Onco Actu du 12 février 2018

	1. Biologie
TSRI scientists take big step toward stopping cancer metastasis [The Scripps Research Institute] The study, published recently in the Nature research journal Oncogene, shows that a protein called LTBP3 fuels a chain reaction that leads some early developing tumors to grow new blood vessels. These vessels then act like highways to spread cancer cells throughout the body, seeding metastatic tumors very early on.
Could Darwin help us outsmart cancer? [Institute of Cancer Research] To celebrate Darwin Day, we invited Professor Andrew Read from Pennsylvania State University to talk to us about why cancer researchers should care about the founder of evolutionary biology, and why his 150-year old findings might just be the most important weapon we have to defeat cancer.
	3.1 Prévention - Tabac
Tobacco firms in France cheated nicotine tests: anti-smoking body [Reuters] The anti-smoking organization said real nicotine levels were five times higher than shown in the tests, while actual tar levels are two to 10 times higher. It was not clear from the 34-page complaint how the National Committee Against Smoking (CNCT) arrived at its calculations.
	3.1.1 Prévention - Tabac - e-cigs
Even without nicotine, e-cigarettes can still damage lungs [Reuters] When researchers exposed human lung cells to e-liquids in the laboratory, the cells increased their output of inflammation-related chemicals that can eventually lead to damage in the lungs.
	3.3 Prévention - Vaccins
We’re two shots away from preventing HPV-related cancers [STAT] Everyone can help prevent HPV-related cancers. It’s as simple as asking your state legislature to include the HPV vaccine on the list of immunizations needed for school entry. Let’s end these eminently preventable cancers.
	3.8 Prévention - Alimentation
Asparagus and breast cancer study: What you need to know [HealthNewsReview] It’s an interesting premise, and one that’s likely worth further study, but as several of our alert Twitter followers pointed out to us, some journalists went overboard on this one.
	4.10 Dép., diag. & prono. - FDA, EMA, NICE,...
Scans could help tailor pancreatic cancer treatment [Cancer Research UK] New guidance from NICE says a PET-CT scan should be used early in the process of diagnosing pancreatic cancer. It is thought that the scans will give doctors more accurate information on how advanced the disease is.
	5.12 Immunothérapies
Oncolytic Virus Therapy: Using Tumor-Targeting Viruses to Treat Cancer [NCI] A growing body of research suggests that some oncolytic viruses may work—at least in part—by triggering an immune response in the body against the cancer.
The Next Immuno-oncology Frontier? [In the Pipeline] Here’s some strong evidence for what could be the next wave of immuno-oncology: combining a TLR9 ligand with an OX40 antibody. We’re all going to have to get familiar with that sort of talk, so here’s what’s going on.
	5.12.1 Immunothérapies - partenariats
Pieris, Seattle Genetics pen $1.2B biobucks pact for next-gen cancer drugs [FierceBiotech] The Anticalin proteins are engineered versions of endogenous low-molecular weight human proteins called lipocalins. Pieris thinks the nature of its proteins give them high affinity and specificity, and make them suitable for use in bispecific therapeutics.
Seattle Genetics and Pieris Pharmaceuticals Announce Multi-Program Immuno-Oncology Collaboration [Seattle Genetics] Pieris’ proprietary suite of agonistic costimulatory Anticalin proteins, when fused to a tumor-targeting antibody, can activate the immune system preferentially in the tumor microenvironment.
Seattle Genetics seeds a new immuno-oncology collaboration with the protein explorers at Pieris [EndPoints] The Seattle-based biotech is seeding a joint discovery effort that matches its successful work on antibody drug conjugates with Pieris’s Anticalin platform, getting the work started with a $30 million payment.
	5.3 Traitements - FDA, EMA, NICE...
Trump Rules: F.D.A. Chief Goes Against the Administration Stereotype [NY Times] “He doesn’t want to blow up the agency,” said Mark I. Schwartz, a Washington lawyer who worked at the F.D.A. in Republican and Democratic administrations.
	5.3.4 Traitements - AMM (FDA, EMA,...)
FDA Approves Abiraterone Acetate in Combination with Prednisone for High-Risk Metastatic Castration-Sensitive Prostate Cancer [ESMO] Approval is based on findings from LATITUDE study.
	5.4 Traitements - Economie
Liver cancer patients barred from NHS access to Bayer’s Stivarga [PharmaTimes] The committee considered that the range of plausible incremental cost effectiveness ratios for Stivarga compared with best supportive care would be more than £50,000 and up to £74,559 per QALY gained, and thus outside of what is normally considered value for money.
NICE asks Tesaro to submit CDF application for Zejula [PharmaTimes] Zejula (niraparib) was approved by European regulators in November last year for patients in a complete response (CR) or partial response (PR) to platinum-based chemotherapy.
Roche wins UK watchdog's nod for lymphoma drug after initial snub [Reuters] The decision will affect about 1,200 people annually, Roche said on Friday. About 1,900 people are diagnosed with follicular lymphona a year in Britain.
Lower Drug Prices: New Proposals Carry Lots of Promises [NY Times] Many who oppose the idea point out that it won’t help everyone because not every drug comes with a large rebate. Many new cancer treatments, as well as products that treat rare diseases, are not discounted at all.
	5.5.3 ASCO (prostate)
Apalutamide delays spread of certain prostate cancers in trial [Cancer Research UK] Patients taking apalutamide lived without their cancer spreading (metastasis) for over three years on average, compared to 16 months for those taking placebo.
	5.5.9 ASCO (autres organes)
AVEO Oncology and EUSA Pharma Announce Encouraging Preliminary Results from Phase 2 Portion of the TiNivo Study in Renal Cell Carcinoma [Aveo] The Phase 2 portion of the study (n=21) was designed to assess the safety, tolerability, and anti-tumor activity of the full dose and schedule of PO tivozanib (1.5 mg/QD for 21 days followed by a 7-day rest period), as established in the Phase 1 portion of the study (n=6), in combination with IV nivolumab (240 mg every 2 weeks).
	6.10.1 Politiques (USA)
ASCO Applauds Congress for Making MACRA Work, Committing to Cancer Research in Latest Budget Bill [ASCO] We are also pleased to see a budget deal that commits to at least a $2 billion funding increase for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to reclaim America’s leadership in cancer research and continue building on our tremendous progress towards understanding, preventing, and treating cancer.