Onco Actu du 20 mai 2020

	1. BIOLOGIE
Potentially cancerous cells kept in check by competitive neighbours, study of oesophagus finds [Sanger Institute] The study, published today in Nature Genetics, describes the ‘rules of the game’ of competition between oesophageal cells for the first time. By understanding these rules, the hope is that therapies can be developed to reduce the competitiveness of mutant clone cells that are more likely to become cancerous.
Study suggests metastasis gets its start much earlier than thought [Medical XPress] In studying the data, the researchers found lower-than-expected numbers of clonal mutations in metastasized tumors, which, they note, suggested that seeding occurred early in the development of the secondary tumors—in some cases, years earlier.
Why pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma is so lethal [Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory] ZBED2 confuses the pancreas cell about its own identity. It displaces another transcription factor that is required for the pancreas cell to perform its normal functions as a pancreas cell. ZBED2 turns pancreas cells into squamous cells—a type of cell found in the skin. Patients with the worst outcomes have the highest levels of squamous cells in their tumors.
New Study Confirms Important Clues to Fight Ovarian Cancer [Pacific Northwest Laboratory] To better understand the disease and its progression, researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory and their collaborators examined the proteome—thousands of proteins—in tissue samples taken from 83 patients around the world.
	4.7 DÉP., DIAG. & PRONO. - COL DE L'UTÉRUS
Cervical precancer identified by fluorescence, in a step toward bedside detection [EurekAlert!] Metabolic and structural changes in the cells are detected by their intrinsic fluorescence, a property that can be measured non-invasively and without contrast agents.
	5.12.5 IMMUNOTHÉRAPIES - PHARMA
Years after Keytruda, Roche's Tecentriq monotherapy wins first-line NSCLC approval. So does it matter? [EndPoints] “By virtue of being late to market, Tecentriq monotherapy (IMPOWER110) has little chance of gaining significant share in 1L NSCLC despite posting OS similar to Keytruda in PD-L1 high patients.”
	5.3.4 TRAITEMENTS - AMM (FDA, EMA,...)
AstraZeneca and Merck's Lynparza pressures Clovis' Rubraca with prostate cancer OK [Fierce Pharma] Regulators based their decision on data from the Phase 3 Profound study, which showed the drug could slash the risk of disease progression or death by 51% over next-gen therapies such as Johnson & Johnson’s Zytiga or Pfizer and Astellas’ Xtandi.
Lynparza approved in the US for HRR gene-mutated metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer [AstraZeneca] Only PARP inhibitor to improve overall survival vs. enzalutamide or abiraterone in a biomarker-based subset of prostate cancer patients with BRCA1/2 or ATM mutations.
	6.15 LUTTE CONTRE LES CANCERS - COVID-19
J&J, AbbVie, Roche and more sponsor cancer content for concerned patients amid COVID-19 pandemic [Fierce Pharma] Part of the attraction for pharma is the speed at which Patient Power can produce content for cancer patients during COVID-19 versus the longer time it may take for larger and less nimble companies to create.
Special Report Provides Guidance to Oncology Practices on Resuming Cancer Care During COVID-19 Pandemic [ASCO] The ASCO special report summarizes a wide range of policies and practices developed by cancer facilities, as well as guidance provided by government agencies and other medical societies.
Thousands of cancer patients could die early due to coronavirus delays, study finds [The Guardian] The findings come soon after research by University College London and DATA-CAN predicted that as many as 18,000 people could die over the next year as a result of delays to their cancer care.
Thousands of lives could be lost to delays in cancer surgery during COVID-19 pandemic [Institute of Cancer Research] The team found that a delay of three months across all 94,912 patients who would have had surgery to remove their cancer over the course of a year would lead to an additional 4,755 deaths.
	6.9 CONTROVERSES
Johnson & Johnson to End Talc-Based Baby Powder Sales in North America [NY Times] Even as it announced the withdrawal of its baby powder, the company said that it “will continue to vigorously defend the product” in court. But Johnson & Johnson acknowledged that demand for the talc-based version had slumped as consumer habits changed and concerns about the product spread.