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.

Researchers find racial and gender disparities in survival of patients with anal cancer

Over the past 30 years, squamous cell carcinoma of the anus (SCCA) is one of the few cancers with steadily rising incidence in the United States, with the most rapid increase seen in black men.

9 Aug 2017

UCLA research in sarcoma provides much-needed roadmap for personalizing therapies

Sarcoma is a rare and deadly form of cancer occurring in the bones and connective tissue that affects individuals of all ages.

3 Aug 2017

SNMMI recognizes contributions to nuclear medicine and molecular imaging at 2017 annual meeting

The Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI), an international scientific and medical organization, recognized contributions to the field of nuclear medicine and molecular imaging during its 2017 Annual Meeting in Denver, Colorado. Several awards ceremonies were held to recognize the valuable role SNMMI members play in advancing the diagnosis and treatment of heart disease, cancer and neurological conditions.

2 Aug 2017

ASTRO selects 23 exemplary members to receive Fellows designation

The American Society for Radiation Oncology has selected 23 distinguished members to receive the ASTRO Fellow designation. The 2017 class of Fellows will be recognized during the Awards Ceremony at ASTRO's 59th Annual Meeting, to be held September 24-27 in San Diego.

2 Aug 2017

$New drug Idhifa for patients with refractory acute myeloid leukemia (AML) gets FDA nod$

New drug Idhifa for patients with refractory acute myeloid leukemia (AML) gets FDA nod

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in a statement yesterday reported its approval for a new drug, Idhifa (enasidenib) for the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in adults that has either relapsed or is refractory to standard chemotherapy.

2 Aug 2017

Antiperspirants can be safely used during breast radiotherapy, study suggests

Women undergoing daily radiation therapy for breast cancer are commonly told they should not use antiperspirant for fear that it could cause greater radiation damage to the skin, but a new study from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania shows that advice is not based on sound science.

24 Jul 2017

Advanced lung cancer patients get survival benefit with use of concurrent chemotherapy, proton therapy

For patients with advanced, inoperable stage 3 lung cancer, concurrent chemotherapy and the specialized radiation treatment, proton therapy, offers improved survival compared to historical data for standard of care, according to a new study from The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.

20 Jul 2017

Study: Breast cancer patients receiving neoadjuvant radiation have lower risk of second primary tumor

Moffitt Cancer Center researchers launched a first of its kind study comparing the long-term benefits of radiation therapy in women with breast cancer either before surgery (neoadjuvant) or after surgery (adjuvant).

17 Jul 2017

MGH researchers identify novel mechanism behind resistance to angiogenesis inhibitors

A Massachusetts General Hospital research team has identified a novel mechanism behind resistance to angiogenesis inhibitors - drugs that fight cancer by suppressing the formation of new blood vessels.

14 Jul 2017

Beaumont Health's new Proton Therapy Center starts treating cancer patients

Bill Baker, an 86-year-old Mid-Michigan man with brain cancer, is the first patient to receive treatment at Beaumont Health's new Proton Therapy Center at Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak, Michigan.

13 Jul 2017

ASTRO releases updated insurance coverage recommendations for proton beam therapy to treat cancer

The American Society for Radiation Oncology has issued an update to its recommendations for medical insurance coverage regarding the use of proton beam therapy to treat cancer.

13 Jul 2017

Study reveals radiation therapy advantage for patients with right-sided colorectal tumors

For patients with colorectal cancer that has metastasized to the liver, having a primary tumor on the left side, as opposed to the right side of the colon, is known to be a significant advantage in terms of treatment response.

3 Jul 2017

Clinical trial of immunotherapy shows promising results for patients with melanoma brain tumors

Two years ago, when Kathy Roberts was 54, she started having pain in her ankle. She ignored it. Then it became swollen, and she had more and more trouble walking. So she went to a series of doctors trying to figure out the problem.

27 Jun 2017

New research could help mitigate effects of radiation therapy

New research conducted at the University of Kansas Medical Center could make treatment for gastrointestinal cancers safer- while also helping to mitigate the dangers of nuclear accidents and terrorist attacks.

14 Jun 2017

Radiation therapy critical to treating brain tumors, but linked to significant adverse effects

Radiation therapy using high-energy particles, like x-rays or electron beams, is a common and critical component in successfully treating patients with brain tumors, but it is also associated with significant adverse effects, such as neuronal loss in adjacent healthy tissues.

9 Jun 2017

Southern Research aims to develop new radiosensitizers that may greatly benefit cancer patients

Two out of three cancer patients are treated with radiation, but the therapy often fails to wipe out the tumor or slow its growth. Southern Research is working to develop a new class of drugs that will help the radiation deliver a more powerful punch to the disease.

9 Jun 2017

Research shows how adipose tissue reduces efficiency of radiotherapy in breast cancer patients

According to research published online in The FASEB Journal, repeated irradiation of breast fat (also known as adipose tissue) produces an inflammatory response that ultimately reduces the efficiency of radiotherapy in breast cancer patients.

8 Jun 2017

Study suggests promising therapeutic strategy for childhood brain tumor

A study published in Molecular Cancer Research reveals that a tumor suppressor gene p16 is turned off by a histone mutation (H3.3K27M), which is found in up to 70 percent of childhood brain tumors called diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG).

6 Jun 2017

Study: Black and white men with prostate cancer prioritize treatment-related factors differently

When it comes to making decisions about which prostate cancer treatment to choose, black and white men prioritize certain treatment-related factors differently, according to a University of North Carolina Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center study.

6 Jun 2017

Single-dose radiotherapy effectively reduces spinal cord compression symptoms

A common complication in people with metastatic cancer, spinal cord compression is a major detriment to quality of life. Radiation treatment is widely used to relieve pain and other symptoms, but there is no standard recommended schedule, and approaches currently vary.

5 Jun 2017

Radiation Therapy News and Research

Further Reading

Researchers find racial and gender disparities in survival of patients with anal cancer

UCLA research in sarcoma provides much-needed roadmap for personalizing therapies

SNMMI recognizes contributions to nuclear medicine and molecular imaging at 2017 annual meeting

ASTRO selects 23 exemplary members to receive Fellows designation

New drug Idhifa for patients with refractory acute myeloid leukemia (AML) gets FDA nod

Antiperspirants can be safely used during breast radiotherapy, study suggests

Advanced lung cancer patients get survival benefit with use of concurrent chemotherapy, proton therapy

Study: Breast cancer patients receiving neoadjuvant radiation have lower risk of second primary tumor

MGH researchers identify novel mechanism behind resistance to angiogenesis inhibitors

Beaumont Health's new Proton Therapy Center starts treating cancer patients

ASTRO releases updated insurance coverage recommendations for proton beam therapy to treat cancer

Study reveals radiation therapy advantage for patients with right-sided colorectal tumors

Clinical trial of immunotherapy shows promising results for patients with melanoma brain tumors

New research could help mitigate effects of radiation therapy

Radiation therapy critical to treating brain tumors, but linked to significant adverse effects

Southern Research aims to develop new radiosensitizers that may greatly benefit cancer patients

Research shows how adipose tissue reduces efficiency of radiotherapy in breast cancer patients

Study suggests promising therapeutic strategy for childhood brain tumor

Study: Black and white men with prostate cancer prioritize treatment-related factors differently

Single-dose radiotherapy effectively reduces spinal cord compression symptoms

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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