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.

Radiation boost provides added benefit to DCIS patients following breast-conserving surgery and WBRT

A supplemental "boost" of radiation improves local control and provides an incremental benefit in decreasing breast cancer recurrence for patients with Ductal Carcinoma In Situ (DCIS) who receive whole breast radiation therapy radiation (WBRT) following lumpectomy, according to research presented today at the 58th Annual Meeting of the American Society for Radiation Oncology.

27 Sep 2016

Intermediate risk prostate cancer patients can achieve survival benefit with brachytherapy alone

For men with intermediate risk prostate cancer, radiation treatment with brachytherapy alone can result in similar cancer control with fewer long-term side effects, when compared to more aggressive treatment that combines brachytherapy with external beam therapy (EBT), according to research presented today at the 58th Annual Meeting the American Society for Radiation Oncology.

27 Sep 2016

Increasing adoption of SBRT improves survival rates for older patients with early stage lung cancer

Survival rates for elderly patients who received stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) for early stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) rose from roughly 40 to 60 percent over the past decade, concurrent with the increasing adoption of SBRT, according to research presented today at the 58th Annual Meeting of the American Society for Radiation Oncology.

27 Sep 2016

IMRT reduces risk of side effects, improves quality of life for endometrial and cervical cancer patients

Patients with cervical and endometrial cancer have fewer gastrointestinal and genitourinary side effects and experience better quality of life when treated with intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) than with conventional radiation therapy (RT), according to research presented today at the 58th Annual Meeting of the American Society for Radiation Oncology.

26 Sep 2016

CNS experts create new research-based guidelines for evaluation and treatment of NFPAs

Nonfunctioning pituitary adenomas (NFPAs) are common benign tumors that may be present for years before causing any symptoms.

26 Sep 2016

Addition of chemotherapy to post-surgical radiation treatment improves survival in medulloblastoma patients

In a recent study, a Yale Cancer Center team revealed that the addition of chemotherapy to postoperative treatment for adults with medulloblastoma improves survival.

26 Sep 2016

Study reveals radiosurgery as viable treatment option for patients with resected brain metastases

For patients who have cancer that has metastasized to the brain, stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) results in statistically comparable survival rates, reduced cognitive decline and better quality of life (QOL), compared to whole brain radiotherapy (WBRT), according to research presented today at the 58th Annual Meeting of the American Society for Radiation Oncology.

26 Sep 2016

$Hypofractionated RT can reduce treatment time by half in stage II and III NSCLC patients$

Hypofractionated RT can reduce treatment time by half in stage II and III NSCLC patients

For patients with stage II and III non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) unable to receive standard treatments of surgery or chemoradiation (CRT), hypofractionated radiation therapy (RT) results in similar overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) rates, limited severe side effects and shorter treatment times when compared to conventional RT, according to research presented today at the 58th Annual Meeting of the American Society for Radiation Oncology.

26 Sep 2016

SRS reduces likelihood of local recurrence of brain metastases in cancer patients

Stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) for cancer patients who receive the treatment for brain metastases decreases the likelihood of local recurrence but shows no positive difference in terms of overall survival (OS) or distant brain metastases (DBMs) rates, when compared to observation alone following surgical resection of brain metastases, according to research presented today at the 58th Annual Meeting of the American Society for Radiation Oncology.

26 Sep 2016

Researchers identify, validate three distinct molecular subtypes of prostate cancer

In the largest study of its kind to date, researchers have identified and validated three distinct molecular subtypes of prostate cancer that correlate with distant metastasis-free survival and can assist in future research to determine how patients will respond to treatment, according to research presented today at the 58th Annual Meeting of the American Society for Radiation Oncology.

26 Sep 2016

Increased use of SBRT linked to improved survival outcomes of NSCLC patients

A new analysis of records in the Veteran's Affairs Central Cancer Registry demonstrates a clear positive impact of the increased use of stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) to treat patients with stage I non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in recent years, according to research presented today at the 58th Annual Meeting of the American Society for Radiation Oncology.

26 Sep 2016

Approval of PD-1 inhibitor scratches surface of potential immunotherapies in recurrent HNSCC

The recent approval of pembrolizumab (Keytruda) in recurrent or metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) following progression on a platinum-based chemotherapy was a significant advancement for the disease.

26 Sep 2016

Concord Medical's first proton therapy center to be installed at Beijing Proton Medical Center

Concord Medical Services Holdings Limited, a leading specialty hospital management solution provider and operator of the largest network of radiotherapy and diagnostic imaging centers in China, is pleased to announce that its subsidiary, Medstar Leasing Co., Ltd, has signed a contract with IBA for the purchase, installation and maintenance of a proton therapy system, which will be installed at Beijing Proton Medical Center.

26 Sep 2016

Qfix launches new Symphony Patient Transport System to safely increase workflow efficiencies

Today, Qfix, a world leader in radiotherapy patient positioning devices, announced it is launching the new Symphony Patient Transport System that maximizes workflow efficiencies and throughput by seamlessly aiding in the setup, positioning and transfer of a patient for procedures involving imaging, external beam radiation therapy, brachytherapy and other procedures requiring the transfer of a patient.

26 Sep 2016

Immune and targeted therapies may be beneficial in patients with melanoma brain metastases

Brain metastases are one of the most common complications of advanced melanoma, requiring multidisciplinary management.

21 Sep 2016

Leading cancer organizations publish new guidelines on postmastectomy radiotherapy

Three leading national cancer organizations today issued a joint clinical practice guideline update for physicians treating women with breast cancer who have undergone a mastectomy.

20 Sep 2016

TransOral Robotic Surgery may provide good outcomes, survival for oropharyngeal cancer patients

A new study from researchers at Henry Ford Hospital finds an incisionless robotic surgery - done alone or in conjunction with chemotherapy or radiation - may offer oropharyngeal cancer patients good outcomes and survival, without significant pain and disfigurement.

16 Sep 2016

Study underscores importance of joint treatment decisions between prostate cancer patients and doctors

In light of the findings from the Prostate Testing for Cancer and Treatment trial published yesterday in the New England Journal of Medicine, the American Society for Radiation Oncology would like to congratulate the authors and investigators for conceiving and completing a difficult clinical trial to randomize care for 2,664 men who volunteered to be a part of this study.

16 Sep 2016

Orlando Health to bring benefits of MRI-guided radiation therapy to Central Florida

Orlando Health will soon begin providing a new therapy that allows oncologists to see the tumor they are treating continuously during radiation therapy.

13 Sep 2016

Philips unveils innovative interventional oncology solution for liver cancer treatment at CIRSE 2016

Royal Philips today announced that it will unveil its latest innovation in interventional oncology at the 2016 Cardiovascular and Interventional Radiological Society of Europe annual meeting (CIRSE 2016), which will be held in Barcelona (Spain) from September 10 until 14.

13 Sep 2016

Radiation Therapy News and Research

Further Reading

Radiation boost provides added benefit to DCIS patients following breast-conserving surgery and WBRT

Intermediate risk prostate cancer patients can achieve survival benefit with brachytherapy alone

Increasing adoption of SBRT improves survival rates for older patients with early stage lung cancer

IMRT reduces risk of side effects, improves quality of life for endometrial and cervical cancer patients

CNS experts create new research-based guidelines for evaluation and treatment of NFPAs

Addition of chemotherapy to post-surgical radiation treatment improves survival in medulloblastoma patients

Study reveals radiosurgery as viable treatment option for patients with resected brain metastases

Hypofractionated RT can reduce treatment time by half in stage II and III NSCLC patients

SRS reduces likelihood of local recurrence of brain metastases in cancer patients

Researchers identify, validate three distinct molecular subtypes of prostate cancer

Increased use of SBRT linked to improved survival outcomes of NSCLC patients

Approval of PD-1 inhibitor scratches surface of potential immunotherapies in recurrent HNSCC

Concord Medical's first proton therapy center to be installed at Beijing Proton Medical Center

Qfix launches new Symphony Patient Transport System to safely increase workflow efficiencies

Immune and targeted therapies may be beneficial in patients with melanoma brain metastases

Leading cancer organizations publish new guidelines on postmastectomy radiotherapy

TransOral Robotic Surgery may provide good outcomes, survival for oropharyngeal cancer patients

Study underscores importance of joint treatment decisions between prostate cancer patients and doctors

Orlando Health to bring benefits of MRI-guided radiation therapy to Central Florida

Philips unveils innovative interventional oncology solution for liver cancer treatment at CIRSE 2016

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