Onco Actu du 22 mai 2015

	1. Biologie
Healthy skin may carry DNA changes linked to cancer [Cancer Research UK] The mutations were of a type predominantly caused by exposure to sunlight. Around a quarter (25 per cent) of the healthy cells they studied carried at least one cancer-associated mutation.
Cancer-Driving Mutations Common in Normal Skin Cells [The Scientist] A deep-sequencing analysis reveals that non-malignant skin cells harbor many more cancer-driving mutations than previously expected.
Quarter of skin 'on road to cancer' [BBC News] Analysis of samples from 55- to 73-year-olds found more than 100 DNA mutations linked to cancer in every 1 sq cm (0.1 sq in) of skin. The team, at the Sanger Institute, near Cambridge, said the results were "surprising".
	1.1 Biologie - Gènes
International study of advanced prostate cancer genome finds abundance of potential targets for drug therapy [Dana-Farber Cancer Institute] “This study provides a strong argument that the genomics driving advanced prostate cancer is fundamentally different than primary prostate cancer, and that knowledge of these genomic differences may be immediately clinically actionable for patients with advanced disease.”
International DNA study heralds new era for prostate cancer trials [Cancer Research UK] The findings, published in the journal Cell, could open the door to dozens of new trials for men with the disease.
Prostate cancer ‘Rosetta stone’ paves way to targeted drugs [The Guardian] “This is a landmark paper in several respects. It represents a model of collaboration between cancer centres, represents a monumental operational, technical and computational achievement, and finally represents the value of precision medicine in finding actionable mutations.”
Link Found Between Breast-Cancer Genes, Prostate Cancer [Wall Street Journal] Analysis of DNA from tumor tissue obtained from 150 men with late-stage prostate cancer revealed mutations in the BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes in about 15% of cases, according to a study published Thursday by the journal Cell.
Prostate cancer breakthrough as scientists crack genetic code behind nine in 10 tumours [The Telegraph] “We're describing this study as prostate cancer's Rosetta Stone - because of the ability it gives us to decode the complexity of the disease, and to translate the results into personalised treatment plans for patients."
	2. Etiologie
Cancer risk linked to DNA ‘wormholes’ [The Institute of Cancer Research, London] The study, led by scientists at The Institute of Cancer Research, London, helps solve a mystery about how genetic variations in parts of the genome that don’t appear to be doing very much can increase cancer risk.
	3.1 Tabac
MPs accepted tobacco company freebies over last five years [Cancer Research UK] When contacted by the BMJ, Stephen Hepburn, Labour MP for Jarrow, was the only one of the 20 MPs who received hospitality but voted against plain packaging to respond. He justified it by explaining he felt it appropriate to accept hospitality because of jobs the industry has generated in his constituency.
Tobacco companies prepare multi-billion compensation claims over UK plain packaging [The Telegraph] Taxpayers could be forced to pay tobacco industry up to £11 billion industry for trademark losses.
Smokers who quit may have brains hard-wired for success [Reuters] Researchers reviewed brain scans of smokers who tried to quit and found the people who succeeded had something in common: a stronger connection between the insula, home to urges and cravings, and the somatosensory cortex, which handles touch and motor control.
	4. Dépistage, diagnostic et pronostic
Fred Hutch researchers discover tumor molecule that causes spread of pancreatic cancer [Fred Hutch] The researchers predict that testing for this molecule, called RUNX3, could very soon help oncologists choose the most appropriate treatments based on the metastatic potential of each patient’s disease.
	4.9 Dép., diag. & prono. - Sein
Mammograms: Are they needed or not? [CNN] Dr. Otis Brawley: I am concerned that we in American medicine have led many to believe breast screening is better than it is. That is not to say it should not be used -- it should be used with caution.
	5. Traitements
New chemical technology boosts potency of targeted cancer therapy [Dana-Farber Cancer Institute] Researchers developed the strategy as a way to develop inhibitors of “undruggable” proteins and overcome drug resistance, a common shortcoming of targeted therapies.
	5.2.1 Pharma - Partenariats
Eureka Therapeutics Inc. and Boehringer Ingelheim Announce a Collaboration to Identify Next Generation Antibodies for Cancer Treatment [Boehringer Ingelheim] Eureka Therapeutics will apply its proprietary human sequence antibody libraries and its unique technology platform to identify antibodies recognizing intracellular proteins, which represent approximately 90% of cancer-specific targets.
	5.4 Traitements - Economie
Legislators want “pharmaceutical cost transparency”. Are they asking the wrong question? [Science-Based Medicine] A new treatment may be worth the high cost if it avoids other costs, such as the potential for a vaccine to prevent cancer (e.g., HPV) or for a drug to eliminate the need for a liver transplant (e.g., the new hepatitis treatments). From that perspective, the R&D costs aren’t something we should focus on.
	6.10 Politiques
House committee approves bill to speed new drugs to market [Reuters] The bill, known as the 21st Century Cures Act, requires the Food and Drug Administration to incorporate patient experience into its decision-making, streamline its review of drugs for additional uses, and consider more flexible forms of clinical trials.
	6.11 Patients
Well: Living With Cancer: Patients on Our Own [NY Times] We should fix a health care system that provides brilliant surgeons and researchers but often leaves post-operative and post-treatment care to the catch-as-catch-can devices and improvisations of patients and their domestic partners.
	6.4 Médico-éco
ASCO Proposes Payment Reforms to Support Higher Quality, More Affordable Cancer Care [ASCO] Expanding on a payment model circulated last year, the ASCO proposal would fundamentally restructure the way oncologists are paid for cancer care in the United States by providing sufficient payment to support the full range of services that cancer patients need and removing the barriers created by the current payment system to delivering high-quality, affordable care.
	6.7 DMP, Big Data & applis
On the move: Big Data in Biomedicine goes mobile with session on mHealth | Scope Blog Ida Sim, MD, PhD, would like to prescribe data as easily as she orders a blood test or a prescription for antibiotics.
	6.7.2 Applis
Cooper's MD Anderson center to use Apple Watch to track breast cancer patients' health, help them with treatment [NJBIZ] Typically, cancer patients answer questions about how they’re coping with treatment when they visit the doctor. With the Apple Watch, this information can be used right away “and enable the doctor or the oncology team to change treatment plans.”
	6.9 Controverses
When will ‘open science’ become simply ‘science’? [Genome Biology] Open science describes the practice of carrying out scientific research in a completely transparent manner, and making the results of that research available to everyone. Isn’t that just ‘science’?
Response to parts 2-3 of NEJM series on pharma-MD relations [HealthNewsReview] Dr. Rosenbaum notes that many sources of bias exist among scientists, and that is indeed true, as for any human being. The best we can do is to try to be open and transparent about these, and while this may not always help the situation, the alternative is being secretive about it. It’s hard to see how that can be better.
Why Do Some Doctors Reject Evolution? [Pacific Standard] Earlier this month, Dr. Ben Carson announced that he's running for president. Carson was previously the head of pediatric neurosurgery at Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions. He also rejects the theory of evolution.
When will ‘open science’ become simply ‘science’? [Genome Biology] Open science describes the practice of carrying out scientific research in a completely transparent manner, and making the results of that research available to everyone. Isn’t that just ‘science’?