Onco Actu du 12 mars 2020

	3.4.1 CHIMIOPRÉVENTION - ASPIRINE
Low-dose aspirin linked to reduced liver cancer risk [Karolinska Institutet] The findings come from a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine and conducted by a team led by investigators at Karolinska Institutet and Örebro University Hospital in Sweden and Massachusetts General Hospital in the U.S.
	4.10 DÉP., DIAG. & PRONO. - POUMON
Researchers identify marker that may predict whether lung cancer likely to spread [Tulane University] Study researchers evaluated proteins carried by extracellular vesicles shed by NSCLC cells to determine which might serve as markers for metastatic NSCLC cells. Hu and his team identified a protein that was highly expressed on extracellular vesicles of metastatic but not nonmetastatic NSCLC cells.
	4.12 BIOPSIES LIQUIDES
Microbiome-Based Cancer Dx Emerges From Cancer Genome Atlas Reanalysis [Genome Web] The researchers also examined whether blood-based microbial DNA (mbDNA) could be clinically informative in cancer by applying their machine learning models to the WGS data from TCGA blood samples. They found that blood-borne mbDNA could discriminate between numerous types of cancer, regardless of the microbial taxonomic algorithm and database used for classification.
Microbial signatures in the blood could offer new avenue for liquid biopsies to detect cancer [STAT] Knight and two of his co-authors on the study have founded a San Diego-based startup, called Micronoma, to try to commercialize a cancer test based on the research. Doing so won’t be easy.
AI finds microbial signatures in tumours and blood across cancer types [Nature] Finally, further mechanistic insights into how microbes enter and persist in cancerous tissue are needed, as well as research into how best to target them for treatment and even cancer prevention. Such strategies will need to be nuanced, and must take into account the potential effect on all microbial niches, because many of the body’s resident microbes have a crucial role in overall physiology.
	4.2 DÉP., DIAG. & PRONO. - GÉNOME
Half of people in the US would sell their genetic data for $95 [New Scientist] A survey of people in the US has found that 50 per cent would share their genetic data for $95, no matter if a research agency or pharmaceutical company is paying for it
	5.1 TRAITEMENTS - PRÉ-CLINIQUE
Systematic Viability Profiling of the Anticancer Potential of Non-Oncology Drugs [ESMO] PRISM repurposing dataset represents nearly half of all drugs ever tested in humans.
Back to the drawing board for triple-negative breast cancer targets, researchers propose new combo approach [EndPoints] “Given that patients with TNBC primarily receive systemic cytotoxic chemotherapies that frequently result in unfavorable outcomes,” they wrote in Science Translational Medicine, “we propose the clinical development of combination BETi and MEKi for patients with advanced TNBC, with parallel evaluation of MYCN as a potential marker for patient selection.”
NIH researchers successfully stop blood vessel, tumor growth in mice [NIH] The new strategy involves disabling key enzymes that replenish the molecule that cells need for the reactions that sustain new vessel growth. The study appears in Nature Communications.
	5.12.11 IMMUNOTHÉRAPIES - PRÉ-CLINIQUE
Gasdermin E: A new approach to cancer immunotherapy that could have broad reach [Medical XPress] As Lieberman's team showed in live mice, pyroptosis sounds a potent immune alarm that recruits killer T cells to suppress the tumor. The team is now investigating therapeutic strategies for inducing gasdermin E to rally that anti-tumor immune response.
	5.12.2.1 IMMUNOTHÉRAPIES CAR-NK
Two-pronged attack on DNA repair could kill drug-resistant cancers [Institute of Cancer Research] Combined treatment with SRA737 and an experimental inhibitor of B-family DNA polymerases called aphidicolin stripped cancer cells of their ability to cope with DNA damage, and was more effective at killing them in eight of the nine cancer cell lines tested.
CAR Natural Killer Cell Therapy Safe and Effective in First Trial [JAMA] CAR NK-cell therapy could be easier to manufacture and less toxic than its T-cell–based counterpart.
	5.12.4 IMMUNOTHÉRAPIES - ESSAIS
No Survival Benefit for Maintenance Avelumab in Advanced Gastric or Gastroesophageal Junction Cancer [ASCO Post] The median overall survival was 10.4 months for those randomly assigned to avelumab and 10.9 months for the control arm (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.91; P = .178).
	5.12.5.1 IMMUNOTHÉRAPIES - BIOTECH
Cell Medica rebrands as Kuur, raises cash for CAR-NKT trials [Fierce Biotech] The investment, the size of which has not been disclosed, will support early-phase development of two candidates. Baylor is already running a phase 1 trial of an autologous CAR-NKT therapy designed to target the GD2 molecule found on most neuroblastoma cells.
J&J partner Legend plans IPO to fund CAR-T pipeline [Fierce Biotech] The investment reflects a belief that Legend is equipped to make a mark in a CAR-T space dominated to date by U.S. companies.
	5.12.6 IMMUNOTHÉRAPIES - AMM
Bristol Myers Squibb snags new liver cancer nod for Opdivo-Yervoy combo [Fierce Pharma] Bristol was quick to highlight that its pairing is the first dual immunotherapy to win approval in the setting. But if the second-line performance of Opdivo’s PD-1 archrival Keytruda from Merck is any indication, successful tumor suppression in early trials doesn’t necessarily translate into lengthened lives.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration Approves Opdivo® (nivolumab) + Yervoy® (ipilimumab) for Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) Previously Treated with Sorafenib [BMS] Opdivo + Yervoy combination is now approved to treat four types of cancer.
FDA approves Bristol Myers' liver cancer therapy [Reuters] The FDA approval is based on an early stage trial in which 33% of patients responded to the therapy.
FDA grants accelerated approval to nivolumab and ipilimumab combination for hepatocellular carcinoma [FDA] Efficacy of the combination was investigated in Cohort 4 of CHECKMATE-040, (NCT01658878) a multicenter, multiple cohort, open-label trial conducted in patients with HCC who progressed on or were intolerant to sorafenib.
	5.2 PHARMA
Update on Phase III GY004 trial for cediranib added to Lynparza in platinum-sensitive relapsed ovarian cancer [AstraZeneca] The trial did not meet the primary endpoint of progression- free survival vs. platinum-based chemotherapy.
Janssen Announces U.S. FDA Breakthrough Therapy Designation Granted for JNJ-6372 for the Treatment of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer [Janssen] The Breakthrough Therapy Designation is supported by data from a Phase 1, first-in-human, open-label, multicenter study.
After hitting big in multiple myeloma, J&J, Genmab now have a new 'breakthrough' in NSCLC to boast about [EndPoints] The early-stage drug hits EGFR (epidermal growth factor receptor) and MET (mesenchymal epithelial transition factor) mutations and amplifications. Specifically, an approval could make it the first targeted therapy for patients who have EGFR exon 20 insertion mutations.
	5.2.3 PHARMA - ÉCONOMIE
Analysts start to sort out which biopharma companies’ R&D plans are most threatened by a pandemic [EndPoints] So far, there have been few reports of any interruptions in clinical trials outside of China, where the hospital-based system of drug research is taking an obvious beating as people steer clear of hospitals. But the prospect that the pandemic will inevitably have an impact is hard to ignore.
	5.4 TRAITEMENTS - ECONOMIE
Non-Hodgkin lymphoma treatment gets an initial ‘no’ for NHS use in England [Cancer Research UK] Adding polatuzumab vedotin to rituximab and bendamustine would have been a new treatment option for people with diffuse large B cell lymphoma whose cancer has either not responded to, or come back after, initial treatment. It was being considered for people who can’t have a stem cell transplant.
	5.9 AACR
Facing coronavirus risk, a top cancer group postpones annual meeting [Biopharma Dive] The decisions by AACR, ACC and AAAAI could spur other meetings scheduled for this spring and early summer to rethink their plans. Most notable is ASCO's annual meeting, currently scheduled to begin on May 29 in Chicago.
AACR Annual Meeting 2020: Notice Of Termination And Rescheduling [AACR] We will announce the dates and location of the rescheduled AACR Annual Meeting 2020 as soon as they are confirmed.
	6.6 PUBLICATIONS, POLITIQUES SCIENTIFIQUES
Hundreds of scientists have peer-reviewed for predatory journals [Nature] Researchers use the Publons platform to list manuscript reviews they have conducted. But the organization, based in London, noticed several years ago that some users were claiming to review for potentially predatory journals.
	6.7.1 IA/BIOINFORMATIQUE
The importance of transparency and reproducibility in artificial intelligence research [arXiv] In their study, McKinney et al. showed the high potential of artificial intelligence for breast cancer screening. However, the lack of detailed methods and computer code undermines its scientific value. We identify obstacles hindering transparent and reproducible AI research as faced by McKinney et al and provide solutions with implications for the broader field.
	6.9 CONTROVERSES
Fired cancer scientist says ‘good people are being crushed’ by overzealous probes into possible Chinese ties [Science] Former Moffitt immunologist fears collateral damage in fight against foreign influences.