Onco Actu du 13 janvier 2017

	1. Biologie
Five big mysteries about CRISPR’s origins [Nature] For Mojica, exploring that diversity and answering basic questions about CRISPR systems hold more allure than the revolution they sparked. This puzzles many of his colleagues, he says.
Unexpected mutations hint at tumor cells’ histories [Broad Institute] Before now, secretory protein genes were not suspected to play a role in cancer, so the discovery of these mutations in several cancer types is surprising.
Researchers turn leukemia cells into embryonic-like cells [Stanford Medicine] “What this tells us is that context matters. Those leukemic gene mutations only cause cancer when they exist in the context of a blood cell.”
	2.6 Etiologie - Environnement
Exclusive: U.S. congressional committee demands answers on WHO cancer agency [Reuters] In Thursday's follow-up letter, Chaffetz noted that IARC had since then told some of its working group members to not release documents to the Congressional committee. Now, Chaffetz said, the committee wanted access to all IARC employee communications related to public records requests, and other documents.
	3. Prévention
Curcumin Will Waste Your Time [In the Pipeline] In cell, tissue, and animal assays, it falls into the category of “Invalid/Improbable Metabolic Panacea” (IMP), a term that’s been used for natural products that seem to have all sorts of weakish activity all over the place. Unfortunately, the literature is full of reports of curcuminoid compounds as actives for all sorts of specific molecular targets (this latest review goes into several of these).
	4. Dépistage, diagnostic et pronostic
Welsh government to introduce improved screening tests for cervical and bowel cancers [Cancer Research UK] From April 2017 a pilot programme will switch the order of the tests used for cervical screening. This will see the test that detects high risk forms of human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, which is the main cause of cervical cancer, offered first. A full roll-out is expected to start in 2018/19. For bowel cancer, the faecal Immunochemical test (FIT), which can be more accurate than the current test, will be introduced during 2018/19.
	4.9 Dép., diag. & prono. - Sein
John Bailar’s Righteous Attack on the “War on Cancer [Slate] It was fairly shocking, then, when Bailar went public in January 1976 with his misgivings about a new NCI breast-cancer screening program that was technically under his auspices.
	5. Traitements
Protein that inhibits and reduces the effects of chemotherapy identified [Karolinska Institutet] “We hope that the results will eventually help to improve the treatment of AML using cytarabin combined with substances that block SAMHD1. More studies will be needed first, however.”
	5.10 Traitements - Essais
NCI Launches Formulary to Speed Availability of Investigational Cancer Drugs [RAPS] Specifically, NCI says its Cancer Therapy Evaluation Program (CTEP) will act as an intermediary between investigators and participating drugmakers to negotiate agreements to allow the use of specific agents in NCI-supported studies, including preclinical and clinical studies conducted under an investigational new drug (IND) application.
	5.12 Immunothérapies
CureVac's lead mRNA drug is down but not out, says CEO [FierceBiotech] The vaccine also failed to improve progression-free survival compared to placebo, proving once again that having deep pockets—CureVac counts billionaires Bill Gates and Dietmar Hopp among its backers—is no guarantee of success in biotech development.
CureVac’s lead mRNA program flunks a critical PhIIb study, raising questions for high-profile biotech unicorns [EndPoints] CureVac’s leading mRNA program CV9104, a prostate cancer vaccine, has failed a critical Phase IIb study. And that stinging setback for the most advanced clinical study in the field will raise fresh questions about a complex new technology that has attracted billions of dollars in investment cash.
	5.12.2 Immunothérapies - CAR-T
‘Amazing breakthrough … one step closer to a cure:’ Lessons from CAR-T coverage [HealthNewsReview] So if parents missed the leukemia reference early in the video, and zero in on that clarion “100 percent,” they may walk away with the impression that there is a cure out there for their child, regardless of cancer type. And that this perceived cure comes without risks or side effects, since none are mentioned in the story.
	5.12.3 Immunothérapies-combinaisons
Merck's Lead in Lung Cancer May Be Unbeatable [Bloomberg] It's not often you land on a low-risk, high-reward strategy. But for now, at least, Merck seems to have found it, making it less likely to relinquish its IO lead.
	5.2 Pharma
Manufacturing Issues Stall Tesaro Cancer Nausea Drug at FDA [Xconomy] Tesaro says it has identified “potential deficiencies” at the original contract manufacturer for its IV drug and it has lined up a second drug supplier. Information from this second supplier was included in the company’s application for FDA approval.
	5.2.1 Pharma - Partenariats
Pierre Fabre snags option on Piqur program in skin cancers [FierceBiotech] Pierre Fabre has struck a deal to develop dermatological formulations of Piqur Therapeutics’ PI3K/mTOR inhibitor PQR309. The agreement gives Pierre Fabre the option to enter into exclusive negotiations for the rights to formulations resulting from the collaboration in certain skin cancers.
	5.2.3 Pharma - économie
As Trump fingers pharma on drug prices, execs step up with the latest vows of self discipline [EndPoints] Trump’s remarks underscored that it’s a new day in biopharma when it comes to drug prices. And Richard Pops, the CEO of Alkermes, noted that change is coming after Big Pharma got hooked on the crack cocaine of extensive price hikes for years.
It’s the Drug Industry’s Turn to Tremble Before Trump [Bloomberg] The uncertainty Trump has thrown into the sector has ground some strategic plans to a halt. There’s a sense among investors that until policies are settled that will affect tax rates, government payments and how health markets are organized, little can happen in the industry.
	5.3 Traitements - FDA, EMA, NICE...
Multiple Endpoints in Clinical Trials: FDA Issues Draft Guidance [RAPS] “The purpose of this guidance is to describe various strategies for grouping and ordering endpoints for analysis and applying some well-recognized statistical methods for managing multiplicity within a study in order to control the chance of making erroneous conclusions about a drug’s effects.”
	5.4 Traitements - Economie
NICE approves kidney cancer drug for NHS use [NICE] Patients with advanced kidney cancer will have routine NHS access to the drug everolimus following recommendations by NICE, rather than apply to the Cancer Drugs Fund (CDF).
NICE recommends Novartis’ kidney cancer drug [PharmaTimes] Some patients with kidney cancer should soon be able to get easier access to Novartis' Afinitor on the NHS, after cost regulators backed moving the drug out of the Cancer Drug's Fund and into the routine care pathway.
NICE Issues Recommendations for Pembrolizumab in PD-L1-positive Locally Advanced or Metastatic NSCLC After Chemotherapy [ESMO] It is recommended in adults who have had at least one chemotherapy and targeted treatment if they have an EGFR- or ALK‑positive tumour.
	6. Lutte contre les cancers
Cultural makeover in cancer research needed, Dean’s Lecture Series speaker argues [Stanford Medicine] “We are funding projects but now we need to fund people,” Leaf said. “Let smart people do what they do.”
Will 2017 be the year when genomic medicine becomes business as usual? [PHG Foundation] Two important ‘transformational’ genomics projects in the UK are entering new phases this year.
	6.10.1 Politiques (USA)
As Trump attacks drug industry, few in Congress rush to its aid [STAT] Two elemental political forces — the industry’s powerful argument that it produces lifesaving medicines and Trump’s reservoir of goodwill among the Republican Party he just returned to power — seem to be on a collision course.
	6.6 Publications
Journal retracts gastric cancer study with multiple duplications, authors MIA [Retraction Watch] An oncology journal has decided to retract a 2012 paper on gastric cancer after discovering duplicated data in multiple figures. According to the retraction notice, the journal’s editorial board received a tip from a reader regarding the potential figure issues. Oncology Reports launched an investigation, which confirmed the allegations.
	6.9 Controverses
The good, bad, and unknown about marijuana’s health effects [STAT] It can almost certainly ease chronic pain and might help some people sleep, but it’s also likely to raise the risk of getting schizophrenia and might trigger heart attacks.
The Health Effects of Cannabis and Cannabinoids: The Current State of Evidence and Recommendations for Research (2017) [Nationa Academies Press] In adults with chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting, there was conclusive evidence that certain oral cannabinoids were effective in preventing and treating those ailments.
Pot has some medical benefits, U.S. Academies say, but obstacles to research loom [Science] There is “conclusive or substantial evidence” that marijuana or related compounds can effectively treat chronic pain, nausea caused by chemotherapy treatment for cancer, and spasticity caused by multiple sclerosis, according to a report published today by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine.
Most marijuana medicinal benefits are inconclusive, wide-ranging study finds [The Guardian] The report found “conclusive” evidence that cannabis can alleviate some nausea and vomiting associated with cancer treatment, but that case was long ago considered settled. For many indications in the report, science has not reached a definitive answer.