Onco Actu du 1er août 2017

	1. Biologie
Cell insights suggest how body may spot early cancer signs [University of Edimburgh] Fresh insights into how cells detect damage to their DNA – a hallmark of cancer – could help explain how the body keeps disease in check.
	2.6 Etiologie - Environnement
Trump Wants the EPA Radon Program Cut. So Do Some Scientists [Wired] The issue here isn't whether radon causes cancer. It does, certainly. But scientists can only prove that radon is carcinogenic at high doses. Like, rates typically found in mine shafts, not suburban homes. Critics say the EPA's method for establishing low-dose radon risk assessments is simply unscientific.
	3.1 Tabac
Stanford tobacco expert discusses the FDA’s new tobacco and nicotine regulation plan [Stanford Medicine] "The single most effective measure the FDA could enact would be reducing the nicotine content of combustible tobacco products to non-addictive levels. Most established smokers would either quit or migrate to less toxic means of satisfying their addiction."
The FDA wants to cut cigarettes’ nicotine levels. Will that help people quit? [STAT] Dr. Neal Benowitz, a professor of medicine at at the University of California, San Francisco, said that a 95 percent reduction would be a good start. This could be done through genetic engineering of the tobacco plant or chemical extraction after the fact — a similar process to decaffeinating coffee beans.
	4. Dépistage, diagnostic et pronostic
What is overdiagnosis and why should we take it seriously in cancer screening? [Public Health Research & Practice] Overdiagnosis in cancer screening arises largely from the paradoxical problem that screening is most likely to find the slow-growing or dormant cancers that are least likely to harm us, and less likely to find the aggressive, fast-growing cancers that cause cancer mortality.
	5.12.1 Immunothérapies - partenariats
With Clovis team-up, Bristol-Myers' Opdivo eyes dynamic-duo attack on a trio of cancers [FiercePharma] Bristol-Myers will line up its PD-1 immuno-therapy alongside Clovis’ PARP inhibitor Rubraca in two pivotal late-stage trials, one in ovarian cancer and the other in triple-negative breast cancer. In both cases, the drugs would be used as maintenance therapy, to ward off a cancer recurrence.
Bristol-Myers, Clovis leap into PhIII combo studies in a PD-1/PARP play as rivals circle [EndPoint] The news today may douse some of the buzz that’s been circulating that Celgene may look to buy Clovis after bagging rights to BeiGene’s PD-1 in a rich deal.
Bristol-Myers Squibb and Clovis Oncology Announce a Broad Clinical Collaboration to Evaluate Combination of Opdivo (Nivolumab) and Rubraca® (Rucaparib) in Phase 2 and Pivotal Phase 3 Clinical Trials in Multiple Tumor Types [BMS] Pivotal Phase 3 Trials Planned for 2017 will Evaluate Rubraca in Combination with Opdivo, Rubraca as Monotherapy, and Opdivo as Monotherapy in First Line Maintenance Treatment for Advanced Ovarian and Advanced Triple-Negative Breast Cancers.
	5.12.2 Immunothérapies - CAR-T
Kite Files the Industry's First CAR-T Marketing Authorization Application in Europe for Axicabtagene Ciloleucel [Kite] The MAA for axicabtagene ciloleucel is supported by data from the ZUMA-1 trial, which met the primary endpoint of objective response rate (ORR), with 82 percent (p < 0.0001) of patients achieving a response after a single infusion of axicabtagene ciloleucel.
Kite shoots for first CAR-T OK in Europe, staying one step behind Novartis in US race [EndPoints] “The MAA submission of axicabtagene ciloleucel marks an important global milestone in the development of engineered T cell therapy,” said Kite CEO Arie Belldegrun.
	5.2 Pharma
AstraZeneca rally continues as US regulator endorses cancer drug [The Telegraph] AstraZeneca said last week it believes Imfinzi - which is already approved for use in some bladder cancer patients - still has the potential to be a blockbuster earner for the company.
Acalabrutinib granted Breakthrough Therapy Designation by US FDA for the treatment of patients with mantle cell lymphoma [AstraZeneca] The FDA granted Breakthrough Therapy Designation based on the totality of clinical data from the acalabrutinib development programme, including data from the Phase II ACE-LY-004 clinical trial in patients with relapsed or refractory MCL.
AstraZeneca drug gets breakthrough status in early lung cancer [Reuters] The company said Jean-Charles Soria, previously a professor at South-Paris University, had joined the MedImmune biotech unit as head of oncology innovative medicines, while Geoffrey Kim would lead work on late-stage immunotherapy drug combinations.
After Mystic setback, MedImmune takes on new FDA, academic immuno-oncology execs [FierceBiotech] First up is medical oncologist Jean-Charles Soria, who joins MedImmune as SVP and head of oncology innovative medicines, coming from being a Professor of Medicine and Medical Oncology at South-Paris University—one of the largest French universities.
AstraZeneca and MedImmune strengthen immuno-oncology leadership with appointment of two renowned experts [AstraZeneca] Dr. Soria will lead a team at MedImmune responsible for the strategy, growth, and advancement of the early oncology biologics portfolio, which includes oncology research, translational medicine, and early oncology development.
	5.2.3 Pharma - économie
Loxo beefs up its genetics-based cancer drug pipeline with an unusual $40M deal [EndPoint] Now LOXO-305, this new drug is designed to reversibly bind to BTK and keep working in the face of C481S acquired resistance mutation. And that’s how Loxo plans to remain genetically focused for a very narrow patient population.
Redx sells cancer drug to Loxo to escape debt crisis [FierceBiotech] Across the Atlantic, Loxo is now preparing to take the BTK inhibitor Redx guided through preclinical into human testing. Loxo plans to file an IND next year.
	5.3 Traitements - FDA, EMA, NICE...
FDA advances two more Herceptin biosims—this time from Amgen and Teva—as Roche braces for impact [FiercePharma] It wasn’t so exciting for Roche, whose elderly cancer blockbusters are about to face a full-on assault.
U.S. FDA to review Teva and Celltrion's cancer biosimilar drug [Reuters] CT-P6, already approved by the Korean Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, is a biosimilar -- a copy of a biotech drug -- to Roche Holding's breast cancer and gastric cancer treatment Herceptin. Earlier this month, an advisory panel to the FDA recommended approval of a Herceptin biosimilar from Mylan and Biocon.
	5.4 Traitements - Economie
Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) Drugs Market Forecast 2017-2027 [ReportLinker] The Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) Drugs market is estimated at $7.86bn in 2016 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 4.9% in the first half of the forecast period.
	6. Lutte contre les cancers
FDA, ASCO to Hold Geriatric Oncology Workshop on November 6 [ASCO in Action] The workshop is intended for a diverse group of stakeholders responsible for the screening, treating, and monitoring of geriatric oncology patients.
New Recommendations for Controlling Nausea and Vomiting Related to Cancer Treatment [ASCO] The update, issued today, provides new evidence-based information on the appropriate use of olanzapine, NK1 receptor antagonists and dexamethasone.
	6.1 Observation
Decline in U.S. life expectancy deserves more local and national attention [STAT] While the drop was small — from 78.9 years in 2014 to 78.8 in 2015 — it was the first decline since 1993 and a shift from the positive trajectory that we’ve been enjoying.
	6.6 Publications
Peer-Review Fraud Scheme Uncovered in China [The Scientist] The Chinese government finds almost 500 researchers guilty of misconduct in relation to a recent spate of retractions from a cancer journal.
The One-Percent Club For Top-Cited Papers [The Scholarly Kitchen] Its hard not to understand why Nature Biomedical Engineering editors like the IQ: Nature journals fare quite well in the index. Indeed, the editors highlight Nature journals in their plot.
	6.9 Controverses
'There are things worse than death': can a cancer cure lead to brutal bioweapons? [The Guardian] According to John Sotos, the chief medical officer of Intel, the same technology that might someday allow us to defeat illness for good also poses the prospect of tailored diseases attacking individuals, families or even whole races and rewriting their genomes on the fly.