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.

iCAD, Hitachi enter distribution agreement for MRI breast cancer diagnosis and guided biopsy solution

iCAD, Inc., an industry-leading provider of advanced image analysis, workflow solutions and radiation therapies for the early identification and treatment of cancer, today announced that it has entered into a distribution agreement with Hitachi Medical Systems.

31 Oct 2011

Varian to supply TrueBeam treatment systems to Lund University Hospital

Varian Medical Systems has been awarded a contract to supply four TrueBeam treatment systems to Lund University Hospital in Sweden, one of the country's largest radiotherapy departments. The order, confirmed in September, is aimed at cutting treatment waiting lists in the Skane region of Sweden and includes an option to acquire two further TrueBeam systems in 2014.

28 Oct 2011

MD Anderson initiates orders of Cesium-131 to help control intermediate risk prostate cancer

IsoRay Inc., a medical technology company and innovator in seed brachytherapy and medical radioisotope applications, announced today that MD Anderson Cancer Center has initiated orders of Cesium-131 brachytherapy (internal radiation therapy) seeds as it continues its clinical research study investigating brachytherapy's ability to help control intermediate risk prostate cancer.

11 Oct 2011

Elekta sells Anatomic Pathology Information System business to Sunquest

Elekta AB today announced it has divested its Anatomic Pathology Information System business, marketed under the brand name PowerPath, a software line that manages workflow for laboratories offering surgical pathology, cytology, dermatopathology and autopsy services.

From Elekta 3 Oct 2011

FDA clears Nucletron's new VCMC Applicator for gynecologic cancers

During the first day of the annual conference for the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) in Miami, Nucletron, an Elekta company, today announced that it has received FDA 510(k) clearance for its new Vaginal CT/MR Multi Channel (VCMC) Applicator, offering a brachytherapy solution that enables very precise dose delivery for gynecologic cancers.

From Elekta 3 Oct 2011

Kimmel Cancer Center at Jefferson celebrates two decades of caring and collaboration to beat cancer

From October forward, the Kimmel Cancer Center at Jefferson (KCC), a National Cancer Institute-designated cancer center, is celebrating 20 years of service to the community and the groundbreaking cancer research from the scientists and physicians who've provided an invaluable contribution to medical science and healthcare.

30 Sep 2011

World's first treatment of metastasized brain cancer uses IsoRay's Cesium-131 brachytherapy seeds

IsoRay, a medical technology company and innovator in seed brachytherapy and medical radioisotope applications, announced today that doctors at New York Presbyterian Hospital/ Weill Cornell Medical Center have performed the world's first treatment of metastasized brain cancer using IsoRay's Cesium-131 brachytherapy seeds.

26 Sep 2011

Prediction models may effectively identify erectile function after prostate cancer surgery

The development of prediction models that included variables such as pretreatment sexual function, patient characteristics and treatment factors appear to be effective at predicting erectile function 2 years after prostatectomy, external radiotherapy, or brachytherapy for prostate cancer, according to a study in the September 21 issue of JAMA.

21 Sep 2011

Elekta acquires Nucletron

Elekta AB today announced it has successfully completed its acquisition of Nucletron, the world leader in brachytherapy treatment planning and delivery. Through the combination Elekta will offer a complete range of radiotherapy planning and delivery technologies.

From Elekta 15 Sep 2011

IsoRay receives FDA clearance for GliaSite radiation therapy system to treat brain cancer

IsoRay, Inc. announced today that the FDA has cleared its GliaSite radiation therapy system, a balloon catheter device used in the treatment of brain cancer.

12 Sep 2011

Varian enters accelerated share repurchase agreement

Varian Medical Systems today announced that it has entered into an agreement with Bank of America, N.A. to repurchase $250 million of its common stock under an accelerated share repurchase program. Concurrently, the company amended its revolving credit facility with Bank of America, N.A. to increase its borrowing capacity from $225 million to $300 million.

26 Aug 2011

itm FlowMedical initiates Rhenium-PTA therapy clinical trial in PAOD

itm FlowMedical GmbH announced the start of OPEN-188 clinical trial. It will compare itm Rhenium-PTA, a therapy for the prevention of restenosis in peripheral vessels, to a regular PTA, the standard therapy for the treatment of PAOD.

23 Aug 2011

IsoRay Cs-131 mesh brachytherapy with da Vinci Robot for lung cancer treatment gains momentum

IsoRay, Inc. said today that a growing number of hospitals and medical treatment centers are adopting its proprietary mesh Cesium-131 (Cs-131) brachytherapy seeds (internal radiation therapy) for use in conjunction with the da Vinci® Surgical System to treat early stage lung cancer patients. One of the most recent adopters is Georgia's Archbold Memorial Hospital.

23 Aug 2011

Metallofullerene platform holds promise for treatment of brain tumors

A single compound with dual function - the ability to deliver a diagnostic and therapeutic agent - may one day be used to enhance the diagnosis, imaging and treatment of brain tumors, according to findings from Virginia Commonwealth University and Virginia Tech.

5 Aug 2011

Metallofullerene-based nanoplatform shows promise against glioblastomas

Researchers from two universities have developed and tested a molecular platform that offers hope for treatment of aggressive brain tumors.

4 Aug 2011

Accuray to showcase CyberKnife, TomoTherapy systems at AAPM/COMP meeting

Accuray Incorporated, the premier radiation oncology company, announced today that it will showcase the CyberKnife Robotic Radiosurgery System and the TomoTherapy Radiation Therapy Treatment System in the company's booths at the 2011 Joint American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM)/Canadian Organization of Medical Physicists (COMP) Meeting.

1 Aug 2011

Hormone therapy may be hazardous in men with pre-existing heart conditions

Adding hormone therapy to radiation therapy has been proven in randomized clinical trials to improve overall survival for men with intermediate- and high-risk prostate cancer. However, adding hormone therapy may reduce overall survival in men with pre-existing heart conditions, even if they have high-risk prostate cancer according to a new study just published online in advance of print in the International Journal of Radiation Oncology·Biology·Physics, the official scientific journal of ASTRO.

26 Jul 2011

Novalis Tx system for treatment of cancer goes into service today

A treatment system called the Novalis Tx has gone into service today, which has the ability to destroy cancerous cells virtually anywhere in the body in a single, 20-minute session, without the need for a single cut of the scalpel.

25 Jul 2011

Drummond Group provides complete EMR certification for Varian's ARIA software for radiation oncology

Varian Medical Systems today announced its ARIA® software for electronic medical records (EMR) and clinical practice management in radiation oncology has been certified for clinics that can now use it to qualify for federal funding under the U.S. HITECH Act.

18 Jul 2011

Varian receives 2011 R&D 100 Award for TrueBeam system for image-guided radiotherapy and radiosurgery

Varian Medical Systems today announced that the company's TrueBeam system for image-guided radiotherapy and radiosurgery has received a 2011 R&D 100 Award from R&D Magazine. This annual award salutes the 100 most technologically significant products of the prior year, spanning many categories, from biomedical products to consumer items.

23 Jun 2011