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.

Stereotactic radiosurgery improves survival in adult brain cancer patients under 50

When treated with stereotactic radiosurgery, that is not combined with whole brain radiotherapy, adult brain cancer patients who were 50 years old and younger were found to have improved survival, according to research presented today at the American Society for Radiation Oncology's (ASTRO's) 55th Annual Meeting.

24 Sep 2013

Guideline focuses on radiation therapy to be highlighted during ASTRO's 55th Annual Meeting

The American Society for Radiation Oncology will highlight the recently published Adjuvant and Salvage Radiotherapy After Prostatectomy: ASTRO/AUA Guideline during ASTRO's 55th Annual Meeting, September 22-25, 2013, in Atlanta.

24 Sep 2013

Long-term hormonal therapy has no additional benefits in men with intermediate-risk prostate cancer

A secondary analysis of the historic RTOG 9202 prostate cancer trial examined results of men with intermediate-risk prostate cancer who had received long-term hormonal therapy after radiation therapy, and concluded that there were no additional benefits when compared to short-term hormonal therapy, according to research presented today at the American Society for Radiation Oncology's (ASTRO's) 55th Annual Meeting.

24 Sep 2013

Cisplatin plus radiotherapy and HDRB proves beneficial in stage IIIB cervical cancer

Adding the chemotherapy drug cisplatin to a treatment plan of radiation therapy (RT) and high-dose-rate brachytherapy (HDRB) for stage IIIB cervical cancer is beneficial, according to research presented today at the American Society for Radiation Oncology's (ASTRO's) 55th Annual Meeting.

24 Sep 2013

Depression in cancer patients who receive RT can be identified by 2-item questionnaire

Cancer patients receiving radiotherapy (RT) who are potentially suffering from depression can be effectively identified by a two-item questionnaire, according to research presented today at the American Society for Radiation Oncology's (ASTRO's) 55th Annual Meeting.

24 Sep 2013

Lung cancer patients who received IMRT report less decline in their QOL

An analysis of quality of life (QOL) data of stage III lung cancer patients who received higher doses of radiation therapy (with chemotherapy) shows a significantly lower quality of life at 3 months after treatment compared to patients who received a standard dose of radiation (with chemotherapy), according to research presented today at the American Society for Radiation Oncology's (ASTRO's) 55th Annual Meeting.

24 Sep 2013

Proton radiotherapy proves to be cost-effective in treating pediatric brain tumors

Proton therapy, an external beam radiotherapy in which protons deliver precise radiation doses to a tumor and spare healthy organs and tissues, is cost-effective in treating medulloblastomas, fast-growing brain tumors that mainly affect children, when compared to standard photon radiation therapy, according to research presented today at the American Society for Radiation Oncology's (ASTRO's) 55th Annual Meeting.

24 Sep 2013

Protecting stem cells around hippocampus in brain reduces rate of memory loss in cancer patients

Protecting the stem cells that reside in and around the hippocampus - a C-shaped area in the temporal lobe on both sides of the brain associated with the ability to form and store memories - substantially reduces the rate of cancer patients' memory loss during whole-brain radiotherapy without a significant risk of recurrence in that area of the brain, a new study shows.

24 Sep 2013

TAS therapy prior to radiation therapy yields favorable outcomes in PCa patients

A shorter course of androgen suppression therapy prior to radiation therapy, when compared to a longer course of androgen suppression therapy, yields favorable outcomes and fewer adverse effects for intermediate-risk prostate cancer patients, according to research presented today at the American Society for Radiation Oncology's (ASTRO) 55th Annual Meeting.

24 Sep 2013

Two-question screening test may reveal depression in cancer patients

Cancer patients can be accurately screened for major depression with a simple two-question survey, according to a study presented Sept. 23 at the American Society for Radiation Oncology's 55th Annual Meeting.

24 Sep 2013

Accuray to present advanced radiation oncology treatment solutions at 2013 ASTRO

Accuray Incorporated (Nasdaq: ARAY) announced today its momentum in gaining adoption for both the new CyberKnife® M6™ Series and TomoTherapy® H™ Series Systems at the 55th Annual American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) Meeting taking place at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta.

23 Sep 2013

Swallow therapy combats post-radiotherapy dysphagia

Swallowing exercises can help to minimize the risk for dysphagia in patients undergoing radiotherapy for head and neck cancer, a case study suggests.

20 Sep 2013

UH Seidman Cancer Center to become one of elite group of cancer centers to offer proton therapy

University Hospitals Seidman Cancer Center is breaking ground today on a $30 million proton therapy center, becoming one of an elite group of cancer centers in the country to offer this revolutionary technology. There are currently only 11 operational proton therapy centers in the nation and the UH Seidman Cancer Center site will be the first in Ohio.

20 Sep 2013

New publication covers basic and advanced ophthalmic radiation therapy techniques

This publication, a conjoint effort by ocular oncologists and radiation oncologists, comprises ten chapters covering basic and advanced radiation therapy techniques followed by specific indications by location (uveal, retinal, orbital tumors, eyelid and conjunctival tumors) and complications of radiation therapy.

20 Sep 2013

ASTRO to honor Atlanta resident and cancer survivor with 2013 Survivor Circle Award

The American Society for Radiation Oncology has selected Atlanta resident and cancer survivor Sherri Graves Smith to receive the 2013 Survivor Circle Award.

19 Sep 2013

ASTRO to award $8,000 Survivor Circle grants to two Georgia cancer patient support groups

The American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) has selected two Georgia cancer patient support groups, The Cancer Foundation of Northeast Georgia and the South Georgia Medical Center, Pearlman Cancer Center, to receive ASTRO's 2013 Survivor Circle grants.

19 Sep 2013

Cleveland Clinic creates spin-off company to develop vaccine for preventing breast cancer

Cleveland Clinic Innovations has created a spin-off company to develop a preventive breast cancer vaccine based on research from Cleveland Clinic's Lerner Research Institute.

18 Sep 2013

IOM’s ‘Delivering High-Quality Cancer Care’ report praised by ASTRO

The American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) praises the "Delivering High-Quality Cancer Care: Charting a News Course for a System in Crisis" report, issued earlier today by the Institute of Medicine (IOM) of the National Academies.

12 Sep 2013

ASTRO selects Jean B. Owen as 2013 Honorary Member

The American Society for Radiation Oncology has selected health care researcher Jean B. Owen, PhD, as the 2013 Honorary Member, the highest honor ASTRO bestows on distinguished cancer researchers, scientists and leaders in disciplines other than radiation oncology, radiobiology and radiation physics.

12 Sep 2013

Exposing young girls to ionizing radiation can raise risk of breast cancer later in life

Exposing young women and girls under the age of 20 to ionizing radiation can substantially raise the risk of their developing breast cancer later in life. Scientists may now know why. A collaborative study, in which Berkeley Lab researchers played a pivotal role, points to increased stem cell self-renewal and subsequent mammary stem cell enrichment as the culprits.

12 Sep 2013

Radiation Therapy News and Research

Further Reading

Stereotactic radiosurgery improves survival in adult brain cancer patients under 50

Guideline focuses on radiation therapy to be highlighted during ASTRO's 55th Annual Meeting

Long-term hormonal therapy has no additional benefits in men with intermediate-risk prostate cancer

Cisplatin plus radiotherapy and HDRB proves beneficial in stage IIIB cervical cancer

Depression in cancer patients who receive RT can be identified by 2-item questionnaire

Lung cancer patients who received IMRT report less decline in their QOL

Proton radiotherapy proves to be cost-effective in treating pediatric brain tumors

Protecting stem cells around hippocampus in brain reduces rate of memory loss in cancer patients

TAS therapy prior to radiation therapy yields favorable outcomes in PCa patients

Two-question screening test may reveal depression in cancer patients

Accuray to present advanced radiation oncology treatment solutions at 2013 ASTRO

Swallow therapy combats post-radiotherapy dysphagia

UH Seidman Cancer Center to become one of elite group of cancer centers to offer proton therapy

New publication covers basic and advanced ophthalmic radiation therapy techniques

ASTRO to honor Atlanta resident and cancer survivor with 2013 Survivor Circle Award

ASTRO to award $8,000 Survivor Circle grants to two Georgia cancer patient support groups

Cleveland Clinic creates spin-off company to develop vaccine for preventing breast cancer

IOM’s ‘Delivering High-Quality Cancer Care’ report praised by ASTRO

ASTRO selects Jean B. Owen as 2013 Honorary Member

Exposing young girls to ionizing radiation can raise risk of breast cancer later in life

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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