Radiation Therapy News and Research

RSS

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.

University of Missouri launches first on-campus radiopharmaceutical clinical trial

In a major leap for cancer care at the University of Missouri, the School of Medicine and MU Health Care have launched their first clinical trial using a leading-edge therapy manufactured on campus at the university's research reactor.

10 Feb 2026

PSMA PET/CT scans may predict prostate cancer recurrence, guide treatment

New research in the February 2026 issue of JNCCN-Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network found that incorporating information from prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) PET/CT scans may be able to predict progression-free survival (PFS) and guide treatment planning in patients with rising prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels following removal of the prostate.

9 Feb 2026

Integrated Monte Carlo and deep learning improve radiotherapy QA

Led by Professor Fu Jin, the study addresses a critical challenge in radiation therapy: balancing the computational speed and accuracy of EPID-based dose verification.

31 Jan 2026

Self-moisturizing solid gel improves comfort in ultrasound imaging

Ultrasonography is a non-invasive imaging technique used for real-time imaging. This versatile technique is used as a reliable diagnostic tool in various modalities.

30 Jan 2026

Clinical trial aims to improve survival for patients with recurrent head and neck cancer

A newly approved National Cancer Institute-funded clinical trial aims to improve survival for head and neck cancer patients whose disease returns after radiation therapy – a setback that affects up to 40% of patients and is often associated with poor outcomes.

27 Jan 2026

Cancer mortality drops 34% as treatments and early detection improve

The 2026 cancer statistics reveal improved survival rates but highlight persistent inequities in cancer incidence and mortality across different populations.

16 Jan 2026

Sugarcane protein mouthwash helps protect oral health during head and neck cancer treatment

An artificial saliva in the form of a mouthwash, produced with the CANECPI-5 protein extracted from sugarcane and modified in a laboratory, can aid in treating teeth in patients with head and neck cancer. In these cases, radiotherapy very close to the mouth can destroy salivary glands and compromise saliva production, which is essential for controlling bacteria and disease.

7 Jan 2026

New breakthrough could modernize treatment for glioblastoma

Researchers at the UNC School of Medicine and the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy have made a breakthrough that could modernize treatment for glioblastoma, a fast-growing and deadly form of brain cancer.

6 Jan 2026

ASTRO rebrands research foundation to accelerate innovation in radiation oncology

The American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) announced today that it rebranded its research foundation, formerly the Radiation Oncology Institute (ROI), as Speed of Light – The ASTRO Foundation, marking a new chapter in ASTRO's commitment to advancing research and improving patient care in radiation oncology.

6 Jan 2026

New trial aims to improve both survival and quality of life for men with advanced prostate cancer

The Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology has launched a randomized phase III clinical trial called RECIPROCAL (Alliance A032304) to explore whether doctors can optimize the timing of targeted radiation therapy to minimize side effects while preserving efficacy in men with advanced prostate cancer.

5 Jan 2026

Artificial intelligence improves risk stratification in oropharyngeal cancer

A team led by investigators at Mass General Brigham and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute has developed and validated an artificial intelligence (AI)–based noninvasive tool that can predict the likelihood that a patient's oropharyngeal cancer-a type of head and neck cancer that develops in the throat-will spread, thereby signaling which patients should receive aggressive treatment.

23 Dec 2025

Proton therapy improves survival in oropharyngeal cancer patients

A new study published today in The Lancet showed a significant survival benefit for patients with oropharyngeal cancers who were treated with proton therapy (IMPT) compared to those treated with traditional radiation therapy (IMRT).

11 Dec 2025

Preoperative radiation may enhance treatment response in patients with HR-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer

Preoperative radiation improved T-cell infiltration (TCI) in patients with hormone receptor (HR)-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer when administered in combination with pembrolizumab (Keytruda) and chemotherapy and led to improved treatment responses prior to surgery, according to the results of the phase II P-RAD clinical trial presented at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (SABCS), held December 9-12, 2025.

11 Dec 2025

New antibody shows ability to overcome treatment resistance in blood cancers and solid tumors

In a new preclinical study, researchers from The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center developed an antibody therapy called 77A that showed an ability to overcome treatment resistance in blood cancers, such as myeloma and lymphoma, as well as solid tumors.

9 Dec 2025

Researchers develop wearable microwave devices for fast and accessible health monitoring

At the University of Oulu, researchers are exploring new ways to utilize microwave technology in monitoring and assessing health conditions.

20 Nov 2025

National initiative helps reduce missed radiation appointments for cancer patients

A national quality improvement program led by the American College of Surgeons (ACS) found that transportation barriers and illness are among the top reasons cancer patients miss critical radiation therapy appointments - and that providing hospitals and patients with structured support can reduce missed appointments by up to 40%.

11 Nov 2025

Nanoparticle vaccine eliminates HPV-induced tumors in animal model

A nanoparticle vaccine designed to fight cancers induced by human papillomavirus (HPV) eradicated tumors in an animal model of late-stage metastatic disease, UT Southwestern Medical Center scientists report in a new study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).

11 Nov 2025

Radiation Therapy News and Research

Further Reading

University of Missouri launches first on-campus radiopharmaceutical clinical trial

PSMA PET/CT scans may predict prostate cancer recurrence, guide treatment

Integrated Monte Carlo and deep learning improve radiotherapy QA

Self-moisturizing solid gel improves comfort in ultrasound imaging

Clinical trial aims to improve survival for patients with recurrent head and neck cancer

Cancer mortality drops 34% as treatments and early detection improve

Sugarcane protein mouthwash helps protect oral health during head and neck cancer treatment

New breakthrough could modernize treatment for glioblastoma

ASTRO rebrands research foundation to accelerate innovation in radiation oncology

New trial aims to improve both survival and quality of life for men with advanced prostate cancer

Artificial intelligence improves risk stratification in oropharyngeal cancer

Proton therapy improves survival in oropharyngeal cancer patients

Preoperative radiation may enhance treatment response in patients with HR-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer

New antibody shows ability to overcome treatment resistance in blood cancers and solid tumors

Researchers develop wearable microwave devices for fast and accessible health monitoring

National initiative helps reduce missed radiation appointments for cancer patients

Nanoparticle vaccine eliminates HPV-induced tumors in animal model

Uppsala researchers develop Trojan horse approach for medulloblastoma treatment

Study finds incarcerated people receive lower quality cancer care

New analysis identifies safer treatment paths for children with medulloblastoma

Event guide: 4th Extra-Hepatic Lipid-Based Nanoparticles Delivery Summit eBook

Evaluating new approaches for rare disease genomics

Expanding access to NMR with the Fourier 80 Duo

Advancing Intracellular Delivery with LumiPore®

Latest News