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.

UCLA study finds cost variation across entire care process for low-risk prostate cancer

Now, for the first time, UCLA researchers have described cost across an entire care process for low-risk prostate cancer - from the time a patient checks in for his first appointment to his post-treatment follow-up testing - using time-driven activity-based costing. And they found a wide variation in costs for the various available treatments that remained consistent over a 12-year period, indicating a better method to monitor costs could save valuable healthcare dollars, said study first author Dr. Aaron Laviana, a fifth year urology resident.

3 Nov 2015

New research shows that autophagy can operate in cell nucleus to guard against start of cancer

Autophagy, literally self-eating or the degradation of unwanted cellular bits and pieces by the cell itself, has been shown for the first time to also work in the cell nucleus. In addition, in this setting it plays a role in guarding against the start of cancer, according to new research from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania.

29 Oct 2015

New radiotherapeutic bandage shows promise against squamous cell carcinoma in animal model

A radiotherapeutic bandage is being evaluated by researchers for efficacy against squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) in an animal model. These results could confirm the viability of a new and improved strategy for the radiotherapeutic treatment of skin cancer in the clinic. This work is being presented Oct. 28 at the 2015 American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists Annual Meeting and Exposition, the world's largest pharmaceutical sciences meeting, in Orlando, Fla. Oct. 25-29.

29 Oct 2015

ISIBELa joint research project aims to improve cancer therapy

Some individuals experience cancer recurrence when they enter adolescence or adulthood after they have been successfully treated for cancer in childhood while others don't. But why is this? This is the core question being considered in a research project directed by the University Medical Center of Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz.

27 Oct 2015

APBI brachytherapy improves overall survival in selected patients with early stage breast cancer

The Groupe Européen de Curiethérapie European Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology (GEC-ESTRO) today announced results from a prospective, randomized, multicenter phase III study comparing accelerated partial breast irradiation (APBI) with interstitial multicatheter brachytherapy to whole breast irradiation (WBI).

20 Oct 2015

NCCN reveals new value initiative for CML and Multiple Myeloma

The National Comprehensive Cancer Network, a not-for-profit alliance of 26 of the world's leading cancer centers, today unveiled its new value initiative—the NCCN Evidence Blocks, published within new versions of the NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology (NCCN Guidelines) for Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia (CML) and Multiple Myeloma.

19 Oct 2015

UAMS researchers report positive results from treating Metastatic Merkel-cell carcinoma with idelalisib drug

Identifying a patient's genetic mutation led University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) physician-researcher Ling Gao, M.D., Ph.D., to an existing drug that eliminated the patient's stage IV Merkel-cell carcinoma. Gao's findings, made in collaboration with two other UAMS researchers, were published today in The New England Journal of Medicine.

19 Oct 2015

University of Maryland develops GammaPod system to treat early-stage breast cancer

After more than a decade of research and development, researchers in the Department of Radiation Oncology at the University of Maryland School of Medicine will begin enrolling patients in the first clinical trial of GammaPod, a new high-precision, image-guided radiation therapy system specifically designed to treat early-stage breast cancer.

19 Oct 2015

ViewRay obtains Korean regulatory approval for MRI-guided radiation therapy system

ViewRay, Inc. announced today that the company has received regulatory approval from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) – formerly known as the Korean Food and Drug Administration – to sell its ViewRay system in Korea. On October 13, 2015, the first patient treatments commenced less than four weeks after the system completed installation at Seoul National University Hospital, a leading healthcare facility in Korea.

18 Oct 2015

Study could help mitigate effects of ageing on blood stem cells, promote new therapies for anaemia

A research conducted by Juan Méndez, Head of the DNA Replication Group of the Spanish National Cancer Research Centre (CNIO), sheds light on the molecular mechanisms of ageing of the stem cells responsible for regenerating blood cells and opens up a new avenue for reducing their progressive functional decline with age.

16 Oct 2015

UM SOM researchers to initiate first clinical trial of GammaPod system in patients with early-stage breast cancer

16 Oct 2015

Rare genetic mutation could improve outcomes in NSCLC patients with brain metastases

Most patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) that has metastasized to the brain have a dire prognosis. But Yale researchers have identified a subset of those patients with a rare genetic mutation who are living significantly longer than patients without the mutation.

16 Oct 2015

ViewRay selected as recipient of 2015 Frost & Sullivan Technology Innovation Leadership Award

ViewRay, Inc. announced today that the company has been selected to receive the 2015 Frost & Sullivan Technology Innovation Leadership Award, a prestigious recognition based on an extensive and independent Frost & Sullivan analysis of the North American Image-Guided Radiation Therapy market.

13 Oct 2015

Quest Diagnostics provides Dako’s PD-L1 complementary diagnostic test for non-squamous non-small cell carcinoma

Quest Diagnostics, the world's leading provider of diagnostic information services, today announced that it now provides clinical laboratory testing using the PD-L1 IHC 28-8 pharmDx immunohistochemistry test, available through Dako, an Agilent Technologies company.

From Quest Diagnostics 13 Oct 2015

Elekta’s high field MRI-guided linear accelerator installed at MD Anderson Cancer Center

The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Elekta and Philips teams recently completed installation of the first high field (1.5 Tesla) MRI-guided linear accelerator in the United States.

From Elekta 13 Oct 2015

ASTRO invites submissions for new clinical research journal

The American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) has launched a new original research in radiation oncology journal, Advances in Radiation Oncology (Advances), and the peer-reviewed publication is now online and accepting submissions at www.advancesradonc.org.

13 Oct 2015

Varian Medical Systems' ProBeam proton therapy system receives CE Mark approval

Varian Medical Systems has received CE Mark for its latest ProBeam proton therapy system. The CE Mark allows Varian to begin installation of the newest version of its ProBeam system in the European Union.

12 Oct 2015

Many early-stage breast cancer patients still not getting life-saving treatment, new study finds

Accelerated partial breast irradiation was designed to be a faster, more convenient, and potentially safer way for many women with breast cancer to reduce their mortality risk and help keep their cancer from returning after surgery. But a new study shows that the availability of the approach is failing to reduce the percentage of early-stage breast cancer patients who do not receive the radiation treatment that could save their lives.

12 Oct 2015

FDA approves expanded indication for Optune device for brain cancer patients

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved an expanded indication for the Optune device to treat patients with newly-diagnosed glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), an aggressive form of brain cancer.

9 Oct 2015

Dan's House of Hope selected to receive ASTRO's 2015 Survivor Circle grant

The American Society for Radiation Oncology has selected a Houston-based cancer patient support group, Dan's House of Hope, to receive ASTRO's 2015 Survivor Circle grant. The organization will receive $8,500 to recognize its efforts and provide direct support for the organization's work assisting cancer patients and their families.

8 Oct 2015

Radiation Therapy News and Research

Further Reading

UCLA study finds cost variation across entire care process for low-risk prostate cancer

New research shows that autophagy can operate in cell nucleus to guard against start of cancer

New radiotherapeutic bandage shows promise against squamous cell carcinoma in animal model

ISIBELa joint research project aims to improve cancer therapy

APBI brachytherapy improves overall survival in selected patients with early stage breast cancer

NCCN reveals new value initiative for CML and Multiple Myeloma

UAMS researchers report positive results from treating Metastatic Merkel-cell carcinoma with idelalisib drug

University of Maryland develops GammaPod system to treat early-stage breast cancer

ViewRay obtains Korean regulatory approval for MRI-guided radiation therapy system

Study could help mitigate effects of ageing on blood stem cells, promote new therapies for anaemia

UM SOM researchers to initiate first clinical trial of GammaPod system in patients with early-stage breast cancer

Rare genetic mutation could improve outcomes in NSCLC patients with brain metastases

ViewRay selected as recipient of 2015 Frost & Sullivan Technology Innovation Leadership Award

Quest Diagnostics provides Dako’s PD-L1 complementary diagnostic test for non-squamous non-small cell carcinoma

Elekta’s high field MRI-guided linear accelerator installed at MD Anderson Cancer Center

ASTRO invites submissions for new clinical research journal

Varian Medical Systems' ProBeam proton therapy system receives CE Mark approval

Many early-stage breast cancer patients still not getting life-saving treatment, new study finds

FDA approves expanded indication for Optune device for brain cancer patients

Dan's House of Hope selected to receive ASTRO's 2015 Survivor Circle grant

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