Onco Actu du 22 novembre 2019

	1. BIOLOGIE
Some Brain Cells May Help to Fuel Cancer Metastasis [NCI] In the study, researchers showed that astrocytes can activate a growth protein in cancer cells called PPAR-gamma. That protein, in turn, helps the cancer cells gain a foothold in the brain.
	1.1 BIOLOGIE - GÉNOME
Extrachromosomal Oncogene Amplification Involves Rearrangement of Regulatory Elements [Genome Web} Non-coding regulatory sequences can get co-amplified with extrachromosomal oncogenes in cancer, new research suggests, producing circularized structures with altered connections that may be selected to boost the proliferation of these tumor cells.
Non-Coding DNA Located Outside Chromosomes May Help Drive Glioblastoma [UCSD] “People thought that the high copy number alone explained the high activity levels of cancer-causing genes, but that’s because people weren’t really looking at the enhancers,” Morton said. “The field has been really gene-centric up to this point, and now we’re taking a broader view.”
	3.1.1 PRÉVENTION - TABAC - E-CIGS
Why the FDA was unable to prevent a crisis of vaping among kids [STAT] During the previous decade, the FDA had tried to protect the public, and especially youths, from the potential harms of e-cigarettes. Yet the agency had been stopped by the courts, impeded by the White House, and repeatedly warned to back off by members of Congress.
House Lawmakers Decide Not to Tackle Respiratory Disease Outbreak: They Decide to Let More Kids Get Sick in Order to Protect a $2.5 Billion Illegal Industry [The Rest of the Story] By failing to address the epidemic of marijuana vaping that is afflicting our nation's youth and resulting in severe disease and in some cases, death, the members of the Committee who voted against regulating marijuana vapes have done a huge disservice to the public's health.
U.S. vaping-related deaths rise to 47, cases of illness to 2,290 [Reuters] Last week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recorded 2,172 cases and 42 deaths from the illness.
	4. DÉPISTAGE, DIAGNOSTIC ET PRONOSTIC
Predicting metastasis from primary tumor size [EurekAlert!] The new model opens up the possibility of quantifying the potential dangers of delays in surgery, which are most critical for smaller tumors that are about to start metastasizing.
	4.12 BIOPSIES LIQUIDES
Urine tests: detecting cancer in pee [Cancer Research UK] Bladder cancer is perhaps the most obvious cancer to find in urine, but evidence suggests that remnants of other cancers – like kidney, prostate and cervical cancer – can also get into pee.
	4.2 DÉP., DIAG. & PRONO. - GÉNOME
Genapsys finally unveils vaunted sequencer, but can it dent Illumina? [EndPoints] Genapsys’s device comes at $9,900 — they market themselves as “under $10,000” — and is all-in-one. You put the DNA onto a sequencing chip made from superconductors and slip the chip into the device. The readout takes about a day. The applications for cheap, road-trip-cooler sized genomics are wide and Esfandyarpour spoke about teasing out new cancer targets and rapidly testing patients for clinical trials.
	4.5 DÉP., DIAG. & PRONO. - COLORECTAL
The high cost challenge of personalised screening for bowel cancer [University of Western Australia] Ms Dayna Cenin from UWA’s School of Population Health said the research focused on the benefits of personalising screening in the future, however, this method was not feasible right now due to the high costs associated with determining an individual’s risk.
	4.7 DÉP., DIAG. & PRONO. - COL DE L'UTÉRUS
Smear test numbers rise 7.7% [PharmaTimes] Within the age range, data showed that coverage in the lower age cohort (25-49) increased to 69.8%, from 69.1% in 2018, and coverage in the upper age cohort (50-64) remained at 76.2%, the same as in 2018.
	5. TRAITEMENTS
Longtime cancer researcher Charles Sawyers named first STAT Biomedical Innovation Award winner [STAT] Dr. Charles Sawyers’ work over a 34-year career not only led to the development of the blockbuster drug Gleevec for chronic myelogenous leukemia, but to a better understanding of a concept that’s now fundamental to oncology — that cancers can overcome powerful drugs to develop resistance.
	5.10 TRAITEMENTS - ESSAIS
UK leads Europe in early clinical research, but faces challenges to stay globally competitive [ABPI] Cancer research is the UK’s strongest area, but we are also a world-leader in research for heart disease, immunology and conditions affecting the nervous system. However, once the research moves into the later stages – often phase III that sees large numbers of patients benefiting from a new medical trial – the UK drops into third place in Europe behind Germany and Spain and fifth globally behind the US and Canada.
ABPI calls for increased investment in U.K. clinical research [Fierce Biotech] With sponsors starting slightly more phase 1 and 2 trials in the U.K. than in Germany and far more than in other large European countries such as France, the data suggest the ABPI’s home territory is in good shape. However, other aspects of the data reveal areas in which the U.K. lags behind its European peers.
Why researchers should share their analytic code [BMJ] Retraction of a trial shows the importance of transparency.
	5.12.1 IMMUNOTHÉRAPIES - PARTENARIATS
AbbVie doubles down on Harpoon with $50M option on BCMA drug [Fierce Biotech] These constructs are single polypeptides with three binding sites but are a third the size of monoclonal antibodies. Two of those sites bind to cancer antigens and T cells, while the third binds with albumin, a protein in the bloodstream, to extend the molecule’s half-life.
Harpoon Therapeutics and AbbVie Announce Licensing and Option Collaboration to Advance HPN217, Harpoon’s BCMA-Targeting TriTAC®, and Expand Existing Discovery Collaboration [AbbVie] Harpoon Therapeutics is a clinical-stage immunotherapy company developing a novel class of T cell engagers that harness the power of the body’s immune system to treat patients suffering from cancer and other diseases.
AbbVie scoops up option to license Harpoon's BCMA drug for $50M upfront as biotech partner preps PhI/II trial [EndPoints] In paying $50 million for an option to license HPN217, AbbVie gains exclusive access to a Tri-specific T cell Activating Construct, or TriTAC, that is being steered to a Phase I/II trial.
	5.12.5.1 IMMUNOTHÉRAPIES - BIOTECH
Immunitas snags $39M to bring new I-O approach to the clinic [Fierce Biotech] “Most current immuno-oncology drugs aren’t really targeted. They’re effective—if you’re lucky—in about 15% to 25% of the patients you’re treating,” Lea Hachigian, Ph.D., co-founder, director and president of Immunitas, told FierceBiotech. “When people try to improve outcomes, they’re really starting to rely on combinations instead of thinking about the targets that actually reach those other patients.”
With Cell-By-Cell Take on Drug Discovery, Immunitas Debuts With $39M [Xconomy] Hachigian likened the platform to noise-canceling headphones for tumor biology in how it allows researchers to hone in on drivers of tumor progression.
MorphoSys’ chief scientist hits the exit, triggering R&D reorganization as they shift focus to US in anticipation of looming FDA approval [EndPoints] The German biotech has been beefing up its US commercial team in preparation for the likely approval of their CD19-targeting antibody tafasitamab — or MOR208.
Novartis, Bayer, Longwood back genomics startup to speed search for immunotherapy targets [EndPoints] It’s a bet on newly established single-cell genomic analysis tech and the ability to crunch endless troves of data at a rate few others can.
	5.16 TRAITEMENTS - CHIRURGIE
Hey Surgeon, Is That a HoloLens on Your Head? [Wired] Mixed reality displays are entering the operating room, first as surgical planning tools and soon as real-time guides to help doctors zap tumors.
	5.2.3 PHARMA - ÉCONOMIE
Having gobbled up Celgene, the Bristol-Myers CEO ducks questions about his key rival [STAT] Giovanni Caforio offered a predictably upbeat prognosis for the newly combined company but sidestepped questions about rival Merck’s ongoing dominance of immunotherapy, a key area that has been tinged with disappointment for the poker-faced executive.
	5.2.6 PHARMA - BIOTECH
Cancer Research UK spinoff raises $41M+ in Series B injection [EndPoints] Its lead program is targeting the pioneer factor FOXA1, which has shown to be instrumental in the tumor development and maintenance of ER-positive luminal breast cancer (typically 30% of these patients progress to late-stage endocrine-resistant disease).
	5.3 TRAITEMENTS - FDA, EMA, NICE...
Shortage of childhood cancer drug hot topic during Senate hearing for new head of FDA [Fierce Pharma] Hahn, a radiation oncologist, told the Senate committee that as a front-line physician, he has dealt personally with the problem of drug shortages. “This is an incredibly serious issue…. Telling parents and a child that you don't have vincristine to treat their cancer…no physician, wants to be in that position,” Hahn said during the hearing.
Regulating Medicines in a Globalized World The Need for Increased Reliance Among Regulators (2019) [National Academies Press] Key topics in this report include the job of medicines regulators in today’s world, what policy makers need to know about today’s regulatory environment, stakeholder views of recognition and reliance, as well as removing impediments and facilitating action for greater recognition and reliance among regulatory authorities.
	5.3.4 TRAITEMENTS - AMM (FDA, EMA,...)
AstraZeneca's Calquence steps up to challenge Imbruvica with big CLL green light [Fierce Pharma] The approval was the second under Project Orbis, which allows for concurrent submission to the FDA and its international partners. The FDA also examined AZ's application under its real-time oncology review program, which allows the agency to begin sifting through data before a company submits its full application.
Calquence approved in the US for adult patients with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia [AstraZeneca] Two Phase III Calquence trials demonstrated superior progression-free survival across multiple settings while maintaining favourable tolerability.
FDA takes second action under international collaboration, approves new treatment option for patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia [FDA] This new approved indication for Calquence provides a new treatment option for patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) or small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL) as an initial or subsequent therapy.
	5.4 TRAITEMENTS - ECONOMIE
Breast and kidney cancer drugs approved on NHS Scotland [Cancer Research UK] Lenvatinib (Kisplyx) and ribociclib (Kisqali) were given the green light by the Scottish Medical Consortium (SMC), although 3 further drugs have been rejected – including atezolizumab (Tecentriq) for a certain type of lung cancer.
	5.8.1 ASH - COMMUNIQUÉS
AbbVie to Present Latest Clinical Research in the Treatment of Leukemias, Lymphomas and Other Blood Cancers at 2019 ASH Annual Meeting [AbbVie] Data from two studies of ibrutinib combination regimens in the first-line treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia/small lymphocytic lymphoma (CLL/SLL) will be featured in the CLL Therapy Oral Session.
	6. LUTTE CONTRE LES CANCERS
JAMA Forum: Early Returns from the Era of Precision Medicine [JAMA] The overall effect of precision medicine on care for patients with cancer has been modest. The 2018 JAMA Oncology study estimates that only 8% of patients with cancer are eligible for precision medications approved as of January 2018 and only 5% would actually benefit from them. Even among patients who respond, incremental survival provided by many drugs is measured in months.
Science funders gamble on grant lotteries [Nature] The process is not entirely random. Typically, funders screen applications to ensure they meet a minimum standard, then projects are given numbers and selected at random by a computer until all of the cash has been allocated.
	6.6 PUBLICATIONS
Working to the rule – How bibliometric targets distorted Italian research [LSE Impact Blog] The beginning of the Italian anomaly is synchronous with the launch of the research evaluation system, that suddenly introduced bibliometric thresholds to the key steps of the academic career, while leaving all possible room for strategic citing. The striking result is that the effects have become visible at a national scale and in most of the scientific fields.
	6.7.1 IA/BIOINFORMATIQUE
AI's impact in drug discovery is coming fast, predicts GSK's Hal Barron [Biopharma Dive] In practice, AI has yet to make much of an impact on drug discovery success rates or speed, which makes Barron's prediction notable. And discovering new targets is only the start, of course. Examples abound of known biological targets that have been considered "undruggable" due to challenges in medicinal chemistry.