Press Review (June 1, 2013) – Revue de presse (1 juin 2013)

First-in-class cancer drug approved to fight melanoma

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the first cancer drug to inhibit a protein — called MEK — that acts in a pathway that fuels tumour growth. The drug, called Mekinist (trametinib), was approved on 29 May for use in advanced melanomas with specific mutations. Other MEK-targeting drugs are being studied in a wide range of tumours, including lung and thyroid cancers.

By Heidi Ledford. In Nature.com (blog)             

http://blogs.nature.com/news/2013/05/first-in-class-cancer-drug-approved-to-fight-melanoma.html

New Possibilities for Prostate Cancer Treatment Revealed

Researchers have identified a sub-group of cells that could contribute to prostate cancer recurrence, opening up new ways to treat the disease, which claims more than 3000 lives a year in Australia.

In Science Daily                                                

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/05/130529144315.htm

Barbara Brenner, breast cancer awareness advocate, dies at 61

Barbara Brenner, who directed Breast Cancer Action, a San Francisco-based breast cancer awareness group, for 15 years, died May 10 at her home in San Francisco. She was 61. Although she “beat the breast cancer odds,” as she once said, Ms. Brenner resigned her post in 2010 because of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, a degenerative nerve disorder known as ALS.

By Valerie J. Nelson. In Washington Post         

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/obituaries/barbara-brenner-breast-cancer-awareness-advocate-dies-at-61/2013/05/29/6ae7758e-c7d5-11e2-8da7-d274bc611a47_story.html

Immunotherapy's cancer remit widens

Combination therapies hold great promise, but at what cost?

By Heidi Ledford. In Nature.com (blog)             

http://www.nature.com/news/immunotherapy-s-cancer-remit-widens-1.13079

Cancer de la prostate : le Jevtana bientôt remboursé

Marisol Touraine, la ministre de la santé, a annoncé, vendredi 31 mai, le remboursement en France du Jevtana, un traitement coûteux du groupe Sanofi contre le cancer de la prostate. Interpellée par l'Association nationale des malades du cancer de la prostate (Anamacap), Mme Touraine a indiqué sur France Info que le médicament serait pris en charge par l'assurance-maladie.

Dans Le Monde

http://www.lemonde.fr/sante/article/2013/05/31/cancer-de-la-prostate-le-jevtana-bientot-rembourse_3421747_1651302.html

La FDA donne son feu vert à 2 nouveaux traitements contre le mélanome

Deux nouvelles thérapies ciblées du mélanome métastatique inopérable ainsi qu'un test diagnostic pour identifier le bon traitement ont reçu une autorisation de mise sur le marché (AMM) de la Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Les nouveaux agents, le dabrafenib (Tafinalar®) et le trametinib (Mekinist®), ont été développés par GlaxoSmithKline. Tous deux sont des traitements oraux mais ont des mécanismes d'action légèrement différents.

Par Zosia Chustecka, Aude Lecrubier. Dans Medscape

http://www.medscape.fr/oncologie/articles/1545149/

Focus: Integrated genomic characterization of endometrial carcinoma

We performed an integrated genomic, transcriptomic and proteomic characterization of 373 endometrial carcinomas using array- and sequencing-based technologies. Uterine serous tumours and ∼25% of high-grade endometrioid tumours had extensive copy number alterations, few DNA methylation changes, low oestrogen receptor/progesterone receptor levels, and frequent TP53 mutations. Most endometrioid tumours had few copy number alterations or TP53 mutations, but frequent mutations in PTEN, CTNNB1, PIK3CA, ARID1A and KRAS and novel mutations in the SWI/SNF chromatin remodelling complex gene ARID5B. A subset of endometrioid tumours that we identified had a markedly increased transversion mutation frequency and newly identified hotspot mutations in POLE. Our results classified endometrial cancers into four categories: POLE ultramutated, microsatellite instability hypermutated, copy-number low, and copy-number high. Uterine serous carcinomas share genomic features with ovarian serous and basal-like breast carcinomas. We demonstrated that the genomic features of endometrial carcinomas permit a reclassification that may affect post-surgical adjuvant treatment for women with aggressive tumours.

Source: Integrated genomic characterization of endometrial carcinoma. Cancer Genome Atlas Research Network, Kandoth C, Schultz N, Cherniack AD, Akbani R, Liu Y, Shen H, Robertson AG, Pashtan I, Shen R, Benz CC, Yau C, Laird PW, Ding L, Zhang W, Mills GB, Kucherlapati R, Mardis ER, Levine DA. Collaborators (313). Nature. 2013 May 2;497(7447):67-73.

Free paper available at:

http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v497/n7447/full/nature12113.html

Focus: A physical sciences network characterization of non-tumorigenic and metastatic cells

To investigate the transition from non-cancerous to metastatic from a physical sciences perspective, the Physical Sciences-Oncology Centers (PS-OC) Network performed molecular and biophysical comparative studies of the non-tumorigenic MCF-10A and metastatic MDA-MB-231 breast epithelial cell lines, commonly used as models of cancer metastasis. Experiments were performed in 20 laboratories from 12 PS-OCs. Each laboratory was supplied with identical aliquots and common reagents and culture protocols. Analyses of these measurements revealed dramatic differences in their mechanics, migration, adhesion, oxygen response, and proteomic profiles. Model-based multi-omics approaches identified key differences between these cells' regulatory networks involved in morphology and survival. These results provide a multifaceted description of cellular parameters of two widely used cell lines and demonstrate the value of the PS-OC Network approach for integration of diverse experimental observations to elucidate the phenotypes associated with cancer metastasis.

Source: A physical sciences network characterization of non-tumorigenic and metastatic cells. Physical Sciences - Oncology Centers Network, Agus DB, Alexander JF, Arap W, Ashili S, Aslan JE, Austin RH, Backman V, Bethel KJ, Bonneau R, Chen WC, Chen-Tanyolac C, Choi NC, Curley SA, Dallas M, Damania D, Davies PC, Decuzzi P, Dickinson L, Estevez-Salmeron L, Estrella V, Ferrari M, Fischbach C, Foo J, Fraley SI, Frantz C, Fuhrmann A, Gascard P, Gatenby RA, Geng Y, Gerecht S, Gillies RJ, Godin B, Grady WM, Greenfield A, Hemphill C, Hempstead BL, Hielscher A, Hillis WD, Holland EC, Ibrahim-Hashim A, Jacks T, Johnson RH, Joo A, Katz JE, Kelbauskas L, Kesselman C, King MR, Konstantopoulos K, Kraning-Rush CM, Kuhn P, Kung K, Kwee B, Lakins JN, Lambert G, Liao D, Licht JD, Liphardt JT, Liu L, Lloyd MC, Lyubimova A, Mallick P, Marko J, McCarty OJ, Meldrum DR, Michor F, Mumenthaler SM, Nandakumar V, O'Halloran TV, Oh S, Pasqualini R, Paszek MJ, Philips KG, Poultney CS, Rana K, Reinhart-King CA, Ros R, Semenza GL, Senechal P, Shuler ML, Srinivasan S, Staunton JR, Stypula Y, Subramanian H, Tlsty TD, Tormoen GW, Tseng Y, van Oudenaarden A, Verbridge SS, Wan JC, Weaver VM, Widom J, Will C, Wirtz D, Wojtkowiak J, Wu PH. Sci Rep. 2013 Apr 25;3:1449.

Free paper available at:

http://www.nature.com/srep/2013/130422/srep01449/full/srep01449.html

Press Review (May 25, 2013) – Revue de presse (25 mai 2013)

Older Men Should Pass on Getting Prostate Cancer Treatment

The advice to detect and treat cancers at the first opportunity may not apply to older men with prostate tumors, according to the latest study

By Alexandra Sifferlin. In TIME

http://healthland.time.com/2013/05/23/older-men-should-pass-on-getting-prostate-cancer-treatment/

The Way We Think about Cancer Must Evolve

Right now, as you read these words, your life is in danger. Somewhere within the vast self-contained micro-universe known as you, in one and possibly more of your trillions of cells, something is going wrong. A vital protein, perhaps, is being altered or destroyed as one cell divides to create another. The mutated cell, an incorrect version of its former self, will continue to multiply, compounding and extending its grotesque influence as an intruder and usurper, bent on its own self- preservation at your expense. It has become cancer.

By Mark Wolverton. In Wired                             

http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2013/05/al_argcancer/

American Cancer Society Celebrates 100 Years of Progress

One million cancer deaths avoided since 1990s, group says.

In U.S. News & World Report

http://health.usnews.com/health-news/news/articles/2013/05/22/american-cancer-society-celebrates-100-years-of-progress

Cancer: Drug for an 'undruggable' protein

Scientists have long aimed to develop drugs against the cancer-associated protein KRAS, but without success. An approach that targets the oncoprotein's cellular localization reignites lost enthusiasm.

By Nicole M. Baker & Channing J. Der. In Nature   

http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/vaop/ncurrent/full/nature12248.html

Promising New Approach to Treatment of Lung Cancer

Researchers have developed a new drug delivery system that allows inhalation of chemotherapeutic drugs to help treat lung cancer, and in laboratory and animal tests it appears to reduce the systemic damage done to other organs while significantly improving the treatment of lung tumors.

In Science Daily                                                

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/05/130522131212.htm

Cancer : optimisme à géométrie variable

Le regard sur le cancer profondément évolué ces dernières décennies à la faveur des progrès de la médecine. Désormais, ce n’est plus seulement la fatalité et le pessimisme qui dominent lorsqu’on évoque ces pathologies. L’enquête d’opinion PACE (Patient Acces and Cancer Care Excellence) menée sous l’égide des laboratoires Lilly dans six pays (Allemagne, Italie, Royaume-Uni, Japon, Etats-Unis et France) auprès, dans chaque état, d’une centaine de patients, d'une centaine de professionnels de santé et de cinq cent personnes dans la population générale, confirme cette évolution.

Par Léa Crébat. Dans JIM

http://www.jim.fr/en_direct/pro_societe/e-docs/00/02/1F/59/document_actu_pro.phtml

Métastases osseuses du cancer de la prostate : la FDA donne son accord à Xofigo

L'agent, le radium-223 dichloride (connu sous le nom d'alpharadin), a reçu une autorisation de mise sur le marché (AMM) de la Food and Drug Administration (FDA) le 15 mai. Il sera commercialisé par les laboratoires Bayer sous le nom de Xofigo® dans le traitement du cancer de la prostate avec métastase(s) osseuse(s) uniquement, chez les hommes ayant préalablement bénéficié d'une autre thérapie visant à influer sur le taux de testostérone

Par Zosia Chustecka, Aude Lecrubier. Dans Medscape

http://www.medscape.fr/oncologie/articles/1540973/

Press Review (May 18, 2013) – Revue de presse (18 mai 2013)

Washington: Cancer Patients More Prone to Bankruptcy

A study of cancer patients in Washington State has found they were twice as likely to file for bankruptcy as people without cancer. The study, led by researchers from the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle, linked bankruptcy court records and information from the regional cancer registry on about 200,000 cancer patients, and compared them with a similar group of people from the same area who did not have cancer. Young people with cancer experienced the highest bankruptcy rates, the study found, up to 10 times the rate of bankruptcy filings among older age groups.

By Sabrina Tavernise. In The New York Times

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/16/us/washington-cancer-patients-more-prone-to-bankruptcy.html?_r=0

Seeking Calm on the Cancer Ward

When people choose to have their leukemia treated aggressively, it’s a big commitment, more so than for almost any other cancer.

With this therapy — three days of the drug daunorubicin, which comes in a reddish color so distinctive that one of my patients, a former chemist, used it in his professional life as a dye for plastics, and seven days of the drug cytarabine, which is infused continuously over 168 hours — we offer them the chance to be cured of a disease moving like wildfire with a stiff breeze behind it at the height of drought.

By Mikkael L. Sekkeres. In The New York Times (blog)      

http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/05/16/seeking-calm-on-the-cancer-ward/

Melanoma Treatment Harnesses Immune System to Combat Cancer Cells

A study of cancer patients in Washington State has found they were twice as likely to file for bankruptcy as people without cancer. The study, led by researchers from the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle, linked bankruptcy court records and information from the regional cancer registry on about 200,000 cancer patients, and compared them with a similar group of people from the same area who did not have cancer. Young people with cancer experienced the highest bankruptcy rates, the study found, up to 10 times the rate of bankruptcy filings among older age groups.

By Andrew Pollock. In The New York Times

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/16/business/melanoma-treatment-harnesses-immune-system-to-combat-cancer-cells.html

Cancer patients condemn hospital care

Some go hungry, receive the wrong drugs or feel so uncared for they consider abandoning treatment.

By Denis Campbell. In The Guardian               

http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2013/may/16/cancer-patients-condemn-hospital-care

Cancer genetics in music and film

“Decoding Annie Parker,” which premiered in New York last month, is coming to Seattle June 6 and 8 through SIFF. “In this amazing true story, the lives of cancer-stricken Annie Parker and UW geneticist Mary-Claire King intertwine, leading to the world-changing discovery of the BRCA1 breast cancer gene.” Helen Hunt plays King, and Samantha Morton plays Parker, who now speaks around the world about her experiences.

By Carol M. Ostrom. In The Seattle Times       

http://seattletimes.com/html/localnews/2020989654_doublemastectomyboxxml.html

Cancer du sein : le coup de pouce de Jolie au vendeur de tests génétiques

En annonçant sa mastectomie préventive, Angelina Jolie a, malgré elle, fait un cadeau à une société controversée outre-Atlantique : l’action de Myriad Genetics, le fabricant du test de dépistage, a grimpé de 4% sur une seule journée. Mais Myriad est poursuivie par des défenseurs des libertés civiles et des scientifiques pour avoir voulu breveter le vivant.

Par Sophie Caillat. Dans Rue89

http://www.rue89.com/2013/05/15/cancer-sein-coup-pouce-jolie-vendeur-tests-genetiques-242353

Cancer du poumon : une prise de sang pour repérer les anomalies génétiques

Une équipe de chercheurs français a mis au point une technique qui permettrait, à l’aide d’une simple prise de sang, d'identifier les patients susceptibles de bénéficier d'un traitement ciblé contre le cancer du poumon

Par Emmanuel Perrin. Dans MaxiSciences

http://www.maxisciences.com/cancer-du-poumon/cancer-du-poumon-une-prise-de-sang-pour-reperer-les-anomalies-genetiques_art29532.html

Press Review (May 11, 2013) – Revue de presse (11 mai 2013)

Prices Cut for Cervical Cancer Vaccines in Poor Countries

The two companies that make vaccines against cervical cancer announced Thursday that they would cut their prices to the world’s poorest countries below $5 per dose, eventually making it possible for millions of girls to be protected against a major cancer killer.

By Donald G. McNeil Jr.. In The New York Times

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/10/health/prices-cut-for-hpv-cervical-cancer-vaccines-for-neediest.html?pagewanted=all

Living With Cancer: Good News Soup

People with incurable cancer do sometimes receive good news, as I have. Why is it harder for me to share good news than bad news? During treatment, good news produces elating highs, but also anxious lows.

By Susan Gubar. In The New York Times (blog)    

http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/05/09/living-with-cancer-good-news-soup/

Fun and Friends Help Ease the Pain of Breast Cancer

Breast cancer patients who say they have people with whom they have a good time, or have "positive social interactions" with, are better able to deal with pain and other physical symptoms, according to a new Kaiser Permanente study published today in Breast Cancer Research and Treatment.

In Science Daily (press release)                       

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/05/130509091219.htm

Research Reveals Cancer-Suppressing Protein 'Multitasks'

The understanding of how a powerful protein called p53 protects against cancer development has been upended by a discovery by Walter and Eliza Hall Institute researchers.

In Science Daily (press release)                       

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/05/130509123532.htm

Your immune system: On surveillance in the war against cancer

Predicting outcomes for cancer patients based on tumor-immune system interactions is an emerging clinical approach, and new research from Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center is advancing the field when it comes to the most deadly types of breast cancer

In Medical XPress

http://medicalxpress.com/news/2013-05-immune-surveillance-war-cancer.html

Vivre une grossesse jeune réduit le risque de cancer du sein

Une grossesse vécue jeune protège les femmes contre le cancer du sein. Une étude montre que l’expression génétique des cellules mammaires est modifiée chez les jeunes mères souris. Ces résultats expliqueraient pourquoi elles sont mieux protégées et pourraient conduire au développement de traitements contre ce type de cancer.

Par Agnès Roux. Dans Futura Sciences

http://www.futura-sciences.com/fr/news/t/medecine/d/vivre-une-grossesse-jeune-reduit-le-risque-de-cancer-du-sein_46257/

Des cancers différents mais des similarités génétiques

On le savait déjà, mais une nouvelle étude le confirme : il faut protéger sa peau du soleil. Les travaux, étalés sur 20 ans, montrent que l’apparition d’un cancer de la peau favorise le développement ultérieur d’autres cancers.

Dans Le Monde

http://www.lemonde.fr/sante/article/2013/05/03/des-cancers-differents-mais-des-similarites-genetiques_3170273_1651302.html

Focus : The Genomic HyperBrowser: an analysis web server for genome-scale data

Abstract

The immense increase in availability of genomic scale datasets, such as those provided by the ENCODE and Roadmap Epigenomics projects, presents unprecedented opportunities for individual researchers to pose novel falsifiable biological questions. With this opportunity, however, researchers are faced with the challenge of how to best analyze and interpret their genome-scale datasets. A powerful way of representing genome-scale data is as feature-specific coordinates relative to reference genome assemblies, i.e. as genomic tracks. The Genomic HyperBrowser (http://hyperbrowser.uio.no) is an open-ended web server for the analysis of genomic track data. Through the provision of several highly customizable components for processing and statistical analysis of genomic tracks, the HyperBrowser opens for a range of genomic investigations, related to, e.g., gene regulation, disease association or epigenetic modifications of the genome.

Source: The Genomic HyperBrowser: an analysis web server for genome-scale data. Sandve GK, Gundersen S, Johansen M, Glad IK, Gunathasan K, Holden L, Holden M, Liestøl K, Nygård S, Nygaard V, Paulsen J, Rydbeck H, Trengereid K, Clancy T, Drabløs F, Ferkingstad E, Kalas M, Lien T, Rye MB, Frigessi A, Hovig E. Nucleic Acids Res. 2013 Apr 30.

Free paper available at:

http://nar.oxfordjournals.org/content/early/2013/04/29/nar.gkt342.full.pdf+html