Articles tagged with Radiation Therapy
Scientists have discovered a new drug that significantly improves the effectiveness of radiotherapy in stopping tumor growth and increasing long-term survival. The combination treatment reduces secondary lung tumors and demonstrates potential for improved cancer treatment.
The American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) has issued a new guideline detailing the use of adjuvant radiation therapy in treating endometrial cancer. The guideline recommends postoperative external beam radiation for patients with early-stage disease, and vaginal cuff brachytherapy for those at high risk of vaginal recurrence.
UT Southwestern researchers found that blocking critical DNA repair mechanisms can slow down tumor growth and increase survival in glioblastoma patients. The study used a drug called NVP-BEZ235, which combined with radiation therapy significantly delayed tumor growth in mice, up to 60 days.
A clinical trial found that six months of hormone therapy added to radiotherapy significantly reduces the risk of prostate cancer relapse and progression. Men who received both treatments had a nearly 50% lower risk of biochemical progression compared to those treated with radiotherapy alone.
Researchers found that women who underwent radiotherapy for breast cancer have a small but significantly increased risk of developing a primary lung tumour. The risk increases with the amount of radiation absorbed by the tissue, with an estimated relative risk of 8.5% per delivered Gy to the lung.
Researchers have developed a method to calculate the optimal dose of helium ions for radiation treatment, showing promising results in treating pediatric patients with neuroblastoma and Hodgkin's lymphoma. The use of helium ions may provide greater accuracy and reduced uncertainties compared to conventional radiotherapy or proton therapy.
A study found that permanent brachytherapy preserves erectile function in approximately 50% of prostate cancer patients, improving treatment outcomes. Researchers call for further training on discussing and assessing sexual side-effects of radiation treatment to ensure adequate patient information.
A recent study published in JAMA found that taking daily tadalafil did not prevent erectile dysfunction (ED) in men undergoing radiation therapy for prostate cancer. The study involved 242 men who received either tadalafil or a placebo, and showed no significant difference in ED prevention between the two groups.
Interim results show omitted radiotherapy associated with higher early relapse rates in stage I/II Hodgkin's lymphoma. The study found no significant differences in progression-free survival between standard and experimental treatment arms.
New research finds that radiotherapy after mastectomy reduces recurrence and death rates for women with early breast cancer in 1-3 positive lymph nodes. The study, which analyzed data from 3786 women, shows a significant benefit of radiotherapy regardless of chemotherapy or hormonal therapy use.
The ASTRO white paper recommends specific guidance for high-dose-rate (HDR) brachytherapy to improve patient safety and quality. The manuscript highlights the need for a quality management program, including checklists and forms, as well as multidisciplinary treatment team coordination.
The trial found that men treated with the more intensive radiotherapy regime had a 55% survival rate without disease progression, compared to 43%. The study also showed that dose-escalated radiotherapy reduces the need for follow-up hormone treatment and is safe in the long term.
The study found that primary tumor location dictates the risk of disease in the opposite side of the neck, rather than lymph node involvement. No local or regional recurrences were reported, but distant metastasis occurred in 9% of patients.
A randomized controlled trial found that cognitive behavioral therapy plus hypnosis significantly reduced fatigue in breast cancer patients during and after radiotherapy. The treatment group had less fatigue than 79% of control group patients at the end of radiotherapy, with benefits persisting for up to six months.
A study found that daily humidification of the mouth and throat region during radiation therapy for head and neck cancer reduced mucositis and hospital stays by nearly 50%. Patients who used humidification spent significantly fewer days in the hospital to manage side effects compared to those who did not.
A clinical trial found that adding bevacizumab to standard glioblastoma treatment did not increase overall survival, but did delay the risk of toxicity. The study also showed a decline in neurocognitive function and quality of life for patients receiving bevacizumab.
A thin transparent silicone dressing applied from day one can prevent severe skin reactions during radiation therapy, according to New Zealand research. The dressings create a protective environment for skin stem cells to heal from radiation damage.
Researchers explore the physics and biology of ion beam acceleration in cancer treatment, offering greater precision and reduced damage to healthy tissue. The symposium and press briefing discuss the benefits and challenges of hadron therapy, including its potential for cost-saving accelerator designs.
The new guideline aims to reduce unnecessary re-excision rates by identifying optimal margin widths that minimize ipsilateral breast tumor recurrence. Wider margin widths do not significantly lower the risk, and the choice of radiation technique should not depend on margin width.
A 10.4-year median follow-up study by EORTC trial 22921 found that adjuvant chemotherapy does not improve survival or disease-free survival for cT3-resectable T4 M0 rectal cancer patients, highlighting the need for new treatment strategies.
A phase II clinical trial of Avastin (Bevacizumab) with cisplatin and pelvic radiation for locally advanced cervical cancer showed promising results. The study found improved overall survival rates of 89.8% at 2 years and 80.2% at 3 years compared to historical controls.
Patients treated with IMRT experience fewer side effects and lower cancer-related deaths compared to traditional radiation therapy. The study found that IMRT is a safe and beneficial treatment option for patients with head and neck cancer, with improved survival rates and reduced life-threatening recurrences.
The new system enables real-time interaction with the patient's body and radiotherapy applicator, allowing for precise radiation of potentially cancerous tissues. This innovation aims to reduce treatment time and minimize healthy tissue damage.
A recent study published in BJU International found that radiation therapy used to treat uterine cancer may increase the risk of developing bladder cancer. Patients treated with pelvic radiation therapy had a twice-higher incidence and nearly three times higher death rate from bladder cancer compared to those without radiation.
Researchers have found that omitting radiotherapy in older patients with hormone-receptor positive breast cancer who undergo surgery and hormone therapy is a viable option, resulting in a lower rate of unnecessary treatment. The study suggests that these patients are at low risk of recurrence, making radiotherapy optional.
The EORTC-ESTRO joint session will present the latest research on soft tissue sarcoma treatment, emphasizing the importance of early patient management. Key experts will discuss optimal timing sequences for radiotherapy in limb and retroperitoneal sarcomas, as well as current concepts in chordoma management.
Researchers found that LIF levels are predictive of NPC patient response to radiation therapy, with patients resistant to treatment having higher serum levels of the cytokine. LIF promotes NPC progression and radioresistance.
Researchers found that LIF levels were predictive of NPC patient response to radiation therapy, with patients having higher serum levels of LIF being resistant to treatment. LIF itself promotes NPC progression and radioresistance. Circadian clock proteins BMAL1 also regulate redox proteins preventing oxidative stress damage in neurons.
A team of researchers discovered that abnormal mitochondria may be responsible for cancer cells' resistance to radiation therapy. The study found that a mutation in the E2F gene led to dysfunctional mitochondria that produced less energy, making cancer cells more resistant to radiation-induced cell death.
A Stanford study found that dilute bleach baths can impede skin damage caused by aging, excess sun exposure, or radiation therapy. The inexpensive chemical may provide a new way to treat radiation dermatitis, a common side effect of cancer treatment.
Researchers developed predictive models to forecast genito-urinary (GU) toxicity and erectile dysfunction in prostate cancer patients after high-dose radiotherapy. Smoking and dosimetric factors were key predictors of acute urinary symptoms, with the model confirmed by a larger cohort analysis.
A new '1-stop' radiotherapy technique has shown non-inferiority to traditional treatment in reducing breast cancer recurrence. The TARGIT trial found a single dose of targeted radiation during or soon after surgery reduced local recurrence risk by 80% compared to standard radiotherapy.
A recent study from the University of Manchester found that tumor oxygen levels impact treatment response. By analyzing gene expression, researchers can predict which patients will benefit from hypoxia-reducing agents before radiotherapy.
A comprehensive review of Medicare claims found that nearly all the increase in IMRT for prostate cancer was due to self-referral, leading to unnecessary radiation therapy. Self-referring urologists increased IMRT use by 146%, while non-self-referrers remained unchanged.
Researchers at Georgetown University Medical Center discovered a compound derived from cruciferous vegetables can protect rats and mice from lethal radiation doses. The compound, DIM, also showed potential in preventing or mitigating sickness caused by radiation exposure.
A study found that single-fraction radiotherapy, given in one session, is as effective as multiple-fraction treatment but has lower costs. Patients who received single-fraction treatment had poorer prognoses, but it offers benefits for patient-centric palliative care.
A clinical trial suggests that combining radiotherapy with an anti-cancer drug called APG101 blocks a cell-signalling pathway crucial for glioblastoma development. The treatment showed promising results, with patients receiving the combination therapy living longer than those treated with radiotherapy alone.
Researchers estimated that approximately 0.60 Gray of the daily radiotherapy dose is 'wasted' due to overnight and weekend tumor growth, suggesting shorter treatment schedules may be more effective against breast cancer recurrence. This finding supports current trends to deliver shorter radiotherapy schedules.
A meta-analysis of over 11,000 patients showed that hyperfractionated radiotherapy (AFRT) reduces the risk of death by 8% compared to standard fractionation radiotherapy (SFRT). AFRT also improves locoregional control, with a significant increase in five-year survival rates.
A new study has found that treating chest lymph nodes in early breast cancer patients improves overall survival without increasing side effects. The research involved 4004 patients from 43 centres and found that irradiating the IM-MS lymph nodes gave a better patient outcome than radiation therapy to the breast/thoracic wall alone.
A new study presented at ASTRO's Annual Meeting has identified the Common-Terminology-Criteria-for-Adverse Events (CTCAE) scale as a reliable method for assessing patient reactions to radiation therapy. The study found that using this standardized scale improved consistency among caregivers, enabling more uniform and effective care.
The project will provide state-of-the-art training in modern, high-quality image-guided radiotherapy, increasing productive research and improving cancer patient care. Researchers from various disciplines will benefit from the six-day workshop, lecture and exercise-based course.
Researchers found that unstable chromosomes with breaks at common fragile sites are associated with a less favorable response to radiation therapy and surgery in prostate cancer patients. These abnormalities are often linked to DNA instability, which is characteristic of cancer cells.
A new process called 'Smart Rounds' optimizes the safety and efficacy of radiation therapy by formalizing multidisciplinary reviews at the beginning of treatment planning. This leads to safer, more individualized radiation treatment plans and better utilization of medical resources.
Researchers at Henry Ford Hospital found stereotactic body radiotherapy to be a viable option for elderly patients with localized pancreatic cancer, offering a six-to-seven-month increase in lifespan and minimal side effects. The study also showed that two patients lived nearly two years after treatment.
A Mayo-led study has found that sulfasalazine, a commonly prescribed medication for inflammatory bowel disease, fails to reduce diarrhea in patients receiving radiation therapy. The study suggests that the medication may actually increase the risk of diarrhea when used during pelvic radiation therapy.
A study of Stage T1aN0 breast cancer patients found no significant increase in deaths from cardiac disease or secondary malignancies among those receiving external beam radiation therapy (XRT). Women who received XRT had better survival rates and fewer deaths from all causes compared to non-XRT groups.
A study found that avoiding specific regions of the brain during whole-brain radiotherapy prevents memory loss in patients. Limiting radiation to the hippocampus, a sensitive area for memory function, preserved memory function for up to six months after treatment.
A shorter course of androgen suppression therapy prior to radiation therapy yields favorable outcomes and fewer adverse effects for intermediate-risk prostate cancer patients. The study confirmed a disease-specific-survival rate of 95 percent when patients received fewer weeks of neoadjuvant total androgen suppression.
The study found a significantly lower quality of life in patients who received high-dose radiation therapy (74 Gy) compared to those receiving standard dose (60 Gy). IMRT was associated with a lower decline in QOL compared to 3-D CRT, even a year after treatment.
A two-item questionnaire, including PHQ-9 and PHQ-2, effectively screened for depression in radiation therapy patients. The study found that these questions were as useful as the entire PHQ-9 in identifying depression, with an area under the curve of approximately 0.83.
A secondary analysis of the historic RTOG 9202 prostate cancer trial found no additional benefits with long-term hormonal therapy compared to short-term therapy in intermediate-risk patients. The study suggests that administering less treatment can reduce side effects and healthcare costs without compromising survival rates.
Researchers found that reducing radiation dose to stem-cell niches surrounding hippocampus preserves memory without increased risk of relapse. This technique, if validated, will help maintain quality of life for brain cancer patients.
A randomized controlled trial of 147 women with stage IIIB cervical cancer found that adding cisplatin to radiation therapy and high-dose-rate brachytherapy improved disease-free survival and reduced late toxicity, while maintaining acceptable acute toxicity levels.
A study of 70 pediatric patients treated with proton therapy found high local control rates (83%) and overall survival (95%), with subtotal resection correlated to decreased cognitive and endocrine outcomes. Few patients developed growth hormone deficiency, hypothyroidism or hearing loss.
A study by American Society for Radiation Oncology found that proton therapy can prevent costly side effects in children with medulloblastoma, making it both cost-effective and cost-saving compared to photon therapy. Proton therapy reduced the risk of hearing loss, secondary malignancy, and heart failure.
Patients under 50 years old have improved OS after SRS, with no greater risk of new brain metastases. SRS alone is a favorable first-line therapeutic option for younger patients.
A multi-institutional study found that sulfasalazine does not reduce diarrhea in patients receiving pelvic radiation therapy, and may even increase the risk. The study, which enrolled 87 patients, used a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled design to evaluate the effectiveness of sulfasalazine versus placebo.
The ASTRO/AUA joint guideline offers clinical principles and recommendations for radiation therapy use in patients with and without evidence of prostate cancer recurrence. The guideline is based on a comprehensive review of 324 research articles and provides detailed efficacy data for patients with detectable and undetectable PSA levels.
The Cancer Foundation of Northeast Georgia and the South Georgia Medical Center, Pearlman Cancer Center will each receive $8,000 to provide direct support for their organization's work supporting cancer patients. The grants also aim to raise awareness about the financial challenges faced by cancer patients.