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.

Rexahn Pharmaceuticals starts phase II pancreatic cancer trial

Rexahn Pharmaceuticals, Inc. has announced that it has received FDA approval to begin Phase II trials for Archexin, the Company's leading cancer compound, for the treatment of pancreatic cancer.

24 Mar 2009

3-drug chemotherapy combo increases organ preservation in patients with larynx cancer

Patients with larynx cancer who received a three-drug combination of docetaxel, cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil (TPF) during induction chemotherapy were more likely to retain larynx function than were patients treated with cisplatin and 5-fluoruracil (PF) alone, according to data from a randomized controlled trial in the March 24 online issue of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.

24 Mar 2009

Super-microsurgical technique brings hope to breast cancer patients with lymphedema

Breast cancer patients with lymphedema in their upper arm experienced reduced fluid in the swollen arm by up to 39 percent after undergoing a super-microsurgical technique known as lymphaticovenular bypass, report researchers at The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center.

23 Mar 2009

Selected men with low-risk prostate cancer have good clinical outcomes without immediate treatment

A multi-center study of prostate cancer patients appearing in today's Journal of Urology recommends that for some men diagnosed with low-risk prostate cancer, opting not to initially receive treatment can be safe if they are closely monitored.

16 Mar 2009

Trial of new combination treatment targeting hormone receptor-positive locally advanced breast cancer

Researchers at The Cancer Institute of New Jersey (CINJ) have opened a clinical trial, which aims to evaluate a new treatment for breast cancer in combination with one that is already approved for other types of cancers.

16 Mar 2009

Promising results for 5-day stereotactic body radiation therapy in early stage prostate cancer

Preliminary results show that a shortened course of radiation therapy for prostate cancer called stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) provides good PSA response for early-stage prostate cancer and has the same side effects as other treatments, according to a March 15 study in the International Journal of Radiation Oncology*Biology*Physics , the official journal of the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO).

16 Mar 2009

Colon cancer screenings recommended at 45 for African Americans

According to the American Cancer Society, there were about 108,070 new cases of colon cancer and 40,740 new cases of rectal cancer in 2008. Overall, the two cancers caused nearly 50,000 deaths last year.

16 Mar 2009

SOX9 protein may be a potential target for melanoma treatment

In a new study released today, researchers have shown that a specific protein plays an important role in inhibiting the development and spread of melanoma tumors in mouse and in human skin models.

11 Mar 2009

Stereotactic body radiotherapy doubles survival in lung cancer

Countless people have heard the phrase, "You have lung cancer," but only 50 can say they've completed a new treatment at Temple University that doubles their chances of surviving the deadly disease - and without the conventional radiation regimen or surgery.

4 Mar 2009

Younger breast cancer patients have greater chance of recurrence

Breast cancer patients 35 years old and younger have higher rates of their cancer returning after treatment than older women patients with the same stage of cancer, and their risk of recurrence is greatly impacted by the type of treatment they received, according to a March 1 study in the International Journal of Radiation Oncology*Biology*Physics, the official journal of the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO).

4 Mar 2009

Proepithelin encourages cell growth and migration in prostate cancer

Researchers from Thomas Jefferson University have identified a protein that appears to play a significant role in the growth and migration of prostate cancer cells, especially androgen-independent prostate cancer cells.

26 Feb 2009

Radiation therapy equipment vendors to test system integration

The American Society for Radiation Oncology will host a connectathon at its headquarters in Fairfax, Va., this September as part of the Integrating the Healthcare Enterprise - Radiation Oncology (IHE-RO) initiative to promote seamless connectivity and integration of radiotherapy equipment and patient health information systems.

24 Feb 2009

Radioactive bone cement may be a new treatment option for breast cancer

For orthopaedic researcher Joyce Keyak, Ph.D., finding ways to battle breast cancer is a personal as well as a professional mission.

22 Feb 2009

Blood pressure drug losartan may benefit brain tumor patients

A widely used blood pressure medication may be the key to preventing brain function loss common after radiation treatment, according to a newly published study by researchers at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center.

20 Feb 2009

Radioimmunotherapy shows promise for HIV infection and viral cancers

Scientists at Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University have piggybacked antibodies onto radioactive payloads to deliver doses of radiation that selectively target and destroy microbial and HIV-infected cells.

16 Feb 2009

New trial targets kidney cancer drug sorafenib in bladder cancer

According to the American Cancer Society, 69,000 cases of bladder cancer were diagnosed nationwide last year with some 2,600 new cases in New Jersey.

16 Feb 2009

Guidance for evaluating menopause-like condition in girls and young women

A comprehensive plan to help health care professionals diagnose and treat primary ovarian insufficiency-a menopause-like condition affecting girls and young women that may occur years before normal menopause is expected-has been developed by a scientist at the National Institutes of Health.

5 Feb 2009

Deficiencies common in radiation therapy trial reports for Hodgkin's, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma

Reporting of radiation therapy details in randomized controlled trials for Hodgkin's and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is deficient due to a lack of reporting of key radiation therapy descriptors and quality assurance processes designed to ensure the accuracy and reproducibility of treatment regimens, according to a February 1 study in the International Journal of Radiation Oncology*Biology*Physics, the official journal of the American Society for Radiation Oncology.

5 Feb 2009

19 percent of breast cancer patients don't receive recommended radiation after mastectomy

One-fifth of women who should receive radiation after a mastectomy are not getting this potentially lifesaving treatment, according to a new study from researchers at the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center.

3 Feb 2009

Many women who survived childhood cancer do not undergo recommended breast cancer screening

Despite recommendations and being at an increased risk of breast cancer, most young women who were treated with chest radiation for a childhood cancer do not undergo appropriate mammography screening, according to a study in the January 28 issue of JAMA, the Journal of the American Medical Association.

29 Jan 2009

Radiation Therapy News and Research

Further Reading

Rexahn Pharmaceuticals starts phase II pancreatic cancer trial

3-drug chemotherapy combo increases organ preservation in patients with larynx cancer

Super-microsurgical technique brings hope to breast cancer patients with lymphedema

Selected men with low-risk prostate cancer have good clinical outcomes without immediate treatment

Trial of new combination treatment targeting hormone receptor-positive locally advanced breast cancer

Promising results for 5-day stereotactic body radiation therapy in early stage prostate cancer

Colon cancer screenings recommended at 45 for African Americans

SOX9 protein may be a potential target for melanoma treatment

Stereotactic body radiotherapy doubles survival in lung cancer

Younger breast cancer patients have greater chance of recurrence

Proepithelin encourages cell growth and migration in prostate cancer

Radiation therapy equipment vendors to test system integration

Radioactive bone cement may be a new treatment option for breast cancer

Blood pressure drug losartan may benefit brain tumor patients

Radioimmunotherapy shows promise for HIV infection and viral cancers

New trial targets kidney cancer drug sorafenib in bladder cancer

Guidance for evaluating menopause-like condition in girls and young women

Deficiencies common in radiation therapy trial reports for Hodgkin's, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma

19 percent of breast cancer patients don't receive recommended radiation after mastectomy

Many women who survived childhood cancer do not undergo recommended breast cancer screening

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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