Onco Actu du 4 octobre 2017

	1. Biologie
Overactive gene associated with more aggressive forms of bone marrow cancer myeloma [Institute of Cancer Research] The findings suggest EZH2 plays a key role in the most lethal forms of myeloma, and that targeting the gene could be an effective treatment for the disease when other therapies do not work.
	2.7 Etiologie - Obésité
Vital Signs: Trends in Incidence of Cancers Associated with Overweight and Obesity — United States, 2005–2014 [CDC] Without intensified nationwide efforts to prevent and treat overweight and obesity, the high prevalence of excess weight might impede further declines in overall cancer incidence.
Behind the numbers: cancers associated with obesity [ACS] “It’s important to note that only a fraction of the cancers included in the calculation in this report are actually caused by excess body weight. For this study, the authors totaled all of the cancers diagnosed in 2014 for 13 types that have been linked to some extent with excess body weight."
Cancers linked to excess weight make up 40% of all US diagnoses, study finds [The Guardian] The study found that between 2005 and 2014, the rates of overweight-linked cancers increased 7% (not including colorectal cancer), while rates of cancers not associated with obesity declined 13%.
Obesity-related cancers rising, threatening gains in U.S. cancer rates [Reuters] Obesity-related cancers accounted for about 40 percent of all cancers diagnosed in the United States in 2014. Although the overall rate of new cancer diagnoses has fallen since the 1990s, rates of obesity-related cancers have been rising.
	4. Dépistage, diagnostic et pronostic
3D microscopy gives more accurate cancer diagnosis [Karolinska Institutet] The technique involves making the tissue transparent and then reproducing it in three dimensions in what is known as a light-sheet microscope. By using specific antibodies, researchers can label certain proteins and analyse them in more detail.
	4.2 Dép., diag. & prono. - Génome
Personal Genetic Testing Is Here. Do We Need It? [NY Times] Unlike 23andMe, most companies require some sort of approval from a doctor for personal genetic tests.
	5.12 Immunothérapies
Cancer-fighting power couple tackles mysteries of the immune system [Washington Post] Allison doesn’t hesitate to tell Sharma what works best for laboratory research. She pushes back on any suggestions that might not help patients, reminding Allison he isn’t a physician.
	5.12.1 Immunothérapies - partenariats
Amgen helps Immatics to $58M round to fund cancer trials [FierceBiotech] IMA101, the first of the two to make it to the clinic, is created using the ACTolog approach. This entails taking T cells from a patient, processing them to recognize tumor-associated antigens and reinfusing them back into the patient.
Amgen-partnered Immatics bags a $58M round to fund its first clinical steps on new T-cell tech for cancer [EndPoints] mmatics uses a platform tech dubbed Xpresident to identify the targets on cancer cells they want to zero in on. One of their leading programs is for IMA101, expanding specific endogenous T cells, which set out in Phase I in August.
	5.12.2 Immunothérapies - CAR-T
Dear Kite: With 2300% upside, we blazed an amazing trail [EndPoints] In a span of just a few short years, we grew from fewer than 10 employees to almost 700. The company’s value increased 2300% from the time of our IPO to nearly $12 billion with the acquisition by Gilead Sciences.
	5.12.3 Immunothérapies-combinaisons
Timing and Sequence Critical for Immunotherapy Combination [NCI] The study investigators found that treating mice with two different immunotherapy agents at the same time had less of an effect on tumor growth compared with one of the agents alone.
	5.2.1 Pharma - Partenariats
Amgen comes up with $1.5B package to partner with CytomX on a preclinical Probody approach to cancer [EndPoints] Just as Bristol-Myers was drawn to Probodies for a shot at a new and better CTLA4, among other things, Amgen is coming in for a T-cell engaging bispecific targeting the Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR), a high value target expressed on multiple cancer types. They’re building on the biotech’s preclinical work on an EGFRxCD3 program.
	5.3 Traitements - FDA, EMA, NICE...
Patients often demand experimental drugs that prove ineffective — report [EndPoints] The debate focuses on a patient’s right to access unapproved drugs to treat serious or life-threatening diseases outside of a clinical trial. Proponents of right-to-try have argued that FDA is a barrier to patient access, while FDA has countered that it approves nearly all requests for access it receives.
	6.1 Observation
Breast Cancer Statistics, 2017 [ACS] Black/white mortality differences closing in several states.
	6.11 Patients
Julia Louis-Dreyfus Raises Discussion-Worthy Points In Her Breast Cancer Update [Forbes] Yes, we’ve come a long way since the days of Betty Ford. Today, many people talk about breast cancer openly, on-line and in their physical communities.
	6.3 Associations/Fondations
Cancer Research UK's Chief Executive to stand down in spring 2018 [Cancer Research UK] Professor Sir Leszek Borysiewicz, Chairman of Cancer Research UK, said: "I am delighted that Harpal has agreed to stay on until the spring and we have commenced a search for his replacement. We anticipate being able to make an appointment to coincide with Harpal's departure and plan for a smooth transfer.”
	6.7 DMP, Big Data & applis
Knock Six Years Off Your Timeline. Um. [In the Pipeline] Artificial Intelligence, in its various forms, is currently the hottest plateful of fried dough being served. It covers a lot of ground, has a lot of potential, and no one in the audience is likely to really understand the details: perfect.