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.

BSD Medical second quarter total revenues decrease to $271,883

BSD Medical Corporation, a leading provider of medical systems that treat cancer and benign diseases using heat therapy, today reported financial results for its second fiscal quarter ended February 29, 2012.

7 Apr 2012

Research on how cells cope with stress could lead to more effective cancer treatment

Both radiation and many forms of chemotherapy try to kill tumors by causing oxidative stress in cancer cells. New research from USC on a protein that protects cancer and other cells from these stresses could one day help doctors to break down cancer cells' defenses, making them more susceptible to treatment.

7 Apr 2012

Researchers develop 'phantoms' to make medical imaging safer for obese patients

Most medical imaging equipment is not designed with overweight and obese patients in mind. As a result, these individuals can be exposed to higher levels of radiation during routine X-ray and CT scans.

6 Apr 2012

State roundup: Advocates in Va. back shifting disability care from state institutions; New Vt. law overhauls mental health system; Aetna mistakenly tells thousands in Calif. their doctors were dropped

A state agency that looks out for the rights of people with disabilities is advocating for a proposed settlement that would shift the care of Virginians with intellectual disabilities from state-run institutions.

6 Apr 2012

ACR finds list of five medical imaging exams

As part of its ongoing efforts to ensure safe, effective and appropriate use of medical imaging, the American College of Radiology (ACR) identified a list of five imaging exams whose necessity should be discussed before being ordered.

5 Apr 2012

AngioDynamics presents NanoKnife System clinical study results at SSO 2012

AngioDynamics, a leading provider of innovative, minimally invasive medical devices for vascular access, surgery, peripheral vascular disease and oncology, announced presentations on NanoKnife System clinical experience were given at the Society of Surgical Oncology (SSO) 2012 conference that took place March 21-24, 2012, in Orlando, Fla.

2 Apr 2012

Elekta receives clearance to CE mark Agility device

Elekta announced today it has received clearance to CE mark Agility, a revolutionary beam-shaping device integrated into the head of a linear accelerator (linac). Patients and clinics will benefit from the speed and reliability of this new MLC design.

From Elekta 2 Apr 2012

Survivin protein could be a useful tool in understanding pancreatic cancer

Pancreatic cancer kills more than 40,000 people every year, and among cancers it's particularly insidious. For 80 percent of patients, the disease is already so advanced at the time of diagnosis that treatment is unlikely to provide significantly life-extending benefits. For patients diagnosed with localized pancreatic cancer, the five-year survival rate remains barely above 20 percent, according to the National Cancer Institute.

2 Apr 2012

Hypoxia in tumors can predict prostate cancer recurrence in men

Low oxygen levels in tumors can be used to predict cancer recurrence in men with intermediate-risk prostate cancer even before they receive radiation therapy.

2 Apr 2012

Accuray, University of Heidelberg enter multi-year master research and collaboration agreement

Accuray Incorporated, the premier radiation oncology company, announced today the signing of a multi-year master research and collaboration agreement with the University of Heidelberg, a luminary research institution located in Heidelberg, Germany that contributes to the city's top international position in therapy, research and science.

31 Mar 2012

Mirada Medical, BioClinica partner to extend oncology clinical trials

BioClinica, Inc., a global provider of clinical trial management solutions, today announced a partnership with Mirada Medical, a leading provider of medical image analysis software. BioClinica will integrate Mirada's XD3 software solution into its imaging core lab technology to further enhance its PET capabilities and expertise for molecular imaging trials.

From Clario 31 Mar 2012

Radiation therapy increases complications of implant-based breast reconstruction

Breast cancer patients whose treatment includes radiation therapy are at higher risk of complications after implant-based breast reconstruction, reports a study in the April issue of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, the official medical journal of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.

30 Mar 2012

Latest updates in clinical practice decision-making in cancer care presented at NCCN 17th conference

The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) held the NCCN 17th Annual Conference: Clinical Practice Guidelines & Quality Cancer Care, March 14 - 18 at The Westin Diplomat in Hollywood, Florida. The latest updates in clinical practice decision-making in cancer care were presented, including, but not limited to, the new NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology (NCCN Guidelines) for Lung Cancer Screening and updates to the NCCN Guidelines for Melanoma and Non-Hodgkin's Lymphomas.

29 Mar 2012

Elekta receives EU CE marking for Connexion modular couchtop

Elekta's Connexion modular couchtop is CE marked and successfully released for sale in the European Union. Connexion meets the clinic's need to tailor patient set-up to accommodate the unique therapy requirements of the individual patient.

From Elekta 29 Mar 2012

IMRT associated with reduced toxicities when compared with standard whole breast irradiation

Breast cancer patients treated with intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) instead of standard whole breast irradiation (WBI) have a lower incidence of acute or chronic toxicities, according to a study in Practical Radiation Oncology (PRO), the official clinical practice journal of the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO).

29 Mar 2012

Olaparib improves survival rates in platinum-sensitive relapsed serous ovarian cancer

Today at the Society of Gynecologic Oncology (SGO) 43rd Annual Meeting on Women's Cancer®, Dr. Jonathan Ledermann, Director of Cancer Services and Professor of Medical Oncology at University College London, presented new data updating the overall survival of women enrolled in a "Phase II randomized placebo-controlled study of olaparib (AZD2281) maintenance in patients with platinum-sensitive relapsed serous ovarian cancer."

28 Mar 2012

TJUH's Department of Radiation Oncology unveils new brachytherapy suite

Thomas Jefferson University Hospital's Department of Radiation Oncology has unveiled the region's only image-guided brachytherapy suite, where patients can have radiation imaging, planning and treatment in a single location without being moved.

27 Mar 2012

RUMC to offer new stereotactic radiosurgery treatment program

Rush University Medical Center will begin offering in late March a new stereotactic radiosurgery treatment program with the latest radiation therapy technology available.

27 Mar 2012

Novel interventional radiology procedure zaps around complicated pancreatic tumors

Results of a study presented at the Society of Interventional Radiology's 37th Annual Scientific Meeting in San Francisco, Calif., signal a light at the end of the tunnel for individuals with inoperable locally advanced pancreatic cancer (LAPC). A new procedure called irreversible electroporation or IRE uses microsecond electrical pulses to force open and destroy tumor cells around a vast and delicate network of blood vessels of the pancreas.

27 Mar 2012

Accuray releases PlanTouch integrated software application in radiation oncology

Accuray Incorporated, the premier radiation oncology company, announced today the release of PlanTouch, the first commercially available, fully integrated software application in radiation oncology that allows physicians to remotely review and approve patients' radiation treatment plans on the iPad.

26 Mar 2012

Radiation Therapy News and Research

Further Reading

BSD Medical second quarter total revenues decrease to $271,883

Research on how cells cope with stress could lead to more effective cancer treatment

Researchers develop 'phantoms' to make medical imaging safer for obese patients

State roundup: Advocates in Va. back shifting disability care from state institutions; New Vt. law overhauls mental health system; Aetna mistakenly tells thousands in Calif. their doctors were dropped

ACR finds list of five medical imaging exams

AngioDynamics presents NanoKnife System clinical study results at SSO 2012

Elekta receives clearance to CE mark Agility device

Survivin protein could be a useful tool in understanding pancreatic cancer

Hypoxia in tumors can predict prostate cancer recurrence in men

Accuray, University of Heidelberg enter multi-year master research and collaboration agreement

Mirada Medical, BioClinica partner to extend oncology clinical trials

Radiation therapy increases complications of implant-based breast reconstruction

Latest updates in clinical practice decision-making in cancer care presented at NCCN 17th conference

Elekta receives EU CE marking for Connexion modular couchtop

IMRT associated with reduced toxicities when compared with standard whole breast irradiation

Olaparib improves survival rates in platinum-sensitive relapsed serous ovarian cancer

TJUH's Department of Radiation Oncology unveils new brachytherapy suite

RUMC to offer new stereotactic radiosurgery treatment program

Novel interventional radiology procedure zaps around complicated pancreatic tumors

Accuray releases PlanTouch integrated software application in radiation oncology

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