Radiation Therapy News and Research

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Radiation therapy (also called radiotherapy, x-ray therapy, or irradiation) is the use of a certain type of energy (called ionizing radiation) to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors. Radiation therapy injures or destroys cells in the area being treated (the “target tissue”) by damaging their genetic material, making it impossible for these cells to continue to grow and divide. Although radiation damages both cancer cells and normal cells, most normal cells can recover from the effects of radiation and function properly. The goal of radiation therapy is to damage as many cancer cells as possible, while limiting harm to nearby healthy tissue.

Accuray announces outcome data from CyberKnife Prostate SBRT study

Accuray Incorporated, the premier radiation oncology company, announced today that outcome data on intermediate risk prostate cancer patients treated with CyberKnife Prostate SBRT was presented at the American Urological Association Meeting (AUA) 2012 held in Atlanta, Ga.

8 Jun 2012

Split-course RT valuable after hormone-resistant prostate cancer relapse

A split course of high-dose radiotherapy in men with progressive, hormone-refractory prostate cancer is effective and has an acceptable toxicity profile, report Australian researchers.

6 Jun 2012

OncoGenex announces data from OGX-427 Phase 2 study on mCRPC

OncoGenex Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced today data from a Phase 2 study of its investigational compound OGX-427 in chemotherapy-naive metastatic castration resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) patients will be presented during an oral presentation at the 2012 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) annual meeting on Tuesday, June 5.

5 Jun 2012

Polynoma initiates POL 103A Phase III trial in melanoma

Polynoma LLC, a U.S. oncology-focused biopharmaceutical company within Hong Kong-based CK Life Sciences Int'l., today announced the start of a Phase III clinical trial program for POL 103A, the Company's novel melanoma vaccine. Polynoma's global, multi-center, double-blind, placebo-controlled Melanoma Antigen Vaccine Immunotherapy Study (MAVIS) is designed to enroll a total of 1059 patients with resected Stage IIb, IIc or III melanoma.

4 Jun 2012

Clinical trial to examine effectiveness of combined vaccine and hormone treatment for prostate cancer

Investigators at The Cancer Institute of New Jersey (CINJ) have partnered with the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and launched a clinical trial examining the effectiveness of a combined vaccine and hormone treatment for prostate cancer that is resistant to hormone therapy and not visible on imaging tests such as a CT scan and a bone scan.

2 Jun 2012

'Atzelberg Circle' researchers meet to advance hyperthermia as standard combination cancer therapy

BSD Medical Corporation, a developer and manufacturer of advanced medical systems that utilize heat therapy to treat cancer, announced today that a distinguished, international team of leading oncologists met in council while attending the May 2012 conference of the European Society for Radiotherapy and Oncology (ESTRO) in Barcelona, Spain.

2 Jun 2012

Montefiore experts available to discuss cancer research at 2012 ASCO meeting

Bringing together international experts with the latest technologies and pioneering research, Montefiore Einstein Center for Cancer Care, in collaboration with the National Cancer Institute-designated Albert Einstein Cancer Center, advances the front lines of prevention, diagnosis and treatment of rare and common cancers.

2 Jun 2012

Beta-carotene safe to use during radiation therapy for prostate cancer

Despite past safety concerns, the antioxidant supplement beta-carotene, is safe to use during radiation therapy treatments for prostate cancer and does not increase the risk of prostate cancer death or metastases, according to a study in the May issue of the International Journal of Radiation Oncology•Biology•Physics, the official scientific journal of the American Society for Radiation Oncology.

1 Jun 2012

ImmunoCellular to present new data from ICT-107 Phase I trial on GBM

ImmunoCellular Therapeutics, Ltd., announced today it will present new data from the previously completed Phase I clinical trial of ICT-107, the Company's lead cancer vaccine candidate for the treatment of glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), at the 2012 Annual Meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) in Chicago, IL.

1 Jun 2012

Researchers develop special brassiere for breast cancer patients

In cooperation with Amoena Medizin-Orthopädie-Technik GmbH, researchers from the Hohenstein Institute have taken on a highly sensitive yet very important issue. In the framework of the publicly funded research project they developed a special brassiere for breast cancer patients.

1 Jun 2012

Scars, disfigurement and hair loss from childhood cancer can affect adult quality of life

Scars left behind by childhood cancer treatments are more than skin-deep. The increased risk of disfigurement and persistent hair loss caused by childhood cancer and treatment are associated with emotional distress and reduced quality of life in adulthood, according to a new study led by a Northwestern Medicine advanced practice nurse, Karen Kinahan, and based on data from the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study.

25 May 2012

PSA test benefits are questionable, yet physicians struggle to stop them

Recent recommendations from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) advising elimination of routine prostate-specific antigen (PSA) screening for prostate cancer in healthy men are likely to encounter serious pushback from primary care physicians, according to results of a survey by Johns Hopkins investigators.

24 May 2012

MGH develops new technique to reconstruct the larynx after surgery for advanced cancer

Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) surgeons have developed a new technique for reconstructing the larynx after surgery for advanced cancer.

22 May 2012

Treatment of early stage prostate cancer can also result in improved QOL for men with LUTS

Treatment of early stage prostate cancer can also result in improved quality of life for a subgroup of men who suffer from lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS), according to an abstract of a Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center-led study presented to the American Urological Association.

21 May 2012

Spectrum initiates ZEVALIN and MGd Phase 2 combination study in NHL

Spectrum Pharmaceuticals, a biotechnology company with fully integrated commercial and drug development operations with a primary focus in hematology and oncology, today announced the initiation of a Phase 2 study evaluating ZEVALIN (ibritumomab tiuxetan) Injection for intravenous use + rituximab in combination with motexafin gadolinium (MGd) in patients with rituximab-refractory low-grade or follicular B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

18 May 2012

Radiation oncology researchers revise glioblastoma classification system

Radiation oncology researchers have revised the system used by doctors since the 1990s to determine the prognosis of people with glioblastoma, which is the most devastating of malignant brain tumors.

17 May 2012

New insight into treatment patterns for people with stage two and three rectal cancer

Research from the University of Alberta provides new insight into treatment patterns for people with stage two and three rectal cancer-information that ultimately will help physicians improve care strategies for patients provincewide.

16 May 2012

IMRIS first quarter revenues decrease to $3.5 million

IMRIS Inc. today reported its results for the first quarter of 2012. All figures are reported in US dollars.

15 May 2012

Lilly to present oncology data from more than 25 studies at ASCO annual meeting

Eli Lilly and Company will present data from more than 25 studies at the 48th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) in Chicago, Ill. from June 1 – 5, 2012, including overall survival results from PARAMOUNT, a Phase III study of an ALIMTA (pemetrexed for injection)-based continuation maintenance regimen for the treatment of advanced nonsquamous non-small cell lung cancer.

15 May 2012

Breast brachytherapy with strut-based applicator effective for early-stage breast cancer

Breast brachytherapy with a strut-based applicator is a well-tolerated and effective treatment for early-stage breast cancer, according to a multi-site study with a median follow-up of four years. The research was presented as a scientific poster at the European Society for Radiology & Oncology (ESTRO) World Congress of Brachytherapy in Barcelona, May 10-12.

14 May 2012