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target

What is target?

target is an educational initiative that aims to give nurses a greater understanding of the science behind targeted therapies in general and specific understanding of the use and efficacy of these therapies.

What does a target course involve?

• the molecular biology of cancer
• how new therapies are targeted at specific molucules or pathways
• how these therapies are used in clinical practice
• nursing considerations when caring for patients on targeted therapies
• supporting the needs of the patients and their carers

How have target course materials been developed?

The rapid developments in medical oncology are affecting our daily clinical practice. Regardless where one works, whether in larger university hospitals or private oncology practices, the molecular targeted therapies have been registered for a wide range tumors and are continually expanding to others following further clinical trials. The number of such therapeutic agents has exponentially increased over the last years so that the newer therapy regimens are not seldom a combination of a monoclonal antibody or signal transmission inhibitor and the conventional chemotherapy regimens.

We have also seen that for some tumors, the new drugs are also being employed as monotherapy.

The “original” TARGET program was geared towards the EGFR /TKI inhibitors. This sector has remained of medical importance. The position however, of other pathways such as VEGF, proteosome inhibitors and multikinase inhibitors caused the necessity for an update in the target materials. The trend in the pharmaceutical branch towards new oral tumor therapies, although not at all new, has definite implications for nursing practice. This too, was a topic that had to be addressed in the new material.

To provide input for the new material, a task force has been called together. The task force includes:

• Jan Foubert (EONS, Belgium)
• Liesbeth Lemmens (Belgium)
• Clementine Molin (Sweden)
• Maggie Uzzel (UK)
• Annie Young (UK)
• Jan Hawthorn (medical writer) (UK)
• Anita Margulies (Chair) (Switzerland)

Many of the members of the group were involved in compiling the first edition of the TARGET material.

The TARGET project was first supported with an unrestricted grant from Merck, Darmstadt Germany. This support and the possibility of developing the first TARGET course materials cannot be underestimated.

However, with the change in product availability, EONS decided it was important to take a multi-pharma approach for support of the update. We found willing partners with Amgen and Novartis. Other companies were approached, and we hope for support from them at some point.

This policy also allows the content of the target material to be not only broad spectrum, but neutral in the presentation. Nurses are involved with all drugs, all tumor entities, all patients and all health economic situations. It is EONS goal to give their member societies as much information and educational support to be able to meet the continually growing demands of the oncology health sector.

If your society has not yet run this course, consider one for 2009 with the target update. You will be giving your members one of the best possible courses to understand this dynamically growing treatment area and will give them the knowledge to improve the care and support for the patients and their carers. EONS translation grants can be applied for should you wish to translate into your native language.

How can I apply to participate in a target course?

target courses will be run by national oncology nursing societies which are members of EONS. A number of countries are now planning target courses and these are listed on the EONS events page.

Interest has also been shown by Belgium, Denmark, Germany, The Netherlands and Sweden and further updates of course details will be provided in due course.

If you would be interested in participating in a target course, please contact your national oncology nursing society directly.

How can I apply to run a target course?

The first step is to complete and sign the target course organiser provisional application form.
>> Download the TARGET course organiser provisional application form

• After sending the provisional application form you will receive the final target application to complete and send back to the EONS secretariat.
• On receiving the signed final application form, you will receive the target agreement to be signed and send back to the EONS secretariat.
• On receiving the signed target agreement, you will receive the target update cd.

The target CD is available in English, German and Swedish. EONS translation grants can be applied for should you wish to translate into your native language. >> Download the EONS target translation grant application form

Who should I contact to get further information about target?

Please contact the target coordinator, Mr. Rudi Briké at EONS using the details on the right hand side of this page.