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.

Reirradiation using proton therapy offers new hope for patients with recurrent lung cancer

A new study offers hope for patients with recurrent lung cancer, who historically have been considered ineligible for curative treatment. In the largest analysis to date of reirradiation using intensity-modulated proton therapy for lung and other thoracic tumors, more than three-fourths of patients were free from local recurrence at one year following retreatment, and fewer than one in ten patients experienced severe side effects.

17 Mar 2017

Research shows SBRT as viable curative option for older lung cancer patients

Patients in their 80s and 90s who have early stage lung cancer but cannot undergo an operation can be treated safely and effectively with stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT), according to research presented today at the 2017 Multidisciplinary Thoracic Cancers Symposium.

17 Mar 2017

Study reveals prevalence of racial disparities in treatment, outcomes of early stage NSCLC patients

Analysis of the largest American cancer database indicates that racial disparities persist in the treatment and outcomes of patients diagnosed with stage I non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

17 Mar 2017

Genetic mutations underlying treatment resistance in NSCLC more dynamic than previously thought

The genetic mutations underlying treatment resistance in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) are more complex and dynamic than previously thought.

17 Mar 2017

Combination approach holds potential for treating lung cancer patients

An emerging approach for cancer treatment seeks to combine radiation therapy with immune checkpoint inhibitors to more effectively control tumors in the chest with an acceptable risk of severe treatment-related side effects.

17 Mar 2017

Biomarker blood test detects recurrences of lung cancer before conventional imaging methods

Results from a prospective clinical trial showed that a blood test looking at specific biomarkers was able to detect recurrences of lung cancer an average of six months before conventional imaging methods found evidence of recurrence.

17 Mar 2017

Intensity modulated proton therapy shows early promise for treatment of recurrent lung cancer

An advanced form of image-guided radiation therapy, known as intensity modulated proton therapy, has shown early promise for the treatment of recurrent lung cancer, according to new research from The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.

17 Mar 2017

Roswell Park-led study shows benefits of ‘one and done’ SBRT treatment approach for NSCLC patients

New research led by a radiation oncologist at Roswell Park Cancer Institute indicates that less may be more when it comes to some forms of radiation therapy for cancer.

17 Mar 2017

Compressed course of radiation treatment benefits men with localized prostate cancer, study shows

An Ontario-led international clinical trial with 1,206 men with localized prostate cancer shows that compressing radiation treatments into four weeks from eight delivers similar outcomes.

16 Mar 2017

Combined therapy extends survival of older patients with glioblastoma, clinical study shows

Treating older patients who have malignant brain cancer with the chemotherapy drug temozolomide plus a short course of radiation therapy extends survival by two months compared to treating with radiation alone, show clinical trial results published today in the New England Journal of Medicine.

15 Mar 2017

Shorter radiation treatment for breast cancer patients could reduce health care spending

More than half of older women with early stage breast cancer received more radiation therapy than what might be medically necessary, adding additional treatment and health care costs, according to a study led by Duke Cancer Institute researchers.

15 Mar 2017

Research findings show effective way to harness anti-tumor potential of macrophages in cancer therapy

For all the success of a new generation of immunotherapies for cancer, they often leave an entire branch of the immune system's disease-fighting forces untapped.

9 Mar 2017

Study reveals promising new strategy to attack deadly pediatric brain tumor

Researchers from Northwestern Medicine and Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago have revealed new insight into how the most deadly pediatric brain tumor, diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG), may develop.

7 Mar 2017

Many women do not receive guideline-based care for cervical cancer, study finds

Women with locally advanced cervical cancer whose treatment follows national guidelines for care have better survival, regardless of race, ethnicity or stage of cancer.

2 Mar 2017

$Study highlights potential tolerability of single fraction of HDR brachytherapy for localized prostate cancer$

Study highlights potential tolerability of single fraction of HDR brachytherapy for localized prostate cancer

Results from a new prospective clinical trial indicate that high-dose-rate (HDR) brachytherapy administered in a single, 19 Gray treatment may be a safe and effective alternative to longer courses of HDR treatment for men with localized prostate cancer.

1 Mar 2017

New molecule may inhibit growth of aggressive pediatric brain tumor

Northwestern Medicine scientists have found a molecule that stops the growth of an aggressive pediatric brain tumor. The tumor is always fatal and primarily strikes children under 10 years old.

27 Feb 2017

Penn expert suggests shorter radiation treatment for men with prostate cancer

Men with prostate cancer can receive shorter courses of radiation therapy than what is currently considered standard, according to Justin Bekelman, MD, an associate professor of Radiation Oncology, Medical Ethics, and Health Policy at the University of Pennsylvania's Perelman School of Medicine and Abramson Cancer Center.

22 Feb 2017

Radiation Therapy News and Research

Further Reading

Reirradiation using proton therapy offers new hope for patients with recurrent lung cancer

Research shows SBRT as viable curative option for older lung cancer patients

Study reveals prevalence of racial disparities in treatment, outcomes of early stage NSCLC patients

Genetic mutations underlying treatment resistance in NSCLC more dynamic than previously thought

Combination approach holds potential for treating lung cancer patients

Biomarker blood test detects recurrences of lung cancer before conventional imaging methods

Intensity modulated proton therapy shows early promise for treatment of recurrent lung cancer

Roswell Park-led study shows benefits of ‘one and done’ SBRT treatment approach for NSCLC patients

Compressed course of radiation treatment benefits men with localized prostate cancer, study shows

Combined therapy extends survival of older patients with glioblastoma, clinical study shows

Shorter radiation treatment for breast cancer patients could reduce health care spending

Research findings show effective way to harness anti-tumor potential of macrophages in cancer therapy

Study reveals promising new strategy to attack deadly pediatric brain tumor

Many women do not receive guideline-based care for cervical cancer, study finds

Study highlights potential tolerability of single fraction of HDR brachytherapy for localized prostate cancer

New molecule may inhibit growth of aggressive pediatric brain tumor

Penn expert suggests shorter radiation treatment for men with prostate cancer

New model of cervical cancer care reduces delay between diagnosis and treatment

Researchers develop novel in vivo model for studying pancreatic cancer

UAB to bring advanced cancer-fighting radiation technology to Alabama

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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