Onco Actu du 13 juin 2019

	1. BIOLOGIE
Multi-omics Study of Gut Microbiota in Colorectal Cancer [ESMO] A group of Japanese scientists reported on 6 June 2019 in the Nature Medicine findings from a large-cohort multi-omics study which indicate that shifts in the microbiome and metabolome occur from the very early stages of the development of colorectal cancer. The findings are of possible aetiological and diagnostic importance.
Transmissible cancer and the evolution of sex [PLOS Biology] Given the omnipresence of oncogenic processes in multicellular organisms, together with the fact that transmissible cancer cells can have dramatic effects on their host fitness, our scenario suggests that the benefits of sex and concomitant recombination will be large and permanent, explaining why sexual reproduction is, despite its costs, the dominant mode of reproduction among eukaryotes.
	1.1 BIOLOGIE - GÉNOME
Not silent at all [DKFZ] Scientists from the German Cancer Consortium, German Cancer Research Center, and the University of Freiburg have now created a comprehensive database of all synonymous mutations ever found in cancer. This is a "reference book" that provides cancer researchers with all available information on each of these supposedly "silent" mutations at a glance.
	1.4 BIOLOGIE - TECHNOS
New gene-editing system precisely inserts large DNA sequences into cellular DNA [MIT] Researchers identify and develop new CRISPR-associated transposase system for targeted integration of DNA, adding key capabilities to gene-editing technology.
	2.11 ETIOLOGIE - ALIMENTATION
Changing your meat-eating habits could mean a longer life, study suggests [CNN] "The lower or lack of association between red meat intake and mortality in other countries or areas of the world indicates that red meat may contribute to mortality in the United States by providing a high protein content but also because it may contain other factors that contribute to damage."
Swapping one portion of red meat a day for fish or nuts could cut risk of early death by almost a fifth [The Telegraph] Dr Giota Mitrou, director of research at the World Cancer Research Fund, said: "This new study reinforces our own evidence that eating red meat or processed meat increases the risk of cancer."
	4.13 DÉP., DIAG. & PRONO. - PEAU
Laser detects tumor cells in bloodstream, potentially improving melanoma screening and treatment [Science] Device picks up rare skin cancer cells missed by other tests.
	4.15 DÉP., DIAG. & PRONO. - IMAGERIE
Whole-body PET scanner produces 3D images in seconds [Nature] The machine could be especially helpful for imaging children, who tend to wiggle around inside a scanner and ruin the measurements, as well as for studies of how drugs move through the body.
	5. TRAITEMENTS
Drug to Replace Chemotherapy May Reshape Cancer Care [Bloomberg] The complex biological medicines, called antibody drug conjugates (ADCs), have been in development for decades, and are now generating renewed excitement because of the success of one ADC in late-stage testing, a breast cancer treatment called DS-8201.
Radiation plus chemotherapy doesn’t improve endometrial cancer recurrence-free survival [Northwestern University] This is the first study comparing the combined regimen to chemotherapy alone. It was published June 12 in the New England Journal of Medicine.
	5.2.1 PHARMA - PARTENARIATS
Intermountain Increases Investment in Precision Health Through Decode Genetics Sequencing Study [Genome Web] Intermountain will consent patients into the study, collect samples for analysis, and send them, anonymized, to Decode in Iceland for analysis. Decode will conduct the genomic analysis on de-identified samples, but both partners will have access to the research data.
Intermountain Healthcare and deCODE genetics Launch Groundbreaking DNA Study of 500,000 People to Find New Links Between Genetics and Disease [Amgen] The initiative, called the HerediGene: Population Study, represents the largest and most comprehensive DNA mapping effort to date in the United States from a single population. For the study, which is voluntary and free to participants, Intermountain teams will work with deCODE to analyze the genomes of 500,000 people from Intermountain’s patient population, primarily in Utah and Idaho.
	5.2.2 PHARMA - FUSIONS & ACQUISITIONS
Sobi to buy Novimmune R&D assets, lay off 90 staff [Fierce Biotech] The revised deal sees Sobi buy IFNγ inhibitor emapalumab and associated assets outright. For CHF 515 million, most of which Sobi previously committed in the licensing deal, Sobi is acquiring the drug, staff involved in the clinical development of emapalumab, options on two immuno-oncology assets and a FDA priority review voucher it can either use or sell.
	5.2.3 PHARMA - ÉCONOMIE
ADC Therapeutics bumps up series E by $76M, prepares lead drug for 2020 filing [Fierce Biotech] The company plans to follow the BLA for ADCT-402 with a filing for ADCT-301, which it’s developing for Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin lymphomas and solid tumors. While ADCT-402 targets CD19, ADCT-301 targets CD25 on regulatory T cells.
Prelude Therapeutics nabs $60M series B, gains biopharma veteran as CMO [Fierce Biotech] The $60 million will go toward advancing Prelude’s PRMT5 inhibitor, PRT543, through proof of concept clinical studies. PRT543 is currently in a parallel dose escalation phase 1 clinical trial for solid tumors, myeloid malignancies and lymphomas.
ADC Therapeutics Announces Completion of a Series E Financing Expansion [ADC Therapeutics] ADC Therapeutics plans to complete enrollment in its pivotal Phase II trial of ADCT-402 in patients with relapsed or refractory DLBCL imminently and report interim results in the third quarter of 2019.
ADC Therapeutics beefs up monster $200M round with fresh $76M haul [EndPoints] Unlike the first generation of antibody-drug conjugates that were steered to the market by Seattle Genetics and others, ADC Therapeutics is using pyrrolobenzodiazepine-based warheads that it suspects will be more potent and mitigate drug resistance, even in hard-to-treat tumors.
OrbiMed-backed Prelude Therapeutics raises $60M to tackle resistance to cancer treatments [EndPoints] The B round will pay for clinical proof-of-concept studies of Prelude’s PRMT5 inhibitor. PRMT5, or protein arginine methyltransferase 5, is believed to play a central role in several pathways for cancer cell proliferation, cell cycle progression and resistance to apoptosis.
	5.4 TRAITEMENTS - ECONOMIE
Kidney and lung cancer drugs approved on the NHS in Scotland [Cancer Research UK] The decision from the Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) adds new immunotherapies and a targeted drug to the list of available treatments for some patients.
	5.6 ESMO
Antibodies Against HPV16 Can Develop up to 40 Years Before Throat Cancer is Diagnosed and Mark a 100-fold Increase in Risk in White People [Annals of Oncology Press Release] The researchers from Europe, North America and Australia, who were part of the HPV Cancer Cohort Consortium, looked at 743 patients with throat cancer and compared them with 5,814 people without cancer who were the control group.
	5.9.3 EHA
Seattle Genetics Announces Multiple ADCETRIS® (Brentuximab Vedotin) Presentations at the Congress of the European Hematology Association (EHA) and the International Conference on Malignant Lymphoma (ICML) [Seattle Genetics] Updated analyses from clinical trials evaluating ADCETRIS in combination with Opdivo® (nivolumab), as well as encore analyses from the phase 3 ECHELON-1, ECHELON-2 and ALCANZA clinical trials, will be highlighted in 12 presentations at EHA and ICML.
GSK announces data on anti-BCMA antibody-drug conjugate in patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma to be presented at European Hematology Association (EHA) Congress [GSK] Belantamab mafodotin is an antibody-drug conjugate comprising a humanised anti-B cell maturation antigen (BCMA) monoclonal antibody conjugated to the cytotoxic agent auristatin F via non-cleavable linker.
	6.1 OBSERVATION
Cancer survival rates in the young show inconsistent progress [EurekAlert!] The patterns here suggest that most of the recent survival increases in this age group (people between 15 and 39) were driven by improvements in treatments for HIV/AIDS and related cancers.
	6.10.1 POLITIQUES (USA)
Biden says as president he wants to 'cure cancer' [The Hill] Curing the disease has become a primary focus for Biden since his son, Beau Biden, died in 2015 of an aggressive form of brain cancer. He oversaw the “Cancer Moonshot” during his time as vice president in the Obama administration.
	6.11 PATIENTS
Gabriele Grunewald, Runner Who Chronicled Journey With Cancer, Dies at 32 [NY Times] “Brave Like Gabe” became her motto, and the name of a foundation she started for cancer research. Grunewald considered her scars a sign of her ability to handle adversity and encouraged others on social media to do the same.
	6.3 ASSOCIATIONS/FONDATIONS
MMRF Launches CureCloud™ to Advance Precision Medicine [Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation] The MMRF CureCloud will be the first and most comprehensive data hub in multiple myeloma designed to speed the delivery of precision-based treatment to every patient.
	6.4 MÉDICO-ÉCO
Canadian panel calls for universal public drug coverage [Reuters] Canada is the only country with a universal health care system that does not include universal coverage for prescription drugs. Most prescriptions are paid for through employer-funded drug plans, while some are covered by government programs for the elderly, or people with low incomes or very high costs.
	6.7 DMP, BIG DATA & APPLIS
The Childhood Cancer Data Initiative: Why Data Sharing Is Essential to Progress [NCI] The CCDI will help to maximize the utility of data collected from as many childhood and AYA cancer patients as possible, from institutions around the country and around the world. Through improved data federation, the CCDI will connect these data with an infrastructure to facilitate sharing.
	6.7.2 APPLIS
Dassault Systèmes and Medidata Solutions To Join Forces To Accelerate the Life Sciences Industry Innovation for Patient-Centric Experience Through End-to-End Collaborative Platform [Dassault Systèmes] Medidata Solutions’ market-leading clinical cloud solutions are used by 1,300 customers worldwide to develop their therapeutic innovations and clinical operations performance.