Onco Actu du 23 juillet 2019

	1. BIOLOGIE
Metastatic Colorectal Cancer May Spread Early in the Disease, Study Finds [NCI] The NCI-funded study is significant, Dr. Boudreau said, because “it shows, for the first time in patients, that some tumor cells are capable of metastasizing from the get-go.” And the new findings may provide clues on how to target and eliminate such cells in the bloodstream, she said.
Common Feature of Cancer Cells That Makes Them Appear Overstuffed May Also Be Their Achilles’ Heel [Johns Hopkins] The vulnerability, they say, is rooted in a common feature among cancer cells — their high intracellular protein concentrations — that make them appear bloated and overstuffed, and which could be used as possible new targets for cancer treatments.
	1.1 BIOLOGIE - GÉNOME
Study reveals genetic similarities of osteosarcoma between dogs and children [TGEN] TGen and Tufts University novel findings for this deadly bone cancer could lead to better treatments for people and pets.
	3.1.1 PRÉVENTION - TABAC - E-CIGS
FDA launches its first youth e-cigarette prevention TV ads, plans new educational resources as agency approaches one-year anniversary of public education campaign [FDA] “The Real Cost” Youth E-Cigarette Prevention Campaign aims to reach nearly 10.7 million at-risk youth through TV, digital platforms, social media, in-school ads and posters nationwide.
	4.1 DÉP., DIAG. & PRONO. - PROSTATE
Gene test picks out prostate cancers patients who could benefit from ‘search-and-destroy’ medicine [Institute of Cancer Research] An emerging class of drugs are made up of a radioactive particle that can kill cells attached to a ‘homing device’ to seek out cancers by detecting the presence of a target molecule on their surface.
	5.1 TRAITEMENTS - PRÉ-CLINIQUE
PARP Inhibitor Drugs Found to Have Hidden Talent [Dana-Farber Cancer Institute] In a new paper, Dana-Farber researchers and their colleagues found that in triple-negative breast cancer, treatment with olaparib — a PARP inhibitor — lures legions of immune system CD8+ T cells inside the tumor, where they wage battle against it.
Scientists Develop Promising Drug For Treating Ovarian And Pancreatic Cancers [Houston Methodist] “MFAP5 promotes fibrosis in ovarian and pancreatic cancers, and fibrosis promotes progression, chemoresistance and reduces survival of people with these cancers. By blocking this secretory protein with an antibody, we can treat the tumor by targeting multiple cellular types – fibroblasts and blood vessels -- in the tumor microenvironment.”
	5.12.2 IMMUNOTHÉRAPIES - CAR-T, THÉRAPIES CELLULAIRES
A personalized CAR-T to attack every solid tumor? Pact Pharma has a plan [Fierce Biotech] The process starts by using bioinformatics technology to identify the “mutation blueprint” of each patient’s tumor, according to a statement. From there, Pact’s scientists can capture T cells in the blood that already have the ability to recognize and target those mutations. The researchers then identify mutation-targeted T-cell receptors and use gene editing to attach them to T cells from the patients.
A new kind of CAR-T becomes a micro-pharmacy, eliminating glioblastoma in mice [STAT] Maus and Mass General have applied for a patent on the CAR-T/BiTE invention, and she is trying to raise $3 million to make medical-grade CAR-Ts (that requires a special, expensive vector to carry the desired genes into the T cells). She’s also trying to gin up industry interest in a clinical trial.
	5.16 TRAITEMENTS - CHIRURGIE
UToronto researchers: Women with cervical cancer had poorer outcomes with minimally invasive surgery [The Cancer Letter] “Historically, most surgical procedures that have been done—appendectomy, cholecystectomy—were never tested in a randomized controlled trial to determine the best approach before they were introduced,” Ferguson said. “When we are introducing new surgical approaches—just as when we introduce new drugs—it would be ideal to get the best level of evidence in a randomized controlled trial.”
Ontario study: Women undergoing minimally invasive procedures for early-stage cervical cancer had double the rates of death, recurrence [The Cancer Letter] The population-based study, which included 958 cervical cancer patients who underwent minimally invasive between 2006 and 2017 in Ontario was designed to determine whether minimally invasive surgery is associated with adverse oncologic outcomes in cervical cancer patients. The study controlled for confounding factors, primarily the surgeons’ experience with minimally invasive procedures.
	5.2.1 PHARMA - PARTENARIATS
AstraZeneca spearheads lung cancer alliance aiming to boost survival rates [Fierce Pharma] Aside from the British drugmaker, the group is made up of a global physicians' group (International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer), patients and patient advocates (Global Lung Cancer Coalition) and a diagnostic company (Guardant Health), making it a diverse group but one with specific goals. It already has four projects underway to address a variety of issues in lung cancer.
	5.3 TRAITEMENTS - FDA, EMA, NICE...
Decision in strategic inquiry OI/7/2017/KR on how the European Medicines Agency engages with medicine developers in the period leading up to applications for authorisations to market new medicines in the EU [European Ombudsman] The Ombudsman found that EMA should carefully manage the contacts its evaluators have with medicine developers during the pre-submission phase. She also found that EMA should provide greater transparency on its pre-submission activities, with the aim of maintaining public trust in its work.
NICE announces details of health technology evaluation methods review [NICE] NICE is undertaking this review at a time of unprecedented change in the healthcare system, where developments such as personalised medicine, digitalisation of health, and use of cell and gene therapy, mean products are becoming ever more challenging to evaluate.
FDA discusses RWD, RWE with industry, academia [EndPoints] More recently, the FDA issued draft guidance on the types of RWD and RWE information that might be submitted. Corrigan-Curay also offered several examples of when RWE has informed effectiveness determinations.
	6. LUTTE CONTRE LES CANCERS
Future Directions in Cancer Survivorship and Aging [Coping with cancer] A Special Report from the National Cancer Institute ,by Douglas R. Lowy, MD, acting director of the National Cancer Institute.
	6.1 OBSERVATION
More Colorectal Cancer Cases Are Being Diagnosed in Younger Patients [Wiley] The proportion of patients diagnosed with colorectal cancer under the age of 50 rose from 10 percent in 2004 to 12.2 percent in 2015.
Delay from breast cancer diagnosis to chemotherapy after a cancer operation may shorten survival for patients [American College of Surgeons] National Cancer Database researchers find a worse survival rate regardless of type of cancer operation if time from cancer diagnosis to postoperative chemo exceeds 120 days.
	6.8 COMMUNICATION
Health Facts Aren’t Enough. Should Persuasion Become a Priority? [NY Times] In other words, those with the least understanding of science had the most science-opposed views, but thought they knew the most. Lest anyone think this is only an American phenomenon, the study was also conducted in France and Germany, with similar results.