Brachytherapy News and Research

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Brachytherapy is a minimally invasive procedure that involves the use of radioactive seeds the size of rice grains. Brachytherapy, an out-patient procedure, usually takes 45 minutes to an hour to perform. Most patients can return to their normal activities within days. The success rates of prostate brachytherapy have compared favorably with success rates of radical prostatectomy and external beam radiation. In comparison studies, prostate brachytherapy has shown to have a favorable side effect profile when compared with other modalities. Clinical studies have shown that prostate brachytherapy has a cure rate of 94% for appropriately selected patients.

Elekta receives clearance for Clarity 4D Monitoring software

Elekta has received 510(k) clearance for its Clarity 4D Monitoring software, enabling U.S. medical centers to implement this new way of reducing the uncertainty caused by prostate motion during radiation treatment.

From Elekta 17 Dec 2012

Varian's TrueBeam receives Indian AERB clearance for use in advanced radiosurgical treatments

Varian Medical Systems has received regulatory clearance from the Indian Atomic Energy Regulatory Board for the use of its unique TrueBeam High Intensity Mode for advanced radiosurgical treatments.

29 Nov 2012

EMUC discusses current and future prospects in imaging for prostate cancer

At the 4th European Multidisciplinary Meeting on Urological Cancers (EMUC) held this weekend in Barcelona, Spain, specialists from radiology, urology, medical oncology and pathology said that new developments and research are already underway but benefits to patients would take some time due to the need for clinical trials, the high cost of funding research and the ability of cancer experts to efficiently take advantage of new insights and approaches, among other challenges.

19 Nov 2012

Promising new minimally toxic approach to treat solid tumors with radiation

A promising new approach to treating solid tumors with radiation was highly efficacious and minimally toxic to healthy tissue in a mouse model of cancer, according to data published in Cancer Research, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research.

15 Nov 2012

Varian highlights numerous lung cancer treatment systems at ASTRO meeting

Varian Medical Systems highlighted the company's technologies for the non-invasive treatment of lung cancer at the 54th annual meeting of the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) in Boston this week.

1 Nov 2012

Post-radiation drop in testosterone linked to recurrence of prostate cancer in men

Men whose testosterone drops following radiation therapy for prostate cancer are more likely to experience a change in PSA levels that signals their cancer has returned, according to new research from Fox Chase Cancer Center.

29 Oct 2012

Elekta Synergy system with Agility 160-leaf MLC now available at Radboud

The first of three newly acquired Elekta Synergy treatment systems equipped with Agility 160-leaf multi-leaf collimator (MLC) is now up and running clinically at Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Center - making the clinic the first in the Netherlands to use Agility.

From Elekta 15 Oct 2012

Theragenics enters second amended and restated credit agreement with Wells Fargo

Theragenics Corporation, a medical device company serving the surgical products and prostate cancer treatment markets, today announced that it has entered into a Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement with Wells Fargo Bank, National Association.

11 Oct 2012

Genetic profile predicts postradiation erectile dysfunction

Scientists have identified a group of genetic markers that can predict the risk for erectile dysfunction after radiotherapy for prostate cancer.

1 Oct 2012

September issue of JNCCN publishes two prostate cancer articles

Julio M. Pow-Sang, M.D., chair of Moffitt Cancer Center's Department of Genitourinary Oncology, and colleagues have published two prostate cancer articles in the September issue of JNCCN - The Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network. The articles review and clarify recent updates made to the National Comprehensive Cancer Network's (NCCN) guidelines for the screening and treatment of prostate cancer.

29 Sep 2012

High-dose, pulsed-dose BRT feasible palliative options in laryngeal cancer

High-dose and pulsed-dose brachytherapy are feasible options for laryngeal cancer patients with recurrent or residual stomal tumor after total laryngectomy, report Polish researchers.

27 Sep 2012

Scientists discover 12 genetic markers for ED in prostate cancer patients after radiotherapy

In the first study of its kind, a research team led by Mount Sinai School of Medicine and Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University discovered 12 genetic markers associated with the development of erectile dysfunction (ED) in prostate cancer patients who were treated with radiation.

27 Sep 2012

CivaTech Oncology receives NIH/NCI Phase II Contract for CivaSheet device to treat NSCLC

CivaTech Oncology, an RTP medical device company dedicated to developing novel radiation therapy devices, announced the award of a $1M Phase II Contract from the National Institutes of Health and the National Cancer Institute to further develop and commercialize CivaSheet, a bioabsorbable uni-directional device for treatment of non-small-cell lung cancer.

26 Sep 2012

CINJ experts available to discuss prevention and treatment of breast cancer

The Cancer Institute of New Jersey (CINJ) is making experts available to discuss the risks, and options for treatment and prevention surrounding breast cancer. According to the American Cancer Society 227,000 women nationwide will be diagnosed with the disease this year, and while the disease affects mostly women, men also can be diagnosed with breast cancer.

15 Sep 2012

Endovascular brachytherapy may safely and effectively treat femoropopliteal in-stent stenosis

Placement of an endovascular stent has become a common procedure to successfully reopen blocked arteries. Even so, the treated vessel may once again narrow (restenosis), restricting blood flow. In the femoral and popliteal arteries in the leg, the use of nitinol stents magnifies this problem. About 20 to 40 percent of these stent patients experience restenosis 2 years after angioplasty. Now, an improved radiation technique may provide a safe and effective solution.

22 Aug 2012

Loyola to offer new radiotherapy system for cancer patients

A new radiotherapy system at Loyola University Medical Center will offer cancer patients shorter radiation treatments, with pinpoint accuracy and precision.

9 Aug 2012

Dosimetry data from SalutarisMD episcleral brachytherapy device clinical study on wet AMD

At the American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM) Annual Meeting yesterday, Russell J. Hamilton, PhD, Professor and Physics Section Head, University of Arizona Department of Radiation Oncology, reviewed dosimetry data for a minimally invasive episcleral brachytherapy device developed by Salutaris Medical Devices, Inc. (SalutarisMD) to treat Wet AMD (Age-related Macular Degeneration), the leading cause of vision loss and blindness.

30 Jul 2012

Virginia Hospital Center offers new Calypso System for patients with prostate cancer

Virginia Hospital Center is among the few hospitals along the east coast to offer the new Calypso® System featuring GPS for the Body technology and Beacon electromagnetic transponders for patients with certain types of cancer.

26 Jul 2012

Book details minimum recommended guidelines for radiation oncology practices

The American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) is proud to announce the publication of Safety is No Accident: A Framework for Quality Radiation Oncology and Care, a comprehensive book detailing minimum recommended guidelines for radiation oncology practices.

19 Jul 2012

Prostate cancer treatment regrets linked to comorbidity

Men with cardiovascular disease are significantly more likely to regret their prostate cancer treatment choice than men without this comorbidity and have an increased risk for adverse effects, US researchers warn.

16 Jul 2012