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.

Avoiding cSMG during radiation therapy is safe in head and neck cancer patients

Avoiding the contralateral submandibular gland during radiation therapy is feasible and safe with advanced stage, node positive head and neck cancers and base of tongue lesions, according to research presented today at the 2014 Multidisciplinary Head and Neck Cancer Symposium.

24 Feb 2014

Oropharyngeal cancer patients treated with CRT show decrease in voice and speech quality

Oropharyngeal cancer patients treated with combined chemotherapy and radiation therapy reported a decrease in their voice and speech quality (VSQ) for up to one year after the completion of treatment, according to research presented today at the 2014 Multidisciplinary Head and Neck Cancer Symposium.

21 Feb 2014

Study: Recurrence of SCCOP may differ in HPV-positive and HPV-negative patients

Patients with HPV-positive squamous cell carcinoma of the oropharynx (SCCOP) had a longer time to development of distant metastasis (DM) after initial treatment, and had more metastatic sites in more atypical locations compared to HPV-negative patients, according to research presented today at the 2014 Multidisciplinary Head and Neck Cancer Symposium.

21 Feb 2014

Humidification of mouth during radiotherapy reduces hospital stay, mucositis in head, neck cancer patients

Patients who received daily humidification of the mouth and throat region beginning from day one of radiation therapy treatment spent nearly 50 percent fewer days in the hospital to manage their side effects, according to research presented today at the 2014 Multidisciplinary Head and Neck Cancer Symposium.

21 Feb 2014

HPV-positive oropharyngeal cancer patients show longer survival pattern than those related to smoking

People with late-stage cancer at the back of the mouth or throat that recurs after chemotherapy and radiation treatment are twice as likely to be alive two years later if their cancer is caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV), new research led by a Johns Hopkins scientist suggests.

21 Feb 2014

Reduction of RT to IB lymph nodes may result in better salivary function in head, neck cancer patients

For head and neck cancer patients undergoing radiation therapy, a reduction in the amount of radiation treatment volume to the submandibular (level IB) lymph nodes resulted in better patient-reported salivary function, according to research presented today at the 2014 Multidisciplinary Head and Neck Cancer Symposium.

21 Feb 2014

HPV-positive patients with OPSCC show higher overall survival rate than HPV-negative patients

A retrospective analysis of oropharyngeal patients with recurrence of disease after primary therapy in the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG) studies 0129 or 0522 found that HPV-positive patients had a higher overall survival (OS) rate than HPV-negative patients (at two years post-treatment, 54.6 percent vs. 27.6 percent, respectively), according to research presented today at the 2014 Multidisciplinary Head and Neck Cancer Symposium.

20 Feb 2014

Bevacizumab offers no benefit for patients newly diagnosed with glioblastoma

Adding bevacizumab (Avastin) to standard chemotherapy and radiation treatment does not improve survival for patients newly diagnosed with the often deadly brain cancer glioblastoma, researchers report in the Feb. 20 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.

20 Feb 2014

iCAD total revenue for Q4 2013 increases 16.8% to $9.1 million

iCAD, Inc., an industry-leading provider of advanced image analysis, workflow solutions and radiation therapy for the early identification and treatment of cancer, today reported financial results for the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2013.

19 Feb 2014

Majority of women who undergo mastectomy go on to get breast reconstruction

A new study finds that the majority of women who undergo mastectomy for breast cancer go on to get breast reconstruction, a practice that has increased dramatically over time.

19 Feb 2014

BMG Pharma signs agreement with Samyang Biopharmaceutical to market GelX in South Korea

BMG Pharma S.r.l. today is pleased to announce that it has signed an exclusive distribution agreement with Samyang Biopharmaceutical Corporation granting them the rights to promote, sell and market its novel mucositis management product GelX in the territory of South Korea.

17 Feb 2014

Study shows how Bcl-2 cancer-related protein signals cancer cells to live longer

A team of researchers from Case Western Reserve School of Medicine has discovered how the cancer-related protein Bcl-2 signals cancer cells to live longer.

14 Feb 2014

NCCC offers new heart sparing treatment for left breast cancer

Norris Cotton Cancer Center (NCCC) offers a new heart sparing treatment for left breast cancer to women concerned about radiation and increased heart disease risk. NCCC was the first tertiary academic medical center in New Hampshire to offer the technique, Deep Inspiration Breath Hold (DIBH), to patients.

14 Feb 2014

Severe skin reactions during radiation therapy could be prevented by applying silicone dressing

Severe skin reactions during radiation therapy could be prevented by applying a thin transparent silicone dressing to the skin from the first day of treatment, clinical research from New Zealand shows.

13 Feb 2014

Researchers offer new options for men whose prostate cancer has spread to bones

Dartmouth-Hitchcock Norris Cotton Cancer Center has treated three men with a recently FDA-approved treatment, which offers new options for men whose prostate cancer has spread to their bones.

13 Feb 2014

ASTRO, SSO guideline focuses on reducing ipsilateral breast tumor recurrence in stages I, II breast cancer

The American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) and the Society of Surgical Oncology (SSO) are pleased to announce the publication of the consensus guideline on margins for breast-conserving surgery with whole-breast irradiation in stages I and II invasive breast cancer.

11 Feb 2014

Chemotherapy following radiation therapy improves survival for adults with brain tumor

Adults with low-grade gliomas, a form of brain tumor, who received a chemotherapy regimen following completion of radiation therapy, lived longer than patients who received radiation therapy alone, according to long-term follow-up results from a National Institutes of Health-supported randomized controlled clinical trial.

6 Feb 2014

New American Cancer Society report calls diagnosis of childhood cancer

A new report from the American Cancer Society outlines progress made and -more importantly-challenges that remain in fighting childhood cancer. The report estimates the number of new cancer cases and deaths for children and adolescents in the United States, summarizes the most recent and comprehensive data on cancer incidence, mortality, and survival, and outlines what is known and where answers are still needed for childhood cancers.

31 Jan 2014

Patients receiving APBI after breast-conserving surgery show excellent tumor control, breast cosmesis

Long-term outcomes of breast cancer patients receiving adjuvant accelerated partial breast irradiation after breast-conserving surgery show excellent tumor control and breast cosmesis (cosmetic outcomes) with minimal late toxicity, according to a study published in the February 1, 2014 print edition of the International Journal of Radiation Oncology.

30 Jan 2014

EBRT provides higher breast preservation rate in women with invasive breast cancer

Standard external beam radiation therapy (EBRT) provided a higher breast preservation rate than brachytherapy in women age 66 and older with invasive breast cancer, according to a study published in the February 1, 2014 print edition of the International Journal of Radiation Oncology ● Biology ● Physics (Red Journal), the official scientific journal of the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO).

30 Jan 2014

Radiation Therapy News and Research

Further Reading

Avoiding cSMG during radiation therapy is safe in head and neck cancer patients

Oropharyngeal cancer patients treated with CRT show decrease in voice and speech quality

Study: Recurrence of SCCOP may differ in HPV-positive and HPV-negative patients

Humidification of mouth during radiotherapy reduces hospital stay, mucositis in head, neck cancer patients

HPV-positive oropharyngeal cancer patients show longer survival pattern than those related to smoking

Reduction of RT to IB lymph nodes may result in better salivary function in head, neck cancer patients

HPV-positive patients with OPSCC show higher overall survival rate than HPV-negative patients

Bevacizumab offers no benefit for patients newly diagnosed with glioblastoma

iCAD total revenue for Q4 2013 increases 16.8% to $9.1 million

Majority of women who undergo mastectomy go on to get breast reconstruction

BMG Pharma signs agreement with Samyang Biopharmaceutical to market GelX in South Korea

Study shows how Bcl-2 cancer-related protein signals cancer cells to live longer

NCCC offers new heart sparing treatment for left breast cancer

Severe skin reactions during radiation therapy could be prevented by applying silicone dressing

Researchers offer new options for men whose prostate cancer has spread to bones

ASTRO, SSO guideline focuses on reducing ipsilateral breast tumor recurrence in stages I, II breast cancer

Chemotherapy following radiation therapy improves survival for adults with brain tumor

New American Cancer Society report calls diagnosis of childhood cancer

Patients receiving APBI after breast-conserving surgery show excellent tumor control, breast cosmesis

EBRT provides higher breast preservation rate in women with invasive breast cancer

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