Onco Actu du 26 septembre 2017

	1. Biologie
Tumor Microenvironment of Triple Negative Breast Cancer Varies Between African-American Women and European-American Women [AACR] Differences in tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte count may help determine prognosis.
	4.9 Dép., diag. & prono. - Sein
MRI contrast agent locates and distinguishes aggressive from slow-growing breast cancer [Case Western] A new magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agent being tested by researchers at Case Western Reserve University not only pinpoints breast cancers at early stages but differentiates between aggressive and slow-growing types.
	5.10 Traitements - Essais
Ethnic Minorities and the Elderly Are Underrepresented in Cancer Clinical Trials [AACR] African-American and Hispanic enrollment has declined over the past two decades.
	5.12 Immunothérapies
Immunotherapy has changed cancer medicine. But it's no miracle cure [The Guardian] In clinic, it’s poignant to witness terminally ill patients hold out for the magic of immunotherapy. They vex over how to qualify for it, where to find it, and how to afford it.
	5.12.1 Immunothérapies - partenariats
AstraZeneca, NewLink pen PD-L1 and IDO combination pact [FierceBiotech] PD-1-IDO combinations have generated the most excitement to date in melanoma.
NewLink Genetics Announces Clinical Collaboration to Evaluate IO-Based Combination Therapies in Pancreatic Cancer [NewLink] NewLink Genetics Corporation today announced that it has entered into a clinical collaboration agreement with AstraZeneca to evaluate the combination of indoximod, NewLink Genetics' small molecule IDO pathway inhibitor, and durvalumab, AstraZeneca's anti-PD-L1 monoclonal antibody, along with standard of care chemotherapy for patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer.
	5.12.5 Immunothérapies - Pharma
Amid Cash Crunch, Genocea to Dump Herpes Vaccine, Focus on Cancer Work [Xconomy] The field Genocea aims to pivot to is already competitive and well-funded. At least two high-profile startups, Neon Therapeutics and Gritstone Oncology, have formed in since 2015 to develop neo-antigen vaccines, which, the thinking goes, may help boost the effects of other cancer immunotherapies.
	5.12.6 Immunothérapies - AMM
Bristol-Myers' I-O star Opdivo steps up to challenge Bayer's Stivarga in liver cancer [FiercePharma] Bristol Myers Squibb’s Opdivo has won another approval—and the right to take on Bayer in liver cancer. But the German drugmaker believes Opdivo won't have an easy fight. One reason? Bayer's blockbuster Nexavar.
	5.2.3 Pharma - économie
Pfizer launches upstart with $103M, phase 3-ready drugs [FierceBiotech] These initially come in the form of four compounds, half of which are already set for Phase 3 trials, including in desmoid tumor using its gamma-secretase inhibitor, which the biotech will study in tandem with the Desmoid Tumor Research Foundation. And it’s also targeting neurofibromatosis in late-stage tests with its MEK 1/2 inhibitor, again with a partner, this time the Children’s Tumor Foundation.
Pfizer sets up its own biotech to develop rejected drugs [Pharmafile] The hope is that the company, named SpringWorks Therapeutics, will be able to carry over some of the energy and versatility that has become synonymous with successful biotech ventures to successfully bring through the potential therapeutics.
Pfizer spends billions to develop new drugs. It’s not satisfied. So it’s launching a startup [STAT] It will focus at first on four Pfizer-invented therapies, for conditions including post-traumatic stress disorder and rare forms of cancer. All are already in clinical trials. The two most advanced therapies, targeting tumors found on connective tissue and nerves, will advance to the final stage of development in the coming year.
Pfizer Channels Its Inner Biotech [Bloomberg] n keeping with a trend of smaller firms raising buckets of cash using Big Pharma's cast-off drugs, Pfizer Inc. is adapting the strategy for itself by spinning off four pipeline drugs into a new company called SpringWorks Therapeutics. It's a non-traditional move, but it's a smart one.
Pfizer spins off drug orphans into a PhIII-ready startup backed by Bain to the tune of $103M [EndPoints] SpringWorks has plenty on its plate to get started. Pfizer, like most of the major pharma companies, tends to stick to its late-stage pipeline when they talk up R&D, so these drugs have been flying largely under the radar.
	5.4 Traitements - Economie
Everyone says we’ve got to rein in drug prices. So why don’t we? [STAT] The White House has long been expected to issue an executive order on drug costs. But leaked documents show that deliberations have focused on things the industry wants, such as extending overseas patents and changing a drug-discount program for hospitals, and not so much on lowering prices.
	5.9.1 ASTRO
Phase III trial confirms pelvic radiation as standard of care for high-risk, early-stage endometrial cancer [ASTRO] Brachytherapy-chemotherapy combination not superior to radiation alone for recurrence-free and overall survival; radiation alone demonstrated better pelvic control, fewer severe side effects.
Aggressively reduced radiation therapy for HPV-related throat cancer achieves similar control rates with fewer side effects [ASTRO] Phase II trial indicates viability of half the standard dose for appropriately selected patients with oropharynx cancer following surgery.
Accelerated breast radiation therapy following mastectomy shortens treatment time while maintaining tumor control [ASTRO] Clinical trial for intermediate-stage breast cancer finds equivalent five-year local/regional control following hypofractionated radiation that reduced treatment from five to three weeks.
Immune response prognostic for prostate cancer survival, recurrence and response to radiation therapy [ASTRO] Findings indicate new avenue for personalized medicine and potentially inform use of immunotherapy treatments currently on the market for localized prostate cancer.
Long-term survival rates more than double previous estimates for locally advanced lung cance [ASTRO] Phase III trial demonstrates 32 percent overall survival rate at five years following standard-dose treatment for stage III NSCLC; trial also finds no additional benefit from cetuximab.
Biomarker blood test predicts survival following localized lung cancer treatment [ASTRO] Presence of circulating tumor DNA during and after treatment is associated with cancer recurrence and worse long-term survival rates.
Adding radiation to chemotherapy may dramatically improve survival for advanced-stage NSCLC patients [ASTRO] Randomized phase II trial finds progression-free survival expectancy nearly tripled with addition of consolidative stereotactic radiation therapy for limited metastatic disease.
Radiation-immunotherapy combination can slow tumor growth for some patients with metastatic late-stage cancer [ASTRO] Phase II trial finds at least 30 percent of patients experienced favorable response after treatment.
International trial confirms safety, effectiveness of high-dose brachytherapy plus pelvic radiation for cervical cancer [ASTRO] Multicenter trial in seven countries confirms optimal radiation dosing schedule for localized disease and outlines expected outcomes for treatment teams in resource-constrained settings.
	6. Lutte contre les cancers
Breast surgeons exert 'enormous influence' on patients’ choices [Reuters] Katz and colleagues studied survey responses from women diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer in one breast. Among the 3,353 women (mean age, 62) who participated in the survey, 16% had the other breast removed as a preventive measure - a procedure called contralateral prophylactic mastectomy (CPM).
Studying 1 million people to end cookie-cutter health care [AP] The study starts simply: Volunteers get some standard health checks — weight, blood pressure and heart rate. They answer periodic questionnaires about their health, background and habits, and turn over electronic health records. They give a blood sample that, if they agree, will undergo DNA testing sometime next year.
	6.11 Patients
I Treated Breast Cancer for Years as a Doctor. Then I Was Diagnosed [Time] Oncologists are among the most compassionate doctors I know. Yet few of us can truly comprehend the profound sense of upheaval that a cancer diagnosis brings.
	6.4 Médico-éco
Three ways to make proton therapy affordable [Nature] Shrink accelerators, sharpen beams and broaden health-care coverage so more people can get this type of radiation treatment.
	6.5 Médecines alternatives
Rigvir: A cancer “cure” imported from Latvia that cancer patients should avoid [Respectful Insolence] Immunotherapy, including the use of oncolytic viruses to target cancer, is all the rage these days in oncology; so a treatment like Rigvir is easy to sell based on its supposed immunological mechanism. Never mind that there is such a paucity of evidence that it actually works.