Onco Actu du 7 avril 2020

	5.1 TRAITEMENTS - PRÉ-CLINIQUE
Experimental Drug Prevents Doxorubicin from Harming the Heart [NCI] In mice, the experimental drug, called BAI1, prevented doxorubicin-induced heart damageExit Disclaimer, and did so without interfering with doxorubicin’s ability to kill cancer cells, researchers reported in Nature Cancer.
Scientists enhance new way to overcome resistance to targeted cancer treatments [Institute of Cancer Research] Researchers have enhanced a new method for inhibiting the protein HSP72, known to be important in helping cancer cells survive and resist treatment, which will help scientists move closer to discovering a new cancer drug that targets the protein.
Turning colon cancer cells around [University of California, Irvine] The discovery comes from their research into the role of an amino acid in tumor development and a potential method for reversing the process. Their study appears in Nature Cancer.
	5.12.5 IMMUNOTHÉRAPIES - PHARMA
Merck Receives Priority Review from FDA for Second Application for KEYTRUDA® (pembrolizumab) Based on Biomarker, Regardless of Tumor Type [Merck] Supplemental Biologics License Application (sBLA) Accepted for KEYTRUDA Monotherapy in Patients Whose Tumors Are Tumor Mutational Burden-High (TMB-H) Who Have Progressed Following Prior Treatment.
	5.12.5.1 IMMUNOTHÉRAPIES - BIOTECH
Ready to declare a definitive comeback in two months, Immunomedics stops PhIII early, recruits new CEO [EndPoints] The Phase III ASCENT study was designed to evaluate how its antibody-drug conjugate dubbed sacituzumab govitecan impacts progression-free survival, overall survival and response rates compared to chemotherapy.
	5.17 TRAITEMENTS - RADIOTHÉRAPIE
Treating bowel cancer during the covid-19 epidemic [University of Leeds] Leading cancer experts have  recommended a one-week course of radiotherapy and delaying surgery as the best way to treat patients with bowel cancer during the covid-19 pandemic.
	5.3.4 TRAITEMENTS - AMM (FDA, EMA,...)
European Commission Approves Takeda’s ALUNBRIG® (brigatinib) as a First-Line Treatment for ALK+ NSCLC [Takeda] Approval Based on Positive Results from the Phase 3 ALTA-1L Trial Showing ALUNBRIG Demonstrated Superior Overall and Intracranial Effectiveness over Crizotinib in the First-line Setting.
	6.15 LUTTE CONTRE LES CANCERS - COVID-19
COVID-19 claims Cancer Research UK funding cuts, forecasting major shortfall [Fierce Biotech] CRUK, which funds around half of all oncology research in the U.K., said it will be axing funding to its “existing grants and institutes by up to 10% and its national network of Centres by around 20%.”
Opinion: ‘Today our researchers are helping to beat COVID-19 so that ‘tomorrow’ we can get back to beating cancer’ [Cancer Research UK] The Cancer Research UK scientific family has provided much-needed kit and machinery, and volunteered their skills, to the national testing labs being set up across the devolved nations – an important effort to scale up the UK’s testing capacity. At local levels, our scientists are converting their cancer labs to testing hubs.
Protecting Medical Staff to Ensure Cancer Patients Can Safely Receive Care During the Pandemic [ESMO] According to Antonio Passaro, from the European Institute of Oncology (IEO) in Milan, Italy, protecting medical oncologists from contracting the virus is key to ensuring that continuity of care is maintained and that cancer patients can safely attend visits and receive treatment in due time.
Life 'hanging by a thread' for Italian cancer patients in coronavirus crisis [The Guardian] Treatment and transplants for some postponed as hospitals are turned over to treat virus.
Cancer Research UK to cut funding for research by £44m [The Guardian] UK’s biggest cancer charity expects income to fall by up to 25% as a result of the coronavirus crisis.