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.

Optic nerve sheath meningioma patients can be cured using fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy

Optic nerve sheath meningiomas are rare tumors that are traditionally treated with surgery, which is typically a blinding procedure. However, researchers from Thomas Jefferson University Hospital have found that a specialized type of radiation therapy offers the same local control, with fewer adverse effects on vision.

4 Nov 2009

SBRT stops the growth of cancer for 98% of patients with NSCLC

Stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) stopped the growth of cancer at its original site in the lung for three years among nearly 98 percent of patients with early non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who are unable to have the cancer surgically removed, according to an updated three-year study presented November 2, 2009, at the 51st Annual Meeting of the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO).

3 Nov 2009

New study to assess preventative brain radiation therapy for lung cancer patients

A new study is taking a closer look at the benefits versus risks for lung cancer patients to undergo preventative brain radiation therapy as a means to stop cancer from spreading to the brain.

3 Nov 2009

Melanoma patients treated with radiation after surgery at lower risk of cancer recurrence

High-risk melanoma patients who are treated with radiation after surgery have a significantly lower risk of their cancer returning to the lymph nodes (19 percent), compared to those patients who do not have radiation therapy (31 percent), according to the first randomized study of its kind presented at the plenary session, November 2, 2009, at the 51st Annual Meeting of the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO).

3 Nov 2009

Early tolerance of proton therapy excellent in prostate cancer patients

Proton beam therapy can be safely delivered to men with prostate cancer and has minimal urinary and rectal side effects, according to a study presented November 2, 2009, at the American Society for Radiation Oncology's 51st Annual Meeting in Chicago.

3 Nov 2009

Calypso Medical Technologies presents its real-time tracking technology at 51st ASTRO annual meeting

Calypso Medical Technologies, Inc., a developer of real-time localization technology used for the precise tracking of tumor targets, today announced Calypso’s real-time tracking technology is included in 36 scientific presentations and posters at the 51st Annual Meeting of the American Society for Therapeutic Radiation Oncology (ASTRO), now underway at McCormick Place in Chicago.

3 Nov 2009

Siemens Healthcare to distribute Candelis' ImageGrid PACS-RT Appliance and ImageGrid RT Viewer

Today, Candelis, Inc. announced its plans to distribute and sell the ImageGrid™ PACS-RT Appliance and the ImageGrid™ RT Viewer through Siemens Healthcare’s Oncology Care Systems Business Unit.

3 Nov 2009

Patients with non-small cell lung cancer treated with PCI decrease their risk of developing brain metastases

Patients with non-small cell lung cancer treated with preventative brain radiation (called prophylactic cranial irradiation or PCI), significantly decrease their risk of developing brain metastases (cancer spread in the brain) by more than 50 percent (from 18 percent to 8 percent), compared to those who did not receive the treatment, according to a randomized study presented at the plenary session November 2, 2009, at the 51st Annual Meeting of American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO).

3 Nov 2009

Stereotactic radiosurgery effective in eliminating Parkinson's disease tremors

Stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) offers a less invasive way to eliminate tremors caused by Parkinson's disease and essential tremor than deep brain stimulation (DBS) and radiofrequency (RF) treatments, and is as effective, according to a long-term study presented November 2, 2009, at the 51st Annual Meeting of the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO).

3 Nov 2009

IMC-RT does not benefit breast cancer patients

After mastectomy, breast cancer patients who receive radiation treatment to the lymph nodes located behind the breast bone do not live longer than those who do not receive radiation to this hard-to-treat area, according to a randomized 10-year study presented at the plenary session, November 2, 2009, at the 51st Annual Meeting of the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO).

3 Nov 2009

ASTRO commends CMS for limiting payment reductions proposed for radiation oncology

ASTRO, the American Society for Radiation Oncology, today praised the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) for limiting the payment reductions initially proposed for radiation oncology and spreading the remaining cuts over four years.

3 Nov 2009

Extra dose of proton radiation therapy reduces prostate cancer recurrences

Men who receive a "boost" of proton therapy after receiving a standard course of X-ray radiation therapy have fewer recurrences of their prostate cancer compared to men who did not receive the extra dose of proton radiation, according to a first-of-its-kind study presented November 2, 2009, at the American Society for Radiation Oncology's 51st Annual Meeting in Chicago.

3 Nov 2009

New imaging technique for treatment of breast cancer

Researchers at Rush University Medical Center and Argonne National Laboratory are collaborating on a study to determine if an imaging technique used by NASA to inspect the space shuttle can be used to predict tissue damage often experienced by breast cancer patients undergoing radiation therapy. The study is examining the utility of three-dimensional thermal tomography in radiation oncology.

3 Nov 2009

New CyberKnife Robotic Radiosurgery System from Accuray

Accuray Incorporated, a global leader in the field of radiosurgery, announced today the introduction of the CyberKnife(®) VSI(TM) System, the latest addition to the CyberKnife product family.

1 Nov 2009

GE Healthcare to showcase its sophisticated imaging systems for oncology at the ASTRO meeting

According to the American Cancer Society, more than one million people are diagnosed with cancer each year. In the United States, about 1 out of every 2 men and 1 out of every 3 women will have some type of cancer at some point during their lifetime. The sooner a cancer is detected and treatment begins, the better the patient’s chances for survival.

31 Oct 2009

ASTRO to host news briefings on top cancer research papers

The American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) will host four news briefings with accompanying live webcasts on the top cancer research papers from its 51st Annual Meeting.

30 Oct 2009

University of Virginia Cancer Center commences patient treatment with the TomoDirect delivery mode

TomoTherapy Incorporated announced today that the first patients are now being treated with the TomoDirect™ radiation therapy delivery mode at the University of Virginia Cancer Center. The addition of the TomoDirect modality to the TomoTherapy® platform gives clinicians an efficient new option that expands their ability to fight cancer.

30 Oct 2009

Heidelberg Ion Radiation Therapy Center established; European patients can benefit from new radiation therapy

A new, innovative form of radiation based on verified scientific facts will be available to patients all over Europe within the next few decades. The official kick-off meeting of the Community project ULICE (Union of LIght Ions Centres in Europe), which the European Union is supporting with nearly 10 million euros, was held in fall 2009 in the Department of Radiooncology and Radiation Therapy of the Heidelberg University Hospital.

30 Oct 2009

TomoTherapy radiation therapy platform to be presented at the ASTRO Annual Meeting

TomoTherapy Incorporated announced today that several clinical presentations at the American Society for Radiation Oncology's 51st ASTRO Annual Meeting -- November 1-5, 2009 in Chicago -- will showcase the use of the TomoTherapy® radiation therapy platform as a vital component in the combined modality approach to treating cancer.

30 Oct 2009

Third-quarter 2009 financial results of Antigenics announced

Antigenics Inc. reported today its results for the quarter ended September 30, 2009. The company incurred a net loss attributable to common stockholders of $10.8 million, or $0.13 per share, basic and diluted, for the third quarter of 2009, compared with a net loss attributable to common stockholders in the third quarter of 2008 of $11.4 million, or $0.17 per share, basic and diluted.

29 Oct 2009

Radiation Therapy News and Research

Further Reading

Optic nerve sheath meningioma patients can be cured using fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy

SBRT stops the growth of cancer for 98% of patients with NSCLC

New study to assess preventative brain radiation therapy for lung cancer patients

Melanoma patients treated with radiation after surgery at lower risk of cancer recurrence

Early tolerance of proton therapy excellent in prostate cancer patients

Calypso Medical Technologies presents its real-time tracking technology at 51st ASTRO annual meeting

Siemens Healthcare to distribute Candelis' ImageGrid PACS-RT Appliance and ImageGrid RT Viewer

Patients with non-small cell lung cancer treated with PCI decrease their risk of developing brain metastases

Stereotactic radiosurgery effective in eliminating Parkinson's disease tremors

IMC-RT does not benefit breast cancer patients

ASTRO commends CMS for limiting payment reductions proposed for radiation oncology

Extra dose of proton radiation therapy reduces prostate cancer recurrences

New imaging technique for treatment of breast cancer

New CyberKnife Robotic Radiosurgery System from Accuray

GE Healthcare to showcase its sophisticated imaging systems for oncology at the ASTRO meeting

ASTRO to host news briefings on top cancer research papers

University of Virginia Cancer Center commences patient treatment with the TomoDirect delivery mode

Heidelberg Ion Radiation Therapy Center established; European patients can benefit from new radiation therapy

TomoTherapy radiation therapy platform to be presented at the ASTRO Annual Meeting

Third-quarter 2009 financial results of Antigenics announced

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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