TITLE
Transforming Early-Stage Colorectal Cancer: The Evolving Role of dMMR/MSI-H Testing and Immunotherapy

PROGRAM PARTNERS
This activity is jointly provided by Albert Einstein College of Medicine-Montefiore Medical and RealCME

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF FINANCIAL SUPPORT
This activity is supported by an educational grant from Genentech

Release Date: January 27, 2026

Expiration Date: September 28, 2026

STATEMENT OF NEED

Based on the pivotal role of dMMR/MSI-H status in treatment selection for CRC, the National Comprehensive Cancer Network® (NCCN®) guidelines for colon and rectal cancer recommend universal MMR or MSI testing for all newly diagnosed patients. Yet, professional guidelines are less consistent on specific recommendations for selecting among different testing approaches available and on keeping up with the latest data regarding concordance between different testing strategies, leaving decisions to oncology and gastroenterology teams. Challenges with test selection and interpretation may be a contributing factor to suboptimal MMR/MSI testing rates identified in several studies. Community oncologists and gastroenterologists thus need expert insights on best practices for dMMR/MSI-H testing, including the implications of recent data supporting a high level of concordance between testing strategies and their practical equivalence for treatment determination. This knowledge is essential for preventing misinterpretation of test results and/or delays in therapeutic decisions stemming from concerns regarding the clinical implications of results from one type of test vs another.

Considering these described challenges in the treatment of patients with early-stage CRC, participating clinicians would highly benefit from educational interventions that include discussions with experts and peers from their own communities who can share knowledge, real world experiences, strategies, challenges, and success stories. Accordingly, this proposed educational initiative establishes impactful expert-led small group interactions among highly qualified oncologists, oncology APPs, and oncology nurses that will, through a variety of collaborative educational experiences, help them optimize MMR/MSI testing in early-stage CRC.  Clinicians from both comprehensive care centers and community oncology practices will interact within these groups, facilitating a productive exchange related to best practices in testing, interpretation of results and treatment selection.

EDUCATIONAL OBJECTIVES
 

DESCRIBE the role of dMMR and MSI-H status as predictive biomarkers for response to ICI therapy in colorectal cancer

APPLY the latest guideline recommendations on dMMR/MSI-H testing as part of the clinical work-up for all newly diagnosed patients with CRC

INTEGRATE current evidence and expert insights on the conceptual and practical equivalence of dMMR and MSI-H detection approaches when interpreting and applying test results to therapeutic decision making

DEVISE individualized, evidence-based treatment plans for early-stage dMMR/MSI-H CRC in collaboration with multidisciplinary teams to optimize patient outcomes

TARGET AUDIENCE

Community cancer teams, oncologists, gastrointestinal surgeons, pathologists, and gastroenterologists, including physicians, and APPs

FACULTY

CONTENT REVIEWER

Victor B. Hatcher, PhD
Research Director
Montefiore Medical Center
Associate Dean
Professor of Biochemistry and Medicine
Albert Einstein College of Medicine
Bronx, NY

Victor B. Hatcher, PhD, has no relevant financial relationships with ACCME-defined ineligible companies during the past 24 months[CT1] .

PLANNERS

Steven Haimowitz, MD
RealCME

Steven Haimowitz, MD, has no relevant financial relationships with ACCME-defined ineligible companies during the past 24 months.

Erin Ash, MD
RealCME

Erin Ash, MD, has no relevant financial relationships with ACCME-defined ineligible companies during the past 24 months.

DISCLOSURE OF FINANCIAL RELATIONSHIPS
The “Policy on Identification, Mitigation, and Disclosure of Relevant Financial Relationships” of Albert Einstein College of Medicine-Montefiore Medical Center requires that any individual in control of content, including faculty, participating in CME activities disclose to the audience all relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies* in the past 24 months. Any individual in control of content who refuses to disclose, or whose disclosed relationships prove to create a conflict of interest, will be recused.

Individuals with the absence of relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies will be disclosed to the audience.

All financial relationships of individuals in a position to control the content of this CME activity are identified and mitigated prior to the educational activity.

*The ACCME defines an ineligible company as those whose primary business is producing, marketing, selling, re-selling, or distributing healthcare products used by or on patients.
 

PROVIDERSHIP

This educational activity is jointly provided by Albert Einstein College of Medicine-Montefiore Medical Center, the Obesity Medicine Association and RealCME.  

ACCREDITATION STATEMENT

In support of improving patient care, this activity has been planned and implemented by Albert Einstein College of Medicine-Montefiore Medical Center and RealCME, LLC. Albert Einstein College of Medicine-Montefiore Medical Center is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.

CREDIT DESIGNATION STATEMENT
Albert Einstein College of Medicine-Montefiore Medical Center designates this other/blended activity for a maximum of 4.75 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
 

Other Credits

American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) accepts AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ from organizations accredited by the ACCME.

American Academy of Nurse Practitioners National Certification Program accepts AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ from organizations accredited by the ACCME.

American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA) accepts certificates of participation for educational activities certified for AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ from organizations accredited by ACCME or a recognized state medical society.
 

American Board of Internal Medicine's (ABIM) Maintenance of Certification (MOC) Program

Successful completion of this CME activity, which includes participation in the evaluation component, enables the participant to earn up to 4.75 Medical Knowledge MOC points in the American Board of Internal Medicine’s (ABIM) Maintenance of Certification (MOC) program. Participants will earn MOC points equivalent to the amount of CME credits claimed for the activity. It is the CME activity provider’s responsibility to submit participant completion information to ACCME for the purpose of granting ABIM MOC credit.

DISCLOSURE OF UNLABELED USE
This activity may or may not discuss investigational, unapproved, or off-label use of drugs. Participants are advised to consult prescribing information for any products discussed. The information provided in this CME activity is for continuing education purposes only and is not meant to substitute for the independent medical judgment of a clinician relative to diagnostic and treatment options for a specific patient’s medical condition.

DISCLAIMER
The opinions expressed in the educational activity are those of the faculty and do not necessarily represent the views of Albert Einstein College of Medicine-Montefiore Medical Center, RealCME, and Genentech. Please refer to the official prescribing information for each product for discussion of approved indications, contraindications, and warnings.
 

METHOD OF PARTICIPATION/INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO RECEIVE CREDIT

Estimated time to complete this activity:  4.75 hours

To obtain credit, a score of 70% or better on the Final Assessment is required. This activity is offered at no cost to participants. Please proceed with the activity until you have successfully completed this curriculum, answered all test questions, completed the Final Assessment, Post Group Assessment, and evaluation, and have received a digital copy of your credit certificate.

• Baseline/Final Assessments: 30 minutes each for a total of up to 1.00 hour of CME
• Three (3) Self-Study Modules: 15 minutes each for a total of up to 0.75 hours of CME
• Two (2) Live Group Discussions: 45 minutes each for a total of up to 1.50 hour of CME
• Two (2) Group Challenges: 30 minutes each for a total of up to 1.00 hour of CME
• Action Plan development: 30 minutes for a total of 0.50 hours of CME

If you are seeking credit, you must complete the assessment and evaluation at the conclusion of the activity. Your certificate can be printed immediately.


PRIVACY STATEMENT
Albert Einstein College of Medicine-Montefiore Medical Center, Center for Continuing Professional Development (Einstein-Montefiore) protects the privacy of personal and other information regarding participants and education collaborators. Einstein-Montefiore will not release personally identifiable information to a third party without the individual’s consent, except such information as is required for reporting to the ACCME. Einstein-Montefiore maintains physical, electronic, and procedural safeguards that comply with federal regulations to protect against the loss, misuse, or alteration of information collected from you.

COLLECTION AND USE OF YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION
The submission of certain personally identifiable information is necessary to award and track the credits participants may earn after completing an activity. Required items include first name, last name, middle initial, degree, email address, address and phone number. These items are necessary. Participants are also required to complete an evaluation of each activity. All evaluative information submitted is collected, retained, and used by Einstein-Montefiore to continuously improve the learning experience. Einstein-Montefiore will not transfer, sell, or share personal information with outside parties or otherwise disclose personal information unless required to in a legal process. Einstein-Montefiore will retain your personal data only for the period necessary to accomplish the stated purposes and to comply with applicable laws.

CONTACT INFORMATION
For questions regarding CME credit, contact Albert Einstein College of Medicine-Montefiore Medical Center at cme@montefiore.org.

For technical questions related to this activity, please contact support@gathered.com.