Onco Actu du 31 janvier 2019

	1. BIOLOGIE
Study reveals how brain tumors escape the effects of antiangiogenic drugs [Mass. General Hospital] In their report published in PNAS, the researchers describe how the tumors can spread along existing blood vessels in normal tissue, a process called vessel co-option that can lead to compression of those vessels, reducing the oxygen supply to adjacent tissues and actually stimulating angiogenesis.
Is it time to change the reference genome? [bioRxiv] We suggest that switching to a consensus reference offers important advantages over the current reference with few disadvantages.
Glioblastoma Study Highlights Sex Differences in Brain Cancer [NCI] An analysis of the differentially expressed genes in the clusters showed that “survival in males was most significantly determined by genes that regulate cell division,” Dr. Rubin said. For survival in females, the most important pathway involved the expression of genes called integrins, which, he added, are involved in the spread of tumors.
	3.1 PRÉVENTION - TABAC
American Lung Association's 'State of Tobacco Control' Report Finds States, Federal Government Failed to Act to Prevent, Reduce Tobacco Use [American Lung Association] Facing youth e-cigarette epidemic, American Lung Association calls for federal government, states to put in place proven tobacco control policies to protect kids, save lives.
Federal, state governments failed to prevent smoking, report says [UPI] The "State of Tobacco Control" 2019 report notes the lack of effort by both the federal governments, as well as states, in a variety of areas.
	3.1.1 PRÉVENTION - TABAC - E-CIGS
Vaping twice as likely as gum to help smokers quit, research finds [The Guardian] The research, focused on nearly 900 long-term smokers seeking NHS help to quit, was hailed as a landmark by experts in public health in the UK who believe e-cigarettes have already helped bring down the smoking rate. However, there was less enthusiasm in the United States, where there is concern that vaping nicotine is addictive and may cause children to start smoking.
E-cigarettes almost twice as effective as nicotine replacement therapies for quitting smoking, says trial [Cancer Research UK] The Queen Mary University of London trial, supported by Cancer Research UK, is the first to test how effective e-cigarettes and behavioural support are in combination as part of Stop Smoking Services. The devices were compared against the ‘gold standard’ combination of nicotine replacement products and behavioural support.
E-cigarettes more effective than nicotine replacement to help smokers quit, study finds [Washington Post] E-cigarettes are almost twice as effective as nicotine patches and gum in weaning smokers off conventional cigarettes, according to a clinical trial led by a British university.
E-Cigarettes Are Effective at Helping Smokers Quit, a Study Says [NY Times] A yearlong, randomized trial in England showed that e-cigarettes were almost twice as successful as products like patches or gum for smoking cessation.
E-cigs outperform patches and gums in quit-smoking study [AP] In the new study, researchers tracked nearly 900 middle-age smokers who were randomly assigned to receive either e-cigarettes or nicotine replacement products, including patches, gums and lozenges. After one year, 18 percent of e-cigarette users were smoke-free, versus 9.9 percent of those using the other products.
The Dangerous Flavors of E-Cigarettes [NEJM] The public health problem that e-cigarettes can help solve— by helping people who are users of combustible tobacco products stop smoking by switching to vaping — is adequately addressed by liquids that are not flavored to appeal to adolescents. We urge the FDA to use its statutory powers in regulating nicotine delivery devices to take the bold step of removing these flavored products from the market.
	3.2 PRÉVENTION - OBÉSITÉ
Food industry sway over public health gets new scrutiny [AP] With obesity becoming a more pressing global problem, two reports in science journals are calling for policies that limit industry influence and reviving debate about what role food companies should play in public health efforts.
	4. DÉPISTAGE, DIAGNOSTIC ET PRONOSTIC
A nagging sore throat may be an early sign of cancer [NHS Choices] The research provides new evidence to help GPs weigh up which patients may need referral for investigation, and which should be followed up to ensure their symptoms resolve.
	4.12 BIOPSIES LIQUIDES
Lucence Diagnostics Opens New Headquarters and Molecular Diagnostics Laboratory in Singapore [Lucence] Lucence is now also developing a blood test for the early detection of multiple cancers to save lives. The company will launch a clinical study with 100,000 participants across Asia to validate its early cancer detection test this year.
	5. TRAITEMENTS
Roswell Park Researchers Propose Two New Strategies for Treating Pancreatic Cancer [Roswell Park] Pair of new studies outline different approaches for evading treatment resistance.
	5.1 TRAITEMENTS - PRÉ-CLINIQUE
New target for gastric cancer therapies [Cardiff University] “We have now shown in this work that Vantictumab has potent anti-tumour effects in gastric tumours with and without mutations to the Wnt pathway."
‘Cancer cure’ doubted as Israeli team claims it can’t afford to publish findings [The Times of Israel] Ness Ziona’s Accelerated Evolution Biotechnologies says pre-clinical trial results ‘very good’; foreign experts lambaste claims, Israeli experts say they haven’t seen the research.
MuTaTo: Is an Israeli company within a year of a “complete cure for cancer”? [Respectful Insolence] It’s hard not to wonder whether Morad and Aridor are just grandiose startup executives desperate enough to raise venture capital that they do a bit of creative massaging of the truth or outright con men. (Their excuses for why they haven’t published their results yet made me lean towards the latter.)
	5.10 TRAITEMENTS - ESSAIS
Pfizer's Xtandi blows by Johnson & Johnson's Erleada with hot start in new prostate cancer field [Fierce Pharma] You may not see it in sales numbers yet, but Pfizer and Astellas’ Xtandi is crushing Johnson & Johnson’s Erleada in the nonmetastatic, castration-resistant prostate cancer market—according to Pfizer's executives, at least.
Janssen Announces ERLEADA® (apalutamide) Phase 3 TITAN Study Unblinded as Dual Primary Endpoints Achieved in Clinical Program Evaluating Treatment of Patients with Metastatic Castration-Sensitive Prostate Cancer [Janssen] Results from the TITAN study will be submitted for presentation at an upcoming medical congress. Applications seeking regulatory approval of ERLEADA supported by data from the Phase 3 TITAN study are planned for 2019.
J&J scores another PhIII win for Erleada as it continues to build a blockbuster franchise [EndPoints] Just under a year since J&J won approval from the FDA to start marketing Erleada (apalutamide) for non-metastatic prostate cancer, the pharma giant has now nailed down the late-stage data it needs to prove that it works in metastatic patients as well.
	5.12 IMMUNOTHÉRAPIES
It Was Supposed to Work: Managing Disappointment When Promising Treatments Fail [ASCO Connection] Yet, in all our talk of this breakthrough and our excitement in both the research and standard use of these agents, I think we’ve oversold its impact. It seems every woman facing a cancer diagnosis I meet for the first time wants immunotherapy. There’s an assumption that all are benefitting, and that it’s a less toxic alternative to standard chemotherapy. Yet, when it comes to most gynecologic and breast cancers, that’s not true.
	5.12.2 IMMUNOTHÉRAPIES - CAR-T, THÉRAPIES CELLULAIRES
First child given pioneering CAR-T cancer therapy [BBC News] Yuvan Thakkar, who has a form of leukaemia, was given the personalised treatment at Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH), in London, after conventional cancer treatments failed.
	5.12.5 IMMUNOTHÉRAPIES - PHARMA
Aduro Biotech Slashes Staff 37%, Turns Focus to Lead Cancer Drugs [Xconomy] In addition to its STING drugs, Aduro says it will also focus on developing drugs that block a protein called APRIL, which is found in high levels in patients diagnosed with cancers such as multiple myeloma, chronic lymphocytic leukemia, and colorectal carcinoma.
	5.2 PHARMA
Novartis lays out blockbuster launches for 2018-2020, with surprising inclusion of Kymriah [EndPoints] The drugs included in the list are largely familiar, but the inclusion of the company’s pioneering CAR-T therapy Kymriah, whose adoption has been wobbly due to manufacturing woes, will raise some eyebrows.
	5.3 TRAITEMENTS - FDA, EMA, NICE...
FDA moving to 'risk-based' inspections even as valsartan scare adds new wrinkle to oversight [Fierce Pharma] This move to “risk-based” inspections, which predates Gottlieb, is expected to be more effective in a growing global manufacturing industry the FDA must oversee with limited resources.
How a Tainted Heart Drug Made in China Slipped Past the FDA [Bloomberg] Lag in U.S. recall highlights strains in global pharmaceutical supply chain.
Exclusive Interview: FDA Commissioner Talks Drug Pricing, Expanded Access, and Tobacco [ASCO in Action Podcast] FDA Commissioner Dr. Scott Gottlieb joins ASCO CEO Dr. Clifford A. Hudis for an exclusive interview on FDA’s role in tackling drug pricing, combating the spike in tobacco use in teens, and improving the expanded access program.
	6.6 PUBLICATIONS
Can a “nudge” stop researchers from using the wrong cell lines? [Retraction Watch] Among more than 300,000 cell line names in more than 150,000 articles, Bandrowski and her colleagues “estimate that 8.6% of these cell lines were on the list of problematic cell lines, whereas only 3.3% of the cell lines in the 634 papers that included RRIDs were on the problematic list,” suggesting “that the use of RRIDs is associated with a lower reported use of problematic cell lines.”
Encouraging Data Sharing: A Small Investment for Large Potential Gain [The Scholarly Kitchen] This is increasingly relevant as there is growing attention on mandatory Data Availability Statements (DASs) from publishers, institutions and funding agencies; this is particularly true in the UK where DASs are a requirement of UK Research and Innovation’s (UKRI) Common Principles on Data Policy.
	6.7.2 APPLIS
The initiative of EORTC staff members to help parents of children with cancer or stem cell therapies [EORTC] Their first project is to develop an app that will help parents to keep track of complex medication schedules for cancer or stem cell therapies so that children can be safely cared for, in the comfort of their own home.