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.

CROF, sanofi-aventis announce the creation of CASARIA for cancer research

The Canadian Radiation Oncology Foundation and sanofi-aventis are pleased to announce the creation of the Canadian Radiation Oncology Foundation/Sanofi-Aventis Research Innovation Award (CASARIA).

15 Feb 2010

Histone modifications associated with pancreatic cancer development and progression

Specific chemical modifications to proteins called histones, which are found in the nucleus of cells and act as spools around which DNA is wound, can be used to predict prognosis and response to treatment in subsets patients with pancreatic cancer, a study by researchers at UCLA's Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center has found.

12 Feb 2010

MITA endorses eight key principles to reduce unnecessary radiation exposure and medical errors

The Medical Imaging & Technology Alliance (MITA), the leading association representing the manufacturers, innovators and developers of medical imaging and radiation therapy systems, today endorsed eight key principles to reduce exposure to unnecessary medical radiation, further minimize medical errors and improve reporting of adverse events.

12 Feb 2010

Research study on epigenetic phenotypes published online in the Journal of Clinical Oncology

PrognosDx Health, Inc. announced today that in an independent research study published online in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, cellular levels of histone modifications define previously unrecognized subsets of patients with pancreatic cancer with distinct epigenetic phenotypes and clinical outcomes.

11 Feb 2010

Allos Therapeutics' disease-specific registry for patients with PTCL enrolls first study participant

MedNet Solutions, a global life sciences technology solutions company specializing in clinical study management systems, is pleased to announce that Allos Therapeutics' new international disease-specific registry for patients with peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL) has enrolled its first study participant.

11 Feb 2010

41st Annual Meeting on Women's Cancer to be hosted in San Francisco, California

The Society of Gynecologic Oncologists (SGO) will host its 41st Annual Meeting on Women's Cancer March 14-17, 2010 at the Moscone West Convention Center in San Francisco, California. This year's meeting will feature more than 434 scientific presentations in addition to lectures, workshops, symposia and postgraduate courses that focus on emerging science, clinical trials and treatment advances for physicians and health care professionals in the field of gynecologic oncology.

11 Feb 2010

CINJ researchers develop new vaccine strategy for pancreatic cancer

More than 42,500 people in the United States were diagnosed with pancreatic cancer last year and nearly 35,200 died from the disease, according to The American Cancer Society.

11 Feb 2010

Provectus Pharmaceuticals publishes article on novel treatment for metastatic melanoma

Provectus Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a development-stage oncology and dermatology biopharmaceutical company, announces the publication of an article, entitled “A novel treatment for metastatic melanoma with intralesional rose bengal and radiotherapy: a case series," authored by Dr. Matthew C. Foote, Dr. Bryan H. Burmeister, Janine Thomas, and Dr. B. Mark Smithers, in the current issue of the peer-reviewed journal, Melanoma Research (20(1):48-51, February 2010).

10 Feb 2010

LRF's 2009 Mantle Cell Lymphoma Consortium report published

Highlights from the Lymphoma Research Foundation (LRF) 2009 Mantle Cell Lymphoma Consortium (MCLC) Scientific Workshop will be published in the March 2010 issue of Leukemia & Lymphoma. Traditionally accessible to subscribers for period of one year, Leukemia and Lymphoma has agreed to make this report available to the public for one month -- Mantle Cell Lymphoma: Report of the 2009 MCL Consortium Workshop.

10 Feb 2010

Researchers publish findings that may lead to new standard of care for cervical cancer patients

Researchers at the Ireland Cancer Center of University Hospitals (UH) Case Medical Center, have published new findings that may lead to a new standard of care for patients with locally advanced cervical cancer.

10 Feb 2010

U.S. PSA screening efficacy lower than in ERSPC-Rotterdam due to lower testing sensitivity

Fewer prostate cancers were detected by prostate-specific antigen (PSA) screening in the U.S. than in a European randomized trial because of lower screening sensitivity, according to a new brief communication published online February 8 in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.

9 Feb 2010

Two U.S. insurers approve coverage of radioembolization for treatment of unresectable liver cancer

MDS Nordion, a global leader in providing products and services for medical imaging and radiotherapeutics, today announced that two of the largest health insurers in the United States have recently approved coverage of radioembolization to treat unresectable liver cancer, which includes the use of MDS Nordion's TheraSphere(R) treatment. The two insurance companies and their affiliates together serve more than one-quarter of Americans and do business in all 50 states.

6 Feb 2010

Over 12,000 courses of lung cancer treatment completed with Accuray's CyberKnife radiosurgery

Accuray Incorporated, a global leader in the field of radiosurgery, announced today that more than 12,000 courses of lung cancer treatment have been completed with CyberKnife radiosurgery. Usage of CyberKnife radiosurgery for lung cancer continues to grow, as illustrated by a 25 percent increase year over year in calendar year 2009.

6 Feb 2010

Radiation oncologists push for safety standards

The New York Times: "The leading professional organization dedicated to radiation oncology has called for enhanced safety measures in administering medical radiation, including the establishment of the nation's first central database for the reporting of errors involving linear accelerators — machines that generate radiation — and CT scanners.

5 Feb 2010

EBMT honours abstract on Defibrotide in Hepatic VOD prevention with the Van Bekkum Award

Gentium S.p.A. today announced that the abstract titled, "Defibrotide prevents hepatic VOD and reduces significantly VOD-associated complications in children at high risk: final results of a prospective phase II/III multicentre study," has been awarded the Van Bekkum Award for the best abstract submitted to the physician's program for the European Group for Blood and Marrow Transplantation's (EBMT) 36th Annual Meeting, to be held in Vienna, March 21-24, 2010.

5 Feb 2010

San Antonio Methodist Hospital upgrades to Leksell Gamma Knife Perfexion system

AMERICAN SHARED HOSPITAL SERVICES, a leading provider of turnkey technology solutions for advanced radiosurgical and radiation therapy services, announced today that it has entered into a contract to supply a Leksell Gamma Knife® PerfexionTM system to Methodist Hospital in San Antonio, Texas. This new Perfexion system, the eighth placed by AMS to date, will replace an existing Gamma Knife supplied by AMS and is expected to begin treating patients later this year.

5 Feb 2010

ASTRO and ACR release practice guidelines for new radiation treatments

The American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) and the American College of Radiology (ACR) have released practice guidelines for image guided radiation therapy (IGRT) and stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) in the February issue of the International Journal of Radiation Oncology*Biology*Physics, the official journal of ASTRO.

4 Feb 2010

ASTRO leads the way to help physicians improve safety and reduce medical errors

The American Society for Radiation Oncology has committed to a six-point patient protection plan that will improve safety and quality and reduce the chances of medical errors, ASTRO Board Chairman Tim R. Williams, M.D., said today.

4 Feb 2010

IMRT and extensive safety measures can prevent radiation injuries in cancer patients, says oncology expert

Recent media stories have reported isolated cases of cancer patients who were injured by incorrect doses from intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT).

2 Feb 2010

AAPM reassures safety of radiation therapy

The American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM) has issued a statement today in the wake of several recent articles in the New York Times yesterday and earlier in the week that discuss a number of rare but tragic events in the last decade involving people undergoing radiation therapy.

30 Jan 2010

Radiation Therapy News and Research

Further Reading

CROF, sanofi-aventis announce the creation of CASARIA for cancer research

Histone modifications associated with pancreatic cancer development and progression

MITA endorses eight key principles to reduce unnecessary radiation exposure and medical errors

Research study on epigenetic phenotypes published online in the Journal of Clinical Oncology

Allos Therapeutics' disease-specific registry for patients with PTCL enrolls first study participant

41st Annual Meeting on Women's Cancer to be hosted in San Francisco, California

CINJ researchers develop new vaccine strategy for pancreatic cancer

Provectus Pharmaceuticals publishes article on novel treatment for metastatic melanoma

LRF's 2009 Mantle Cell Lymphoma Consortium report published

Researchers publish findings that may lead to new standard of care for cervical cancer patients

U.S. PSA screening efficacy lower than in ERSPC-Rotterdam due to lower testing sensitivity

Two U.S. insurers approve coverage of radioembolization for treatment of unresectable liver cancer

Over 12,000 courses of lung cancer treatment completed with Accuray's CyberKnife radiosurgery

Radiation oncologists push for safety standards

EBMT honours abstract on Defibrotide in Hepatic VOD prevention with the Van Bekkum Award

San Antonio Methodist Hospital upgrades to Leksell Gamma Knife Perfexion system

ASTRO and ACR release practice guidelines for new radiation treatments

ASTRO leads the way to help physicians improve safety and reduce medical errors

IMRT and extensive safety measures can prevent radiation injuries in cancer patients, says oncology expert

AAPM reassures safety of radiation therapy

Achieving and maintaining ISO 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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