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.

Men with early-stage prostate cancer can benefit from short-term ADT, radiation therapy

Short-term hormone therapy given in combination with radiation therapy for men with early-stage prostate cancer increases their chance of living longer and not dying from the disease, compared with that of those who receive the same radiation therapy alone, according to a Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG) study published in the July 14 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.

14 Jul 2011

Patients with brain cancer may benefit from stem cell therapy

Stem cell therapy may restore cognition in patients with brain cancer who experience functional learning and memory loss often associated with radiation treatment, according to a laboratory study published in Cancer Research, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research.

14 Jul 2011

U.S. Senators introduce Pulmonary Fibrosis Research Enhancement Act

The Coalition for Pulmonary Fibrosis (CPF) announced today the Pulmonary Fibrosis Research Enhancement Act has been introduced in the Senate by Senators Chris Coons and Mike Crapo in the U.S. House of Representatives by Rep. Erik Paulsen and Rep. Tammy Baldwin.

13 Jul 2011

New method allows for concurrent treatment of spinal tumors and stabilization of the spine

The Orthopedic Clinic and Policlinic at the University Medical Center of Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz has recently deployed a new system for the treatment of spinal tumors for the first time.

11 Jul 2011

CMC hospital Ludhiana upgrades to MLCi2-equipped Elekta Compact linear accelerator

Christian Medical College & Hospital (CMC) Ludhiana is the site of the first Elekta Compact™ linear accelerator in the world to be field-upgraded to an MLCi2-equipped Elekta Compact, completing the transformation in less than a week. MLCi2 shapes treatment beams, enabling doctors to provide more accurate delivery to the target, while limiting radiation exposure to surrounding structures.

From Elekta 11 Jul 2011

New radiofrequency ablation system for treating spinal tumors

The Orthopedic Clinic and Policlinic at the University Medical Center of Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (JGU) has recently deployed a new system for the treatment of spinal tumors for the first time.

11 Jul 2011

NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital offers two new treatment options for cancer patients

NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital has two new treatment options for patients with brain tumors and other cancers -- a next-generation radiosurgical Gamma Knife and linear accelerator.

From Elekta 11 Jul 2011

Research targets malignant glioma stem cells

Cleveland Clinic researchers have identified a cellular pathway that cancer stem cells use to promote tumor growth in malignant glioma, an aggressive brain tumor.

11 Jul 2011

Transplants with half-matched bone marrow or cord blood are comparable to fully matched tissue

Identifying a suitable donor for leukemia and lymphoma patients who need bone marrow transplants may be far easier now that results of two clinical trials show transplant results with half-matched bone marrow or umbilical cord blood are comparable to fully matched tissue, thanks in large part to the availability of effective antirejection drugs and special post-transplant chemotherapy.

8 Jul 2011

Half-matched transplants widen donor pool for leukemia and lymphoma

7 Jul 2011

Stereotactic ablative radiotherapy improves median survival for elderly Dutch NSCLC patients

New developments such as stereotactic ablative radiotherapy and improvements in surgical care in early-stage lung cancer have led to large survival gains for elderly Dutch patients, according to a population-based study presented at the 14th World Conference on Lung Cancer in Amsterdam, hosted by the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer.

6 Jul 2011

More breast cancer patients may receive radiation treatments after surgery

More breast cancer patients than previously believed may be receiving radiation treatments after breast-conserving surgery, a University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center study shows.

6 Jul 2011

New technology reduces stress of scheduling chemotherapy treatments

The stress of scheduling chemotherapy treatments has been substantially reduced by a new technology created and implemented by a team of researchers from the Sauder School of Business at the University of British Columbia and the BC Cancer Agency.

30 Jun 2011

Some adult survivors of childhood cancer are at risk for multiple cancers

The largest study yet of adult childhood cancer survivors found that the first cancer is just the beginning of a lifelong battle against different forms of the disease for about 10 percent of these survivors.

29 Jun 2011

Many advanced breast cancer patients do not receive postmastectomy radiation therapy

Forty-five percent of women with advanced breast cancer in the U.S. did not receive postmastectomy radiation therapy (PMRT) despite the publication of evidence-based guidelines outlining PMRT as a potentially lifesaving treatment, according to new research from The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.

28 Jun 2011

Breast cancer patients not getting recommended radiation therapy: Report

According to a report released Monday in the journal Cancer, nearly half of older women with advanced stage breast cancer who undergo a mastectomy don't receive radiation therapy, despite guidelines that say it can save lives.

28 Jun 2011

Women can benefit from immediate breast reconstruction following mastectomy

For women undergoing mastectomy for breast cancer, immediate breast reconstruction has a low risk of complications—including serious complications related to radiation therapy—and does not cause undue delays in cancer treatment, reports a study in the July issue of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, the official medical journal of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.

28 Jun 2011

Astronomers to develop potential new cancer radiation treatment

Astronomers' research on celestial bodies may have an impact on the human body. Ohio State University astronomers are working with medical physicists and radiation oncologists to develop a potential new radiation treatment - one that is intended to be tougher on tumors, but gentler on healthy tissue.

27 Jun 2011

Hardin Memorial Hospital selects ProVation Order Sets

Wolters Kluwer Health, a leading global provider of information for healthcare professionals and students, announced today that Hardin Memorial Hospital has selected ProVation® Order Sets, powered by UpToDate® Decision Support, as the organization's electronic order set solution.

20 Jun 2011

IsoRay announces combination therapy study for prostate cancer

IsoRay Inc., announced today a new dual therapy study using Cesium-131 brachytherapy (internal radiation therapy) and external beam radiation. Multiple sites have now received Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval for this study which will examine the efficacy of combining intensity modulated radiation (IMRT) with Cesium-131 brachytherapy to treat intermediate and high risk early stage prostate cancer.

20 Jun 2011