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.

Stereotactic ablative radiotherapy improves median survival for elderly Dutch NSCLC patients

New developments such as stereotactic ablative radiotherapy and improvements in surgical care in early-stage lung cancer have led to large survival gains for elderly Dutch patients, according to a population-based study presented at the 14th World Conference on Lung Cancer in Amsterdam, hosted by the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer.

6 Jul 2011

More breast cancer patients may receive radiation treatments after surgery

More breast cancer patients than previously believed may be receiving radiation treatments after breast-conserving surgery, a University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center study shows.

6 Jul 2011

New technology reduces stress of scheduling chemotherapy treatments

The stress of scheduling chemotherapy treatments has been substantially reduced by a new technology created and implemented by a team of researchers from the Sauder School of Business at the University of British Columbia and the BC Cancer Agency.

30 Jun 2011

Some adult survivors of childhood cancer are at risk for multiple cancers

The largest study yet of adult childhood cancer survivors found that the first cancer is just the beginning of a lifelong battle against different forms of the disease for about 10 percent of these survivors.

29 Jun 2011

Many advanced breast cancer patients do not receive postmastectomy radiation therapy

Forty-five percent of women with advanced breast cancer in the U.S. did not receive postmastectomy radiation therapy (PMRT) despite the publication of evidence-based guidelines outlining PMRT as a potentially lifesaving treatment, according to new research from The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.

28 Jun 2011

Breast cancer patients not getting recommended radiation therapy: Report

According to a report released Monday in the journal Cancer, nearly half of older women with advanced stage breast cancer who undergo a mastectomy don't receive radiation therapy, despite guidelines that say it can save lives.

28 Jun 2011

Women can benefit from immediate breast reconstruction following mastectomy

For women undergoing mastectomy for breast cancer, immediate breast reconstruction has a low risk of complications—including serious complications related to radiation therapy—and does not cause undue delays in cancer treatment, reports a study in the July issue of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, the official medical journal of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.

28 Jun 2011

Astronomers to develop potential new cancer radiation treatment

Astronomers' research on celestial bodies may have an impact on the human body. Ohio State University astronomers are working with medical physicists and radiation oncologists to develop a potential new radiation treatment - one that is intended to be tougher on tumors, but gentler on healthy tissue.

27 Jun 2011

Hardin Memorial Hospital selects ProVation Order Sets

Wolters Kluwer Health, a leading global provider of information for healthcare professionals and students, announced today that Hardin Memorial Hospital has selected ProVation® Order Sets, powered by UpToDate® Decision Support, as the organization's electronic order set solution.

20 Jun 2011

IsoRay announces combination therapy study for prostate cancer

IsoRay Inc., announced today a new dual therapy study using Cesium-131 brachytherapy (internal radiation therapy) and external beam radiation. Multiple sites have now received Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval for this study which will examine the efficacy of combining intensity modulated radiation (IMRT) with Cesium-131 brachytherapy to treat intermediate and high risk early stage prostate cancer.

20 Jun 2011

Niclosamide drug effective against colon cancer metastasis

A compound that for about 60 years has been used as a drug against tapeworm infection is also apparently effective against colon cancer metastasis, as studies using mice have now shown.

18 Jun 2011

Initial data from COMPLETE study on peripheral T-cell lymphoma presented at ICML 2011

Allos Therapeutics, Inc. today announced the presentation of initial data from COMPLETE, an international registry designed to address the urgent need for an increased understanding of the treatment patterns and outcomes for patients with peripheral T-cell lymphoma.

16 Jun 2011

Accuray acquires TomoTherapy

Accuray Incorporated announced today that it has completed its previously announced acquisition of TomoTherapy Incorporated.

13 Jun 2011

Hyperthermia prevents repair of tumor cells

BSD Medical Corporation, a leading provider of medical systems that utilize heat therapy to treat cancer, announced today that a study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences demonstrated that hyperthermia can be a powerful tool to inhibit the ability of cancer cells to repair the DNA damage caused by radiation or chemotherapy.

10 Jun 2011

Scientists uncover new role for key cancer protein

Scientists at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute have uncovered a new role for a key cancer protein, a finding that could pave the way for more-effective radiation treatment of a variety of tumors.

10 Jun 2011

Eli Lilly, Synthes collaborate to develop osteoinductive products

Synthes, Inc. and Eli Lilly and Company today announced the signing of an exclusive worldwide collaboration agreement to address the needs of patients who are cared for by orthopedic surgeons, including those with osteoporosis and those with bone fractures.

10 Jun 2011

IsoRay completes Iotrex license agreement with Dr. Reddy's

IsoRay, Inc. announced today that it has completed a license agreement with Dr. Reddy's Laboratories for exclusive worldwide licensing rights to Iotrex, a liquid iodine radiation, for use in brain cancer treatment.

7 Jun 2011

VentiRx presents VTX-2337 Phase 1 trial results against advanced solid tumors at ASCO 2011

VentiRx Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of novel Toll-Like Receptor 8 agonists for the treatment of cancer, respiratory and autoimmune diseases, today announced the presentation of results from a Phase 1 clinical trial of VTX-2337, a selective TLR8 agonist in patients with advanced solid tumors. Data were presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology Annual Meeting in Chicago, IL.

7 Jun 2011

Medizintechnik acquires BSD-2000/3D/MR integrated hyperthermia system

BSD Medical Corporation, a leading provider of medical systems that utilize heat therapy to treat cancer, today announced that Dr. Sennewald Medizintechnik GmbH (Medizintechnik) has purchased BSD Medical's BSD-2000/3D/MR Hyperthermia System (BSD-2000/3D/MR).

6 Jun 2011

New UH Seidman Cancer Center center to offer latest treatments and technology

University Hospitals (UH) Seidman Cancer Center, Northeast Ohio's first and only freestanding cancer hospital, opens to patients on June 6. The ten-story, 150-bed cancer hospital will house the latest cancer-fighting treatments and technology – all in a patient-centered, healing-focused environment.

6 Jun 2011