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.

Balloon kyphoplasty offers effective relief for debilitating spinal fractures suffered by metastatic cancer patients

A surgical technique appears to offer quick and effective relief for debilitating spinal fractures often suffered by patients with metastatic cancer, researchers reported at the 35th Congress of the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) in Milan.

11 Oct 2010

BARDA awards $4.2 million contract to Menssana Research to develop breath test for radiation exposure

The Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority in the US Department of Health and Human Services has awarded Menssana Research Inc., a company with research facilities in the NJIT Enterprise Development Center, a contract for $4.2 million to develop a breath test for radiation exposure. If the contract is exercised with options, it could total $22.84 million.

11 Oct 2010

Positron comments on new medical radiation bill passed into law in California

Positron Corporation, a leading molecular imaging company specializing in the field of nuclear cardiology, commented on the new medical radiation bill passed into law in California.

8 Oct 2010

Novel peptide NX002 demonstrates efficacy in animal model of oral mucositis: Study

NephRx Corporation today announced that a new study has shown that its novel peptide NX002 demonstrated significant efficacy when tested in an animal model of oral mucositis. Mucositis is a debilitating and often dose-limiting side effect of many forms of cancer therapy that affects more than 400,000 patients who receive chemotherapy or radiation treatment in the U.S. each year. Current treatment options are very limited.

8 Oct 2010

Cs-131 brachytherapy seed implant can treat metastasized cancer

IsoRay, Inc. announced today another milestone in the use of Cesium-131 (Cs-131) brachytherapy seeds (internal radiation therapy). Doctors at a world renowned medical facility have performed the world's first Cs-131 brachytherapy seed implant following a wedge resection of a lung tumor which originated from a form of malignant uterine cancer. Initially used to treat primary cancers, Cs-131 seeds are now being used to treat metastasized cancer.

7 Oct 2010

Should Medicare consider cost-effectiveness when setting reimbursement rates?

Medicare reimbursement rates should be based on how cost effective the treatment is for a particular illness, according to a piece by two policy experts in the October edition of Health Affairs.

7 Oct 2010

Focused Ultrasound Surgery Foundation hosts conference to discuss advancements in therapeutic medicine

The Focused Ultrasound Surgery Foundation is hosting the 2nd International Symposium on MR-guided Focused Ultrasound in Chantilly, Virginia from October 17-20. Leading researchers and clinicians from around the world will gather at the three-day scientific conference to present and discuss the latest advancements in one of the most revolutionary and promising areas of therapeutic medicine.

6 Oct 2010

Amgen to present oncology portfolio results at ESMO Congress

Amgen today announced that results from several important studies from the Company's ncology portfolio will be presented at the 35th European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Congress, Oct. 8-12, 2010, in Milan, Italy.

6 Oct 2010

Varian, IMRIS enter agreement to co-develop new MR-guided radiation therapy system for cancer

Varian Medical Systems, Inc., and IMRIS Inc. have concluded an agreement to co-develop an innovative new MR-guided radiation therapy system for use in treating a variety of cancers.

6 Oct 2010

CPF honors three critical areas of leadership for Pulmonary Fibrosis community

The Coalition for Pulmonary Fibrosis (CPF) has announced its annual awards honoring three critical areas of leadership that impact the work of the Pulmonary Fibrosis (PF) community.

5 Oct 2010

New biomarkers could lead to personalized radiation treatments for cancer patients

Mayo Clinic researchers have discovered biomarkers that could lead to personalized radiation treatments for cancer patients. The findings appear today online in the journal Genome Research.

5 Oct 2010

FDA clears DFine's new percutaneous radiofrequency ablation device for metastatic spinal lesions

DFine, Inc., developer of minimally invasive solutions for the treatment of vertebral pathologies, announced today the 510(k) clearance of a new platform extension indicated for the palliative treatment of cancer patients. The product, a percutaneous radiofrequency ablation (RFA) device, provides localized tumor necrosis of vertebral body lesions where metastatic disease has spread to the spine causing severe pain and discomfort.

4 Oct 2010

FDA provides Celsion guidance for Thermodox NDA to treat primary liver cancer

Celsion Corporation, a leading oncology drug development company, announced that the Company has reached agreement with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that the requirements for non-clinical studies have been met for the New Drug Application (NDA) of ThermoDox.

4 Oct 2010

Elekta releases Atlas-based Autosegmentation 2.0 software for increasing contouring accuracy

Elekta recently launched ABAS (Atlas-based Autosegmentation) 2.0 software, which includes the Simultaneous Truth and Performance Level Estimation (STAPLE) algorithm to increase contouring accuracy. ABAS—considered the industry gold standard for autosegmentation accuracy—deforms atlases of anatomy previously defined on a reference image onto a new patient image, creating a new structure set fit to the patient anatomy and enhancing planning efficiency.

From Elekta 1 Oct 2010

DMC recommends continuation of enrollment in Celsion's Phase III ThermoDox HEAT study for primary liver cancer

Celsion Corporation, a leading oncology drug development company, announced that after reviewing data from 401 patients enrolled in its pivotal Phase III ThermoDox ® clinical study (the HEAT study) for primary liver cancer, the Data Monitoring Committee (DMC) has unanimously recommended that the trial continue to enroll patients with the goal of reaching the 600 patients required to complete the study.

1 Oct 2010

Ontario Breast Screening Program encourages women to get mammograms

Before she joined the Ontario Breast Screening Program (OBSP), Margot McAuliffe couldn't remember the last time she'd thought about having a mammogram.

30 Sep 2010

BSD receives patent for heat therapy applicators

BSD Medical Corporation announced today that a patent has been issued to the Company for a new class of heat therapy applicators (antennas). The United States (US) patent office issued the new patent, Transparent electromagnetic applicator and hyperthermia treatment method, to BSD for a unique design for antennas that provides significant benefits for heat therapy applications.

30 Sep 2010

SCT transplantation benefits in Hodgkin's lymphoma is unclear

It remains an unresolved question whether adult patients with Hodgkin's lymphoma, a certain type of lymph node cancer, benefit from allogeneic stem cell transplantation (SCT) with an unrelated donor. This is due to the fact that studies are lacking that compare this therapy with autologous transplantation or conventional chemotherapy without SCT.

30 Sep 2010

IsoRay reports increase revenue for 2010 fiscal year

IsoRay Inc. a medical isotope company and the exclusive manufacturer of Cesium-131 used in internal radiation therapy for the treatment of lung, colon, head and neck, and prostate cancers, ocular melanoma, and other malignant disease through the use of its proprietary radioisotope technology, announced its financial results for the year ended June 30, 2010.

28 Sep 2010

Clinical study results for patient-specific vaccine therapy to treat metastatic melanoma announced

Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian recently announced encouraging clinical study results for patient-specific vaccine therapy to treat metastatic melanoma. The study is ongoing, but the report concludes that patient-specific vaccines can sometimes induce durable complete regression of progressing soft-tissue melanoma metastases, as demonstrated in one particular patient who participated in the trial.

28 Sep 2010

Radiation Therapy News and Research

Further Reading

Balloon kyphoplasty offers effective relief for debilitating spinal fractures suffered by metastatic cancer patients

BARDA awards $4.2 million contract to Menssana Research to develop breath test for radiation exposure

Positron comments on new medical radiation bill passed into law in California

Novel peptide NX002 demonstrates efficacy in animal model of oral mucositis: Study

Cs-131 brachytherapy seed implant can treat metastasized cancer

Should Medicare consider cost-effectiveness when setting reimbursement rates?

Focused Ultrasound Surgery Foundation hosts conference to discuss advancements in therapeutic medicine

Amgen to present oncology portfolio results at ESMO Congress

Varian, IMRIS enter agreement to co-develop new MR-guided radiation therapy system for cancer

CPF honors three critical areas of leadership for Pulmonary Fibrosis community

New biomarkers could lead to personalized radiation treatments for cancer patients

FDA clears DFine's new percutaneous radiofrequency ablation device for metastatic spinal lesions

FDA provides Celsion guidance for Thermodox NDA to treat primary liver cancer

Elekta releases Atlas-based Autosegmentation 2.0 software for increasing contouring accuracy

DMC recommends continuation of enrollment in Celsion's Phase III ThermoDox HEAT study for primary liver cancer

Ontario Breast Screening Program encourages women to get mammograms

BSD receives patent for heat therapy applicators

SCT transplantation benefits in Hodgkin's lymphoma is unclear

IsoRay reports increase revenue for 2010 fiscal year

Clinical study results for patient-specific vaccine therapy to treat metastatic melanoma announced

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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