Onco Actu du 17 février 2016

	1. Biologie
‘Ecologically diverse’ breast cancers more likely to be deadly [The Institute of Cancer Research] Scientists at The Institute of Cancer Research, London, developed a test called the Ecosystem Diversity Index which combines methods used by ecologists with a powerful cancer imaging technique to pick out cancerous cells from normal cells in tumours.
	2.4 Etiologie - Portables, ondes e-m
ABC Catalyst program linking mobile phones to brain cancer 'should never have aired' [The Guardian] “The Catalyst story just doesn’t stack up,” Chapman said. “It doesn’t go to the dogs-balls obvious question to ask, which is, if we’ve had massive exposures to the punitive causes of cancer, where are the cancer cases?”
	3.6 Prévention - Activité physique
Exercise slows growth of cancer in marathon mice [New Scientist] For the first time a study has found that exercise can directly slow the rate of tumour growth in mice, and even prevent cancer from arising in some cases.
	4.12 Biopsies liquides
A New Tool in the Toolbox: New Method Traces Free-Floating DNA Back to Its Source [NIH Director's Blog] The new cell-free DNA method, described in a recent proof-of-concept study in the journal Cell, opens the possibility of one day identifying the likely source of invasive “cancers of unknown primary” with a simple blood draw.
	5. Traitements
New viral-radiotherapy combination could treat prostate cancers [The Institute of Cancer Research] The team used a genetically modified strain of the vaccinia virus – the active component of the smallpox vaccine – to infect and multiply inside cancer cells, bursting them from within. When given in combination with a form of radiotherapy called radioiodide therapy, the treatment was significantly more effective at killing cancer cells and slowing tumour growth than the single treatments alone.
Some chemotherapy drugs may increase the percentage of patients whose tumors respond to immune checkpoint therapy [Massachusetts General Hospital] The MGH-based team tested combinations of several FDA-approved chemotherapy drugs with the goal to find some that induce CTL infiltration within the tumors of several lung cancer mouse models. Only the combination of oxaliplatin and cyclophosphamide (Oxa-Cyc) did so.
	5.12 Immunothérapies
How to Facilitate Development of Cancer Immunotherapies [ESMO] The experts discussed in particular appropriate patient population selection, new clinical trial designs, the rationale for the mechanism of action in different tumour types, innovative immunological-based products used in combination, and assessment of relative efficacy of these novel medicines. The aim was to address these highly relevant issues and their impact on the regulatory environment.
	5.12.2 Immunothérapies - CAR-T
CAR-T 2.0: Small studies spotlight promise of a breakthrough upgrade [FierceBiotech] Juno has been paying close attention to these developments. Last May, the biotech acquired a spinout from TUM, Stage Cell Therapeutics, in a deal worth up to $233 million. And Juno also funded the work at the Hutch, which has been allied with the biotech from its launch date.
Immunotherapy cancer ‘cure’ headlines distract from fascinating science [Cancer Research UK] The immune system is a powerful weapon, and this type of approach unleashes its full force within the body. And because of these powerful responses, patients offered this type of treatment as part of a trial can occasionally see very serious side effects. In these latest trials, reports have emerged that seven of the 35 patients on one trial experienced severe side effects that left them in intensive care, with two dying as a result. Clearly, there’s a lot more to learn about how the body reacts to these powerful treatments.
Exciting results in immunotherapy: What do we know? [ACS] The news appears to be based on comments made during a presentation discussing advances in immunotherapy. As best we know, the data have not been published or independently reviewed.
	5.2 Pharma
Durvalumab granted Breakthrough Therapy designation by US FDA for treatment of patients with PD-L1 positive urothelial bladder cancer [AstraZeneca] The Breakthrough Therapy designation for durvalumab was granted by the FDA on the basis of early clinical data from a Phase I trial (Study 1108) in patients with advanced metastatic urothelial bladder cancer whose tumour has progressed during or after one standard platinum-based regimen.
New Drug Ads Tout Serious Conditions, Costly Treatments [Wall Street Journal] The shift reflects a big change in the industry: as drugs for many common conditions lose patent protection and face generic competition, branded drug companies increasingly are relying on revenue from drugs for serious and sometimes rare conditions, a class of medicines known as “specialty drugs.
	5.2.1 Pharma - Partenariats
BIND Therapeutics and Synergy Pharmaceuticals Announce Collaboration to Develop ACCURINS® with Proprietary Uroguanylin Analogs for Targeting Gastrointestinal Receptors on Tumors [BIND Therapeutics] The elegant and novel design of ACCURINS® allow for prolonged circulation, controlled and tunable release and selective targeting of a therapeutic payload to diseased tissue or cells while avoiding immune surveillance detection and systemic toxicities. Plecanatide, Synergy's lead uroguanylin analog for functional GI disorders, successfully completed phase 3 clinical trials for chronic idiopathic constipation (CIC) in 2015.
Bristol-Myers Squibb and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute Enter Into a Collaboration Agreement as Part of U.S. Immuno-Oncology Rare Population Malignancy Research Program [BMS] Immuno-oncology is an innovative approach to cancer research and treatment that is designed to harness the body’s own immune system to fight cancer. The I-O RPM research program focuses on significant areas of high unmet need marked by poor outcomes among patients with rare population malignancies.
	5.4 Traitements - Economie
Couple to Give $7.2 Million Toward Efforts to Lower Drug Prices [Wall Street Journal] The Laura and John Arnold Foundation will provide a total of $7.2 million to four organizations to fund research and pilot projects aimed at reining in drug costs and lowering financial barriers for patients, according to the foundation.
	6.1 Observation
Cancer cases rise in UK, says charity [BBC News] Experts say the rise is manly due to the ageing and growing population.
Cancer rates up 12% in 20 years, say Cancer Research UK [The Guardian] Survival rates have also increased over past 40 years, but researchers emphasise that four in 10 cases could have been prevented by lifestyle changes.
	6.6 Publications
Seralini paper released by predatory publisher is plagiarized by predatory journal [Retraction Watch] It’s a case of intra-predatory crime: the International Journal of Technical Research and Applications is on the list of predatory journals compiled by Jeffrey Beall, and the Seralini paper appeared in the Journal of Environmental Protection, which is published by Scientific Research Publishing, which Beall considers to be a predatory publisher.
	6.7 DMP, Big Data & applis
Hear CancerLinQ LLC CEO Discuss Using Big Data to Personalize Patient Care in February 18 Webinar [ASCO] Mr. Fitzpatrick will discuss how the collaboration between CancerLinQ LLC, a wholly-owned nonprofit subsidiary of ASCO, and SAP brings data and expertise from ASCO to CancerLinQ, which is powered by the SAP HANA platform.