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.

Study examines link between cognitive complaints and neuropsychological testing abnormalities in breast cancer patients

For many years, breast cancer patients have reported experiencing difficulties with memory, concentration and other cognitive functions following cancer treatment. Whether this mental "fogginess" is psychosomatic or reflects underlying changes in brain function has been a bone of contention among scientists and physicians.

20 Apr 2013

ASTRO white paper recommends 10 fundamental elements of IGRT safety in clinical programs

The American Society for Radiation Oncology has issued a new white paper, "Assuring Safety and Quality in Image Guided Delivery of Radiation Therapy," that recommends best practices to improve the safety and effectiveness of image guided radiation therapy, according to the manuscript published as an article in press online in Practical Radiation Oncology, the official clinical practice journal of ASTRO.

19 Apr 2013

Newly redesigned Flexitron brachytherapy afterloading platform to be introduced at ABS meeting

At the 2013 American Brachytherapy Society meeting April 18-20 in New Orleans, Nucletron, an Elekta company, (booth #300), will introduce its newly redesigned Flexitron remote afterloading platform.

From Elekta 19 Apr 2013

MD Anderson Cancer Center buys two Elekta Versa HD linear accelerators

The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center (Houston, Texas) has purchased two Elekta Versa HD™ linear accelerators. The radiation therapy system, which recently received 510(k) clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, features the versatility to deliver high-volume conventional techniques, in addition to the most advanced linear-accelerator treatments that require the greatest targeting precision.

From Elekta 18 Apr 2013

NCI researchers overcome major impediment to development of effective stem cell therapies

Scientists have overcome a major impediment to the development of effective stem cell therapies by studying mice that lack CD47, a protein found on the surface of both healthy and cancer cells.

18 Apr 2013

Primary mediastinal B-cell lymphoma has better outcome with more dose-intense regimens

Patients with a type of cancer known as primary mediastinal B-cell lymphoma who received infusions of chemotherapy, but who did not have radiation therapy to an area of the thorax known as the mediastinum, had excellent outcomes, according to clinical trial results.

18 Apr 2013

Research: Gene expression signature may increase risk of tumor recurrence or spread prostate cancer

A team led by Massachusetts General Hospital researchers has identified a genetic signature that appears to reflect the risk of tumor recurrence or spread in men surgically treated for prostate cancer.

16 Apr 2013

Study on targeted liver cancer therapy called SIR-Spheres microspheres completes patient recruitment

Australian-based global oncology company, Sirtex Medical Limited (ASX: SRX), has announced the completion of patient recruitment for its global SIRFLOX clinical study which is aimed at expanding the clinical use of its SIR-spheres® microspheres targeted radiation therapy from a last line medical treatment to a standard first-line oncology therapy.

16 Apr 2013

Microwave ablation therapy reduces pain in patients with painful bone, soft-tissue tumors

First-of-its-kind research presented today showed microwave ablation therapy cut pain in half for patients with painful bone and soft-tissue tumors and took less time to complete than radiofrequency ablation.

15 Apr 2013

FDA clears Elekta's Versa HD radiation therapy system

Elekta recently received 510(k) clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), allowing the company to begin shipping and installation of all components of the Versa HD™ system within the United States. Featuring high precision beam shaping and tumor targeting, and capable of delivering radiation doses three times faster than previous Elekta linear accelerators, Versa HD sets a higher benchmark for cancer treatment.

From Elekta 12 Apr 2013

Gabriel Hortobagyi recognized with AACR-MICR Jane Cooke Wright Lectureship

Gabriel Hortobagyi, M.D., professor in the Department of Breast Medical Oncology at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, will receive the Jane Cooke Wright Lectureship from the American Association for Cancer Research and its Minorities in Cancer Research membership group.

12 Apr 2013

CvergenX to develop radiosensitivity test to better radiation therapy decisions for patients with cancer

A molecular signature index technology that can lead to better radiation therapy decisions for patients with cancer is being developed into a reliable radiosensitivity test by CvergenX, Inc., an advanced cancer diagnostics company.

10 Apr 2013

Elekta's Versa HD system accelerates radiation delivery to new levels

Featuring a revolutionary combination of speed and accuracy, Elekta's new Versa HD system will help clinicians at The Christie NHS Foundation Trust (Withington, Manchester) maximize the precision of therapeutic beams on the tumor target, while also accelerating radiation delivery to new levels.

From Elekta 10 Apr 2013

New immunotherapies are seldom developed for childhood cancer

More often than not, cancer immunotherapies that work in adults are used in modified ways in children. Seldom are new therapies developed just for children, primarily because of the small number of pediatric patients relative to the adult cancer patient population.

9 Apr 2013

Patients exposed to chest radiation are more likely to die after heart surgery

Patients who have open heart surgery for heart disease caused by radiation cancer treatment are nearly twice as likely to die in the years following their surgery compared to similar patients who did not undergo radiation treatment, according to new research from Cleveland Clinic published today in the American Heart Association journal Circulation.

9 Apr 2013

New form of radiation cancer therapy with no harmful side-effects

Cancer painfully ends more than 500,000 lives in the United States each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The scientific crusade against cancer recently achieved a victory under the leadership of University of Missouri Curators' Professor M. Frederick Hawthorne.

4 Apr 2013

Doctors give new hope for leukemia patients

Leukemia patients receive a bone marrow transplant, which allows them to build a "new" immune system. However, this immune system not only attacks cancer cells but healthy tissue too.

3 Apr 2013

Neurological researchers study promising new treatment for deadly brain tumors

A promising new treatment for deadly brain tumors taken orally with minimal side effects is being studied by neurological researchers at Rush University Medical Center, Chicago.

28 Mar 2013

FDA clears Soligenix's IND application for SGX942 for treatment of oral mucositis

Soligenix, Inc., a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company, announced today that the Food and Drug Administration has completed its review and cleared the Investigational New Drug application for SGX942 for the treatment of oral mucositis resulting from radiation and/or chemotherapy treatment in head and neck cancer patients.

27 Mar 2013

Cancer patients to get benefit from Elekta's Versa HD system at Hôpital Riviera's radiotherapy clinic

Cancer patients referred to Hôpital Riviera's (Vevey, Switzerland) new radiotherapy clinic will soon benefit from the center's acquisition of Elekta's advanced new linear accelerator, Versa HD.

From Elekta 27 Mar 2013