Onco Actu du 5 avril 2019

	1. BIOLOGIE
Genome-Wide Analysis Reveals New Strategies to Target Pancreatic Cancer [UCSD] In a new paper publishing in the April 4, 2019 online issue of Cell, an international team of scientists led by researchers at University of California San Diego School of Medicine employed an array of next-generation sequencing and gene-editing tools, such as CRISPR, to map the molecular dependencies —and thus vulnerabilities — of pancreatic cancer stem cells.
How white blood cells choose the quickest path through your body [Nature] Immune cells inside the body need to make their way through densely packed tissues, squeezing through gaps and finding the most efficient route. During metastasis, cancer cells may make use of a similar type of locomotion. Now, experiments reveal how the cells probe different paths and use their bulky nucleus to gauge the size of gaps.
	3.3 PRÉVENTION - VACCINS
HPV rates tumble after routine vaccination [The Guardian] There was also a drop in the levels of disease among women who have not been vaccinated, which suggests a “herd immunity” effect, say the authors – because there has been less HPV virus in the community.
	4.10 DÉP., DIAG. & PRONO. - FDA, EMA, NICE,...
FDA issues warning letter to genomics lab for illegally marketing genetic test that claims to predict patients’ responses to specific medications [FDA] The FDA is unaware of any data establishing that Inova’s tests can help patients or health care providers make appropriate treatment decisions for the listed drugs.
	5. TRAITEMENTS
Q&A: Epigenetic Therapies for Breast Cancer [The Scientist] Breast cancer researcher and oncologist Nancy Davidson discusses what we’ve learned from the first wave of epigenetic trials for breast cancer, and what challenges lie ahead before such therapies reach the clinic.
	5.1 TRAITEMENTS - PRÉ-CLINIQUE
Blocking epigenetic “Swiss army knife” may be a new strategy for treating colorectal cancer [Van Andel Institute] A new study out today in Cancer Cell shows that blocking specific regions of a protein called UHRF1 switches on hundreds of cancer-fighting genes, impairing colorectal cancer cells’ ability to grow and spread throughout the body.
New hope for treating childhood brain cancer [Rockefeller University] This study contributes to a growing body of research pointing to cholesterol interference as a promising new way to treat cancer. Moving forward, Phillips and his colleagues hope to develop compounds that are optimized for targeting brain cancer. As a starting point, they are studying a number of cholesterol-reducing compounds that are already on the market.
Researchers Discover Potential Way to Hit Elusive Target in Pancreatic Cancer [NCI] The researchers found that drugs that block the activity of KRAS-interacting proteins force cancer cells to rely on a way of creating energy called autophagy. They then showed that a combination of two drugs—one that indirectly targets KRAS and one that blocks autophagy—shrank pancreatic cancer tumors in mice.
	5.12 IMMUNOTHÉRAPIES
Cancer Exports Molecular ‘Saboteurs’ to Remotely Disarm Immune System [UCSF] These PD-L1–packed exosomes sprout from cancer cells and travel through the lymphatic system or bloodstream to lymph nodes, the sites where immune cells are activated to protect the body. There, the PD-L1 proteins act as itinerant molecular saboteurs, remotely disarming immune cells and preventing them from locating tumors to mount an anti-cancer offensive.
Cancer’s Trick for Dodging the Immune System [NY Times] The new study is part of a growing body of research that suggests that even when tumors don’t have this PD-L1 molecule on their surfaces, they are still using the molecule to trick the immune system. Instead of appearing on the surface, the molecule is released by the tumor into the body, where it travels to immune system hubs, the lymph nodes, and tricks the cells that congregate there.
	5.12.2 IMMUNOTHÉRAPIES - CAR-T, THÉRAPIES CELLULAIRES
Janssen’s CAR-T gains PRIME status in Europe [PM Live] Janssen has been granted a valuable PRIME (Priority Medicines) designation from the European Medicines Agency for its CAR-T candidate for multiple myeloma, a fast-track status which could give it an advantage in the race to market.
	5.2 PHARMA
Daiichi's Xospata rival pushed back by FDA as it combs through new data [Fierce Biotech] The drug (quizartinib , a FLT3 inhibitor) is seeking approval in patients with relapsed/refractory FLT3-ITD acute myeloid leukemia (AML). It got an FDA priority review in November, which speeds up its regulatory process for a drug.
	5.2.1 PHARMA - PARTENARIATS
Myriad, AstraZeneca and Merck Expand Companion Diagnostic Partnership [Myriad] BRACAnalysis CDx® Test Will Be Used to Identify Germline BRCA Mutations in Men with Metastatic Castrate-Resistant Prostate Cancer.
	5.2.3 PHARMA - ÉCONOMIE
Merrimack 0 for 3 as it dumps cancer drug over safety fears, axes staffers (again) [Fierce Biotech] The experimental med for the chop is MM-310, an antibody-directed nanotherapeutic in phase 1 for solid tumors. This marks the last of the three clinical drugs it had in the pipeline since reforming as a clinical-stage R&D biotech back in 2017, and now leaves it with only preclinical assets.
	5.3 TRAITEMENTS - FDA, EMA, NICE...
Scott Gottlieb Says He Will Return to Conservative Think Tank After Leaving F.D.A. [NY Times] Although A.E.I., where Dr. Gottlieb once worked, opposed some regulations of vaping, it did not take part in the vituperative public attacks on Dr. Gottlieb for his work to end the youth vaping epidemic like much of the rest of the Washington conservative establishment.
	5.3.4 TRAITEMENTS - AMM (FDA, EMA,...)
U.S. FDA Approves IBRANCE® (palbociclib) for the Treatment of Men with HR+, HER2- Metastatic Breast Cancer [Pfizer] Approval of expanded indication based predominately on real-world data.
FDA expands approved use of metastatic breast cancer treatment to include male patients [FDA] “Today we are expanding the indication for Ibrance to include male patients based upon data from postmarketing reports and electronic health records showing that the safety profile for men treated with Ibrance is consistent with the safety profile in women treated with Ibrance.”
	5.9.9 AACR - IMMUNOTHÉRAPIES
AACR Annual Meeting 2019: Manipulating the Immune System in Cancer Therapy [Cancer Research Catalyst] While many successful immunotherapeutic regimens have relied on checkpoint inhibition, other immunotherapeutic approaches, such as adoptive cellular therapies (ACT), the use of bispecific antibodies, and targeting components of the tumor microenvironment, are showing promise in a variety of cancer types.
	6. LUTTE CONTRE LES CANCERS
Johns Hopkins Faculty, Staff Members Address Travails of Navigating Metastatic Cancer Survivorship in New England Journal of Medicine Perspective Piece [Johns Hopkins] Now, with advances in research and treatment, a diagnosis of metastatic disease is no longer an immediate death sentence. Many of these patients, who once would have died within months, are now living extended years. But it’s not as simple as it sounds. Two Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center professionals know this all too well.
	6.1 OBSERVATION
Bad Diets Are Responsible For More Deaths Than Smoking, Global Study Finds [NPR] Which countries do best when it comes to diet? Israel, France, Spain and Japan were among the countries with the lowest rates of diet-related disease. The U.S ranked 43rd, and China ranked 140th.
	6.10.1 POLITIQUES (USA)
U.S. forces health company to ditch Chinese investor, in sign of heightened concern over foreign influence [STAT] The order concerns the patient social network PatientsLikeMe, whose majority owner is iCarbonX, a Chinese digital health company. iCarbonX, founded by Wang, a Chinese genomics pioneer, and backed by the big Chinese tech firm Tencent, aggregates health data and is using artificial intelligence to try to make recommendations and predictions.
	6.12 ETHIQUE
Memorial Sloan Kettering Leaders Violated Conflict-of-Interest Rules, Report Finds [NY Times] The review concluded that officials frequently violated or skirted their own policies; that hospital leaders’ ties to companies were likely considered on an ad hoc basis rather than through rigorous vetting; and that researchers were often unaware that some senior executives had financial stakes in the outcomes of their studies.
	6.2 IMPLANTS MAMMAIRES
Health Canada plans to suspend Allergan's breast implant license [Reuters] About 28 cases of breast implant-associated ALCL have been brought to the notice of Health Canada, out of which 24 involved the Biocell breast implant, the agency said.
	6.7 DMP, BIG DATA & APPLIS
NHSX to mandate health tech standards [HTN] NHSX has announced it wants to assemble a world-class team of technical experts to help solve some of the biggest technology challenges in health and care. Digital experts from newly formed NHSX will be embedded in national mental health and cancer teams to help clinicians and policymakers improve patient experience through the power of technology.
	6.7.1 IA/BIOINFORMATIQUE
In defense of the black box [Science] Although AI thought processes can be limited, biased, or outright wrong, they are also different from human thought processes in ways that can reveal new connections and approaches. This brings us to the third case for black box systems: as tools to inspire and guide human inquiry.
	6.9 CONTROVERSES
The Importance of Predefined Rules and Prespecified Statistical Analyses [JAMA] Banning statistical significance while retaining P values (or confidence intervals) will not improve numeracy and may foster statistical confusion and create problematic issues with study interpretation, a state of statistical anarchy. Uniformity in statistical rules and processes makes it easier to compare like with like and avoid having some associations and effects be more privileged than others in unwarranted ways.