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.

PSA test helps detect prostate cancer before it spreads

In addition to saving lives, a new study indicates routine prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing improves quality of life by substantially reducing the risk that prostate cancer will spread to other parts of the body.

27 Oct 2010

IMRT reduces gastrointestinal complications in prostate cancer patients

Prostate cancer patients who receive intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) are less apt to suffer serious gastrointestinal complications following their treatment than those who receive three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (CRT), according to new research from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine.

27 Oct 2010

Study finds ABVD standard chemotherapy effective for Hodgkin's lymphoma

A lower dose of radiation used to reduce side effects is not as effective as the regular dose when given with the standard chemotherapy in the treatment of Hodgkin's lymphoma patients with early, intermediate-stage disease, according to a first-of-its-kind randomized study presented at the plenary session, November 1, 2010, at the 52nd Annual Meeting of the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO).

26 Oct 2010

Stereotactic radiation effective for trigeminal neuralgia

Stereotactic radiation is an effective, long-term treatment for trigeminal neuralgia: a painful condition that occurs with increased frequency in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). Radiation is noninvasive and has less negative side effects than other treatments, according to the longest follow-up in a study of its kind presented October 31, 2010, at the 52nd Annual Meeting of the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO).

26 Oct 2010

Routine prostate cancer screening reduces metastasis risk

Men treated for prostate cancer who were diagnosed after the start of routine screening had a significantly reduced risk of the disease spreading to other parts of the body (metastases) within 10 years of treatment, compared to men who were treated prior to the use of routine screening, according to the first study-of-its-kind presented November 1, 2010, at the 52nd Annual Meeting of the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO).

26 Oct 2010

Short course of radiation before surgery reduces rectal cancer recurrence: Study

Patients with cancer found at the end of the large intestine called the rectum who receive one week of radiation therapy before surgery have a 50 percent reduction in chance that their cancer will return after 10 years, according to a large, randomized study presented at the plenary session, November 1, 2010, at the 52nd Annual Meeting of the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO).

26 Oct 2010

Combination of radiation and hormone therapy improves survival rate among prostate cancer patients

Prostate cancer patients who are treated with a combination of hormone therapy and radiation have a substantially improved chance of survival compared to patients who do not receive radiation, according to interim results of the largest randomized study of its kind presented at the plenary session, November 1, 2010, at the 52nd Annual Meeting of the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO).

26 Oct 2010

Aspirin reduces risk of death from prostate cancer

Men with prostate cancer who take anticoagulants like aspirin in addition to radiation therapy or surgery may be able to cut their risk of dying of the disease by more than half, according to a large study presented on November 3, 2010, at the 52nd Annual Meeting of the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) in San Diego. The study involved more than 5,000 men with localized cancer whose disease had not spread beyond the prostate gland.

26 Oct 2010

IMRT minimizes gastrointestinal side effects of prostate cancer treatment

Men with prostate cancer treated with a specialized type of radiation called intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) have fewer gastrointestinal complications compared to patients treated with conventional three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3D-CRT), according to a study presented November 1, 2010, at the 52nd Annual Meeting of the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO).

26 Oct 2010

Combination of chemotherapy and radiation improves control of cancer within bladder

Adding chemotherapy to radiation therapy for muscle invasive bladder cancer allows 67 percent of people to be free of disease in their bladders two years after treatment. This compares to 54 percent of people who receive radiation alone, according to the largest randomized study of its kind presented at the plenary session, November 1, 2010, at the 52nd Annual Meeting of the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO).

26 Oct 2010

UMC of Göttingen purchases BSD-500 Hyperthermia System

BSD Medical Corporation announced today that the University Medical Center (UMC) of Göttingen, Germany, has purchased a BSD-500 Hyperthermia System (BSD-500). UMC was established in 1732 and is a center of scientific excellence in Europe and the most prominent medical center in Lower Saxony, Germany.

25 Oct 2010

Antigenics expands HSPPC-96 Phase 2 clinical study in glioma

Antigenics, Inc. today announced the expansion of a phase 2 clinical study of HSPPC-96 (Oncophage® vaccine; vitespen), Antigenics' personalized therapeutic cancer vaccine, in patients with newly diagnosed glioma.

25 Oct 2010

New data from ESHO/EORTC STBSG Phase III clinical study of hyperthermia

BSD Medical Corporation announced publication in Internal Medicine News Digital Network of new data from the ESHO/EORTC Soft Tissue and Bone Sarcoma Group (STBSG) Phase III clinical study of hyperthermia.

21 Oct 2010

ASTRO selects Scripps Clinic nurse for 2010 Excellence Award

The American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) recently selected Elizabeth A. Brunton, R.N., M.S.N., O.C.N., of Scripps Clinic in La Jolla, Calif., as the recipient of the 2010 ASTRO Nurse Excellence Award.

21 Oct 2010

Partnership between institutions in high- and low-resource areas can improve pediatric sarcoma treatment

Raising the survival rate of children with sarcoma in low-income countries will require steps to diagnose the disease sooner, train cancer pathologists, expand radiation therapy services, create multi-specialty teams to review each case, and other actions, according to an international study led by Dana-Farber/Children's Hospital Cancer Center researchers. The findings will be presented at the 42nd Congress of the International Society of Paediatric Oncology (SIOP) in Boston on Friday, Oct. 22.

21 Oct 2010

NYU Langone Medical Center announces establishment of Smilow Comprehensive Prostate Cancer Center

NYU Langone Medical Center is pleased to announce that it has established The Smilow Comprehensive Prostate Cancer Center with a $5 million gift from Joel E. Smilow, a member of the Board of Trustees at NYU Langone Medical Center and New York University. The Smilow Center is dedicated to providing comprehensive, state-of-the-art personalized care for men with prostate cancer as well as educating men and their families about the disease and the wide range of treatment options available today.

21 Oct 2010

Japanese study finds proton beam therapy safe and effective for Stage I inoperable NSCLC

Proton beam therapy is safe and effective and may be superior to other conventional treatments for Stage I inoperable non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients, according to a study in the October issue of the International Journal of Radiation Oncology•Biology•Physics, the official journal of the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO).

20 Oct 2010

Study estimates demand for radiation therapy will increase by 22% over next decade

Between 2010 and 2020, the demand for radiation therapy will exceed the number of radiation oncologists practicing in the U.S. tenfold, which could profoundly affect the ability to provide patients with sufficient access to treatment, according to new research from The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.

19 Oct 2010

Researchers to test nanoparticle-based theranostics for pancreatic cancer treatment

Researchers from Rice University's Laboratory for Nanophotonics (LANP), the radiology department at Baylor College of Medicine (BCM) and the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center are preparing to test a combined approach for diagnosing and treating pancreatic cancer with a specially engineered nanoparticle.

19 Oct 2010

New motion management software enables clear visualization of moving tumors in lung cancer

A 67-year-old female patient with lung cancer presented physicians with a difficult challenge: her tumor was small and it rode up and down with her breathing. During her treatment set up, all doctors saw on their therapy system's imaging equipment was a blur of motion. Fortunately, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust was able to utilize its Symmetry motion management software; new imaging technology from Elekta that enables clear visualization of moving targets.

From Elekta 19 Oct 2010

Radiation Therapy News and Research

Further Reading

PSA test helps detect prostate cancer before it spreads

IMRT reduces gastrointestinal complications in prostate cancer patients

Study finds ABVD standard chemotherapy effective for Hodgkin's lymphoma

Stereotactic radiation effective for trigeminal neuralgia

Routine prostate cancer screening reduces metastasis risk

Short course of radiation before surgery reduces rectal cancer recurrence: Study

Combination of radiation and hormone therapy improves survival rate among prostate cancer patients

Aspirin reduces risk of death from prostate cancer

IMRT minimizes gastrointestinal side effects of prostate cancer treatment

Combination of chemotherapy and radiation improves control of cancer within bladder

UMC of Göttingen purchases BSD-500 Hyperthermia System

Antigenics expands HSPPC-96 Phase 2 clinical study in glioma

New data from ESHO/EORTC STBSG Phase III clinical study of hyperthermia

ASTRO selects Scripps Clinic nurse for 2010 Excellence Award

Partnership between institutions in high- and low-resource areas can improve pediatric sarcoma treatment

NYU Langone Medical Center announces establishment of Smilow Comprehensive Prostate Cancer Center

Japanese study finds proton beam therapy safe and effective for Stage I inoperable NSCLC

Study estimates demand for radiation therapy will increase by 22% over next decade

Researchers to test nanoparticle-based theranostics for pancreatic cancer treatment

New motion management software enables clear visualization of moving tumors in lung cancer

How can microdialysis benefit drug development

Global and Local Efforts to Take Action Against Hepatitis

Addressing Important Cardiac Biology Questions with Shotgun Top-Down Proteomics

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