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.

New genetic test can predict clinical outcomes in glioblastoma patients

New research proves that a change in a particular gene can identify which patients with a specific kind of brain cancer will respond better to treatment. Testing for the gene can distinguish patients with a more- or less-aggressive form of glioblastoma, the most common and an often-fatal type of primary brain cancer, and help guide therapy, the researchers say.

1 Jun 2011

ASTRO to honor two radiation oncologists with 2011 Gold Medal award

The American Society for Radiation Oncology has selected K. Kian Ang, MD, PhD, FASTRO, and Bernard Cummings, MB, ChB, FASTRO, as the Society's 2011 Gold Medal recipients.

26 May 2011

Positive preliminary results from Genomic Health's Oncotype DX study in DCIS breast cancer

Genomic Health, Inc. today announced positive preliminary results from a study of Oncotype DX in patients with DCIS by the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group, a clinical trials cooperative group supported by the National Cancer Institute.

25 May 2011

Morris Hospital installs Toshiba's Ultimax X-ray system to streamline diagnosis, improve patient throughput

Advancements in diagnostic imaging technology are enabling healthcare facilities to achieve multifunctional capabilities using a single modality. To streamline diagnosis and improve patient throughput, Morris Hospital has installed the Ultimax X-ray system from Toshiba America Medical Systems, Inc.

23 May 2011

Prowess files patent infringement lawsuit against RaySearch in Baltimore court

As previously announced, RaySearch Laboratories AB has been contacted by a US company named Prowess, which claims that RaySearch has infringed on a US patent in respect of which Prowess has a license.

23 May 2011

DFG to fund 60 million euros for 18 new Research Training Groups

With the aim of further strengthening early-career research in Germany, the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, German Research Foundation) is to establish 18 new Research Training Groups.

21 May 2011

North Shore-LIJ implements new program to ensure safe radiation therapy

Radiation oncologists took a blow in a series of front-page newspaper stories published last year on injuries that occurred nationwide in the delivery of radiation treatment. Radiation oncologists at North Shore-LIJ Health System responded to the public charge with a series of steps that will ensure that patients are protected at all points in the treatment process.

20 May 2011

RTOG reports on largest trial for newly diagnosed glioblastoma

RTOG reports on the largest trial to-date for patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma demonstrating the importance and feasibility of prospective molecular analysis of tumor tissue although finding that patients received no additional benefit from dose-intensive temozolomide as compared to standard adjuvant temozolomide after combined temozolomide and radiotherapy.

20 May 2011

Yoga offers unique benefits beyond fighting fatigue for women with breast cancer

For women with breast cancer undergoing radiation therapy, yoga offers unique benefits beyond fighting fatigue, according to new research from The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.

19 May 2011

Calypso System can precisely deliver radiation in post-prostatectomy patients

Calypso Medical Technologies, Inc., developer of GPS for the Body® technology used for the precise tracking of cancerous tumors during radiation therapy, is exhibiting at the American Urological Association Annual Meeting (booth 4337) and will discuss recent clinical findings suggesting that the Calypso® System can be used to more precisely deliver radiation in post-prostatectomy patients.

16 May 2011

IsoRay third fiscal quarter sales increase 17%

IsoRay Inc., announced financial results for the third fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2011 underscoring significant improvements in quarterly sales revenue growth both sequentially and in the prior year quarter. Sales increased 17% in the period with the Company posting a 581% gain in gross profit compared to the prior year third quarter.

16 May 2011

Young scientists receive Intel Foundation top prize for groundbreaking cancer work

Matthew Feddersen and Blake Marggraff from Lafayette, Calif. were awarded the top prize at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair, a program of Society for Science & the Public. They received $75,000 and the Gordon E. Moore Award, in honor of the Intel co-founder and retired chairman and CEO, for developing a potentially more effective and less expensive cancer treatment that places tin metal near a tumor before radiation therapy.

16 May 2011

Sosei acquires rights to Loramyc in Japan from BioAlliance Pharma

Sosei Group Corporation, the biopharmaceutical company, today announces that Sosei Co., Ltd., its wholly owned Japanese subsidiary, acquired development and commercialization rights to Loramyc (miconazole Lauriad) in Japan from BioAlliance Pharma.

11 May 2011

Elekta to integrate cancer workflow and patient management tools into IBA's Proteus TK2 center

Elekta, a human care company pioneering significant innovations and clinical solutions for treating cancer and brain disorders, will integrate cancer workflow and patient management tools into the Proteus TK2, a turnkey proton therapy center from Belgium-based Ion Beam Applications.

From Elekta 10 May 2011

UCH to hold groundbreaking ceremony for $400M expansion at Anschutz Medical Campus

The University of Colorado Hospital is holding a groundbreaking ceremony to celebrate the $400 million expansion on Tuesday, May 24, from 5 to 6:30 p.m. at the Anschutz Medical Campus.

10 May 2011

Surgery reduces mortality risk of prostate cancer

A Swedish research team partly consisting of researchers from Uppsala University followed a group of prostate cancer patients in the Nordic region for 15 years. The study found, among other things, that surgery reduces the risk that men with prostate cancer (even those with low-risk tumours) will die within 15 years. The results were published today in the New England Journal of Medicine.

6 May 2011

Research experts to speak at brain tumor educational conference

Patients, families and caregivers are invited to attend an educational conference covering many aspects of brain tumors May 14 at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.

5 May 2011

Thomas Jefferson University receives award to develop novel radiation drugs

Shortly before Japan's devastating nuclear incident, researchers at Thomas Jefferson University and Hospitals received an award to find novel drugs to treat people exposed to dangerous amounts of radiation in the wake of a nuclear terrorist attack or a nuclear accident.

5 May 2011

Acetyl resveratrol could protect against radiation sickness

In the midst of ongoing concerns about radiation exposure from the Fukushima nuclear power plant in Japan, scientists are reporting that a substance similar to resveratrol - an antioxidant found in red wine, grapes and nuts - could protect against radiation sickness. The report appears in ACS Medicinal Chemistry Letters.

5 May 2011

RaySearch Laboratories reports net sales of SEK 23.0 M for 2011

RaySearch Laboratories: "We have already noted a growing interest in RayStation® following the breakthrough in the US and Europe, and I am convinced that our customer list will grow during 2011," concludes Johan Löf.

4 May 2011