Onco Actu du 3 juillet 2018

	1. Biologie
Researchers apply computing power to track the spread of cancer [Princeton University] MACHINA’s development paves the way for a broader examination of metastasis patterns in large cohorts of cancer patients, which could reveal key mutations that cause different types of cancer to spread.
Cell ‘chatter’ discovery could open clinical trial opportunity for fatal childhood brain tumour [Cancer Research UK] Supporting this type of research is exactly why we’ve made brain tumours a top priority, and why we’re committing an extra £25 million over the next 5 years specifically for research in this area. “New, targeted drugs are now starting to make their way into clinical trials for DIPG,” says Jones.
Teamwork between cells fuels aggressive childhood brain tumour [Institute of Cancer Research] In this study, researchers saw one type of cell leaving the original DIPG (diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma) tumour site and migrating into the rest of the brain. This happens early in the evolution of the disease and is a cell type found in relatively small numbers. As it migrates, the cells release a chemical messenger called CXCL2, which has the effect of calling other cells from the tumour to follow it.
	4. Dépistage, diagnostic et pronostic
Improving public understanding of ‘overdiagnosis’ in England: a population survey assessing familiarity with possible terms for labelling the concept and perceptions of appropriate terminology [BMJ Open] Familiarity with suggested terms for overdiagnosis and levels of endorsement were low, and no clear alternative labels for the concept were identified, suggesting that changing terminology alone would do little to improve understanding, particularly for some population groups.
	4.12 Biopsies liquides
Study: Blood Test for Prostate Cancer Can Guide Therapy, Extend Lives [Xconomy] As the study authors note, there are two main caveats. First, the survival data were not statistically significant, perhaps because of the small sample size; in other words, there’s higher probability they were due to chance, with p values of .25 for the AR-V7-positive patients and .05 for the AR-V7 negative patients. Second, the study was done retrospectively.
	4.2 Dép., diag. & prono. - Génome
The Online Gene Test Finds a Dangerous Mutation. It May Well Be Wrong. [NY Times] Third-party analysis of raw DNA is not as rigorous as that done in a certified laboratory. But many consumers don’t understand that their results are not conclusive.
	5.1 Traitements - Pré-clinique
Computer Algorithm Maps Cancer Resistance to Drugs, Therapy [Johns Hopkins] The Coordinate Gene Activity in Pattern Sets algorithm (CoGAPS) was used to determine the molecular changes associated with resistance during the course of the development of the resistance. It required developing new methods of collecting data from in vitro cell models and developing a computational analysis approach to measure these observations that has not previously been done for cancer.
	5.12 Immunothérapies
Drug gets body cells to 'eat and destroy' cancer [BBC News] The treatment boosts the action of white blood cells, called macrophages, that the immune system uses to gobble up unwanted invaders. Tests in mice showed the therapy worked for aggressive breast and skin tumours, Nature Biomedical Engineering journal reports.
	5.12.3 Immunothérapies-combinaisons
Roche eyes next-generation breast cancer crown with Tecentriq's triple-negative victory [FiercePharma] Numbers on the victory aren’t yet available—they’ll roll out at an upcoming medical meeting—but in the meantime, Roche is readying the data for submission to the FDA, the European Medicines Agency and other regulators around the world, it said.
Roche vaults into lead in frontline triple negative breast cancer as Tecentriq/Abraxane combo aces progression-free survival [EndPoints] We don’t know the data, which are being held for a future conference. But the success here puts Roche at the goal line with applications being readied for the FDA and the EMA — with a high percentage shot at success.
	5.12.5 Immunothérapies - Pharma
FDA Grants Priority Review to Merck’s Supplemental Biologics License Application for KEYTRUDA® (pembrolizumab) in Combination with Chemotherapy as First-Line Treatment for Metastatic Squamous Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer [Merck] Application Based on Data from Pivotal Phase 3 KEYNOTE-407 Trial.
	5.4 Traitements - Economie
Pfizer raises prices on 100 drugs, its second round of hikes this year: FT [FiercePharma] The investors also wondered if Pfizer was substituting R&D success with price hikes, and called routine price increases an "unsustainable" business model.
	6.1 Observation
NIH-funded scientists put socioeconomic data on the map [NIH] The Neighborhood Atlas, a new tool to help researchers visualize socioeconomic data at the community level is now available. This online platform allows for easily ranking and mapping neighborhoods according to socioeconomic disadvantage.
	6.10.1 Politiques (USA)
Signaling concern over industry funding, Congress presses for transparency at groups supporting NIH, CDC [STAT] The organization facilitates a number of ongoing partnerships with many of those companies, including a $215 million cancer immunotherapy research initiative launched last year.
How Big Pharma Was Captured by the One Percent [New Republic] The industry's price-gouging economic model was engineered by Wall Street and its political enablers—and only Washington can fix it.
	6.5 Médecines alternatives
Clínica 0-19: False hope in Monterrey for brain cancer patients (part 2 of 3) [Science-Based Medicine] This week, I discuss what I’ve learned since last week, specifically a lot more about just what it is that these doctors do, why it is scientifically dubious and unproven, and why I am becoming even more harsh in my assessment of this clinic, which shows every indication of being a predatory clinic selling an unproven treatment for a very high price.
	6.6 Publications
Elsevier are corrupting open science in Europe [The Guardian] Elsevier - one of the largest and most notorious scholarly publishers - are monitoring Open Science in the EU on behalf of the European Commission. Jon Tennant argues that they cannot be trusted.
How Many Doctored Papers Are Out There? [In the Pipeline] Data curation is and always will be a crucial step in getting any machine learning effort to yield useful conclusions, and studies like this one just remind us that curating the biomedical literature is no simple thing.
	6.7 DMP, Big Data & applis
Drug development gets big data analytics boost [Novartis] Besides the ease of use and expected productivity gains, Dr. Finelli believes the transparency that comes with big data analytics and especially Nerve Live will be one of the biggest change drivers in the years to come.
	6.7.1 IA/bioinformatique
NIH to host workshop on using artificial intelligence and machine learning to advance biomedical research [NIH] Experts from organizations including IBM, Amazon and MIT will discuss the application of these emerging technologies.
	6.9 Controverses
The Neglected Implications of Grant Culture [Inside Higher Ed] A requirement that research faculty members obtain grants to achieve tenure is, in some cases, patently unethical, argues Scott O. Lilienfeld.