Onco Actu du 3 août 2018

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	1. Biologie
MGH team defines the mechanisms of action of key genetic abnormality in Ewing sarcoma [Massachusetts General Hospital] Epigenome editing reveals how a fusion protein found in cancer cells enhances the expression of target genes.
Microscopic imaging pierces the “black box” of cancer bone metastasis [MD Anderson Cancer Center] “It was a black box. Finally, our model allows us to get inside the bone with intravital multiphoton microscopy and shed some light on these phenomena,” she said. The researchers show how the technique can monitor and capture the dynamics of tumor cell interaction with bone and bone resident cells as they occur over time.
For prostate cancer, study identifies how common mutation makes good cells go bad [Broad Institute] A common prostate cancer mutation retargets an epigenetic complex to force prostate cells down a malignant path, creating a possible therapeutic opportunity in the process.
	2. Etiologie
Update on review of recalled valsartan medicines [EMA] Following a preliminary evaluation, EMA estimates that there could be one extra case of cancer for every 5,000 patients taking the affected medicines at the highest valsartan dose (320 mg) every day for 7 years. This is based on average levels of this impurity detected in the active substance from Zhejiang Huahai Pharmaceuticals (60 parts per million).
	3.1 Prévention - Tabac
Advancing Tobacco Regulation to Protect Children and Families: Updates and New Initiatives from the FDA on the Anniversary of the Tobacco Control Act and FDA’s Comprehensive Plan for Nicotine [FDA Voice] It’s the delivery mechanism for nicotine that’s more directly linked to the product’s dangers. That’s why our plan focuses on minimizing addiction to the most harmful products while encouraging innovation in those products that could provide adult smokers access to nicotine without the harmful consequences of combustion and cigarettes.
	4.14 Dép., diag. & prono. - Thyroïde
The Case Against Screening For Thyroid Cancer [FiveThirtyEight] “There’s no evidence that screening for thyroid cancer saves lives,” said Otis Brawley, chief medical and scientific officer at the American Cancer Society.
	4.2 Dép., diag. & prono. - Génome
A Road Map for Evaluation and Appropriate Implementation of Genome Sequencing to Improve Population Health [Genomics and Health Impact Blog] In conclusion, a translational collaborative effort is urgently needed to understand the health benefits and potential harms and costs of genome sequencing for all, by studying the implementation of what we know can work), evaluating the utility of promising applications, and critically assessing the validity of emerging genomic information for improving health and preventing disease.
	4.5 Dép., diag. & prono. - Colorectal
Regional variations in UK colorectal cancer screening and mortality [The Lancet] We cannot explain our findings with the available literature or the known behaviour of colorectal cancer. Our observed difference in survival when the Mansfield region was compared to other regions is most pronounced in the patients with cancer detected during screening, while survival rates of the patients in the interval cancer group and declined screening group were similar.
	5.1 Traitements - Pré-clinique
New anti-cancer drugs put cancers to sleep…permanently [Walter and Eliza Hall Institute] Published today in the journal Nature, the research reveals the first class of anti-cancer drugs that work by putting the cancer cell to sleep – arresting tumour growth and spread without damaging the cells’ DNA.
	5.12.6 Immunothérapies - AMM
New Immunotherapy Option Approved for Cervical Cancer, Rare Lymphoma [NCI] - The accelerated approval was based on results from a single cohort of 98 women with cervical cancer who were enrolled in an ongoing phase 2 clinical trial of pembrolizumab for the treatment of several cancer types. The trial, called Keynote-158, is sponsored by Merck, the drug’s manufacturer. - The accelerated approval was based on results from a multicenter single-arm phase 2 trial called Keynote-170. The trial, sponsored by Merck, included 53 patients between the ages of 20 and 61 with relapsed or refractory PMBCL.
	5.2.1 Pharma - Partenariats
Clovis loses Servier pact, agrees to settle SEC case [FierceBiotech] Clovis and Servier went on to put the drug through midphase clinical trials in breast and lung cancer, but lackluster data caused the program to stall. Servier has now responded to the midphase data by cutting its ties to lucitanib, but Clovis thinks the drug has a future.
	5.2.2 Pharma - Fusions & Acquisitions
With high expectations on Provenge, Dendreon is ‘sold’ (again) in $832M deal [EndPoints] Dendreon — and its faded cancer star Provenge — is changing hands for the second time in less than two years. Their new owner is Nanjing Xinbai, a department store conglomerate that’s been beefing up its pharmaceutical business, which first proposed to snap up the prostate cancer cell therapy last November.
	5.2.3 Pharma - économie
Clovis writes a $20 million check payable to the SEC, hoping to rid itself of the lingering roci probe [EndPoints] With shares pumped to about $100, Clovis stunned investors in late 2015 when it suddenly slashed the response rate on rociletinib for non-small cell lung cancer to 34% for the 625-mg dose arm, and 28% for the 500-mg dose arm, a plunge of more than 20 points.
BeiGene bags a staggering $903M IPO on the HKEX — and still manages to spark some nervous fretting [EndPoints] In its filing, BeiGene wrote that it believes it’s “well positioned to capture the significant market opportunities in China” with its immuno-oncology drugs zanubrutinib, tislelizumab and pamiparib, all of which would benefit from the raise, from clinical trials to registration and commercialization in both China and the US.
Overpatented, Overpriced: How Excessive Pharmaceutical Patenting is Extending Monopolies and Driving up Drug Prices [I-MAK] This report analyzes the twelve best selling drugs in the United States and reveals that drugmakers file hundreds of patent applications – the vast majority of which are granted – to extend their monopolies far beyond the twenty years of protection intended under U.S. patent law.
	5.3 Traitements - FDA, EMA, NICE...
Brexit forces EMA to suspend tasks as job loss forecast jumps [FierceBiotech] Dutch employment rules are contributing to the situation. Under the rules, the EMA must part company with 135 short-term contract staff. The EMA employs around 900 people. That figure has already begun to go down as people who don’t want to move to Amsterdam take jobs elsewhere.
	5.4 Traitements - Economie
Spending On Prescription Drugs In The US: Where Does All The Money Go? [Health Affairs] To provide a comprehensive overview of these revenues, we quantified the gross profits retained by each group of supply chain participants, arriving at an estimate of annual gross profits of $480 billion per year.
	6.1 Observation
Breast cancer treatment can double heart risks [The Telegraph] Rates of heart attacks were 50 per cent higher in the radiotherapy group, compared with the general population. And the research found that women given anthracycline-based chemotherapy had rates of heart failure four times those of patients who had other types of treatment.
Testicular Cancer Survivors Have Increased Risk of Developing Subsequent Malignant Neoplasms in the Platinum Era [ESMO] While the introduction of platinum-based chemotherapy and radiotherapy have greatly improved cure rates in patients with germ cell testicular cancer over surgery alone, these treatments also result in increased risk of subsequent malignant neoplasms (SMNs), according to an article currently appearing in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
	6.5 Médecines alternatives
FDA blacklists cesium chloride, ineffective and dangerous naturopathic cancer treatment [Science-Based Medicine] The FDA recently issued an alert warning of significant safety risks associated with cesium chloride. It is a mineral salt promoted by naturopathic “doctors” and “integrative” medicine practitioners as an alternative treatment for cancer, despite the lack of evidence of safety and efficacy in treating cancer or any other disease.
	6.7.1 IA/bioinformatique
Smarter cancer treatment: AI tool cuts time of developing radiation therapy plans from days to hours [University of Toronto] Their software uses artificial intelligence, or AI, to mine historical radiation therapy data. This information is then applied to an optimization engine to develop treatment plans. The researchers applied this software tool in their study of 217 patients with throat cancer, who also received treatments developed using conventional methods.