Radiotherapy News and Research

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Radiation therapy (in North America), or radiotherapy (in the UK and Australia) also called radiation oncology, and sometimes abbreviated to XRT, is the medical use of ionizing radiation as part of cancer treatment to control malignant cells (not to be confused with radiology, the use of radiation in medical imaging and diagnosis).

Proton therapy has similar cure rates, fewer serious side effects compared with traditional radiation

Cancer patients who receive high-tech proton therapy experience similar cure rates and fewer serious side effects compared with those who undergo traditional X-ray radiation therapy, according to a study led by Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis and the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania.

28 Dec 2019

Developing less aggressive cancer drugs that enable the immune system to recognize tumors

Doctors treat tumors mainly through surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy. Over the next four years, a new project of Bielefeld University and 14 European partners will be studying targeted cancer treatments.

21 Dec 2019

Clinical study demonstrates effective alternative to mastectomy for recurrent breast cancer

Mastectomy has historically been the standard treatment for breast cancer patients experiencing recurrence after an initial lumpectomy and whole-breast radiation. Now, a phase 2 clinical trial led by Douglas W. Arthur, M.D., chair and professor in the Department of Radiation Oncology at VCU Massey Cancer Center and VCU School of Medicine, has demonstrated an effective alternative.

18 Dec 2019

Zebrafish 'avatars' help distinguish radiosensitive from radioresistant tumors

Radiotherapy can effectively reduce or even eliminate some tumors; others, however, show enduring resistance. Considering the potentially harmful side effects of radiotherapy, clinicians agree that it is paramount to be able to determine if a patient will benefit from radiotherapy before exposing them to any of the associated risks.

17 Dec 2019

Radiation therapy alone found to be cost-effective for treatment of DCIS

Ductal carcinoma in-situ (DCIS) accounts for one-fifth of breast cancer cases in the United States, according to the American Cancer Society.

11 Dec 2019

Retrospective review: Proton therapy well tolerated in patients undergoing breast conserving surgery

While the assessment of proton therapy in breast cancer treatment continues through clinical trials, data relating to early toxicity and cosmetic outcomes for this population are limited.

9 Dec 2019

Common antibiotic appears to boost the effect of radiation on tumor cells

The antibiotic vancomycin alters the gut microbiome in a way that can help prime the immune system to more effectively attack tumor cells after radiation therapy.

9 Dec 2019

Cancer patients report less dry mouth after receiving acupuncture treatment

After receiving acupuncture treatment three days a week during the course of radiation treatment, head and neck cancer patients experienced less dry mouth, according to study results from researchers at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.

6 Dec 2019

NeutroCure project aims to cure inflammatory disease with neutrophils

Curing disease with neutrophils; this is the goal of the NeutroCure project. How will that work? "Neutrophils have a yin yang character," explained Andrés Hidalgo, whose team at the Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares is one of six member groups participating in this project coordinated by Andriy Mokhir Friedrich from Alexander University, Germany.

5 Dec 2019

UPV researchers develop new methodology to monitor patients with glioblastoma

Glioblastoma is the most aggressive brain tumor in adults. Now, it can be treated with neurosurgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Still, the median life expectancy of patients affected with this pathology is no longer than 15 months.

5 Dec 2019

Study identifies improved treatment option for neuroblastoma

Neuroblastoma is a rare form of malignant tumor, primarily affecting children under the age of six. A research team led by molecular pathologist Lukas Kenner from MedUni Vienna's Department of Pathology has now discovered, through genome sequencing, that the protein ALK and the cancer gene PIM1 are involved in the development of this tumor.

4 Dec 2019

Study reveals effectiveness of single-dose radiotherapy for cancer in the spine

A single dose of radiotherapy is as "effective" as five doses for end-of-life cancer patients suffering with painful spinal canal compression, finds a large study conducted by UCL.

3 Dec 2019

Researchers develop new strategy for treating the most aggressive type of brain cancer

Researchers from the University of São Paulo in Brazil have developed a strategy for treating the most aggressive type of brain cancer in adults that combines a photoactive molecule and a chemotherapeutic agent - both encapsulated in protein-lipid nanoparticles.

27 Nov 2019

Women treated for early-stage breast cancer may develop invasive breast cancer

New research in the November 2019 issue of JNCCN—Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network examines the implications of invasive breast cancer after breast-conserving treatment for ductal carcinoma in situ (aka DCIS, a form of non-invasive breast cancer) and which factors could impact overall survival.

25 Nov 2019

New targeted treatment to fight against deadly pancreatic cancer

Every day, more than 1200 people worldwide are told they have pancreatic cancer. Within 12 months, 80 per cent of them will have succumbed to the disease.

25 Nov 2019

Graphene-based nanoplatforms for synergistic tumor therapy and bio-imaging

In a paper to be published in the forthcoming issue in NANO, researchers from Harbin Institute of Technology, China have systematically discussed the recent progresses, current challenges and future perspectives of smart graphene-based nanoplatforms for synergistic tumor therapy and bio-imaging.

21 Nov 2019