Onco Actu du 13 juin 2018

	1. Biologie
Genetic discovery will help clinicians identify aggressive versus benign bone tumours [Sanger Institute] A genetic change affecting the transcription factor, FOS is specific to osteoblastoma, distinguishing it from osteosarcoma.
	1.4 Biologie - Technos
Genome-editing tool could increase cancer risk [Karolinska Institutet] Researchers say that more studies are required in order to guarantee the safety of these ‘molecular scissors’ for gene-editing therapies.
2 studies show CRISPR might drive up cancer risk in edited cells [FierceBiotech] The news drove down stocks for CRISPR biotechs—CRISPR Therapeutics, Editas and Intellia, to name a few. And while the researchers are calling for more work to determine whether CRISPR editing “may inadvertently raise cancer risk in cells,” they also said it’s hardly time to panic.
A Crispr Conundrum: How Cells Fend Off Gene Editing [NY Times] The reactions have been exaggerated,” said Jussi Taipale, a biochemist at the University of Cambridge and an author of one of two papers published Monday. The findings underscore the need for more research into the safety of Crispr, he said, but they don’t spell its doom.
	2. Etiologie
Do Sunscreens Cause Cancer? [Science-Based Medicine] Plourde thinks sunscreens cause melanomas. The article she incorrectly cited for incidence found that the data “do not suggest a causative association between sunscreen use and melanoma.” Meta-analyses like this one have confirmed that there is no association between sunscreen use and melanoma.
	2.5 Etiologie - Gènes
OncoArray Links Dozens of DNA Variants to Risk for Common Cancers [NCI] The new risk variants found by the GAME-ON and OncoArray Network scientists are located throughout the genome. The variants are not clustered together, and few of them are within genes. Instead, almost all of them are within sites of the genome that appear to be important for controlling the activity of genes, Dr. Chanock said.
	2.6 Etiologie - Environnement
How to Kill Dialogue [The Risk-Monger] By killing dialogue with the scientific community, the environmental activists are instituting ignorance at an alarming scale. The number of people who are convinced that a herbicide like glyphosate is responsible for every ailment and disease under the sun is frightening.
	4.1 Dép., diag. & prono. - Prostate
New genetic variations identify men at higher risk of prostate cancer [NHS Choices] The media have reported that a trial looking at the use of such a test has started in London. The current research paper gives no details of this so it is not clear how it is being used. We will need to wait to see the results of this or other trials to determine whether such a test could improve prostate cancer care.
	5.10 Traitements - Essais
PARP inhibitor improves overall response rates in small cell lung cancer patients [MD Anderson Cancer Center] Novel biomarker identified those with improved progression-free and overall survival, MD Anderson study finds.
Avoidable waste of research related to outcome planning and reporting in clinical trials [BMC Medicine] Most of the RCTs included in our sample did not contribute to all the important outcomes in meta-analyses, mostly because of inadequate planning or incomplete reporting. A large part of this waste of research seemed to be avoidable.
	5.12 Immunothérapies
Discovery of Unusual Cell Type Could Help Guide Immunotherapy [Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center] MSK researchers have identified a new group of immunosuppressive cells that are affected in opposite ways by two common checkpoint inhibitors often given in combination. These cells are easily detectable in the blood and could help doctors make immunotherapy work better.
	5.12.2 Immunothérapies - CAR-T, thérapies cellulaires
Cellectis Publishes Novel Methods to Improve the Clinical Use of Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-Cell Therapy in Scientific Reports [Cellectis] CubiCAR, a Next Generation CAR, Allows for the Purification, Detection and Efficient Elimination of CAR T-Cells.
Cellectis, rising star Allogene design an ‘all-in-one’ CAR construct with embedded safety switch as the new partners angle for the clinic [EndPoints] In a paper published in Scientific Reports today, Cellectis reports an all-in-one CAR architecture that combines cancer-killing potency, a “suicide switch” for safety, as well as purification and detection capacities. Dubbed CubiCAR, the molecule was shown to be “efficiently and robustly” depleted in the presence of Rituxan (rituximab) both in vitro and in vivo.
	5.12.6 Immunothérapies - AMM
FDA Approves Merck’s KEYTRUDA® (pembrolizumab) for Previously Treated Patients with Recurrent or Metastatic Cervical Cancer Whose Tumors Express PD-L1 (CPS Greater Than or Equal to 1) [Merck] KEYTRUDA Now First Anti-PD-1 Therapy Approved for Patients with Advanced Cervical Cancer and Disease Progression on or After Chemotherapy.
	5.2 Pharma
Consolidate pRED and gRED R&D units? ‘No way,’ says Roche CEO [FierceBiotech] Like just about all its peers in the pharma sector, Roche has been trying to find ways to reduce the costs of R&D—but CEO Severin Schwan won’t contemplate doing so by consolidating its Swiss-led research operations with those of subsidiary Genentech.
Sanofi says back on track to regain solid position in cancer drugs [Reuters] Sanofi believes it can make a comeback and re-establish a leading position in the competitive cancer drug market in the coming years on the back of its immunotherapy drugs and efforts in new areas such as molecular oncology.
Roche CEO Severin Schwan isn’t about to tamper with a winning R&D strategy now, but he’s still looking for ways to cut costs [EndPoints] It’s also interesting to see how Schwan sees the company’s position in the immuno-oncology field, where he frankly sees Roche behind two key leaders as Bristol-Myers Squibb and Merck switch places on the number 1 and number 2 positions.
	5.3 Traitements - FDA, EMA, NICE...
Statement from FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb, M.D., on new efforts to advance medical product communications to support drug competition and value-based health care [FDA] The ultimate goal is to help facilitate a market that is more competitive, based on the outcomes that matter most –the benefit to patients. Helping facilitate appropriate company communications with these audiences may help foster these outcomes, and enable better access to medical products and possibly more affordable options for Americans.
Statement from FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb, M.D., on new agency efforts to advance the patient voice in medical product development and FDA regulatory decision-making [FDA] This set of guidances describes how patient experience data and other relevant information from patients and caregivers can be collected and used for medical product development and regulatory decision-making.
	5.5.16.2 ASCO (médecine de précision-sein)
Most Women with Early-Stage Breast Cancer Don’t Need Chemo [NIH Director's Blog] Chemotherapy use for women with early-stage breast cancer had been declining in recent years due to more widespread use of the 21-gene test. With this new evidence, even more women can be spared. Ongoing clinical trials are also exploring the usefulness of this test for women whose breast cancer has spread to the lymph nodes in the underarm.
	6.10.1 Politiques (USA)
No Price Cuts Yet, But Azar Urges Congress to Target Drug Rebates & Transparency [Xconomy] Democratic senators asked why the blueprint didn’t include a measure to allow the government to negotiate drug prices directly, like many other countries do. Azar said he didn’t think it would be good for patients.
	6.7 DMP, Big Data & applis
Why are fax machines still the norm in 21st-century health care? [The Globe and Mail] The notion that paper-based records are somehow safer and more secure than electronic records beggars belief. Yet, rules and regulations still hold that a fax is a secure means of communication while e-mail is often not considered secure.
	6.8 Communication
Cancer misinformation in various media irks breast cancer patients in US & UK [HealthNewsReview] Harmful scare mongering at one end of the spectrum. Harmful marketing hype at the other end. This is the range of cancer misinformation that many patients face – regardless of which side of the Atlantic they live. And you don’t find out patients’ perspectives unless and until you ask.
	6.9 Controverses
Prominent biologist resigns from top US institute after harassment allegations [Nature] Cancer researcher Inder Verma has resigned from the Salk Institute for Biological Sciences in La Jolla, California, the institute said on 11 June. Verma had been temporarily suspended since 21 April, after several female scientists with ties to the institute alleged that he had sexually harassed and discriminated against them.