Brachytherapy News and Research

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Brachytherapy is a minimally invasive procedure that involves the use of radioactive seeds the size of rice grains. Brachytherapy, an out-patient procedure, usually takes 45 minutes to an hour to perform. Most patients can return to their normal activities within days. The success rates of prostate brachytherapy have compared favorably with success rates of radical prostatectomy and external beam radiation. In comparison studies, prostate brachytherapy has shown to have a favorable side effect profile when compared with other modalities. Clinical studies have shown that prostate brachytherapy has a cure rate of 94% for appropriately selected patients.

Review examines the management of radiotherapy induced rectourethal fistula

Rectourethral fistulas (RUF) are a challenging problem observed by urological and colorectal surgeons.

11 Apr 2006

Usage and outcomes of primary androgen deprivation therapy for localized prostate cancer

In the online March 2006 version of Cancer, Dr. Kawakami and associates report from the CaPSURE database that primary androgen deprivation therapy (PADT) is used in 14% of prostate cancer (CaP) patients with reasonable outcomes at approximately 5 years follow-up.

11 Apr 2006

Sirolimus-releasing stents more effective than vascular brachytherapy for treating restenosis within a stent

David R. Holmes, Jr., M.D., of Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn., and colleagues with the SISR trial compared the use of vascular brachytherapy (VBT - intra-coronary radiation therapy) with implantation of the sirolimus-eluting stent for the treatment of restenosis occurring within a previously placed bare-metal stent

13 Mar 2006

Stents that release the drug paclitaxel to treat stenosis more effective than radiation therapy

Insertion of stents that release the drug paclitaxel to treat stenosis within an implanted bare-metal stent in a coronary artery reduces the risk of subsequent re-narrowing within the stent, when compared with treatment using intra-coronary radiation

13 Mar 2006

Drug-eluting stents best treatment for managing coronary restenosis

In the first published trial of its kind, a multi-center clinical study has shown that drug-eluting stents outperform the current "gold standard" radiation treatment in managing coronary restenosis and in preventing further clogging of coronary arteries.

13 Mar 2006

New radiation therapy for prostate cancer has fewer side effects

A new radiation therapy for prostate cancer -- Cesium-131 brachytherapy -- has fewer side effects than other treatments. NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center is the only hospital in the Northeast to offer the new therapy.

5 Jan 2006

New treatments suggest that cancer is on the run!

People suffering from cancer will be encouraged by a cluster of recent reports on successful new treatments for several different forms of cancer.

24 Oct 2005

Treating breast cancer with "MammoSite" study

Treating breast cancer with MammoSite resulted in a low risk of complications and was generally well tolerated, according to a University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine study presented today at the 47th annual meeting of the American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology (ASTRO) in Denver.

17 Oct 2005

Accelerated partial breast irradiation using balloon brachytherapy is an excellent option for women with early breast tumors

A new method of radiation -- accelerated partial breast irradiation using balloon brachytherapy -- makes it more convenient for breast cancer patients to receive radiation therapy after surgery and appears to be safe, offer good cosmetic results, and keep cancer from coming back, according to four-year results of an ongoing study presented October 17, 2005, at the American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology's 47th Annual Meeting in Denver.

17 Oct 2005

BSD Medical receives notice of allowance for new patent

BSD Medical today announced that the company has received "official notice of allowance" for a new patent that is expected to be issued by the U.S. Patent Office.

26 Jul 2005

Innovative new brachytherapy planning tool

The Vitesse system is being used in more than 25 hospitals worldwide to speed up planning and enable treatments to take place within a day, avoiding the need for patients to stay in a hospital overnight.

19 Jul 2005

Radiation therapy to combat early-stage prostate cancer does not affect sexual and urinary function

Men receiving radiation therapy to combat early-stage prostate cancer are still able to achieve an erection and face a low rate of incontinence one year following treatment, according to a new study published in the July 15, 2005 issue of the International Journal of Radiation Oncology-Biology-Physics, the official journal of ASTRO, the American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology.

17 Jul 2005

For men diagnosed with prostate cancer, there is no risk of recurrence if external beam radiation therapy (EBRT) is delayed by several months

A study published in the July 15, 2005 issue of CANCER, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society, finds delays of EBRT had no harmful impact on clinical outcome or biochemical marker levels in low-, intermediate- and high-risk patients.

13 Jun 2005

pSivida moves to full development programme of pancreatic cancer product

pSivida Limited has announced that it has initiated a full development programme of its proprietary BrachySil product in a second key cancer indication. Development has commenced to evaluate the efficacy and safety of this novel brachytherapy product in pancreatic cancer, with the clinical programme scheduled to commence before the end of 2005.

7 Apr 2005

Construction will enable pSivida to increase BrachySil production

Global nanotechnology company pSivida Limited has announced that it's UK manufacturing partner, Atomising Systems Ltd ("ASL"), has reached a key milestone in the manufacture of BrachySil, its lead product, by completing construction of a state of the art dedicated cleanroom facility to GMP specifications at its Sheffield plant in the United Kingdom. ASL is a world leader in high temperature atomising technology.

30 Mar 2005

Social and cultural factors play a significant role in the treatment decisions of patients with prostate cancer

Marital status, high school education, and race/ethnicity may play a far greater role in patients' treatment decisions than previously believed.

28 Mar 2005

pSivida intensifies research activities

Following extremely encouraging Phase IIa clinical trial results showing successful tumor regression and safety in man, nanotechnology pioneer pSivida Limited is intensifying development of its fully patented invention of nanostructured bioactive, biodegradable and biocompatible silicon (BioSilicon™) for multiple potential healthcare applications.

21 Mar 2005

Demonstrating cost and clinical benefits critical to expansion of European seed brachytherapy markets

The nascent European seed brachytherapy market has been grappling with issues of high procedural and investment costs and a lack of local clinical evidence. However, growing evidence of the overall clinical and cost benefits of seed brachytherapy coupled with rising patient awareness is set to boost market expansion.

21 Mar 2005

Drug eluting stents as effective as vascular brachytherapy in preventing restenosis

After angioplasty is performed to widen clogged arteries, surgeons frequently use tiny wire-mesh tubes called stents to keep blood vessels open. But despite stenting, scar tissue can form to create new blockages -- a process called in-stent restenosis (ISR).

7 Mar 2005

New method of delivery of gene therapy may lead to safer treatment for cancer

The Lankenau Institute for Medical Research (LIMR) announced that in collaboration with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) they have performed preclinical proof-of- principle studies showing how nanotechnology can be used to enhance gene therapy for cancer.

25 Jan 2005

Brachytherapy News and Research

Further Reading

Review examines the management of radiotherapy induced rectourethal fistula

Usage and outcomes of primary androgen deprivation therapy for localized prostate cancer

Sirolimus-releasing stents more effective than vascular brachytherapy for treating restenosis within a stent

Stents that release the drug paclitaxel to treat stenosis more effective than radiation therapy

Drug-eluting stents best treatment for managing coronary restenosis

New radiation therapy for prostate cancer has fewer side effects

New treatments suggest that cancer is on the run!

Treating breast cancer with "MammoSite" study

Accelerated partial breast irradiation using balloon brachytherapy is an excellent option for women with early breast tumors

BSD Medical receives notice of allowance for new patent

Innovative new brachytherapy planning tool

Radiation therapy to combat early-stage prostate cancer does not affect sexual and urinary function

For men diagnosed with prostate cancer, there is no risk of recurrence if external beam radiation therapy (EBRT) is delayed by several months

pSivida moves to full development programme of pancreatic cancer product

Construction will enable pSivida to increase BrachySil production

Social and cultural factors play a significant role in the treatment decisions of patients with prostate cancer

pSivida intensifies research activities

Demonstrating cost and clinical benefits critical to expansion of European seed brachytherapy markets

Drug eluting stents as effective as vascular brachytherapy in preventing restenosis

New method of delivery of gene therapy may lead to safer treatment for cancer

Expanding research and clinical options for children with cancer

Examining how pain could play a direct protective role in the gut

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