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.

CHLA researchers develop new protein-based therapy against drug-resistant leukemia cells

Resistance of leukemia cells to contemporary chemotherapy is one of the most formidable obstacles to treating acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), the most common form of childhood cancer. Now researchers at Children's Hospital Los Angeles have designed and developed a new protein-based therapy they believe will prove highly effective against drug-resistant leukemia cells.

27 Jan 2015

Altered AHNAK gene may open door to improved treatment for keloid scars

Researchers at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit have identified a gene that may offer a better understanding of how keloid scars develop and potentially open the door to improved treatment for the often painful, itchy and tender scars.

23 Jan 2015

Elekta updates latest R&D work with special focus on high field MRI-guided radiation therapy

Elekta updated the market this morning on its latest research and development initiatives, with special focus on Atlantic, the first generation high field MRI-guided radiation therapy system. The company unveiled plans to introduce this game-changing technology in 2017 and deliver the first systems in 2018.

From Elekta 22 Jan 2015

Elekta helps new Australian cancer center make seamless transition to MOSAIQ OIS

As part of consolidating the cancer care of four Western Australian public services into a single, multi-disciplinary facility, the clinics will transition from their existing oncology information systems (OIS) to Elekta's MOSAIQ OIS.

From Elekta 19 Jan 2015

BMG Pharma S.R.L Grants The Exclusive Distribution Rights For Gelx® Oral Gel And Gelx® Spray For The Treatment Of Oral Mucositis In Cancer Patients To FERRER INTERNACIONAL S.A.

BMG Pharma S.r.l. today is pleased to announce that it has signed an exclusive distribution agreement with FERRER INTERNACIONAL S.A., granting them the rights to promote, sell and market its own product GelX for the Middle East, Eastern Europe, Russia and North Africa.

19 Jan 2015

ArborMetrix's RegistryMetrix analytics platform selected for UNC's urology department

ArborMetrix, Inc., a leading provider of cloud-based healthcare analytics solutions, today announced that the Urology Department of the University of North Carolina School of Medicine is using its cloud-based RegistryMetrix analytics platform.

15 Jan 2015

Palmetto GBA issues positive coverage policy for GenomeDx's Decipher prostate cancer test

GenomeDx Biosciences today announced that Palmetto GBA, a national contractor that administers Medicare benefits, has issued a positive coverage policy through the MolDX Program for the company's Decipher prostate cancer classifier.

15 Jan 2015

Two medical organizations recommend use of HPV test for cervical cancer screening

Two leading medical organizations say that using a Human papillomavirus (HPV) test alone for cervical cancer screening is an effective alternative to the current recommendation for screening with either cytology (the Pap test) alone or co-testing with cytology and HPV testing.

12 Jan 2015

Survey shows radiation oncologists desire for more formal guidance to improve peer review process

Peer review is a common practice in medicine to support the complementary, multidisciplinary team approach in healthcare. A 2013 survey of radiation oncologists indicates that they would like more formal recommendations and guidance in order to improve the peer review process, according to a study published in the January-February 2015 issue of Practical Radiation Oncology, the clinical practice journal of the American Society for Radiation Oncology.

8 Jan 2015

Carl Zeiss Meditec to invest in Oraya Therapy for treatment of wet AMD

Carl Zeiss Meditec AG and Oraya Therapeutics, Inc. jointly announced today that the companies have entered into a collaboration agreement under which Carl Zeiss Meditec will provide funding to Oraya over a period of up to two years for the implementation of Oraya’s growth strategy, and in turn receive rights in the company reaching up to a majority stake after two years.

8 Jan 2015

Many breast cancer patients undergoing lumpectomy surgery benefit from new intra-operative technology

Many patients undergoing lumpectomy surgery at NYU Langone Medical Center for the removal of an early detected breast tumor - the surgical option of choice for this diagnosis -- are benefitting from new intra-operative technology that detects microscopic amounts of cancer cells on removed tumor tissue not visible during or following surgical intervention.

6 Jan 2015

Holding breath during radiation therapy can reduce radiation exposure to the heart

Women who have breast cancer on their left side present a particular challenge to radiation oncologists. Studies have shown that the risk of heart disease is higher in this group of women after radiation treatment because it can be difficult to ensure that a sufficient dose of radiation is delivered to the left breast while adequately shielding the heart from exposure.

5 Jan 2015

New treatment approach may improve survival rates for certain patients with stage 4 lung cancer

A clinical trial that combined stereotactic body radiation therapy with a specific chemotherapy regimen more than doubled survival rates for certain stage 4 lung cancer patients, UT Southwestern Medical Center cancer researchers report.

2 Jan 2015

OncoGenex executes initial agreement with Teva to regain rights to custirsen

OncoGenex Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today announced that it has executed an initial agreement with Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. to regain rights to custirsen, an investigational compound currently being evaluated in Phase 3 clinical development as a treatment for prostate and lung cancers.

31 Dec 2014

New therapeutic approach shows potential for treating cancer

Case Western Reserve researchers have identified a two-pronged therapeutic approach that shows great potential for weakening and then defeating cancer cells.

31 Dec 2014

Radiation/chemotherapy increases risk of leukemia in early-stage breast cancer patients

The risk of developing leukemia after radiation therapy or chemotherapy for early stage breast cancer remains very small, but it is twice as high as previously reported, according to results of a new study led by researchers at the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center.

23 Dec 2014

Elekta's Flexitron brachytherapy afterloading platform approved in China

Elekta announces that the China Food and Drug Administration has approved Elekta's Flexitron brachytherapy afterloading platform for sale and marketing in China.

From Elekta 18 Dec 2014

Tel Aviv University study throws spotlight on gene mutation responsible for premature ovarian failure

Premature ovarian failure, also known as primary ovarian insufficiency (POI), affects 1% of all women worldwide. In most cases, the exact cause of the condition, which is often associated with infertility, is difficult to determine.

18 Dec 2014

ASTRO's education programs recognized with ACCME accreditation

The American Society for Radiation Oncology's education credentials have been recognized and upgraded by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education from Accreditation to Accreditation with Commendation, approved at the ACCME's December 2014 meeting.

14 Dec 2014

Two-thirds of U.S. women with early-stage breast cancer receive longer radiation therapy

Two-thirds of women treated for early-stage breast cancer in the U.S. receive longer radiation therapy than necessary, according to a new study published in JAMA this week from Penn Medicine researchers Ezekiel J. Emanuel, MD, PhD, and Justin E. Bekelman, MD.

11 Dec 2014