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.

Leading cancer center to acquire GammaMed brachytherapy from Varian

Cancer patients in China will gain access to Varian's state-of-the-art cancer care with the announcement that a leading cancer center is acquiring a GammaMed brachytherapy afterloader from Varian Medical Systems.

17 Mar 2011

Newer, more expensive treatments for prostate cancer adopted rapidly

With 180,000 men diagnosed with prostate cancer each year, it is one of the most common types of cancer in the country. For this reason, it has been cited as a good marker for health care spending in general, reflective of the greater trends across the United States.

15 Mar 2011

Research highlights benefit of shortened radiation course for patients with DCIS

Findings by a researcher at The Cancer Institute of New Jersey highlighting the benefit of a shortened radiation course for patients with the most common type of non-invasive breast cancer are part of a feature article in the journal Cancer due out tomorrow.

15 Mar 2011

Varian to highlight new digital image detectors and X-ray tubes at ECR annual meeting

Varian Medical Systems, Inc., X-Ray Products, will be showcasing a comprehensive imaging portfolio of PaxScan® digital image detectors and X-ray tubes for fluoroscopy, angiography, cardiology and cone-beam CT imaging at the European Congress of Radiology (ECR) annual meeting in Vienna, Austria this week.

4 Mar 2011

iCAD to showcase its cancer diagnostic imaging products at ECR annual meeting

iCAD, Inc., an industry-leading provider of advanced image analysis, workflow solutions and radiation therapies for the early identification and treatment of cancer, announces its featured products at the European Society of Radiology's annual meeting being held in Vienna, Austria from March 3 - 7, 2011.

3 Mar 2011

Aggressive treatment of T3 and T4 NSCLC with induction chemoradiotherapy may improve survival

Researchers from Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM) have found that patients with node negative T3 and T4 non-small lung cancer who underwent chemotherapy before surgery had more than three times the survival rate than patients who only underwent surgery. These findings currently appear on-line in the Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery.

1 Mar 2011

U.S. District Court rules in favor of Hologic in breast brachytherapy patent infringement lawsuit

Hologic, Inc., a leading developer, manufacturer and supplier of premium diagnostics, medical imaging systems and surgical products dedicated to serving the healthcare needs of women, today announced that the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit has ruled in favor of Hologic, by reversing the previous decisions reached by the United States District Court for the Northern District of California, in favor of SenoRx, Inc.

From Hologic, Inc. 28 Feb 2011

UT Southwestern treats breast-cancer patient with Accuray CyberKnife System

Breast-cancer patient Kristin Wiginton is the first to be treated at UT Southwestern Medical Center with high-beam radiation using the Accuray CyberKnife System, which offers improved cosmetic results, less radiation exposure to surrounding tissue and a shorter treatment period.

16 Feb 2011

Insufficient evidence of interstitial brachytherapy's advantages for localized prostate cancer treatment

It remains an unresolved issue as to whether interstitial brachytherapy has advantages compared to other therapy options in men with localized prostate cancer, nor do newer studies provide proof in this respect. This is the result of a report published by the Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG) on 11 January 2011.

12 Jan 2011

High-dose rate brachytherapy procedure to treat prostate cancer

Beaumont Hospital radiation oncologists have launched a research study to treat men with low to intermediate risk prostate cancer with a single dose of radiation.

17 Dec 2010

Chinese hospital uses UNIQUE radiotherapy system to treat cancer patients

Prince of Wales Hospital in Hong Kong, China, has become the first treatment center in Asia to commence treating cancer patients using the UNIQUE™ medical linear accelerator from Varian Medical Systems (NYSE: VAR).

14 Dec 2010

Active surveillance improves quality of life in low-risk prostate cancer patients

In a study that compared initial treatment strategies for low-risk prostate cancer among men 65 years old, active surveillance showed higher measures on quality of life compared to an initial treatment such as radical prostatectomy, although the optimal strategy was highly dependent on individual patient preferences for surveillance or treatment, according to a study in the December 1 issue of JAMA.

1 Dec 2010

Varian to launch novel X-ray tube and flat panel technology at RSNA 2010

Varian Medical Systems will introduce innovative new X-ray tube and flat panel technology at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) in Chicago from Nov 28 – Dec 02.

29 Nov 2010

IsoRay to sell $2.25 million in common stock

IsoRay Inc. has entered a securities purchase agreement with an investor to sell $2.25 million in common stock with the potential of $2,075,000 additional funding through two subsequent short term warrant tranches of 90 days and 180 days assuming an average exercise price of $1.40 and that all Series A and B warrants are exercised. Additional funding will occur if Series C or D warrants are exercised.

22 Nov 2010

Multidisciplinary clinic approach can improve survival in patients with aggressive prostate cancer

A research team from the National Cancer Institute (NCI) designated Kimmel Cancer Center (KCC) at Jefferson has concluded for the first time that a multidisciplinary clinic approach to aggressive prostate cancer can improve survival in patients. The results from the 15-year study of the multidisciplinary clinic can be found in the November issue of Journal of Oncology Practice.

18 Nov 2010

Varian to showcase PaxScan digital image detectors and X-ray tubes at MEDICA 2010

Varian Medical Systems will exhibit its line of PaxScan® digital image detectors and X-ray tubes for fluoroscopy, angiography, cardiology and cone-beam CT imaging at the MEDICA 2010 International Trade Fair in Dusseldorf, Germany from November 17-20.

18 Nov 2010

Hartford Hospital research team receives $238,000 grant from InHealth to study prostate cancer

The Institute for Health Technology Studies (InHealth) has awarded a grant totaling more than $238,000 to a research team at the Helen & Harry Gray Cancer Center at Hartford Hospital in Connecticut to study how various prostate cancer treatments affect a patient's "social capital" the ability to continue working productively in a paying job.

12 Nov 2010

EUSA Pharma announces 10-year outcome data of PROSTASCINT in prostate cancer radiotherapy

EUSA Pharma, a transatlantic specialty pharmaceutical company focused on oncology, oncology supportive care and critical care, announced today the publication of 10-year outcome data showing that PROSTASCINT(R) (capromab pendetide) fusion imaging is an effective tool for targeting and guiding the dosing of prostate cancer radiotherapy.

4 Nov 2010

EUSA announces publication of PROSTASCINT imaging for prostate cancer in official journal of American Society

EUSA Pharma, a transatlantic specialty pharmaceutical company focused on oncology, oncology supportive care and critical care, announced today the publication of 10-year outcome data showing that PROSTASCINT (capromab pendetide) fusion imaging is an effective tool for targeting and guiding the dosing of prostate cancer radiotherapy.

3 Nov 2010

Radiation oncologist says radiation quality assurance practices need to be standardized

In 2009, after The New York Times reported a series of mistakes in radiation therapy delivery, a team of radiation oncologists at the Kimmel Cancer Center at Jefferson decided to investigate how thoroughly different hospitals use "chart rounds" to review the radiotherapy cancer patients receive.