Breast Cancer: New Horizons, Current Controversies
- Continuing Education
Advance your clinical expertise in breast oncology with this dynamic course offering the latest breakthroughs in diagnosis, treatment, and survivorship to elevate patient care across all stages of breast cancer.
- Live Online; In Person
Participants may attend either virtually or in person.
Westin Copley Place, Boston, MA
Continuing Education Credits
Earn up to:
14.50 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s) ™
14.50 ANCC contact hours
View All
On This Page
Overview
Breast Cancer: New Horizons, Current Controversies is a comprehensive educational curriculum that encompasses the full range of breast cancer care. Topics include mechanisms of disease, improvements in diagnostic methods, treatment innovations, and management of breast cancer survivors. The primary goal of the course is to improve the knowledge, competence, and clinical skills of health care professionals who specialize in oncology. As such, the curriculum is well suited for medical, surgical, and radiation oncologists; breast and general surgeons; internists; physician assistants; nurse practitioners; oncology nurses; and other clinicians involved in the care of breast cancer patients.
The two-day course is taught by clinical experts in medical oncology, surgical oncology, radiation oncology, and pathology. Each year, the course faculty identify emerging practice gaps in breast oncology and address those gaps by translating the latest scientific knowledge into practical clinical applications. Course participants engage with the material through interactive learning formats, including group case discussions, question and answer sessions, and panel presentations. This interactive learning process assists healthcare professionals in integrating the latest evidence-based information on breast cancer screening, diagnosis, treatment, and long-term monitoring into their clinical practices.
This year, we will be again offering an in-person program as well as a livestream for those who still do not feel comfortable traveling to Boston. Continuing with the livestream allows participants to engage with our faculty from the convenience of their own community, be it in Boston or across the globe. This hybrid format worked very well last year and is appropriate given both the range of potential attendees and persistent uncertainty over travel and large group gatherings.
The timing of the course for summer 2025 is particularly fortuitous owing to the extraordinary progress happening in breast cancer. In the last two years, we have seen transformative breakthroughs in all types of breast cancer treatment:
- FDA approval of novel antibody-drug conjugates for the treatment of advanced hormone receptor-positive, HER2-positive, and triple-negative breast cancer, with new data showing benefit of these agents in tumor types beyond their initial application.
- FDA approval of the first-in-class oral SERD elacestrant in hormone receptor-positive metastatic breast cancer, with companion diagnostic genomic testing for targetable ESR1 mutations.
- FDA approval of the AKT pathway inhibitor capivasertib in combination with fulvestrant for patients with hormone receptor-positive, PIK3CA/AKT/PTEN-mutant metastatic breast cancer and reported phase III data of another agent in this class (inavolisib).
- FDA approval of the CDK4/6 inhibitor abemaciclib in high-risk, early-stage hormone receptor-positive breast cancer, and mature data showing compelling benefits including overall survival for this class of drugs in advanced breast cancer, as well as preliminary reports of a second agent in this class (ribociclib) with adjuvant efficacy.
- FDA approval of a novel antibody-drug conjugate for patients with a HER2-low metastatic breast cancer.
Learning Objectives
- Apply knowledge of recent clinical data together with current expert recommendations to patient selection for new and emerging therapies for advanced breast cancer.
- Select appropriate risk assessment modalities, where applicable, and make evidence-based therapeutic selections for women who are candidates for neoadjuvant or adjuvant therapy and know the limitations of genomic testing.
- Apply recent clinical data and expert recommendations to the management of women with breast cancer who are treated with mastectomy, including integration of surgical methods, breast reconstruction options, and post-mastectomy radiation if needed.
- Assess current practices regarding symptom management during active treatment and in survivorship and consider the needs for fertility and lifestyle counseling among patients with breast cancer and survivors and improve current practices if needed.
- Evaluate the genetic and personal risk factors of breast cancer and utilize appropriate genetic testing for hereditary breast cancer.
Developed and Offered By:
Continuing Education courses are developed by faculty from Harvard Medical School's teaching hospitals and accredited by Harvard Medical School. This course is offered by Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.
Participant Types
Nurse Practitioners, Primary Care Physicians, Physician Assistants, Nurses, Pharmacists, and Specialty Physicians
Schedule
All agenda sessions are in Eastern Time.
Thursday, July 17, 2025
Welcoming Remarks
Harold Burstein
8:00-8:15 am
Session I: Radiation Oncology
8:15-9:50 am
50 Years of Radiation Therapy
Abram Recht
8:15-8:35 am
Standard Radiation Therapy: The Long and the Short
Julia Wong
8:35-8:55 am
The Future of Breast Radiation Therapy
Atif Khan
8:55-9:15 am
Radiopharmaceuticals
Heather Jacene
9:15-9:35 am
Q&A
Abram Recht; Atif Khan; Julia Wong; Heather Jacene
9:35-9:50 am
Session II: Pathology
9:50-10:45 am
Lobular Breast Cancer
Stuart Schnitt
9:50-10:10 am
ctDNA: The Evolving Role for Molecular Diagnostics
Stefania Morganti
10:10-10:30 am
Q&A
Stuart Schnitt; Stefania Morganti
10:30-10:45 am
Break
10:45-11:00 am
Special Lecture
11:00-11:40 am
What's New In Supportive Care: The Management of Gastrointenstinal Side Effects
Sydney Smith; Julie Bosworth
11:00-11:20 am
Essentials of Germline Genetics
Judy Garber
11:20-11:40 am
Q&A
Julie Bosworth; Sydney Smith; Judy Garber
11:40-11:50 am
Schwartz Rounds: A Complex Case
Ann Partridge
11:50 am-12:20 pm
Schwartz Rounds: Q&A
Ann Partridge
12:20-12:30 pm
Break
12:30-12:40 pm
Tumor Board: Early Breast Cancer
Harold Burstein; Faina Nakhlis; Julia Wong; Brittany Bychkovsky; Adrienne Waks; Filipa Lynce; Elizabeth Mittendorf
12:40-1:40 pm
Break
1:40-1:50 pm
Session III: HER2 Positive Breast Cancer
1:50-3:05 pm
New Approaches in Early Stage HER2 Positive Breast Cancer
Adrienne Waks
1:50-2:10 pm
The Progress Continues: Late Stage HER2 Positive Breast Cancer
Sarah Sammons
2:10-2:30 pm
Can We Cure Metastatic Breast Cancer
Nancy Lin
2:30-2:50 pm
Q&A
Sara Tolaney; Sarah Sammons; Nancy Lin; Adrienne Waks
2:50-3:05 pm
Break
3:05-3:20 pm
Special Lecture
3:20-4:35 pm
Racial Differences in Breast Cancer Survival Between Black and White Women According to Tumor Subtype
Erica Warner
3:20-3:45 pm
Inflammatory Breast Cancer
Filipa Lynce
3:45-4:10 pm
Early Drug Discovery in Breast Cancer
Antonio Giordano
4:10-4:35 pm
Lifestyle/Diet/Exercise in Breast Cancer Patients
Jennifer Ligibel
4:35-5:00 pm
Reception
5:00-6:00 pm
Friday, July 18, 2025
Session IV: Surgery
8:00-9:35 am
Oncoplastic Reconstruction: Common Indications and Outcomes
Indranil Sinha
8:00-8:20 am
The Axilla After Neoadjuvant Therapy: How Much is Too Much?
Elizabeth Mittendorf
8:20-8:40 am
Implications of the SOUND Trial
Olga Kantor
8:40-9:00 am
Cryoblation Instead of Surgery
Francys Verdial
9:00-9:20 am
Q&A
Barbara Smith; Indranil Sinha; Olga Kantor; Francys Verdial; Elizabeth Mittendorf
9:20-9:35 am
Schlager Lecture: Immunotherapy in Early Breast Cancer: Today and Tomorrow
Marleen Kok
9:35-10:20 am
Break
10:20-10:35 am
Session V: Triple Negative Breast Cancer
10:35 am-12:10 pm
Small TNBCs: How Small Is Small Enough?
Steven Isakoff
10:35-10:55 am
Antibody Drug Conjugates in TNBC and Refractory ER Positive Metastatic Breast Cancer
Ana Garrido-Castro
10:55-11:15 am
Immunotherapy in TNBC
Guilherme Nader Marta
11:15-11:35 am
Managing Endocrine Side Effects of Immunotherapy
Elad Sharon
11:35-11:55 am
Q&A
Steven Isakoff; Ana Garrido-Castro; Guilherme Nader Marta; Elad Sharon
11:55 am-12:10 pm
Break
12:10-12:20 pm
Tumor Board: Advanced Breast Cancer
Rachel Freedman; Barbara Smith; Sarah Sammons; Erica Mayer; Laura Spring; Leticia Varella; Guilherme Nader Marta; Daniel Abravanel
12:20-1:30 pm
Break
1:30-1:40 pm
Session VI: ER Positive Breast Cancer
1:40-3:15 pm
New Approaches in Early ER Positive Breast Cancer
Erica Mayer
1:40-2:00 pm
PI3K Inhibitors in Metastatic Breast Cancer: Choosing the Right Target
Dejan Juric
2:00-2:20 pm
Advanced ER Positive Breast Cancer: A Surfeit of Choices
Seth Wander
2:20-2:40 pm
Emerging Antibody Drug Conjugates in ER Positive Breast Cancer
Paolo Tarantino
2:40-3:00 pm
Q&A
Erica Mayer; Seth Wander; Paolo Tarantino; Dejan Juric
3:00-3:15 pm
Break
3:15-3:30 pm
CDK4/6: Which One? For Whom? - Debate
Shana Berwick; Laura Spring
3:30-4:25 pm
ASCO Highlights
Harold Burstein
4:25-4:45 pm
Closing Remarks
Harold Burstein
4:45-4:50 pm
Faculty
Harvard Medical School Continuing Education attracts the best and brightest faculty from all around the world. As a student in this course, you’ll have access to outstanding course directors and faculty.
Course Directors
Harold Burstein, MD, PhD
Course Director
- Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School
- Medical Oncologist, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Judy Garber, MD, MPH
Course Director
- Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School
- Co-Director, Center for BRCA and Related Genes
Tari King, MD, FACS
Course Director
- Anne E. Dyson Professor of Surgery in the Field of Women’s Cancers, Harvard Medical School
- Chief, Division of Breast Surgery, Department of Surgery, Brigham and Women’s Hospital
- Vice Chair for Multidisciplinary Oncology, Department of Surgery, Brigham and Women’s Hospital
Barbara Smith, MD, PhD
Course Director
- Professor of Surgery, Harvard Medical School
- Director, Breast Program, Massachusetts General Hospital
Daniel Abravanel MD, PhD
Instructor in Medicine, Harvard Medical School
Medical Oncologist, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Shana Berwick, MD
Member of the Faculty of Medicine, Harvard Medical School
Medical Oncologist, Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital
Julie Bosworth, RD, LDN
Nutritionist, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Brittany Bychkovsky, MD, MSc
Assistant Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School
Medical Oncologist, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Rachel Freedman, MD, MPH
Associate Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School
Founder and Director of the Program for Older Adults with Breast Cancer
Judy Garber, MD, MPH
Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School
Chief, Division for Cancer Genetics and Prevention
Susan F. Smith Chair, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Ana Garrido-Castro, MD
Assistant Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School
Medical Oncologist, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Antonio Giordano, MD, PhD
Assistant Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School
Medical Oncologist, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Steven Isakoff, MD, PhD
Assistant Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School
Associate Director for Clinical Research, Director of Breast Cancer Clinical Research Massachusetts General Hospital
Heather Jacene, MD
Associate Professor of Radiology, Harvard Medical School
Associate Program Director, Brigham and Women's Joint Program in Nuclear Medicine
Olga Kantor, MD, MS
Assistant Professor of Surgery, Harvard Medical School; Breast Surgeon, Brigham and Women’s Hospital
Atif Khan, MD, MSD
Service Chief in Radiation Oncology, Memorial Sloan Kettering
Director, Breast Radiotherapy Services, Memorial Sloan Kettering
Tari King, MD
Anne E. Dyson Professor of Surgery in the Field of Women's Cancers, Harvard Medical School
Chief, Division of Breast Surgery, Department of Surgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital
Vice Chair for Multidisciplinary Oncology, Department of Surgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital
Marlene Kok, MD, PhD
Breast Medical Oncologist, Netherlands Cancer Institute
Senior Group Leader, Department of Tumorbiology & Immunology, Netherlands Cancer Institute
Jennifer Ligibel, MD
Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School
Director, Leonard P. Zakim Center for Integrative Therapies and Healthy Living Director, Center for Faculty Well-Being, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Nancy Lin, MD
Associate Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School
Associate Chief, Division of Breast Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Filipa Lynce, MD
Assistant Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School
Director, Inflammatory Breast Center, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Erica Mayer, MD, MPH
Associate Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School
Director, Clinical Research, Breast Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Stefania Morganti, MD
Advanced Research Fellow, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Guilherme Nader Marta, MD
Goldfarb Fellow in Breast Oncology Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Faina Nakhlis, MD
Assistant Professor of Surgery, Harvard Medical School
Breast Surgeon Brigham and Women's Hospital
Heather Parsons, MD, MPH
Assistant Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School
Medical Oncologist, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Ann Partridge, MD, MPH
Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School
Eric P. Winer Chair in Breast Cancer Research
Vice Chair of Medical Oncology
Founder and Director, Program for Young Adults with Breast Cancer
Director, Adult Survivorship Program, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Huma Rana, MD, MPH
Assistant Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School
Clinical Director, Cancer Genetics and Prevention
Abram Recht, MD
Professor, Radiation Oncology, Harvard Medical School
Deputy Chief and Senior Radiation Oncologist, Radiation Therapy, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Sarah Sammons, MD
Assistant Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School
Stuart Schnitt, MD
Professor of Pathology, Harvard Medical School
Chief of Breast Oncologic Pathology
Dana-Farber/Brigham and Women’s Cancer Center
Elad Sharon, MD, MPH
Member of the Faculty of Medicine, Harvard Medical School
Clinical and Translational Director of the Immunotherapy Toxicity Program, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Lindsay Shaw, AOCNP, ACHPN
Nurse Practitioner, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Indranil Sinha, MD
Associate Professor of Surgery, Harvard Medical School
Plastic Surgeon, Brigham and Women's Hospital
Barbara Smith, MD, PhD
Professor of Surgery, Harvard Medical School
MGH Trustees Chair in Breast Surgery
Director, Breast Program, Massachusetts General Hospital
Sydney Smith, PharmD, BCOP
Pharmacist, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Laura Spring, MD
Assistant Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School
Medical Oncologist, Massachusetts General Hospital
Paolo Tarantino, MD
Goldfarb Fellow in Breast Oncology
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Sara Tolaney, MD, MPH
Associate Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School
Chief, Division of Breast Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Leticia Varella, MD
Member of the Faculty, Harvard Medical School
Medical Oncologist, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Francys Verdial Argueta, MD
Member of the Faculty, Harvard Medical School
Surgical Oncologist, Massachusetts General Hospital
Adrienne G. Waks, MD
Instructor in Medicine, Harvard Medical School
Medical Oncologist, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Seth Wander, MD, PhD
Assistant Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School
Medical Oncologist, Massachusetts General Hospital
Erica Warner, ScD, MPH
Assistant Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School
Assistant Investigator, Massachusetts General Hospital
Julia Wong, MD
Associate Professor of Radiation Oncology, Harvard Medical School
Radiation Oncologist, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Location Information
Venue
Westin Copley Place
10 Huntington Avenue
Boston, MA 02115
Hotel Reservations
Please contact Marriott reservations at 1-888-625-4988 or 617-262-9600. Reference the Breast Cancer: New Horizons, Current Controversies course.
Request Information
Interested in learning more about this program? Sign up for details.
Course Fees
Fee Disclaimer
You may register through our secure online environment and will receive an email confirmation upon receipt of your payment. In person tuition includes electronic, and printed syllabus and refreshments at breaks, breakfasts, and lunch for in person attendees. Virtual tuition includes electronic syllabus and access to recordings for 60 days after the course.
At the end of the registration process, a $10 non-refundable processing fee will be added to your registration.
Review the cancellation policy.
Live Stream Registration: After registering and completing your payment, you will receive a confirmation e-mail and further details on how to virtually join the course will be provided within 1 week of the course start date.
| Role | Standard Price | Early Registration Price |
|---|---|---|
| Physician (MD/DO) | $750.00 | $675.00 |
| Nurse (RN/APRN) | $400.00 | $360.00 |
| PA | $400.00 | $360.00 |
| Psychologist | $750.00 | $675.00 |
| Resident/Fellow | $400.00 | $360.00 |
| Allied Health Professional / Other | $400.00 | $360.00 |
Industry pricing is available for this course: $875. Early registration price: $787.50
Accreditation
The Harvard Medical School designates this live activity for a maximum of 14.50 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
Harvard Medical School designates this Live Activity for a maximum of 14.50 ANCC contact hours, of which 9.00 is eligible for pharmacology credits.
The National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA) states that AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ are acceptable for continuing medical education requirements for recertification. We would also suggest that learners check with their state licensing board to ensure they accept reciprocity with AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ for re-licensure.
The American Medical Association (AMA) has an agreement of mutual recognition of continuing medical education (CME) credit with the European Union of Medical Specialties (UEMS). Additional information regarding this agreement may be found on the European Union of Medical Specialties website.
The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada recognizes conferences and workshops held outside of Canada that are developed by a university, academy, hospital, specialty society or college as accredited group learning activities.