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.

Peer-reviewed articles elucidate role of clusterin in promoting tumor resistance to cancer treatment

OncoGenex Pharmaceuticals, Inc., announced today that two peer-reviewed articles have been published that further elucidate the biological function of clusterin, its role in promoting tumor resistance to cancer treatment, and the role of an inhibitor of clusterin such as custirsen (OGX-011) that is designed to knock down treatment resistance in the cells and enhance the effectiveness of cancer therapies.

1 Mar 2010

SUVmax in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma patients predict overall survival

The maximal standardized uptake value (called SUVmax) measured from FDG PET readings taken from the primary tumor in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma patients before treatment is a strong predictor of disease-specific survival, overall survival and disease-free survival, while pretreatment SUVmax for lymphodenopathy is strongly associated with distant metastasis, according to a study presented at the Multidisciplinary Head and Neck Cancer Symposium, sponsored by AHNS, ASCO, ASTRO and SNM.

1 Mar 2010

Ensure radiation therapy from certified technologists with ongoing qualifications

Every day in the United States, tens of thousands of patients are exposed to ionizing radiation through radiation therapy, CT scans, x rays, mammograms, and other medical imaging and therapeutic procedures. Patients need to have confidence that the technologists caring for them have the credentials and qualifications to safely administer radiation, and that the equipment they are using is properly calibrated and maintained to deliver radiation safely and within the proper dose parameters.

27 Feb 2010

Federal officials focus on radiation practices at Florida clinic; Medical scan makers announce new efforts to prevent mistakes

Medicare regulations require that when patients receive some types of highly specialized cancer treatments, their radiation oncologist must be on site. But The New York Times reports that federal officials are investigating a Florida cancer clinic that billed Medicare for such treatments while the doctors were absent, sometimes on overseas trips.

27 Feb 2010

Larynx preservation using chemotherapy followed by radiation is effective treatment: Study

Head and neck cancer patients receiving induction chemotherapy followed by radiation to preserve their larynx have a low-risk of severe voice disability and almost half experienced no eating or swallowing problems, according to a first of its kind study presented at the Multidisciplinary Head and Neck Cancer Symposium, sponsored by AHNS, ASCO, ASTRO and SNM.

26 Feb 2010

MITA announces new radiation dose safeguards for expansively addressing patient safety in medical imaging

As part of its ongoing commitment to ensuring safe, appropriate and effective medical imaging and radiation therapy, the Medical Imaging & Technology Alliance (MITA) announced today a new industry-wide commitment to more expansively address patient safety in medical imaging by including new radiation dose safeguards.

26 Feb 2010

Locally advanced sinonasal malignancies: Proton beam radiation therapy promising

Proton beam radiation therapy shows encouraging results for patients with locally advanced sinonasal malignancies, according to a study presented at the Multidisciplinary Head and Neck Cancer Symposium, sponsored by AHNS, ASCO, ASTRO and SNM.

26 Feb 2010

CPF to partner with ATS to fund Pulmonary Fibrosis research

The Coalition for Pulmonary Fibrosis and the American Thoracic Society, the world's leading professional organization for pulmonary, critical care and sleep physicians, today announced that the CPF will again partner with the ATS to fund Pulmonary Fibrosis (PF) research.

26 Feb 2010

Accelerated radiation therapy helps reduce amount of chemotherapy in advanced head and neck cancer patients

Using an accelerated, shorter course of radiation therapy for patients with advanced head and neck cancer allows doctors to reduce the amount of chemotherapy, thus reducing toxicity, according to a study presented at the Multidisciplinary Head and Neck Cancer Symposium, sponsored by AHNS, ASCO, ASTRO and SNM.

26 Feb 2010

OncoGenex Pharmaceuticals receives CHMP advice on OGX-011 development plan in treatment of mCRPC

OncoGenex Pharmaceuticals announced today that it has received written, scientific advice from the European Medicines Agency (EMA) on the company's development plan for OGX-011 (also known as custirsen) for the treatment of men with metastatic castrate-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC). The input received from the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) at the EMA was in overall agreement with OncoGenex's development plan regarding the proposed preclinical studies and both the study designs and analyses for the Phase III trials.

25 Feb 2010

Focal therapy for localized prostate cancer: US HIFU announces intention to fund multi-center trial

US HIFU, a world leader in minimally invasive high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) technologies and manufacturer of the Sonablate® 500 medical device, has announced its intention to fund a landmark multi-center trial to study focal therapy for localized prostate cancer. Mark Emberton, M.D., (FRCS-Urology), consultant urological surgeon and divisional clinical director of cancer services at University College London Hospital (UCLH), along with Hashim Uddin Ahmed, MRC clinical research fellow, will lead the trial.

25 Feb 2010

Researchers to test Radio-embolisation technique in patients with bowel cancer

Cancer Research UK this week launches a new trial for patients with bowel cancer that has spread to the liver to see whether a new radiotherapy treatment technique is more effective than standard chemotherapy.

24 Feb 2010

Head and neck tumors in close proximity to sensitive areas may lead to brain injury, visionary risk or hearing loss

When head and neck tumors - from sinus tumors to acoustic neuromas attached to the hearing and balance nerve at the base of the skull - are located in close proximity to such sensitive areas such as the brain and eyes, they are particularly dangerous due to possible brain injury, visionary risk or hearing loss.

23 Feb 2010

CINJ researchers test malaria drug for colorectal cancer treatment

While new cases of colorectal cancer continue to decline in the United States, it remains the third leading cause of cancer death in the nation, according to the American Cancer Society. That is why researchers at The Cancer Institute of New Jersey are looking to add a drug known for fighting malaria to traditional chemotherapy for colorectal cancer to see if treatment can be made more effective for patients.

23 Feb 2010

Testosterone replacement therapy may benefit male cancer survivors with testosterone deficiency

A new study has found that many male cancer survivors who develop testosterone deficiency after receiving chemotherapy or radiation therapy have an impaired quality of life and reduced energy levels. Published early online in Cancer, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society, the study suggests that young male cancer survivors with testosterone deficiency may benefit from testosterone replacement therapy.

22 Feb 2010

Roseville ROC commences cancer treatment with Elekta VMAT

The first treatments with Elekta Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy (VMAT) began November 17, 2009 at Roseville Radiation Oncology Center (ROC) at Radiological Associates of Sacramento (RAS). RAS, a large private medical group, includes diagnostics as well as therapy in its centers. ROC treats 30-35 patients per day, mainly with prostate and breast lesions.

From Elekta 19 Feb 2010

Raysearch Laboratories reports net sales of SEK 83.7M in 2009

“The year 2009 was extremely successful for RaySearch, with several exciting product launches. The new products began generating substantial revenues toward the end of the year, leading to a revenue increase of a full 71 percent in the fourth quarter”

18 Feb 2010

Calypso real-time tumor tracking system usage during IMRT for prostate cancer reduces rectal/urinary side effects

Calypso Medical Technologies, Inc., a developer of targeting technology used for accurate, precise real-time tracking of tumor targets, today announced the online publication of a clinical study in Urology (The GOLD JOURNAL). The prospective, multi-site study, entitled, “Assessing the Impact of Margin Reduction (AIM),” is the first outcomes-based study to evaluate the quality of life of high-dose intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) to the prostate with tightly contoured treatment technically described as “reduced treatment margins.”

17 Feb 2010

ViewRay earns NorTech Innovation Award for advancements in cancer radiation therapy technology

ViewRay, Inc., a privately held medical device company, has earned a NorTech Innovation Award for its advancements in radiation therapy technology for the treatment of cancer. ViewRay was honored for its unique combination of medical imaging and radiotherapy, which is designed to improve the effectiveness of cancer treatments. Radiation therapy is used to treat nearly two-thirds of today's cancer patients.

17 Feb 2010

NorTech announces winners of annual Innovation Awards program

NorTech, in partnership with Crain's Cleveland Business, is pleased to announce the winners of its annual Innovation Awards program which honors the achievements of Northeast Ohio's most innovative organizations and leaders.

16 Feb 2010

Radiation Therapy News and Research

Further Reading

Peer-reviewed articles elucidate role of clusterin in promoting tumor resistance to cancer treatment

SUVmax in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma patients predict overall survival

Ensure radiation therapy from certified technologists with ongoing qualifications

Federal officials focus on radiation practices at Florida clinic; Medical scan makers announce new efforts to prevent mistakes

Larynx preservation using chemotherapy followed by radiation is effective treatment: Study

MITA announces new radiation dose safeguards for expansively addressing patient safety in medical imaging

Locally advanced sinonasal malignancies: Proton beam radiation therapy promising

CPF to partner with ATS to fund Pulmonary Fibrosis research

Accelerated radiation therapy helps reduce amount of chemotherapy in advanced head and neck cancer patients

OncoGenex Pharmaceuticals receives CHMP advice on OGX-011 development plan in treatment of mCRPC

Focal therapy for localized prostate cancer: US HIFU announces intention to fund multi-center trial

Researchers to test Radio-embolisation technique in patients with bowel cancer

Head and neck tumors in close proximity to sensitive areas may lead to brain injury, visionary risk or hearing loss

CINJ researchers test malaria drug for colorectal cancer treatment

Testosterone replacement therapy may benefit male cancer survivors with testosterone deficiency

Roseville ROC commences cancer treatment with Elekta VMAT

Raysearch Laboratories reports net sales of SEK 83.7M in 2009

Calypso real-time tumor tracking system usage during IMRT for prostate cancer reduces rectal/urinary side effects

ViewRay earns NorTech Innovation Award for advancements in cancer radiation therapy technology

NorTech announces winners of annual Innovation Awards program

Achieving and maintaining ISO/IEC 27001 and BS 10012 certifications

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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