists gain deeper skills in improving HER2 IHC testing in patients with breast cancer. and will include the following topics: 

• Optimizing IHC scoring across the HER2 spectrum in patients with breast cancer
• Guidelines for conducting IHC and ISH testing of HER2 in patients with breast cancer
• Application through cases of patients with breast cancer along the lower spectrum of HER2 expression
• Suggestions for effective coordination and collaboration among pathologists, oncologists, and other key members of the cancer care team

   

The activity offers 1.0 CME/CMLE credit. 

The American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education (CME) for physicians. 

Faculty/Authors

Aysegul A Sahin, MD
Director of Educational Operations 
Department of Pathology, Division of Pathology/Lab Medicine
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
Houston, TX 

Ali Brown, MD, FASCP
Chief Officer, Medical Quality
American Society for Clinical Pathology
Washington, DC 

Erin Downs-Kelly, DO
Director, Breast Pathology
Cleveland Clinic
Cleveland, OH 

Physician's Competency: Patient Care, Medical Knowledge, Interpersonal and Communication Skills, Professionalism  

CME/CMLE Credit: 1.0
Estimated Completion Time: 1.0 hour
Format: Online educational activity

Credit Designation Statement

The ASCP designates this enduring material for a maximum of 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity. 

ASCP designates this enduring material for a maximum of 1.0 CMLE credit.  This activity meets CMP and state re-licensure requirements for laboratory personnel. 

For questions regarding CME credit, please contact ASCP Customer Service at 1-800-267-2727, during normal business hours: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Eastern Time 

Method of Participation

To complete the activity and receive credit, the participant must complete the online course. CME certificates will be provided on-line. 

Provided by the American Society for Clinical Pathology in partnership with Q Synthesis, LLC and Clinical Care Options, LLC 

Funded by independent educational grants from AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals and Daiichi Sankyo, Inc. 

Instructions

To claim CME/CMLE credit for the exercise, do the following:

1. Review the Technical Considerations.
2. Click Go to Content and click the first module of the course.
3. Complete the Demographic Survey.
4. Complete the Pre-Test.
5. Review the Educational Activity.
6. Complete and submit the Post Exam. You will have a maximum of three attempts to obtain the required score. You will be notified if you have met the credit requirements after each attempt.
7. Submit the course Evaluation.
8. Enter the maximum number of credits offered and click Claim CME/CMLE to register credit.

Upon completion of this activity, you will be able to:

• Appropriately score HER2 levels via immunohistochemistry (IHC) in routine and complex breast cancer cases in accordance with guidelines

• Describe the factors that may affect IHC performance across the HER2 spectrum

• Utilize in situ hybridization (ISH) testing in breast cancer cases when appropriate in accordance with guidelines

• Discuss ways to prepare laboratories and cancer centers for HER2-low breast cancer identification, tracking, and reporting