Researchers found proton therapy significantly lowers the risk of severe side effects such as hospitalization, while maintaining similar cure rates and effectiveness compared to traditional photon radiation. The study suggests proton therapy offers a way to reduce serious side effects without sacrificing treatment efficacy.
The study found that higher doses of radiation and adding the drug cetuximab did not improve patient survival compared to standard of care chemoradiation. The 5-year overall survival estimate for the standard radiation dose arm was 32.1%, amongst the highest for Stage III NSCLC.
The American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) has released a new clinical guideline for the use of radiation therapy in treating basal and cutaneous squamous cell carcinomas. The guideline provides recommendations on when to use radiation as stand-alone therapy or following surgery, as well as dosing and fractionation schedules.
A randomized trial found acupuncture significantly reduced radiation-induced dry mouth symptoms in head and neck cancer patients. The study, published in JAMA Network Open, suggests that incorporating acupuncture into radiation therapy may prevent severity of dry mouth symptoms, improving quality of life.
High-dose-rate brachytherapy offers excellent cure rates and cosmetic outcomes for elderly patients with common skin cancers, including squamous cell carcinoma and basal cell carcinoma. The treatment delivers a precise dose of radiation directly to the tumor while sparing healthy tissue nearby.
A new warning system, WASAVIES, can estimate radiation doses due to solar energetic particles (SEP) up to 100 km above the ground in real-time. This system enables aircrew radiation dose monitoring and provides information for aviation operation management.
A new blood self-collection device has been developed to quickly estimate a person's exposure to radiation in the event of a nuclear accident or attack. The device, which can process samples in a centralized lab, could help triage emergency medical treatment and alleviate a sample collection bottleneck.
A meta-analysis of 11 studies found that RTKI drugs with radiation therapy did not significantly improve survival rates but increased negative side effects. The study suggests holding RTKI drugs during radiation therapy to minimize side effects without affecting survival.
A randomized clinical trial found that high-dose radiation therapy can generate an immune system response similar to vaccination, sparking a systemic immune reaction against cancer. Patients treated with stereotactic ablative radiotherapy lived significantly longer without disease progression.
A new trial analysis found that women diagnosed with early stages of cancer who undergo lumpectomies and receive either partial or whole breast radiation have equivalent cosmetic outcomes, according to patient and physician ratings. The study's findings aim to guide women seeking breast-conserving therapy for early-stage disease.
A noninvasive radiation therapy called ENCORE has been shown to dramatically reduce episodes of rapid, abnormal heartbeats for more than two years. The treatment, which uses stereotactic body radiation therapy, has also led to a reduction in medication side effects and improved quality of life.
A new analysis finds that long-term hormone therapy increases mortality risk for men with low PSA levels after prostate surgery. The study suggests that patients with high PSAs should continue to receive hormone therapy in addition to radiation, but those with low PSAs may be better off without it.
A new study from the University of Pennsylvania found that radiation therapy given 30 days or less before CAR T infusion reduces the risk of serious cytokine release syndrome and neurotoxicity. The therapy may also have potential benefits for NHL patients, according to researchers.
Two new studies published in Pediatric Blood and Cancer and Acta Oncologica demonstrate the potential benefits of proton therapy for children with brain cancer. Proton therapy shows promising outcomes in improving overall survival and recurrence-free survival rates, particularly in young patients. Additionally, a new technique called p...
Researchers developed a new mathematical model to optimize radiation therapy for brain tumors by targeting the densest areas. This approach has shown promise in increasing the number of tumor cells killed during treatment.
The American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) has released a new clinical guideline recommending the use of radiation therapy in pre-surgical, post-surgical, definitive and palliative settings. The guideline emphasizes a patient-centered approach integrating patients' values and preferences into treatment decisions.
A meta-analysis of 58 studies found that brachytherapy and Mohs surgery have better cosmetic outcomes than conventional excision and external beam radiation therapy. These treatments offer effective alternatives to surgery for patients, particularly those who may not be suitable for surgical options.
Researchers investigated how radiation damages DNA in cancer cells treated with 5-fluorouracil, identifying new fragment ions and their formation thresholds. The study could lead to new ways of protecting normal tissues from radiation damage caused by radiotherapy.
Researchers at Moffitt Cancer Center have developed a model called GARD that uses genomic data to predict the risk of local tumor recurrence and optimize radiation doses for breast cancer patients. The study found that a personalized approach to radiation therapy can reduce overdosing certain patients and improve treatment outcomes.
Researchers at Princeton University have developed a compact, high-speed terahertz imaging system using direct emission of terahertz radiation from semiconductor chips. The device can quickly probe the identity and arrangement of molecules or expose structural damage to materials.
Researchers at the Wellcome Sanger Institute found that low doses of radiation increase p53 mutations, giving cancer-capable cells a competitive advantage. However, antioxidants can boost healthy cells to outcompete mutant cells.
A new study from the University of Pennsylvania finds that proton therapy can be as effective and safe as traditional treatments when administered in higher doses over a shorter period. The research, which included 184 men with non-metastatic prostate cancer, showed low rates of serious gastrointestinal and urologic issues.
A new AI framework developed by Cleveland Clinic researchers can now use medical scans and health records to personalize the dose of radiation therapy used to treat cancer patients. The framework has been shown to reduce treatment failure probability to less than 5 percent.
Research found statin therapy significantly reduced stroke risk and overall cardiovascular events in cancer patients who underwent radiation therapy for chest, head, or neck cancer. The study also showed a strong trend toward reduction in cardiovascular deaths.
Researchers found that proton therapy significantly lowers the risk of severe side effects in cancer patients undergoing radiation and chemotherapy, with a relative risk reduction of two-thirds. Cure rates were almost identical between groups.
A study led by Washington University School of Medicine found that proton therapy results in fewer side effects than traditional X-ray radiation therapy for many cancer patients, with similar cure rates. Proton therapy reduced the risk of severe side effects by two-thirds within 90 days of treatment.
Researchers at The University of Tokyo created a thermomechanical device to detect terahertz radiation, allowing for sensitive and rapid detection at room temperature. This technology opens up new applications for THz technologies, such as THz cameras.
Researchers at Karolinska Institutet have found that IL-1 inhibitors can reduce chronic inflammation in blood vessels exposed to radiation, which is linked to increased risk of cardiovascular disease. The study used an animal model and gene expression analysis to support the potential treatment.
Researchers have developed a system to accurately deliver precise doses of radiation to cancer tissues while minimizing exposure to healthy ones. The new system uses specialized polymer gel to visualize the spatial location and dose of treatment in real-time.
The new software automates image capture and analysis, providing more accurate radiation beam targeting and refined patient positioning. This technology enhances the quality assurance strategy in radiation therapy, potentially reducing toxicity and improving treatment outcomes.
Radiation oncologists provide guidance on preparing for and responding to natural disasters, including creating emergency operations plans, providing patients with access to treatment plans via flash drives, and identifying alternative sources of power. The tips aim to minimize treatment delays during a disaster.
A recent study published in JAMA found that magic mouthwash significantly reduced pain from oral mucositis, a common side effect of radiation therapy for head and neck cancers. The treatment, which contains diphenhydramine, lidocaine, and antacids, was well-tolerated by patients and outperformed placebo.
Researchers studied the effects of ionizing radiation on plants, finding that it can alter physiological processes such as photosynthesis and respiration. The study suggests that ionizing radiation can have both negative and positive effects on plant life, depending on the context.
Researchers used Raman spectroscopy to map biomolecular changes in radiation-resistant and radiation-sensitive human lung tumors and head and neck tumors. They found statistically significant differences in lipid and collagen content that could potentially identify treatment-resistant tumors early.
A Children's Oncology Group study shows that postoperative radiation improves outcomes for children with ependymoma, achieving seven-year progression-free survival for over 75% of patients and overall survival for 85%. The findings provide evidence that radiation can improve outcomes despite age and tumor subtype.
A new study uses Raman spectroscopy to analyze changes in biochemical composition of tumors, enabling prediction of radiation response. The findings have the potential to reduce medical overtreatment and improve treatment plans for cancer patients.
Researchers created a lab-grown population of E. coli bacteria that became resistant to ionizing radiation through genetic mutations and enhanced DNA repair mechanisms. This breakthrough could lead to the development of radiation-resistant bacteria for environmental clean-up, cancer therapy protection, and astronaut protection in space.
A researcher at the University of Cincinnati is using a $1.4 million VA grant to study radiation resistance in head and neck cancer. The goal is to target molecular pathways to make radiation therapy more effective, reducing side effects and improving treatment outcomes for patients.
Researchers at North Carolina State University developed a new technique to assess radiation exposure using insulator materials found in electronics, enabling rapid triage in radiological disasters. The high-throughput method can accurately identify individuals exposed to high levels of radiation within an hour.
Recent studies at SABCS 2018 highlight radiation therapy's efficacy in treating breast cancer, with trials refining treatments to provide more options for patients. Accelerated partial breast irradiation has been shown to be non-inferior to traditional whole breast irradiation.
Researchers from ITMO University and the University of Rochester successfully generated terahertz radiation in a liquid medium, demonstrating its efficiency comparable to solid-state sources. The team found that liquids have several advantages over gases, including higher electron density and lower pumping energy requirements.
Researchers at SLAC and Stanford are developing accelerator-based technology to reduce the side effects of cancer radiation therapy by vastly shrinking its duration. The goal is to blast cancer cells quickly, reducing the chance that radiation will hit and damage healthy tissue around tumors, making radiation therapy more precise.
Researchers found that combining surgery with post-operative low-dose radiation and hormone therapy reduces prostate cancer death risk to less than 10% for men with aggressive prostate cancer. In contrast, surgery alone increases the risk of death from prostate cancer within five years.
Researchers are testing Precision Breast IORT, which uses advanced imaging to tailor radiation treatment and potentially improve outcomes for patients with early-stage breast cancer. The study aims to evaluate the technique's effectiveness in reducing breast cancer recurrence rates and immune-dampening effects.
UCSF scientists create new animal model of glioma that captures the clinical lifecycle of brain tumors, allowing them to test strategies to prevent radiation-associated cognitive decline. They discover that temporarily suppressing a key immune system component can prevent this problem.
Researchers investigated alternative radiation therapy regimens for early-stage breast cancer patients. The trial found that fewer, larger individual doses of radiation led to similar adverse effects as conventional radiation therapy after 10 years.
Long-term data show that whole breast radiation therapy significantly reduces the risk of local recurrence in low-risk ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) patients, even without additional treatment. Radiation also reduces overall cancer return by more than 70 percent.
A new radiation treatment approach, hippocampal-avoidance whole-brain radiotherapy with memantine, demonstrated better preservation of cognitive function compared to traditional whole-brain radiotherapy. The study found similar cancer control and overall survival outcomes for both groups.
A large, long-term study found SBRT to be safe and effective for men with low- and intermediate-risk prostate cancer. The treatment delivered substantially larger doses of radiation per session, reducing the duration of treatment without increasing the risk of severe side effects.
The SPPORT trial found that adding pelvic lymph node treatment and short-term hormone therapy to standard treatment extends time before cancer spreads. This combination therapy resulted in higher freedom-from-progression rates and lower distant metastasis rates compared to standard treatments alone.
A phase III trial has established the radiation/cisplatin combination as the standard of care for human papillomavirus (HPV)-related oral cancers, resulting in higher overall and progression-free survival rates compared to cetuximab/radiation. The treatment also showed a lower rate of serious side effects, particularly with cisplatin.
A new study shows that stereotactic ablative radiotherapy (SABR) is as safe and effective for patients with one kidney as it is for those with two. The treatment provided high local control and cancer-specific survival rates, with minimal impact on renal function.
A new study from the University of Pennsylvania found that cancer patients can safely use topical skin treatments during radiation therapy without increasing the radiation dose to their skin. The study challenged common advice given to patients and debunked the myth that these treatments increase radiation damage.
Researchers found that stereotactic radiation therapy doubles progression-free survival and increases overall survival by a median of 13 months in patients with limited metastatic cancer. The treatment also improved survival rates, but with increased side effects.
Researchers at Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center found that papaverine inhibits mitochondrial respiration and sensitizes model tumors to radiation. The study suggests that modifying the papaverine molecule could lead to a new class of radiosensitizing drugs with fewer side effects.
The new guideline recommends moderate hypofractionation (240-340 cGy) as an alternative to conventional fractionation for men with early-stage prostate cancer. Hypofractionated radiation therapy can be completed in four to five weeks, compared to eight to nine weeks for conventional radiation.
Researchers found that children of radar soldiers who were exposed to high doses of radiation had a higher rate of multisite de novo mutations and chromosomal alterations compared to offspring of non-radiation exposed parents. The results support the idea that accumulation of genotype damage by radiation can occur in the next generation.
A special issue of Health Physics journal highlights women's contributions to and experiences in radiation protection and safety. The articles showcase the historic roles of women pioneers and their diverse roles in health physics, including research on approaches in monitoring radiation exposure.
A recent study published in the journal Cancer found that patients with locally advanced prostate cancer who received a combination of prostate removal and radiation therapy had a higher rate of survival compared to those treated with radiation alone. The study analyzed data from over 13,000 men diagnosed with high-risk prostate cancer...
Researchers have found that disrupting the non-canonical NF-κB pathway improves the effects of radiotherapy by enhancing the immune system's ability to interact with radiation. This new approach may lead to novel combination strategies for improving cancer treatment.