Onco Actu du 15 mai 2019

	1. BIOLOGIE
Why Hodgkin’s lymphoma cells grow uncontrollably [Max Delbrück Center] A team at the Max Delbrück Center led by Professor Claus Scheidereit has now identified an important signaling molecule in the biology of this lymphoma: LTA. It helps the cancer to grow unimpeded – for example, by activating genes for immune checkpoint ligands that protect tumor cells from the body’s built-in defense system.
Bone Cells Suppress Cancer Metastases [Thomas Jefferson University] A subpopulation of bone cells releases factors that can halt the growth of breast cancer that’s traveled to the bone, putting the cells in stasis.
	4.2 DÉP., DIAG. & PRONO. - GÉNOME
New Insights Into Treatment Targets For Men With Advanced Prostate Cancers [Huntsman Cancer Institute] Using comprehensive genomic profiling (CGP) to analyze thousands of tumor samples from men with advanced prostate cancers, the researchers identified that 57 percent of the samples evaluated had genomic characteristics that suggested the tumors were candidates for targeted therapies.
	5.1 TRAITEMENTS - PRÉ-CLINIQUE
Conquering Cancer’s Infamous KRAS Mutation [Sanford Burnham Prebys] In the study, the scientists focused on mutant KRAS’ accomplice, a protein called Cnksr1 (connector enhancer of kinase suppressor of Ras 1). Mutant KRAS floats to the cellular membrane and attaches to this scaffold to become active. After demonstrating that inhibiting Cnksr1 halts the growth of lung and colon cancer cells, the researchers conducted molecular modeling and structural modifications to identify PHT-7.3.
	5.12.1 IMMUNOTHÉRAPIES - PARTENARIATS
Merck KGaA retools F-star pact, walks away from lead PD-L1 drug [Fierce Biotech] Preclinical data suggest FS118 may overcome resistance to PD-1/PD-L1 antibodies such as Keytruda, Opdivo and Merck KGaA’s own Bavencio by blocking a second checkpoint inhibitor receptor, LAG-3. Studies of PD-1 resistance suggest upregulation of LAG-3 contributes to the problem.
	5.12.6 IMMUNOTHÉRAPIES - AMM
FDA Approves BAVENCIO® (avelumab) Plus INLYTA® (axitinib) Combination for Patients with Advanced Renal Cell Carcinoma [Pfizer] Phase III study showed combination significantly lowered risk of disease progression or death by 31% and extended progression-free survival by 5.4 months for patients with advanced RCC compared with sunitinib.
	5.12.8 IMMUNOTHÉRAPIES - ECONOMIE
MSD's Keytruda recommended on NHS in Scotland for Stage 3 melanoma [Pharmafile] Thanks to the decision, access to the drug in this indication is now harmonised across the Great British mainland, following a recommendation from NICE in December 2018 to make the immunotherapy available on the NHS in England and Wales.
Novartis' cancer treatment Kymriah gets Japan nod at cost of $305,800 [Reuters] Novartis expects peak annual sales of 7.2 billion yen ($65.7 million) in Japan with up to 216 possible patients, according to a document submitted to the panel.
	5.16 TRAITEMENTS - CHIRURGIE
Earlier, More Frequent Removal of Some Pancreatic Cysts May Decrease Cancer Risk for Some Patients [Johns Hopkins] By analyzing medical records of 901 adults who had surgery for a certain type of precancerous pancreatic cyst, researchers at Johns Hopkins Medicine and The Karolinska Institute in Sweden have updated parameters for an anatomical “marker” that can tell more precisely if these cysts are likely to develop into lethal pancreatic cancers.
European Society of Surgical Oncology's strategy for clinical research: Paving the way for a culture of research in cancer surgery [EJSO] Being involved in clinical research is a major commitment of ESSO and producing high quality and robust evidence is our responsibility. However, challenges remain, and a clear strategy is needed if we are to be successful in our mission. The plan of action for the coming five years consists of 4 pillars.
	5.17 TRAITEMENTS - RADIOTHÉRAPIE
Study touts new method to reduce cognitive side effects of brain cancer radiation treatment [UCI] “Although more research needs to be done, this has the potential to revolutionize cancer care worldwide,” said Charles Limoli, a professor of radiation oncology in UCI’s School of Medicine and co-author of the study, which appears online this week in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
	5.2 PHARMA
Getting Clinical On New Drug Launches [Life Sci VC] IQVIA tracks all the New Active Substances (NASs) that were launched in the US in 2018 (irrespective of what year they were approved). This includes 59 NASs for 2018, roughly half of which were orphan disease drugs. Here are a few of the key findings as they relate to clinical trial activity.
	5.2.3 PHARMA - ÉCONOMIE
Novartis defeats challenge to validity of Afinitor patent [Reuters] The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit upheld claims 1-3 of a Novartis patent on the use of everolimus, the active ingredient in Afinitor, to treat advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC).
A new study sparks a war of words over the drug industry’s commitment to research [STAT] While CSRxP takes issue with pharma spending roughly 22% of its revenues on R&D, it doesn’t get much better than that: Multiple studies have shown that the drug industry outspends other similar R&D-heavy sectors, like tech.
	5.3.4 TRAITEMENTS - AMM (FDA, EMA,...)
Daiichi’s leukemia drug falls amid FDA adcomm’s trial concerns [Fierce Biotech] “I’ve been here 20 years, and I haven’t seen this discrepancy here, of randomized but not treated patients, to this extent,” Pazdur said, questioning whether biases or equipoise existed during the study’s randomization process.
FDA Oncologic Drugs Advisory Committee Votes in Favor of Daiichi Sankyo’s Pexidartinib for the Treatment of Select Patients with TGCT, a Rare, Debilitating Tumor [Daiichi Sankyo] If approved by the FDA, pexidartinib would be the first and only approved therapy for tenosynovial giant cell tumor (TGCT), which is associated with severe morbidity or functional limitations, and not amenable to improvement with surgery.
Daiichi Sankyo Announces Outcome of FDA Oncologic Drugs Advisory Committee Meeting to Review FLT3 Inhibitor Quizartinib for the Treatment of Patients with Relapsed/Refractory FLT3-ITD AML [Daiichi Sankyo] While we are disappointed by the outcome of today’s ODAC vote, we will work closely with the FDA as it completes the review of our submission,” said Antoine Yver, MD, MSc, Executive Vice President and Global Head, Oncology Research and Development, Daiichi Sankyo.
Daiichi Sankyo ‘disappointed’ as FDA experts spurn AML drug but vote in favor of rare tumor drug [EndPoints] By a 3-8 margin, the oncology experts convened by the agency shot down the Japanese drugmaker’s case for its acute myeloid leukemia drug quizartinib, having voted in favor of pexidartinib in the morning session. Pexidartinib treats benign tumors known as symptomatic tenosynovial giant cell tumor.
FDA advisory panel votes against Daiichi Sankyo's blood cancer treatment [Reuters] Independent experts on an advisory panel to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Tuesday voted against Daiichi Sankyo Co Ltd’s treatment for adults with a type of acute myeloid leukemia. The panel voted 8-3 against the drug, quizartinib, after assessing data presented by the Japanese company.
	5.5.1.1 ASCO (GÉNÉRAL) - INDUSTRIELS
Myriad Genetics to Present Multiple Studies at the 2019 American Society of Clinical Oncology Annual Meeting [Myriad] "At this year’s ASCO, we are excited to present multiple studies that highlight the clinical performance of several of Myriad’s genetic tests.”
	6. LUTTE CONTRE LES CANCERS
The American Cancer Society Sets A Goal To Reduce The Burden Of Cancer: Are We Up To The Challenge? [Dr. Len] Achieving the goal of a 40% reduction in cancer deaths by 2035 is not easy. And the reality is this estimate is based on the premise that all of us start doing what we need to do right now. That’s not likely to happen, and we realize that. However, if we don’t challenge ourselves to do better we know for certain we will never get there.
	6.1 OBSERVATION
Breast cancer risk in transgender people receiving hormone treatment: nationwide cohort study in the Netherlands [BMJ] This study showed an increased risk of breast cancer in trans women compared with cisgender men, and a lower risk in trans men compared with cisgender women.
	6.10 POLITIQUES
New EU research funding head stresses ‘superdisciplinarity’ [Science] Nanomedicine expert Mauro Ferrari talks with Science about dropping out of med school and working with the Vatican.
Europe abandons plans for ‘flagship’ billion-euro research projects [Science] Six candidate research proposals lost in limbo.
Europe’s premier research funder appoints new president [Nature] Medical-research manager Mauro Ferrari will take over role at the European Research Council from mathematician Jean-Pierre Bourguignon. “I may look like I have been working in many fields,” he says. “But in fact, for the last 20 years, I have been studying the same problem — how do you treat cancer metastases to the lungs and liver?”
	6.6 PUBLICATIONS
The death of the literature review and the rise of the dynamic knowledge map [LSE Impact Blog] If we choose to invest into building dynamic knowledge maps, we will fully adhere to Vaganay’s calls for increasing standardization, while we will equally fully adhere to Phelps calls for not wasting time and resources for presenting the same thing repeatedly, each team of authors in their own light.
	6.7.1 IA/BIOINFORMATIQUE
Machine Learning and Cancer [Koch Institute] The 18th Annual Koch Institute Summer Symposium on June 14, 2019 at MIT's Kresge Auditorium will focus on Machine Learning and Cancer.
An Intro to Deep Learning [In The Pipeline] This book will also (perhaps paradoxically) reassure you about the current limits of the technique in general and the continued need for intelligent human oversight and intervention. Making ourselves a bit more intelligent about that is no bad thing.
Artificial intelligence is selecting grant reviewers in China [Nature] The country's major funding agency says the tool reduces the time it takes to find referees.
	6.7.2 APPLIS
Ethical concerns of oncology trial-finding apps [Baylor College of Medicine] Morain and collaborators examine several key ethical issues with this model in the paper: recruitment materials, user privacy and confidentiality, conflicts of interest, misbranding of research as treatment, payment for accessing research information, and interruptions to care and research.