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 biomarkers could lead to personalized radiation treatments for cancer patients

Mayo Clinic researchers have discovered biomarkers that could lead to personalized radiation treatments for cancer patients. The findings appear today online in the journal Genome Research.

5 Oct 2010

FDA clears DFine's new percutaneous radiofrequency ablation device for metastatic spinal lesions

DFine, Inc., developer of minimally invasive solutions for the treatment of vertebral pathologies, announced today the 510(k) clearance of a new platform extension indicated for the palliative treatment of cancer patients. The product, a percutaneous radiofrequency ablation (RFA) device, provides localized tumor necrosis of vertebral body lesions where metastatic disease has spread to the spine causing severe pain and discomfort.

4 Oct 2010

FDA provides Celsion guidance for Thermodox NDA to treat primary liver cancer

Celsion Corporation, a leading oncology drug development company, announced that the Company has reached agreement with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that the requirements for non-clinical studies have been met for the New Drug Application (NDA) of ThermoDox.

4 Oct 2010

Elekta releases Atlas-based Autosegmentation 2.0 software for increasing contouring accuracy

Elekta recently launched ABAS (Atlas-based Autosegmentation) 2.0 software, which includes the Simultaneous Truth and Performance Level Estimation (STAPLE) algorithm to increase contouring accuracy. ABAS—considered the industry gold standard for autosegmentation accuracy—deforms atlases of anatomy previously defined on a reference image onto a new patient image, creating a new structure set fit to the patient anatomy and enhancing planning efficiency.

From Elekta 1 Oct 2010

DMC recommends continuation of enrollment in Celsion's Phase III ThermoDox HEAT study for primary liver cancer

Celsion Corporation, a leading oncology drug development company, announced that after reviewing data from 401 patients enrolled in its pivotal Phase III ThermoDox ® clinical study (the HEAT study) for primary liver cancer, the Data Monitoring Committee (DMC) has unanimously recommended that the trial continue to enroll patients with the goal of reaching the 600 patients required to complete the study.

1 Oct 2010

Ontario Breast Screening Program encourages women to get mammograms

Before she joined the Ontario Breast Screening Program (OBSP), Margot McAuliffe couldn't remember the last time she'd thought about having a mammogram.

30 Sep 2010

BSD receives patent for heat therapy applicators

BSD Medical Corporation announced today that a patent has been issued to the Company for a new class of heat therapy applicators (antennas). The United States (US) patent office issued the new patent, Transparent electromagnetic applicator and hyperthermia treatment method, to BSD for a unique design for antennas that provides significant benefits for heat therapy applications.

30 Sep 2010

SCT transplantation benefits in Hodgkin's lymphoma is unclear

It remains an unresolved question whether adult patients with Hodgkin's lymphoma, a certain type of lymph node cancer, benefit from allogeneic stem cell transplantation (SCT) with an unrelated donor. This is due to the fact that studies are lacking that compare this therapy with autologous transplantation or conventional chemotherapy without SCT.

30 Sep 2010

IsoRay reports increase revenue for 2010 fiscal year

IsoRay Inc. a medical isotope company and the exclusive manufacturer of Cesium-131 used in internal radiation therapy for the treatment of lung, colon, head and neck, and prostate cancers, ocular melanoma, and other malignant disease through the use of its proprietary radioisotope technology, announced its financial results for the year ended June 30, 2010.

28 Sep 2010

Clinical study results for patient-specific vaccine therapy to treat metastatic melanoma announced

Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian recently announced encouraging clinical study results for patient-specific vaccine therapy to treat metastatic melanoma. The study is ongoing, but the report concludes that patient-specific vaccines can sometimes induce durable complete regression of progressing soft-tissue melanoma metastases, as demonstrated in one particular patient who participated in the trial.

28 Sep 2010

Researchers find radical prostatectomy provides high survival rates

In one of the first studies to focus exclusively on the outcomes after treatment for patients with high-risk prostate cancer researchers have found that surgery provides high survival rates.

28 Sep 2010

Premier Purchasing Partners announces new agreements for radiation oncology portfolio

Premier Purchasing Partners, LP, today announced that contracts have been awarded to suppliers in its new radiation oncology portfolio.

From Elekta 28 Sep 2010

Rockland receives Phase I SBIR grant to develop assay for monitoring Akt pathway activity

Rockland Immunochemicals Inc., a biotechnology company focusing on antibodies and antibody based tools for basic research, assay development and preclinical studies, today announced that it has received a Phase I Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant from the National Institutes of Health to develop a pharmacodynamic assay to monitor the Akt/mTOR signaling pathway.

28 Sep 2010

Breast cancer survivors with functional limitations more likely to die of poorer health: Study

Basic physical limitations following breast cancer treatment can have far-reaching consequences that substantially affect how long a patient lives.

27 Sep 2010

OncoGenex initiates OGX-427 Phase 2 trial for metastatic prostate cancer

OncoGenex Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced today the initiation of a randomized, controlled, investigator sponsored Phase 2 trial of OGX-427 in men with metastatic prostate cancer.

27 Sep 2010

Signaling pathway inhibition enhances autologous bone marrow transplant: Research

Identification of a molecular communications pathway that influences the mobilization of hematopoietic (blood) stem cells could lead to targeted therapies for improving bone marrow transplant success rates.

27 Sep 2010

New federal funds to create first national patient registry for pulmonary fibrosis

During the 8th annual National Pulmonary Fibrosis (PF) Awareness Week, Sept. 11 to 18, the Coalition for Pulmonary Fibrosis (CPF) met with over 45 legislators, both Representatives and Senators, and as of this date there are 139 House co-sponsors for the Pulmonary Fibrosis Research Enhancement Act (PFREA) to fund research on this deadly disease.

24 Sep 2010

Cianna Medical launches SAVI Sisters program to educate about breast cancer treatment options

Cianna Medical, Inc., the maker of the SAVI breast brachytherapy applicator, today announced the launch of SAVI Sisters, a program designed to provide education about breast cancer treatment options, primarily through social networking.

24 Sep 2010

Revolutionary technology 'cooks' brain tumor

University Hospitals (UH) Case Medical Center is offering new hope for patients with inoperable brain tumors or lesions previously diagnosed as untreatable through a revolutionary technology called AutoLITT which "cooks" brain tumors with an MRI-guided laser. UH becomes one of only three medical centers in the world offering AutoLITT as part of its arsenal in the fight against cancer. It is especially effective in treating glioblastoma, one of the most aggressive and difficult-to-treat brain cancers.

23 Sep 2010

Impact of cancer treatment on cardiovascular function

For the past two decades, cancer therapy has become more sophisticated and effective, resulting in an ever-expanding group of long-term cancer survivors. There is also a growing awareness of the potentially negative effects of cancer treatment on the heart and the management of cardiac disease during and after cancer therapy.

22 Sep 2010

Radiation Therapy News and Research

Further Reading

New biomarkers could lead to personalized radiation treatments for cancer patients

FDA clears DFine's new percutaneous radiofrequency ablation device for metastatic spinal lesions

FDA provides Celsion guidance for Thermodox NDA to treat primary liver cancer

Elekta releases Atlas-based Autosegmentation 2.0 software for increasing contouring accuracy

DMC recommends continuation of enrollment in Celsion's Phase III ThermoDox HEAT study for primary liver cancer

Ontario Breast Screening Program encourages women to get mammograms

BSD receives patent for heat therapy applicators

SCT transplantation benefits in Hodgkin's lymphoma is unclear

IsoRay reports increase revenue for 2010 fiscal year

Clinical study results for patient-specific vaccine therapy to treat metastatic melanoma announced

Researchers find radical prostatectomy provides high survival rates

Premier Purchasing Partners announces new agreements for radiation oncology portfolio

Rockland receives Phase I SBIR grant to develop assay for monitoring Akt pathway activity

Breast cancer survivors with functional limitations more likely to die of poorer health: Study

OncoGenex initiates OGX-427 Phase 2 trial for metastatic prostate cancer

Signaling pathway inhibition enhances autologous bone marrow transplant: Research

New federal funds to create first national patient registry for pulmonary fibrosis

Cianna Medical launches SAVI Sisters program to educate about breast cancer treatment options

Revolutionary technology 'cooks' brain tumor

Impact of cancer treatment on cardiovascular function

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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