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.

Minimizing neurological side effects in high-grade glioma patients may improve survival

Minimizing neurological side effects in patients with high-grade glioma from chemoradiation may result in improved patient survival, a new study from radiation oncologists at the Kimmel Cancer Center at Jefferson suggests. These findings were reported in the April issue of the British Journal of Cancer.

20 Apr 2011

Swinburne University of Technology acquires Elekta's Neuromag TRIUX MEG system

Certain brain processes happen in the blink of an eye – and even faster – which has made pinpointing these events virtually impossible. The advent of magnetoencephalography (MEG) changed all that, enabling researchers to capture brain electrical activity measured in milliseconds, and offering the potential to reveal the nature of innumerable brain disorders and diseases.

From Elekta 20 Apr 2011

RaySearch receives order for its RayStation system from RISO

RaySearch Laboratories AB has received an order for its RayStation treatment planning system from RISO, the Radiotherapeutic Institute in Deventer, the Netherlands.

19 Apr 2011

Bedford Labs launches cancer drug Topotecan Hydrochloride for Injection

Bedford Laboratories, a division of Ben Venue Laboratories, Inc., is pleased to announce the addition of Topotecan Hydrochloride for Injection, 4 mg (base)/vial to its diverse portfolio. Topotecan is AP Bioequivalent to the reference listed drug Hycamtin® (topotecan HCl) for injection by GlaxoSmithKline.

19 Apr 2011

Novocure receives FDA approval for NovoTTF-100A System to treat GBM

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently approved the NovoTTF-100A System, a new device to treat adults with glioblastoma multiforme that recurs or progresses after receiving chemotherapy and radiation therapy.

15 Apr 2011

Alliance HealthCare Services acquires 24/7 Radiology

Alliance HealthCare Services, Inc., a leading national provider of outpatient diagnostic imaging and radiation therapy services, announced the acquisition of 24/7 Radiology, a professional radiology services company, which provides both preliminary and final professional radiology interpretation services for MRI, CT, ultrasound, X-Ray and other imaging modalities in 18 states.

15 Apr 2011

EPO grants patent to OncoGenex OGX-427 for prostate cancer treatment

OncoGenex Pharmaceuticals, Inc., today announced that the European Patent Office has granted European Patent Number EP1545561 entitled "Oligonucleotides for Treatment of Prostate and other Cancers."

15 Apr 2011

Study finds SAVI applicator for breast brachytherapy safe for women with breast implants

The SAVI® applicator for breast brachytherapy was used to safely deliver post-lumpectomy radiation therapy to a woman with breast implants, according to a newly published paper in a peer-reviewed journal. The case study showed that SAVI produced an "optimal" clinical outcome and "excellent cosmetic results that pleased the patient," wrote the authors.

12 Apr 2011

Hypericin may treat recurrent malignant brain tumors

Researchers have found that a synthetic version of hypericin, a compound naturally found in St. John's wort, may be a promising treatment for patients with recurrent malignant brain tumors. Their findings were published online on March 31, 2011 in the journal Cancer.

12 Apr 2011

Study finds pelvic anatomy differences following RARP and open prostatectomy

Researchers from Boston University School of Medicine have concluded that the anatomy of the pelvis following robotic-assisted radical prostatectomy.

12 Apr 2011

Elekta to highlight Leksell Gamma Knife Perfexion radiosurgery solution at AANS 2011

At the 2011 American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS) Annual Meeting, April 9-13 at the Colorado Convention Center, Elekta (booth #1717) will highlight characteristics of Leksell Gamma Knife® Perfexion™ that separate the system from other radiosurgery solutions.

From Elekta 8 Apr 2011

BSD Medical second quarter net loss decreases 19% to $1,554,000

BSD Medical Corporation, a leading provider of medical systems that treat cancer and benign diseases using heat therapy, today reported financial results for its second fiscal quarter ended February 28, 2011.

8 Apr 2011

Persistent fatigue in breast cancer survivors may be caused by autonomic nervous system running in overdrive

The persistent fatigue that plagues one out of every three breast cancer survivors may be caused by one part of the autonomic nervous system running in overdrive, while the other part fails to slow it down.

7 Apr 2011

Living human taste cells maintained in culture for seven months

Following years of futile attempts, new research from the Monell Center demonstrates that living human taste cells can be maintained in culture for at least seven months. The findings provide scientists with a valuable tool to learn about the human sense of taste and how it functions in health and disease.

7 Apr 2011

OncoGenex presents OGX-427 preclinical data in prostrate cancer at AACR meeting

OncoGenex Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced today that preclinical data utilizing their pipeline compound OGX-427 was presented at the AACR 102nd Annual Meeting 2011.

5 Apr 2011

Synta presents ganetespib and elesclomol study data in cancer at AACR meeting

Synta Pharmaceuticals Corp. today presented five posters at the American Association for Cancer Research 102nd Annual Meeting. Three posters reported results from studies of ganetespib, and two posters reported results from studies of elesclomol, a small-molecule mitochondria metabolism inhibitor.

5 Apr 2011

Oncology experts educate lawmakers about latest information on radiation therapy

Leaders from the radiation oncology community – representing patients, physicians, providers, and manufacturers – met on Capitol Hill today to educate lawmakers and their staffs about the latest in radiation therapy technologies and techniques, improvements in patient care and the community's focus on patient safety in radiation therapy delivery.

1 Apr 2011

TNM 7 system can predict lung cancer recurrence after surgery

The new TNM 7 lung cancer staging system seems to be a better predictor of local or regional recurrence of lung cancer following surgery, according to a study published in the April issue of the Journal of Thoracic Oncology.

1 Apr 2011

Study finds Gamma Knife procedure effective for brain metastases treatment

The volume of normal brain tissue exposed to radiation during treatment for multiple metastases appears to depend on which stereotactic radiosurgery system is employed, according to a recent study in the Journal of Neurosurgery.

31 Mar 2011

Radiation oncologists head to Capitol Hill to promote critical initiatives

More than 100 radiation oncology treatment team members and resident physicians convened in Washington Monday and Tuesday to represent radiation oncology on Capitol Hill at the American Society for Radiation Oncology's (ASTRO) eighth annual Advocacy Day. Participants spent Monday hearing from members of Congress and key congressional staff on the latest legislative activity and ASTRO'’s legislative agenda. On Tuesday, the group headed to House and Senate office buildings to meet with senators, congressmen and staffers from their home states to promote agenda items important to the safety and well-being of cancer patients.

30 Mar 2011