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.

Doctors able to predict recurrence of high-risk breast cancers

International researchers have developed a prediction model to assist doctors in determining the chance of recurrence of cancer in high-risk breast cancer patients who have undergone a mastectomy followed by radiation therapy.

3 Apr 2006

Call to speed access to innovative advances for all breast cancer patients

Breast cancer specialists and advocates at the 5th European Breast Cancer Conference (EBCC-5) called for patients to have equal and speedy access to new breast cancer treatments and procedures, as soon as they are validated by comparative clinical trials.

28 Mar 2006

Salvage radiation therapy for PSA recurrence following radical prostatectomy

Salvage radiation therapy to the prostatic fossa is often employed in patients with rising PSA after radical prostatectomy (RP). Interestingly, only 25% of men with rising PSA after RP have a positive prostatic fossa biopsy, yet 70% of men with a negative biopsy will have their PSA decline to undetectable levels following salvage external beam radiotherapy.

23 Mar 2006

Donepezil (Aricept) helps cognitive function in brain tumor patients after radiation

A drug that is marketed to treat Alzheimer's disease also improves cognitive function, mood and quality of life in brain tumor patients following radiation therapy, according to a research team at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center.

21 Mar 2006

Low PSA score after radiation can predict prostate cancer return

A consortium of prostate cancer experts have discovered, through a clinical investigation, that prostate cancer patients who have a lower prostate specific antigen (PSA) score after radiation therapy to treat their cancer are less likely to have their prostate cancer return or spread to other parts of their body than patients with a higher PSA score.

15 Mar 2006

The transcription factor MEF/ELF4 regulates the quiescence of primitive hematopoietic cells

Scientists have uncovered new information about what orchestrates the complex balance between blood stem cells and mature blood cells, a relationship that is often disrupted in leukemia.

15 Mar 2006

Scientists gain better understanding of the behavior of leukemic cells

Scientists have uncovered new information about what orchestrates the complex balance between blood stem cells and mature blood cells, a relationship that is often disrupted in leukemia.

15 Mar 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

FDA gives greenlight for new treatment of head and neck cancer

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved colon cancer drug Erbitux to treat head and neck cancer after results of a large clinical trial showed the drug prolonged survival by 20 months.

5 Mar 2006

New method for examining how radiation damages body tissue

The knowledge may make it possible to reduce side effects for cancer patients or to develop treatments for radiation exposure.

1 Mar 2006

Amifostine makes radiation more effective

Doctors in Brazil have concluded that the drug amifostine eases many of the most common side effects associated with patients receiving radiation therapy to treat their cancer while simultaneously making the cancer more susceptible to radiation.

1 Mar 2006

New FDA approved mobile electron-beam system increases survival rates of women with advanced rectal cancer

Colorectal cancer is widely considered a man's disease, but actually affects an equal number of women and men. Detected early, it is highly curable in both genders, with survival rates approaching 90 percent. But if the cancer is detected at a more advanced stage, the outlook is often dismal.

27 Feb 2006

Study shows survival advantage for men treated with radical prostatectomy or radiation therapy compared to observation

A new study shows older men with early stage prostate cancer survive longer if they are treated versus not being treated in favor of the "watchful waiting" approach advocated by many physicians for older men with other health problems.

27 Feb 2006

New tool to discover molecules that can enhance or block different kinds of tastes

Researchers from the Monell Chemical Senses Center have succeeded in growing mature taste receptor cells outside the body and for the first time have been able to successfully keep the cells alive for a prolonged period of time.

27 Feb 2006

Avastin trial for pancreatic tumors

"Our findings from the previous study suggest that the combination of chemotherapy and radiation is a safe and effective treatment method to reduce the local extent of pancreatic tumors," said Dr. Talamonti.

23 Feb 2006

Monoclonal antibody targets key tumor growth factor

Monoclonal antibody targets key tumor growth factor; Successfully causes brain tumor regression and improves animal survival

19 Feb 2006

Grants bring Mesothelioma research to over $3 million

The Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation has announced thrilling news for all who care about eradicating the vicious disease. MARF has awarded nine new grants of $100,000 each for exciting research projects commencing in late 2005 aimed at curing mesothelioma ("meso").

13 Feb 2006

Treatment method improves survival for advanced laryngeal cancer

Chemotherapy and radiation can be effective at treating cancer of the larynx, or voice box, without removing the organ that controls speech and swallowing. But it doesn't work for everyone.

13 Feb 2006

Tetracaine mouthwash helps with pain linked to head and neck cancer

Doctors in Italy are studying whether a new type of mouthwash will help alleviate pain for patients suffering from head and neck cancer who were treated with radiation therapy, according to a study published in the International Journal of Radiation Oncology-Biology-Physics

13 Feb 2006