Onco Actu du 16 mars 2016

	3.1 Tabac
Quitting smoking overnight 'better than cutting down gradually' [NHS Choices] This was a well-designed randomised controlled trial which aimed to assess whether the best method to stop smoking is by gradual reduction or an abrupt stop.
Mother-to-be smoking concerns raised [BBC News] The analysis of several studies suggests 13% of women who enrol on smoking cessation programmes quit during pregnancy. But 43% of these restart within six months of giving birth.
	4.12 Biopsies liquides
Blood analysis could offer a real-time ‘snapshot’ of melanoma treatment [Cancer Research UK] It’s too early to say whether blood analysis is better than a scan, as they’ve only studied seven patients, and the two methods haven’t been tested head to head in a trial. But Marais’ findings do offer an early indication that regularly monitoring changes in tumour DNA in the blood might help track the disease, and plan the timing of scans.
	4.13 Dép., diag. & prono. - Peau
Myriad Presents Second Pivotal Validation Study for Its myPath® Melanoma Test [Myriad] In the study with 736 patients, the myPath Melanoma test effectively diagnosed suspicious lesions with greater than 90 percent diagnostic accuracy, 91.5 percent sensitivity and 92.5 percent specificity. This second validation is consistent with the first validation study with 437 patients that demonstrated a diagnostic accuracy of greater than 90 percent.
	5. Traitements
New way of targeting cancer’s most commonly mutated gene [The Institute of Cancer Research] The researchers found that cancer cells carrying KRAS mutations were genetically ‘addicted’ to the gene CDK1, a key player in cell cycle regulation.
Why some tumors withstand treatment [MIT News] The researchers found that while kinase inhibitors successfully shut down their targets, they also provoke cells to turn on a backup system that can take over for the one knocked out by the drug.
'Astounding' study claims major breakthrough in cure for terminal breast cancer [The Telegraph] Dr Ferrari and his team used a standard chemotherapy drug called doxorubicin but absorbed it into microscopic discs made of silicon, which disguise the drug from the cancer. Once inside the tumour cells, the discs break down and release the drug .
	5.10 Traitements - Essais
What next for the breast cancer research that hit the front pages? [The Institute of Cancer Research] News that researchers had shown a combination of two drugs could shrink breasts cancers within 11 days is exciting, but much more needs to happen before this treatment routinely reaches patients.
Why Is ClinicalTrials.gov Still Struggling? [The Scholarly Kitchen] Overall, the story of ClinicalTrials.gov seems one of missed opportunities. What seemed a promising form of transparency and accountability is not working. It has been badly executed from a workflow and technical standpoint, as users will attest.
	5.12.2 Immunothérapies - CAR-T
NEJM corrects 3 papers after prominent cancer scientist left off credit for breakthrough [Retraction Watch] This story goes beyond a question of proper credit in three papers. A 2013 story in the Philadelphia Inquirer explains how what started as a collaboration devolved into a lawsuit.
	5.2 Pharma
Roche's new PD-L1 bladder cancer drug could be on the market by September [FierceBiotech] Roche will hope for atezolizumab to become a blockbuster treatment and help shore up sales in the next decade, given that a slew of copycat biosimilars are set to erode sales of its big-selling oncology products Avastin and Rituxan.
	5.2.1 Pharma - Partenariats
Blueprint, Roche Ink Milestone Deal for Cancer Immunotherapy [Xconomy] Rare mutations in a specific type of kinase can drive a new type of cancer, and the idea behind Blueprint is to turn compounds into therapies that could target specific kinases.
Roche, Blueprint sign $1bn cancer immunotherapy deal [PharmaTimes] This collaboration seeks to develop new mechanisms of modulating the tumour immune response by targeting immunokinases with the goal of enhancing response rates and treatment scope, the firms note.
Sanofi signs deal worth up to $2.3 billion with DiCE Molecules [Reuters] DiCE believes its technology should enable monoclonal antibodies, which are given by injection or infusion, to be replaced by orally-administered medicines. Antibody drugs are used to treat various types of cancer, as well as serious immune system disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis.
	5.3 Traitements - FDA, EMA,...
Gilead Halts Six Cancer Trials as EMA, FDA Warn of Increased Adverse Events [RAPS] Investigators of all clinical trials involving Zydelig are currently being informed of the actions to be taken in relation to the conduct of ongoing studies.
Draft guideline on evaluation of anticancer medicinal products in man [EMA] The purpose of this guideline is to provide guidance on all stages of clinical drug development for the treatment of malignancies, including drug resistance modifiers or normal tissue protective compounds. Supportive measures such as anti-emetics and haematopoietic growth factors, however, are covered by separate guidelines.
	5.4 Traitements - Economie
The Economics Of Paying For Value [Health Affairs] The details of existing value or quality-based payment programs vary enormously and without regard to any conceptual framework. For example, they vary in the size of incentives and the measures used. They also vary in whether quality payments are contingent on financial savings and whether the value-based payment model is budget neutral. Even the term value is inconsistently defined.
	5.5 ASCO
U.S. Cancer Care System Ill-equipped to Deliver New Advances to Patients, ASCO Report Finds [ASCO] ASCO’s report emphasizes the importance of capitalizing on new opportunities to deliver high-quality, high-value cancer care, namely in four key areas: insurance coverage, payment reform, value of cancer care, and health IT adoption and interoperability.
	6.10 Politiques
Scotland’s Cancer Strategy: an ambitious plan that’s good news for patients [Cancer Research UK] In short, asking for more money is tough, but has never been more urgent. So today’s headline announcement – of £100m over the next term of the Scottish Parliament – is very welcome news.
	6.9 Controverses
Woman Says Cancer Test Company Fired Her For Having Cancer [Forbes] What makes the allegations particularly ironic, and potentially more than just an employment dispute, is that Jungman appears to have been hired by Genomic Health in part because of her experience as a cancer patient and patient advocate, and then, at least according to her account, was not treated with compassion.