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.

Clinical review examines benefit of RT in breast cancer patients with BRCA1, BRCA2 mutations

In light of conflicting and inconclusive clinical data on the benefit of radiation therapy in cancer patients with the BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation, a clinical review examined the current status of data regarding BRCA1 and BRCA2 deficiency and radiation therapy sensitivity and a potential strategy to intensify the effects of radiation therapy (RT) by poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitors (PARPi), the pharmacologic drugs under investigation as monotherapy for the treatment of breast cancer in patients with BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations.

9 Mar 2016

Johns Hopkins Greenberg Bladder Cancer Institute awards grants for 10 bladder cancer research projects

A study of obesity and related metabolic changes on bladder cancer incidence and deaths, and a plan to use stem cells to grow novel urinary tubes are among 10 research projects awarded funding by the Johns Hopkins Greenberg Bladder Cancer Institute.

7 Mar 2016

U-M researchers develop novel mouse model of children's brain cancer

Children with brain cancer may soon get some help from mice with the same disease, thanks to new research from University of Michigan Medical School scientists and their colleagues.

3 Mar 2016

Early screening with MRIs can reduce risk of breast cancer mortality for survivors of childhood HL

Researchers at Princess Margaret Cancer Centre have confirmed in a screening effectiveness study that early screening with MRIs can reduce breast cancer mortality for female survivors of childhood Hodgkin's lymphoma (HL) who received chest radiation.

1 Mar 2016

eviCore healthcare acquires Boston-based QPID Health

eviCore healthcare, a company committed to enabling better outcomes for patients, payers and providers through advanced medical benefits management, today announced that it has acquired Boston-based QPID Health.

27 Feb 2016

Queen's University leads world's first trial of new combination treatment for advanced prostate cancer

Queen's University Belfast, in partnership with the Belfast Trust, is leading the world's first ever trial of a new combination of cancer therapies for patients with advanced prostate cancer, with the hope of prolonging their lives.

26 Feb 2016

Maryland Proton Treatment Center completes first patient treatment with Varian ProBeam system

Varian Medical Systems, today announced the Maryland Proton Treatment Center successfully completed its first patient treatment with the Varian ProBeam system. The MPTC at the University of Maryland BioPark in West Baltimore houses five treatment rooms and is the first in the Eastern US to offer image-guided intensity-modulated proton therapy (IMPT) with a ProBeam system.

24 Feb 2016

Majority of LAHNC patients rely on lifestyle-altering cost-coping strategies to manage treatment

The majority of patients with locally advanced head and neck cancers (LAHNC) rely on cost-coping strategies that alter their lifestyle in order to manage the financial burden of their care, according to research presented at the 2016 Multidisciplinary Head and Neck Cancer Symposium.

19 Feb 2016

Researchers examine molecular profile of HPV-positive oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma

Throat cancer patients exposed to both human papillomavirus (HPV) and tobacco smoke demonstrate a pattern of mutations along several key cancer genes, according to research presented today at the 2016 Multidisciplinary Head and Neck Cancer Symposium.

19 Feb 2016

Post-treatment imaging can help detect recurrences of HPV-positive oropharyngeal cancer

For patients treated with definitive radiation therapy (RT) for oropharyngeal cancer caused by human papillomavirus (HPV), the majority of recurrences can be detected by post-treatment imaging at three months and physical exams during the six months following treatment, according to research presented at the 2016 Multidisciplinary Head and Neck Cancer Symposium.

19 Feb 2016

Induction chemotherapy fails to improve survival in head and neck cancer patients

Head and neck cancer patients who receive chemotherapy prior to radiation therapy (induction chemotherapy or IC) rather than the standard treatment that combines chemotherapy with radiation (chemoradiation or CRT) show no survival benefit and are less likely to receive a full course of radiation, according to research from the University of Colorado Cancer Center presented at the 2016 Multidisciplinary Head and Neck Cancer Symposium.

19 Feb 2016

Uninsured and Medicaid patients have higher overall and cancer-specific mortality rates

Compared to patients with non-Medicaid insurance, uninsured patients and patients with Medicaid are more likely to present with advanced stages of head and neck cancer and have higher overall and cancer-specific mortality rates, according to research presented at the 2016 Multidisciplinary Head and Neck Cancer Symposium.

19 Feb 2016

Chemoradiation improves survival rates among subset of elderly head and neck cancer patients

The addition of chemotherapy (CT) to radiation therapy (RT) improves survival rates among a subset of elderly head and neck cancer patients, specifically those ages 71 to 79 with low comorbidity scores and advanced disease stage, according to research presented at the 2016 Multidisciplinary Head and Neck Cancer Symposium.

19 Feb 2016

ASTRO encourages policymakers to increase financial support for cancer research in FY 2017 Budget

The American Society for Radiation Oncology commends the proposed investment in cancer-related research announced in the Fiscal Year 2017 Budget released yesterday by the White House.

12 Feb 2016

ASTRO's new research journal 'Advances in Radiation Oncology' closes first issue

Advances in Radiation Oncology, ASTRO's new original research journal, has closed its first issue with research including a phase II clinical trial in prostate cancer, a prospective trial in quality of life for breast cancer patients receiving radiotherapy and several clinical and medical physics reports on the use of stereotactic body radiotherapy.

12 Feb 2016

Pediatric ALL patients treated with chemotherapy alone at risk for neurocognitive deficits

Pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) patients treated with chemotherapy alone remain at risk for attention and learning problems that persist after treatment ends, according to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital investigators.

10 Feb 2016

Cancer patients who miss scheduled radiation therapy appointments have worse outcomes

Cancer patients who miss two or more radiation therapy sessions have a worse outcome than fully compliant patients, investigators at Montefiore Einstein Center for Cancer Care and Albert Einstein College of Medicine's NCI-designated Albert Einstein Cancer Center have found.

10 Feb 2016

Landauer's revenues decrease 2.7% to $36.5 million in first fiscal quarter of 2016

Landauer, Inc., a recognized leader in personal and environmental radiation measurement and monitoring, outsourced medical physics services and high quality medical consumable accessories, today reported financial results for its fiscal 2016 first quarter ended December 31, 2015.

9 Feb 2016

Combined MRI and ultramicroscopy toolkit could help study vessel growth in glioma models in more detail

Stopping the growth of blood vessels in tumours is a key target for glioblastoma therapies, and imaging methods are essential for initial diagnosis and monitoring the effects of treatments. While mapping vessels in tumours has proven a challenge, researchers have now developed a combined magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and ultramicroscopy 'toolkit' to study vessel growth in glioma models in more detail than previously possible.

3 Feb 2016

Radiation could increase responses to innovative immune-based therapeutic approaches to fight cancer

A team of Georgia State University researchers is fighting cancers using a combination of therapies and recently found ways that radiation could maximize responses to novel immune-based therapeutic approaches to fight cancer.

1 Feb 2016

Radiation Therapy News and Research

Further Reading

Clinical review examines benefit of RT in breast cancer patients with BRCA1, BRCA2 mutations

Johns Hopkins Greenberg Bladder Cancer Institute awards grants for 10 bladder cancer research projects

U-M researchers develop novel mouse model of children's brain cancer

Early screening with MRIs can reduce risk of breast cancer mortality for survivors of childhood HL

eviCore healthcare acquires Boston-based QPID Health

Queen's University leads world's first trial of new combination treatment for advanced prostate cancer

Maryland Proton Treatment Center completes first patient treatment with Varian ProBeam system

Majority of LAHNC patients rely on lifestyle-altering cost-coping strategies to manage treatment

Researchers examine molecular profile of HPV-positive oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma

Post-treatment imaging can help detect recurrences of HPV-positive oropharyngeal cancer

Induction chemotherapy fails to improve survival in head and neck cancer patients

Uninsured and Medicaid patients have higher overall and cancer-specific mortality rates

Chemoradiation improves survival rates among subset of elderly head and neck cancer patients

ASTRO encourages policymakers to increase financial support for cancer research in FY 2017 Budget

ASTRO's new research journal 'Advances in Radiation Oncology' closes first issue

Pediatric ALL patients treated with chemotherapy alone at risk for neurocognitive deficits

Cancer patients who miss scheduled radiation therapy appointments have worse outcomes

Landauer's revenues decrease 2.7% to $36.5 million in first fiscal quarter of 2016

Combined MRI and ultramicroscopy toolkit could help study vessel growth in glioma models in more detail

Radiation could increase responses to innovative immune-based therapeutic approaches to fight cancer

How can microdialysis benefit drug development

Global and Local Efforts to Take Action Against Hepatitis

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