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.

Study finds SBRT therapy delays pancreatic cancer progression

For pancreatic cancer patients unable to undergo surgery the only known cure for this form of cancer a highly targeted cancer radiation therapy may help slow cancer progression and lessen disease symptoms, according to researchers at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit.

30 Oct 2010

CURE Foundation orders for five Varian TrueBeam stereotactic radiosurgery and radiation therapy systems

Varian Medical Systems, Inc. today announced that CURE Foundation has placed an order for five Varian TrueBeam™ systems for stereotactic radiosurgery and radiation therapy.

29 Oct 2010

Henry Ford Hospital physicist receives ASTRO's Basic Science Abstract Award

Henry Ford Hospital physicist Lei Ren, Ph.D., is among an elite group to be awarded for basic science research in radiation oncology at the 52nd annual American Society for Radiology Oncology (ASTRO) meeting in San Diego.

29 Oct 2010

Fast Neutron Radiotherapy safe and effective for treatment of non-small cell lung cancer: Study

Scientists from the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute and Wayne State University School of Medicine (WSU SOM) in Detroit are presenting two research studies that found the use of Fast Neutron Radiotherapy (FNRT) – a form of radiation that is about three times more powerful than typical photon radiotherapy – is highly effective and safe for patients who are dealing with non-small cell lung cancer. The findings are being formally presented Monday, Nov. 1, at the American Society of Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology (ASTRO) Annual Meeting.

29 Oct 2010

Low levels of pre-treatment radiation do not risk radiotherapy efficacy in prostate, lung cancer patients

Scientists from the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute in Detroit will present data that suggests low levels of pre-treatment radiation mimicking the doses delivered by CT scans for image guidance pose no risk to the efficacy of radiotherapy in patients with prostate carcinoma and non-small cell lung carcinoma. The findings will be formally announced on Sunday, Oct. 31, during the American Society of Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology (ASTRO) Annual Meeting.

29 Oct 2010

IsoRay completes Cs-131 brachytherapy seeds feasibility study for breast cancer treatment

IsoRay, Inc. announced, today, it has completed an initial feasibility study, which demonstrates the ability to use its patented Cesium-131 (Cs-131) brachytherapy seeds (internal radiation therapy) in accelerated partial breast irradiation (APBI) for breast cancer treatment.

28 Oct 2010

Mirada Medical and Moffitt Cancer Center enter joint development agreement

Mirada Medical Limited, the fast growing international company focused on advanced oncology imaging, announced today that they have signed an agreement with Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL, one of the USA's top centers for cancer treatment and oncology research.

28 Oct 2010

World's largest free-standing proton therapy center opens

Hampton University, along with the Honorable Gov. Bob McDonnell and hundreds of guests, celebrated the grand opening of the Hampton University Proton Therapy Institute (HUPTI), the world's largest free-standing proton center, on Thursday.

28 Oct 2010

Calypso Medical initiates clinical study to evaluate tracking technology for lung tumors

Calypso Medical Technologies, Inc., a developer of real-time localization technology used for the precise tracking of tumors, today announced the initiation of the first clinical study to evaluate the use of the Calypso System for tracking lung cancer tumors during radiation delivery, including a new design of the Company's implantable Beacon transponder.

28 Oct 2010

New type of radiation reduces GI side effects but does not improve survival rate in prostate cancer patients

A new British review of existing research suggests that while a newer type of radiation for the treatment of prostate cancer does not help patients live longer compared to an older type at least when similar doses are given it does appear to reduce gastrointestinal side effects.

27 Oct 2010

PSA test helps detect prostate cancer before it spreads

In addition to saving lives, a new study indicates routine prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing improves quality of life by substantially reducing the risk that prostate cancer will spread to other parts of the body.

27 Oct 2010

IMRT reduces gastrointestinal complications in prostate cancer patients

Prostate cancer patients who receive intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) are less apt to suffer serious gastrointestinal complications following their treatment than those who receive three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (CRT), according to new research from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine.

27 Oct 2010

Study finds ABVD standard chemotherapy effective for Hodgkin's lymphoma

A lower dose of radiation used to reduce side effects is not as effective as the regular dose when given with the standard chemotherapy in the treatment of Hodgkin's lymphoma patients with early, intermediate-stage disease, according to a first-of-its-kind randomized study presented at the plenary session, November 1, 2010, at the 52nd Annual Meeting of the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO).

26 Oct 2010

Stereotactic radiation effective for trigeminal neuralgia

Stereotactic radiation is an effective, long-term treatment for trigeminal neuralgia: a painful condition that occurs with increased frequency in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). Radiation is noninvasive and has less negative side effects than other treatments, according to the longest follow-up in a study of its kind presented October 31, 2010, at the 52nd Annual Meeting of the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO).

26 Oct 2010

Routine prostate cancer screening reduces metastasis risk

Men treated for prostate cancer who were diagnosed after the start of routine screening had a significantly reduced risk of the disease spreading to other parts of the body (metastases) within 10 years of treatment, compared to men who were treated prior to the use of routine screening, according to the first study-of-its-kind presented November 1, 2010, at the 52nd Annual Meeting of the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO).

26 Oct 2010

Short course of radiation before surgery reduces rectal cancer recurrence: Study

Patients with cancer found at the end of the large intestine called the rectum who receive one week of radiation therapy before surgery have a 50 percent reduction in chance that their cancer will return after 10 years, according to a large, randomized study presented at the plenary session, November 1, 2010, at the 52nd Annual Meeting of the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO).

26 Oct 2010

Combination of radiation and hormone therapy improves survival rate among prostate cancer patients

Prostate cancer patients who are treated with a combination of hormone therapy and radiation have a substantially improved chance of survival compared to patients who do not receive radiation, according to interim results of the largest randomized study of its kind presented at the plenary session, November 1, 2010, at the 52nd Annual Meeting of the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO).

26 Oct 2010

Aspirin reduces risk of death from prostate cancer

Men with prostate cancer who take anticoagulants like aspirin in addition to radiation therapy or surgery may be able to cut their risk of dying of the disease by more than half, according to a large study presented on November 3, 2010, at the 52nd Annual Meeting of the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) in San Diego. The study involved more than 5,000 men with localized cancer whose disease had not spread beyond the prostate gland.

26 Oct 2010

IMRT minimizes gastrointestinal side effects of prostate cancer treatment

Men with prostate cancer treated with a specialized type of radiation called intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) have fewer gastrointestinal complications compared to patients treated with conventional three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3D-CRT), according to a study presented November 1, 2010, at the 52nd Annual Meeting of the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO).

26 Oct 2010

Combination of chemotherapy and radiation improves control of cancer within bladder

Adding chemotherapy to radiation therapy for muscle invasive bladder cancer allows 67 percent of people to be free of disease in their bladders two years after treatment. This compares to 54 percent of people who receive radiation alone, according to the largest randomized study of its kind presented at the plenary session, November 1, 2010, at the 52nd Annual Meeting of the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO).

26 Oct 2010

Radiation Therapy News and Research

Further Reading

Study finds SBRT therapy delays pancreatic cancer progression

CURE Foundation orders for five Varian TrueBeam stereotactic radiosurgery and radiation therapy systems

Henry Ford Hospital physicist receives ASTRO's Basic Science Abstract Award

Fast Neutron Radiotherapy safe and effective for treatment of non-small cell lung cancer: Study

Low levels of pre-treatment radiation do not risk radiotherapy efficacy in prostate, lung cancer patients

IsoRay completes Cs-131 brachytherapy seeds feasibility study for breast cancer treatment

Mirada Medical and Moffitt Cancer Center enter joint development agreement

World's largest free-standing proton therapy center opens

Calypso Medical initiates clinical study to evaluate tracking technology for lung tumors

New type of radiation reduces GI side effects but does not improve survival rate in prostate cancer patients

PSA test helps detect prostate cancer before it spreads

IMRT reduces gastrointestinal complications in prostate cancer patients

Study finds ABVD standard chemotherapy effective for Hodgkin's lymphoma

Stereotactic radiation effective for trigeminal neuralgia

Routine prostate cancer screening reduces metastasis risk

Short course of radiation before surgery reduces rectal cancer recurrence: Study

Combination of radiation and hormone therapy improves survival rate among prostate cancer patients

Aspirin reduces risk of death from prostate cancer

IMRT minimizes gastrointestinal side effects of prostate cancer treatment

Combination of chemotherapy and radiation improves control of cancer within bladder

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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