SOMC 220 Small Literature Groups

1. SOMC 220 Small Literature Groups Analyzing and Explaining Medical Research

2. Class Details • Group Leader • Mark Lawson, Ph.D. • Professor, Reproductive Medicine • Office: Leichtag Building, 3A13 • mlawson@ucsd.edu • Meeting Dates • 9/2/14 @10:15 AM • 9/8/14 @10:00 AM- 11:50 change of venue to Leichtag205 • 9/15/14 @10:00 AM-11:50 change of venue to Leichtag205

3. Purpose • Preparation for future practice • Must be able to critically evaluate new protocols as they arise. • Must evaluate the efficacy of the drugs for non-standard uses. • Opportunity to practice oral presentation • Oral communication is essential for interacting with patients. • Future steps require the ability to present your case orally to your peers. • Preparation for the questions of future patients • An effective health care provider must be able to answer patient questions which arise from popular media or their own research.

4. Requirements • One oral presentation • Attendance at each session (contact instructor if you cannot attend) • Participation in class discussions

5. Course Objectives • Recognize that ongoing advances in medicine will necessitate life-long learning • Critically evaluate biomedical literature, and effectively present their conclusions • Maintain a healthy skepticism about interpretations • Understand the necessity of using evidence-based studies • Communicate the implications of new research to non-experts, such as colleagues or patients

6. Structure • First Meeting • Introduction • Assignment of papers • Second and Third Meetings • Two papers presented • 35 minute talk per paper plus discussion • 10 minute break between presentations • Feedback will be in the form of evaluations from peers and Leader • Food and Beverage bribes are welcome • Discussion Prep • Arranged meetings with leader prior to presentation

7. Requirements • Each student must participate in an oral presentation • Students must attend each meeting or contact the instructor ahead of time • The content of the presentations/papers will be examined on quizzes and exams • Learning objectives that will be tested are posted on the course website

8. The Papers • Papers are drawn from the New England Journal of Medicine • Reasonably accessible to the general reader • Common audience of clinicians and researchers • Editorials and perspective articles included to provide background and context • Instructions for reading and presenting are posted on the course website • 2-3 members will team up for each paper

9. Reading a Paper • Abstract • Will include the author’s major points • You should understand the main point • Introduction • Places the research in context • Develops the primary hypothesis • You should learn why the work is important and what the central question is • Results • Describers the approach, design and outcomes of the tests or observations • You should understand the logic and implementation of the study as well as outcomes • Discussion • Summarizes results and draws conclusions • Addresses impact • Makes predictions and indicates future directions • You should form an opinion about the work • Methods • Should provide enough information for another expert to replicate the study • You should determine if the methods were appropriate

10. Presenting a Paper • Use Learning Objectives as a Guide • Involve the Audience • Question the audience and assess comprehension • Introduction • Provide Context, discuss why the study is important or of interest • The Approach • How the question is asked • The Experiments • Clearly State Question, describe the result, then conclusion • Conclusions • Give overall conclusions and your interpretation of it • Implications • Discuss future experiments or broad implications

11. References • September 8, 2014: • First paper and commentary: Cancer Vaccine Trial-Lizette, Mack, Toby • FUTURE II Study Group. “Quadrivalent vaccine against human papillomavirus to prevent high-grade cervical lesions.” NEJM 356: 1915-1927 (2007). • Finn, O.J., and R. P. Edwards. “Human Papillomavirus Vaccine for Cancer Prevention.” NEJM 361: 1899-1901 (2009). • Second paper and commentary: Molecular Medicine-Quan, Vi, Sarah • Fong, P.C. et al. “Inhibition of Poly(ADP-Ribose) Polymerase in Tumors from BRCA Mutation Carriers.” NEJM 361: 123-134 (2009). • Editorial: Iglehart, J.D., and D. P. Silver. “Synthetic Lethality – A New Direction in Cancer-Drug Development.” NEJM 361: 189-191 (2009).

12. References • September 15, 2014: • First paper and commentary: Personalized Medicine-Natalia, Shaddi • Baselga, J., et al, “Pertuzumab plus Trastuzumab plus Docetaxel for Metastatic Breast Cancer,” NEJM 366: 109 (2012) • EXCERPT from an Extension of Survival Analysis for Baselga et al: Swain, S.M. et al, “Overall Survival Benefit with Pertuzumab, Trastuzumab, and Docetaxel … Lancet Oncology 14: 461 (2013) Editorial: Gradishar, W.J., “HER2 Therapy - - An Abundance of Riches,” NEJM 366:176 (2012). • Second paper and commentary: Molecular Medicine-Michael, Jonathan, Jinnie • Chapman, P.B., et al, “Improved Survival with Vemurafenib in melanoma with BRAF V600E Mutation,” NEJM 364:2507 (2011). • Editorial for a previous, related paper: Smalley, K.S.M, and Sondak, V.K., “Melanoma – An Unlikely Poster Child for Personalized Cancer Therapy,” NEJM 363:876 (2010). • Editorial: Ernstoff, M.S., “Been There, not Done That – Melanoma in the Age of Molecular Therapy,” NEJM 364:2547 (2011).

13. Introductions Assignment of Papers

14. Assignments: