Onco Actu du 28 mai 2020

	1. BIOLOGIE
Pregnancy reprograms breast cells, reducing cancer risk [Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory] “You have cancer genes being shut down at the same time that genes leading this cell to a kind of a precipice, like they’re going to jump out and die, get turned on. We believe these signals are the key players for why these cells do not turn into cancer.”
Gene inactivation of PTEN drives cancer predisposition [Medical XPress] In a new study published in the New England Journal of Medicine, a research team found that mutations to the gene WWPI may be an additional genetic driver of PHTS-associated cancer.
	1.1 BIOLOGIE - GÉNOME
International gnomAD Consortium releases its first major studies of human genetic variation [Broad Institute] Analyses of the largest publicly available catalog of human genomic data reveal new details on rare types of genetic variation and provide better tools for genetic disease diagnosis and drug development.
A milestone in human genetics highlights diversity gaps [Nature] Landmark study identifies the genes that it seems people can and cannot live without and highlights ongoing challenges in making data sets more representative of the world’s population.
GnomAD Consortium Details Range of Human Genetic Variation From Large Dataset [Genome Web] In a series of papers appearing on Wednesday in Nature, Nature Communications, and Nature Medicine, the gnomAD team showed how the dataset could be used to improve rare variant interpretations, evaluate potential drug targets, and more.
	5. TRAITEMENTS
Take lessons from cancer evolution to the clinic [Nature] The first long-term study of how lung cancer evolves is revealing that therapies targeting multiple proteins in tumour cells could help to outpace the disease.
	5.12.1 IMMUNOTHÉRAPIES - PARTENARIATS
Gilead pens $2B Arcus pact for immuno-oncology targets of the past and future [Fierce Biotech] The headline part of the deal sees Gilead join companies including Merck and Roche in the race to bring an anti-TIGIT antibody to market, which could be the future of immuno-oncology, while also gaining a hand in the checkpoint inhibitor research space.
Gilead Gains Foothold in Solid Tumors With $375M, 10-Year Arcus Bio Pact [Xconomy] The Arcus collaboration gives Gilead immediate access to zimberelimab, an antibody drug that blocks PD-1, a checkpoint protein on immune cells that keep them from targeting cancer cells.
Gilead puts $375M into Arcus in latest push to broaden cancer business [Biopharma Dive] The deal broadens Gilead's research and development of drugs for solid tumors. It's also a bet by Gilead that Arcus can help it develop treatment combinations that boost the benefits of first generation immunotherapies.
Gilead leases partner rights to TIGIT, PD-1 in a $2B deal with Arcus. Now comes the hard part [EndPoints] Hotly rumored for weeks, the 2 players have formalized a 10-year alliance that starts with rights to the PD-1, zimberelimab.
	5.12.11 IMMUNOTHÉRAPIES - PRÉ-CLINIQUE
New Cancer Immunotherapy Targeting Myeloid Cells Slows Tumor Growth [Penn Medicine] The team showed that in c-Rel-deficient mice tumor size and weight were reduced by up to 80 percent, and that administering the c-Rel inhibitor drug in another set of mice shrank tumors by up to 70 percent, compared to controls.
New “Blueprint” of Exhausted T Cell Lifespan Could Help Build Better Immunotherapies [Penn Medicine] Penn researchers identified four stages of exhausted T cell development.
	5.12.6 IMMUNOTHÉRAPIES - AMM
Bristol Myers Squibb finally gets in the frontline NSCLC game dominated by Merck, adding a second Opdivo/Yervoy-based option [EndPoints] While it marks a clear win for Bristol Myers after some setbacks — including an ill-fated campaign to stratify patients by tumor mutational burden — establishing a place in the lung cancer market will remain a challenge for the commercial team.
	5.12.8 IMMUNOTHÉRAPIES - ECONOMIE
NICE recommends treatment for type of small-cell lung cancer [NICE] In new draft guidance, atezolizumab (also called Tecentriq and made by Roche) with carboplatin and etoposide has been recommended as an option for untreated extensive-stage small-cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC).
	5.2.2 PHARMA - FUSIONS & ACQUISITIONS
In latest cancer deal, Bristol Myers Squibb's new BD chief bets $65M in search for more targets like PARP [EndPoints] Synthetic lethality is the theme at Versant-backed Repare Therapeutics, which is getting $50 million in cash and $15 million in equity investment to discover new targets for Bristol.
Sanofi CEO Paul Hudson has $23B burning a hole in his pocket. And here are some hints on how he plans to spend that [EndPoints] Porges is expecting some quick movement on the buyout front following Hudson’s deal to acquire Synthorx for $2.5 billion — putting them on the trail for more oncology assets to go with the new R&D strategy.
	5.4 TRAITEMENTS - ECONOMIE
Larotrectinib for treating NTRK fusion-positive solid tumours [NICE] More evidence on larotrectinib is being collected until there are enough data to address the committee’s uncertainties. After this NICE will decide whether or not to recommend it for use on the NHS and update the guidance. It will be available through the Cancer Drugs Fund until then.
	5.5.10 ASCO (HÉMATO)
ASCO: GSK's anti-BCMA antibody gets a data boost ahead of FDA decision [Fierce Biotech] Of the 97 patients that received the lower dose of the treatment, belantamab mafodotin, 31 had their tumors shrink and five patients saw them vanish—two more than were reported in December.
GSK adds to its trove of positive data for multiple myeloma contender as rivals continue to command the spotlight [EndPoints] Combined with bortezomib/dexamethasone, belantamab mafodotin hit an overall response rate of 78% among patients who had received one or more previous therapies.
	5.5.2 ASCO (SEIN)
Novartis Kisqali® shows overall survival benefit in HR+/HER2- advanced breast cancer with consistent findings in patients with more aggressive disease [Novartis] Subgroup analysis shows Kisqali plus endocrine therapy extended life compared to endocrine therapy for patients with liver metastases – showing ~47% and 37% reduction in the risk of death in MONALEESA-7 (M7) and MONALEESA-3 (M3), respectively.
	6.1 OBSERVATION
Study sheds light on risks of breast cancer after pre-invasive disease [Medical XPress] Women who are diagnosed with ductal carcinoma in situ (known as DCIS) during breast screening go on to experience higher risks of developing breast cancer and of death from breast cancer, compared with the general population, finds a study published by The BMJ today.
	6.15 LUTTE CONTRE LES CANCERS - COVID-19
The unexpected side effect of Covid-19 [CNN] Suspending cancer screening is another important area to study. There is little doubt, for example, that the decline in mammography will lead to fewer breast cancers diagnosed. But is that a bad thing or good thing? One opportunity is to study what happens to US cancer statistics when screening is resumed.
Finding, and Curing, Cancers May Be Another Casualty of Coronavirus [NY Times] As the death tolls rise to the coronavirus pandemic, those of us who specialize in oncology are bracing for another wave of victims: People not yet diagnosed with cancer.