Onco Actu du 13 août 2019

  BIOLOGIE  

First indication of possible role of blood coagulation in lung carcinogenesis [DKFZ] 
Thrombophilia promotes the progression and metastasis of lung cancer. Up to now, it was not known whether coagulation is also conducive to tumorigenesis. For the first time, researchers from the German Cancer Research Center have now identified a possible role of blood coagulation in the development of lung cancer.

  BIOLOGIE - GÉNOME  

National Genomic Data Initiatives: A Worldwide Update [BIO-IT World] 
The following overview, which relies largely on a 2019 paper co-authored by North and Birney and websites devoted to the initiatives, offers an update on currently active national government-funded genomic-medicine initiatives, grouped by area of emphasis.

  ÉTIOLOGIE - ALIMENTATION  

Eating Red Meat Tied to Increased Breast Cancer Risk [NY Times] 
White meat like chicken was tied to a reduced risk of breast cancer.

  ÉTIOLOGIE - GÈNES  

Inherited pancreatic cancer risk mutation identified [Dana-Farber Cancer Institute]
The researchers emphasized that the RABL3 mutation is rare in the general population but said that testing for it – and potentially other mutations in the RABL3 gene – may reveal the genetic predisposition in other families with an unsolved hereditary cancer syndrome.

  ÉTIOLOGIE - OBÉSITÉ  

Genetic analyses indicate that the effect of being overweight and obesity on cancer risk is at least double than previously thought [University of Bristol]
The team conducted genetic analyses on eight common obesity-related cancer types. They compared the genetic Mendelian randomization estimates of the association between body mass index (BMI) and cancer risk with the estimates from classical cohort studies.

  DÉP., DIAG. & PRONO.  

Machine learning for tissue diagnostics in oncology: brave new world [British Journal of Cancer]
As a diagnostic tool in tissue workup and pathology, it has the potential for personalised and stratified approaches, but the limitations and pitfalls need to be better understood and characterised especially in this critical area of medical care.

  DÉP., DIAG. & PRONO. - COL DE L’UTÉRUS  

New test enhances ability to predict risk of developing cervical cancer in human papillomavirus (HPV)-positive women [Elsevier]
HPV RNA-Seq was able to detect and determine the type of HPV infection among a panel of 16 high-risk HPVs with results comparable to a widely used and officially approved HPV DNA molecular diagnostic kit. In fact, HPV RNA-Seq detected two more HPV-positive patients than the DNA test and also identified more patients with multiple HPV infections.

  TRAITEMENTS - PRÉ-CLINIQUE  

Adding MS Drug to Targeted Cancer Therapy May Improve Glioblastoma Outcomes [UC San Diego]
By reaching stem cells at the tumor’s root, multiple sclerosis drug teriflunomide, paired with targeted cancer therapy, markedly shrinks patient-derived glioblastomas grown in mice.

Key to targeting the spread of pancreatic cancer [Garvan Institute]
The researchers discovered that some pancreatic tumours produce more of a molecule called ‘perlecan’ to remodel the environment around them, which helps cancer cells spread more easily to other parts of the body, and also protects them against chemotherapy.

  IMMUNOTHÉRAPIES - PRÉ-CLINIQUE  

Manipulating dose, timing of two therapies significantly reduces relapse in mouse models of breast cancer, lung cancer [UT Southwestern]
“Our study showed that immunotherapy should be used together with the TKIs as the first-line – not second-line or third-line – treatment. We also demonstrated that the dose and timing of the TKI is important.”

  PHARMA  

AstraZeneca cancer drugs build as primary care shrinks [Biopharma Dive]
AstraZeneca is looking to expand Tagrisso use, with Phase 3 trials underway as a post-surgical treatment to prevent the return of disease and as a maintenance therapy following a first-line chemotherapy treatment. Those trials are expected to return data in 2020.

  PHARMA - PARTENARIATS  

Boehringer follows the popular KRAS trail to MD Anderson — inks new alliance on 'virtual' research center [EndPoints]
This isn’t the first time that Boehringer has shown an interest in KRAS. More than 2 years ago the company teamed up with scientists at Vanderbilt in studying the protein SOS (Son Of Sevenless), a molecule that activates KRAS.

Boehringer Ingelheim and MD Anderson form unique Virtual Research and Development Center to rapidly advance new cancer therapies [Boehringer Ingelheim]
The Center will initially investigate KRAS pathway inhibitors and a TRAILR2 antibody from Boehringer Ingelheim’s cancer research.

  LUTTE CONTRE LES CANCERS - OBSERVATION  

Bladder cancer survival rates drop after shortage of crucial drug [The Telegraph]
New Office for National Statistics data shows the chances of living five years beyond diagnosis dropped 2.5 per cent between 2016 and 2017 to 52.6 per cent. It follows a period of limited supplies of Bacillus Calmette-Guerin, an immunotherapy that keeps the cancer at bay and prevents it from coming back.

  LUTTE CONTRE LES CANCERS - POLITIQUES  

Canadians are hopping mad about Trump’s drug importation plan. Some of them are trying to stop it [STAT]
The minister, Ginette Petitpas Taylor, has publicly pledged to “ensure there are no adverse effects to the supply or cost of prescription drugs in Canada.” For the advocates likely to fill the room, that means stopping American businesses from importing Canadian drugs.