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.

IMRT better than CRT for treatment of localized prostate cancer

A treatment for localized prostate cancer known as Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT) is better than conventional conformal radiation therapy (CRT) for reducing certain side effects and preventing cancer recurrence, according to a study published in the April 18, 2012 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.

18 Apr 2012

SBRT shortens radiation treatment time for gynecologic cancers

About 71,500 women in the United States are diagnosed with a gynecologic cancer every year, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Researchers from University Hospitals Case Medical Center have developed a more effective way to treat gynecologic cancers, shortening radiation treatment time from five weeks to three days. The method will be published in the Journal of Visualized Experiments (JoVE) on April 17.

18 Apr 2012

New brain cancer vaccine with material from own tumors proves effective in clinical trial

A new brain cancer vaccine tailored to individual patients by using material from their own tumors has proven effective in a multicenter phase 2 clinical trial at extending their lives by several months or longer. The patients suffered from recurrent glioblastoma multiforme-which kills thousands of Americans every year.

18 Apr 2012

High intensity focused ultrasound to treat prostate cancer shows initial success

A new tumor treatment that involves heating it with highly focused ultrasound, may mean men with prostate tumors can be treated without an overnight stay in hospital and avoiding the distressing side effects associated with current therapies.

17 Apr 2012

Viewpoints: Politics distorting views of the health system; US is more efficient than most people think

If health insurers can keep denying coverage to anyone, millions of Americans could be left to fend for themselves in a system that openly discriminates against the sick and leaves many destitute.

16 Apr 2012

Novian Health commences multicenter Novilase Interstitial Laser Therapy clinical trial for breast cancer

Novian Health, developer of Novilase Breast Therapy, announced the company has begun a multicenter clinical trial on the use of Novilase Interstitial Laser Therapy (ILT) for the destruction of malignant breast tumors.

12 Apr 2012

More than 60% of breast cancer survivors report post-treatment complications

More than 60 percent of breast cancer survivors report at least one treatment-related complication even six years after their diagnosis, according to a new study led by a researcher from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania.

10 Apr 2012

New dietary supplement may arrest, lower rising PSA in men with recurrent prostate cancer

Preliminary findings from an FDA-approved clinical trial indicate that the experimental dietary supplement Prostate Health Cocktail (PHC) may arrest and in some cases lower rising PSA (Prostate Specific Antigen) in men with recurrent prostate cancer.

9 Apr 2012

Synapse Medical acquires another MicroThermX Microwave Ablation System

BSD Medical Corporation, a leading provider of medical systems that utilize heat therapy to treat cancer, announced today that the Company has sold an additional MicroThermX Microwave Ablation System to Synapse Medical Ltd.

9 Apr 2012

CPF proclaims September as 'Pulmonary Fibrosis Awareness Month'

The Coalition for Pulmonary Fibrosis (CPF) announced today the month of September 2012 will be proclaimed "Pulmonary Fibrosis Awareness Month." In previous years, the CPF has celebrated "National Pulmonary Fibrosis Awareness Week" for one week each September, but expanding the time frame to a month will help achieve greater national awareness and fundraising in the race to find treatment and a cure.

7 Apr 2012

BSD Medical second quarter total revenues decrease to $271,883

BSD Medical Corporation, a leading provider of medical systems that treat cancer and benign diseases using heat therapy, today reported financial results for its second fiscal quarter ended February 29, 2012.

7 Apr 2012

Research on how cells cope with stress could lead to more effective cancer treatment

Both radiation and many forms of chemotherapy try to kill tumors by causing oxidative stress in cancer cells. New research from USC on a protein that protects cancer and other cells from these stresses could one day help doctors to break down cancer cells' defenses, making them more susceptible to treatment.

7 Apr 2012

Researchers develop 'phantoms' to make medical imaging safer for obese patients

Most medical imaging equipment is not designed with overweight and obese patients in mind. As a result, these individuals can be exposed to higher levels of radiation during routine X-ray and CT scans.

6 Apr 2012

State roundup: Advocates in Va. back shifting disability care from state institutions; New Vt. law overhauls mental health system; Aetna mistakenly tells thousands in Calif. their doctors were dropped

A state agency that looks out for the rights of people with disabilities is advocating for a proposed settlement that would shift the care of Virginians with intellectual disabilities from state-run institutions.

6 Apr 2012

ACR finds list of five medical imaging exams

As part of its ongoing efforts to ensure safe, effective and appropriate use of medical imaging, the American College of Radiology (ACR) identified a list of five imaging exams whose necessity should be discussed before being ordered.

5 Apr 2012

AngioDynamics presents NanoKnife System clinical study results at SSO 2012

AngioDynamics, a leading provider of innovative, minimally invasive medical devices for vascular access, surgery, peripheral vascular disease and oncology, announced presentations on NanoKnife System clinical experience were given at the Society of Surgical Oncology (SSO) 2012 conference that took place March 21-24, 2012, in Orlando, Fla.

2 Apr 2012

Elekta receives clearance to CE mark Agility device

Elekta announced today it has received clearance to CE mark Agility, a revolutionary beam-shaping device integrated into the head of a linear accelerator (linac). Patients and clinics will benefit from the speed and reliability of this new MLC design.

From Elekta 2 Apr 2012

Survivin protein could be a useful tool in understanding pancreatic cancer

Pancreatic cancer kills more than 40,000 people every year, and among cancers it's particularly insidious. For 80 percent of patients, the disease is already so advanced at the time of diagnosis that treatment is unlikely to provide significantly life-extending benefits. For patients diagnosed with localized pancreatic cancer, the five-year survival rate remains barely above 20 percent, according to the National Cancer Institute.

2 Apr 2012

Hypoxia in tumors can predict prostate cancer recurrence in men

Low oxygen levels in tumors can be used to predict cancer recurrence in men with intermediate-risk prostate cancer even before they receive radiation therapy.

2 Apr 2012

Accuray, University of Heidelberg enter multi-year master research and collaboration agreement

Accuray Incorporated, the premier radiation oncology company, announced today the signing of a multi-year master research and collaboration agreement with the University of Heidelberg, a luminary research institution located in Heidelberg, Germany that contributes to the city's top international position in therapy, research and science.

31 Mar 2012

Radiation Therapy News and Research

Further Reading

IMRT better than CRT for treatment of localized prostate cancer

SBRT shortens radiation treatment time for gynecologic cancers

New brain cancer vaccine with material from own tumors proves effective in clinical trial

High intensity focused ultrasound to treat prostate cancer shows initial success

Viewpoints: Politics distorting views of the health system; US is more efficient than most people think

Novian Health commences multicenter Novilase Interstitial Laser Therapy clinical trial for breast cancer

More than 60% of breast cancer survivors report post-treatment complications

New dietary supplement may arrest, lower rising PSA in men with recurrent prostate cancer

Synapse Medical acquires another MicroThermX Microwave Ablation System

CPF proclaims September as 'Pulmonary Fibrosis Awareness Month'

BSD Medical second quarter total revenues decrease to $271,883

Research on how cells cope with stress could lead to more effective cancer treatment

Researchers develop 'phantoms' to make medical imaging safer for obese patients

State roundup: Advocates in Va. back shifting disability care from state institutions; New Vt. law overhauls mental health system; Aetna mistakenly tells thousands in Calif. their doctors were dropped

ACR finds list of five medical imaging exams

AngioDynamics presents NanoKnife System clinical study results at SSO 2012

Elekta receives clearance to CE mark Agility device

Survivin protein could be a useful tool in understanding pancreatic cancer

Hypoxia in tumors can predict prostate cancer recurrence in men

Accuray, University of Heidelberg enter multi-year master research and collaboration agreement

Evaluating new approaches for rare disease genomics

Expanding access to NMR with the Fourier 80 Duo

Advancing Intracellular Delivery with LumiPore®

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