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.

Researchers develop a new test to more easily diagnose medulloblastoma

Researchers at the University of British Columbia and BC Cancer, in partnership with BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, have developed a new test to more easily diagnose medulloblastoma, the most common malignant childhood brain tumor.

1 Nov 2021

Two new studies show how to enhance effectiveness of cancer immunotherapy

Two new studies revealed that anti-PD-1 immunotherapy given before surgery was safe and effective for patients with oral-cavity squamous cell carcinoma (OCSCC) and identified potential molecular biomarkers in the blood and tumors of patients that would show how likely it is that someone would respond to immunotherapy.

30 Oct 2021

Five-day course of preoperative radiation therapy for sarcoma provides excellent local control rates

In a phase 2 single-institution study, UCLA Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center researchers found that dose-equivalent preoperative radiation therapy for extremity/trunk soft tissue sarcoma delivered in five days rather than over the conventional five weeks produced similar benefits and treatment side effects.

28 Oct 2021

New treatment for HPV-associated oropharynx cancer leads to excellent disease control, less side effects

Mayo Clinic researchers have found that a new, shorter treatment for patients with HPV-associated oropharynx cancer leads to excellent disease control and fewer side effects, compared to standard treatment.

26 Oct 2021

Intervention erases Black-white survival gaps in early-stage lung and breast cancer patients

A new study shows that system-level changes to the way cancer care is delivered can also eliminate Black-white disparities in survival from early-stage lung and breast cancer.

25 Oct 2021

Fewer, higher doses of post-prostatectomy radiation therapy does not increase long-term side effects

Using fewer-;but higher-;doses of radiation to treat men with prostate cancer who had their prostates removed does not increase long-term side effects or lower their quality of life compared to conventional radiation treatment, a new, multi-institutional clinical trial shows.

25 Oct 2021

Genetic biomarker test predicts how men with high-risk prostate cancer will respond to treatment

A new meta-analysis finds that a genetic biomarker test accurately predicts how men with high-risk prostate cancer will respond to treatment with radiation and hormone therapy.

25 Oct 2021

New findings may help widen therapeutic interventions for B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia

A retrospective study led by Northwestern Medicine investigators found that the chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell immunotherapy drug tisagenlecleucel demonstrated safety and efficacy in pediatric patients with relapsed and refractory B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-cell ALL), even when the drug doesn't meet the FDA's strict manufacturing standards.

19 Oct 2021

New system for targeted cancer radiation therapy using gold nanoparticles

Scientists from the Department of Nuclear Medicine and Tracer Kinetics at Osaka University developed a novel system for targeted cancer radiation therapy that uses gold nanoparticles labeled with astatine-211.

19 Oct 2021

Ondansetron use associated with increased survival in mechanically ventilated COVID-19 patients

A recent study analyzes real-world data using artificial intelligence to provide insights into using ondansetron, an antiemetic agent, among SARS-CoV-2 positive patients.

14 Oct 2021

$'Fractionated' radiation therapy for spinal tumors helps prevent vertebral compression fractures$

'Fractionated' radiation therapy for spinal tumors helps prevent vertebral compression fractures

In an animal study published Oct. 1, 2021, in the International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology and Physics, Johns Hopkins Medicine researchers have provided evidence that treating spinal tumors with "fractionated" radiation therapy — doses given in a series of sessions rather than a single treatment — helps prevent vertebral compression fractures.

7 Oct 2021

Northwestern’s SPORE has made advances in understanding the genetic basis of glioblastoma

Glioblastoma is one of the deadliest cancers known to man. While the advent of immunotherapy and other cutting-edge treatments have prolonged life for people afflicted with other types of cancer, the prognosis for glioblastoma has remained relatively constant: just 18 months.

3 Oct 2021

Portable PDT device could pave the way for at-home treatment of basal cell carcinoma

A new prototype photodynamic therapy (PDT) device that can be used at home significantly reduces pain levels during treatment of basal cell carcinoma (BCC), while achieving efficacy comparable with a hospital stay. These findings come from a breakthrough pilot study, presented today at the 30th EADV Congress.

1 Oct 2021

Breast radiation after lumpectomy decreases incidence of ipsilateral breast recurrence for 'low risk' DCIS

A long-term follow up analysis of the NRG-RTOG 9804 randomized trial has shown that breast radiation following lumpectomy significantly reduces incidence of ipsilateral breast recurrence (IBR) for "low risk" DCIS.

27 Sep 2021

Radiation therapy for ventricular tachycardia may revert heart muscle cells to a younger state

Radiation therapy for ventricular tachycardia — a life-threatening irregular heart rhythm — appears to work by reverting heart muscle cells to a younger state, reducing the irregular rhythms, according to a new study from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.

24 Sep 2021

Novel drug combinations improve progression-free survival for patients with advanced NSCLC

New findings from a large study led by researchers at Yale Cancer Center shows the addition of the drugs oleclumab or monalizumab to durvalumab improved progression-free survival for patients with locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

18 Sep 2021

Tumor-related risk factors affect conversion of active surveillance to treatment for prostate cancer

For men with "low-risk" prostate cancer initially managed with active surveillance, cancer-related factors such as tumor grade and size are key risk factors for conversion to active treatment, reports a study in The Journal of Urology®, an Official Journal of the American Urological Association.

10 Sep 2021

First-in-human trial proves feasibility of Temporally Feathered Radiation Therapy

Researchers from Cleveland Clinic and OhioHealth have published results from a first-in-human trial evaluating feasibility of Temporally Feathered Radiation Therapy (TFRT), which is designed to reduce the toxicity of radiation treatment.

1 Sep 2021

Targeting and inhibiting a protein could provide more effective treatment for brain cancer

McGill University researchers identify proteins that drive cancer stem cells. Targeting and supressing a particular protein called galectin1 could provide a more effective treatment for glioblastoma, in combination with radiation therapy.

31 Aug 2021

Combination of metformin and chemoradiation does not add survival benefit in patients with LA-NSCLC

A combination of metformin and chemoradiation in patients with locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer (LA-NSCLC) was not found to add survival benefit in the NRG Oncology clinical trial NRG-LU001. These results were recently published in JAMA Oncology.

25 Aug 2021

Radiation Therapy News and Research

Further Reading

Researchers develop a new test to more easily diagnose medulloblastoma

Two new studies show how to enhance effectiveness of cancer immunotherapy

Five-day course of preoperative radiation therapy for sarcoma provides excellent local control rates

New treatment for HPV-associated oropharynx cancer leads to excellent disease control, less side effects

Intervention erases Black-white survival gaps in early-stage lung and breast cancer patients

Fewer, higher doses of post-prostatectomy radiation therapy does not increase long-term side effects

Genetic biomarker test predicts how men with high-risk prostate cancer will respond to treatment

New findings may help widen therapeutic interventions for B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia

New system for targeted cancer radiation therapy using gold nanoparticles

Ondansetron use associated with increased survival in mechanically ventilated COVID-19 patients

'Fractionated' radiation therapy for spinal tumors helps prevent vertebral compression fractures

Northwestern’s SPORE has made advances in understanding the genetic basis of glioblastoma

Portable PDT device could pave the way for at-home treatment of basal cell carcinoma

Breast radiation after lumpectomy decreases incidence of ipsilateral breast recurrence for 'low risk' DCIS

Radiation therapy for ventricular tachycardia may revert heart muscle cells to a younger state

Novel drug combinations improve progression-free survival for patients with advanced NSCLC

Tumor-related risk factors affect conversion of active surveillance to treatment for prostate cancer

First-in-human trial proves feasibility of Temporally Feathered Radiation Therapy

Targeting and inhibiting a protein could provide more effective treatment for brain cancer

Combination of metformin and chemoradiation does not add survival benefit in patients with LA-NSCLC

Sensing a Healthier Future

Achieving and maintaining ISO/IEC 27001 and BS 10012 certifications

Expanding research and clinical options for children with cancer

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