Cancer cells employ a unique defense mechanism to evade the effects of radiation treatment by exploiting an enzyme called Caspase-activated DNase (CAD). Removing CAD from cancer cells increases the effectiveness of radiotherapy. Researchers hope their discovery can lead to the development of targeted drugs to enhance cancer treatment.
A recent study found that black patients were significantly less likely to receive proton beam therapy for cancer compared to white patients. The study, which included over 5.2 million patients, also highlighted disparities in treatment based on racial background.
A study has identified a new protein, Creb-binding protein (CBP), as a prognostic marker for above-average patient survival in HPV-positive head and neck carcinoma. CBP inhibitors are being developed as targeted therapies that can improve quality of life by reducing side effects associated with conventional chemotherapy or radiotherapy.
A retrospective study found that higher coronary artery calcium score, higher pulmonary artery-to-aorta ratio, and lower thoracic skeletal muscle index independently predicted worse overall survival. The PA-to-aorta ratio was the most important predictor of overall survival.
Researchers compared long-term quality-of-life outcomes in women with breast cancer treated with breast-conserving surgery and radiation therapy versus mastectomy and reconstruction without radiation therapy. Mastectomy and reconstruction was associated with lower overall quality of life, but not physical function or mental health.
Researchers at Columbia University are studying the effects of heavy ion radiation therapy on hard-to-treat cancers, aiming to improve treatment outcomes. The new linac booster will help scientists better understand how carbon ions work against cancer, potentially leading to more effective therapies.
Raising awareness about cardiac radiation exposure reduced the number of patients receiving high heart doses in lung cancer patients. The study found that standardized cardiac dose constraints improved patient care without minimizing tumor treatment or increasing dosage to other at-risk organs.
A study found that childhood cancer survivors who received combined chemotherapy and radiotherapy have a higher risk of dental developmental anomalies. The first signs of dental disturbances can appear within one or two years after treatment. Researchers identified specific treatments and age factors associated with increased DDA risk.
Researchers at Okayama University have created a new method to kill cancer cells using light-activated protein AR3, reducing the risk of adverse reactions. The approach uses green light to trigger apoptosis in targeted cells, offering a promising alternative to conventional treatments.
The project will develop a better understanding of nuclear radiation by integrating recent mathematical developments into radiation transport modelling. This will lead to improved nuclear safety, cancer radiotherapy, and shielding for astronauts from cosmic rays.
The new center aims to develop quantitative imaging markers to reduce subjectivity in medical image diagnosis and improve consistency. Researchers will explore cutting-edge imaging modalities and extract effective image features from existing clinical imaging modalities to aid in cancer detection and treatment.
A research team at Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf has successfully tested irradiation with laser-accelerated protons on animals, paving the way for optimal radiation therapy. The method could make a decisive contribution to improving proton therapy, which is currently more complex and expensive than X-ray therapy.
Researchers will compare proton, carbon and electron radiotherapy to protect normal tissues from harm while controlling solid tumors of the gastrointestinal tract, lungs, soft tissues throughout the body, and bones. The goal is to develop a more effective treatment with shorter duration and frequency.
A new study found that traditional Chinese medicine Shengmai Yin increases the sensitivity of cancer cells to radiation, reducing radioresistance. By altering DNA methylation status, SMY enhances the efficacy of radiation therapy and reduces side effects.
A blood test detecting circulating tumor DNA can accurately predict recurrence of HPV-driven oropharyngeal cancer following treatment. The biomarker test may detect recurrent disease earlier than imaging or other standard methods, allowing physicians to personalize treatment more quickly for patients whose cancer returns.
A new AI model combines multiple machine learning methods to accurately detect thyroid cancer and predict treatment outcomes from routine ultrasound images. The multimodal platform achieved high accuracy rates in detecting malignancies and predicting pathological stage and genomic mutations.
A new phase II trial found that mid-treatment PET scans can help determine if patients with p16-positive oropharynx cancer can receive a lower dose of radiation therapy without compromising cancer control. The study reported fewer short-term side effects in patients who received de-escalated therapy.
Researchers at IBiS have developed a new treatment that completely eliminated glioblastoma tumors in animal models, offering a new therapeutic option against this aggressive disease. The therapy combines the use of ADI-PEG20 with focal brain radiotherapy and has shown promising results without side effects.
Patients with severe coronary artery calcium have a significantly increased risk of major adverse cardiovascular events during thoracic radiation therapy for non-small cell lung cancer. The study found that patients with severe coronary artery calcium had a 21.4 times increased risk compared to those with no coronary artery calcium.
The ACC cardiooncology course is designed to educate clinicians on improving awareness, identification, monitoring, and management of cardiovascular diseases in cancer patients. The course aims to help clinicians minimize cardiotoxicity from cancer therapies, leading to improved overall survival and quality of life for oncology patients.
A research team from the University of Jena has made an important breakthrough in generating high-energy proton radiation using laser-plasma interaction. By precisely adjusting parameters such as foil thickness, laser focusing, and pulse duration, they have achieved a maximum energy yield that could enable the development of smaller an...
Researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital developed a safe and effective strategy to treat glioblastoma using short bursts of radiation therapy and nanoparticle-based immunotherapy. The combined approach suppresses tumor growth, induces anti-tumor immunity, and prolongs survival in animal models.
A recent study led by University at Buffalo researchers found that photobiomodulation reduces inflammation, improves blood flow and heals wounds up to 19 days faster. Light therapy accelerated skin healing from cancer radiation therapy by an average of 49-42 days.
A UCLA-led meta-analysis of individual patient data from three cohorts found that patients receiving high-dose external beam radiation therapy alone may benefit from longer androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) durations, while those with external beam radiation therapy and brachytherapy boost may be optimally managed with shorter ADT. Th...
Researchers found that glioma cells with mutated ATRX have reduced Chk1 activity, leading to dysregulated cell cycle and heightened sensitivity to ATM inhibitors. The study suggests that combining radiation therapy with these inhibitors may improve treatment outcomes for patients with this gene mutation.
A new meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials found that adding androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) to definitive radiotherapy prevents one cancer from metastasizing for every 10 to 15 men treated. Prolonging adjuvant ADT also showed significant benefits, while neoadjuvant ADT was not effective beyond two months.
A meta-analysis published in The Lancet Oncology reveals that men with intermediate- and high-risk prostate cancer experience improved overall survival with the addition of hormone therapy to radiotherapy. The study found prolonged adjuvant hormone therapy benefits men, while neoadjuvant hormone therapy did not.
A study investigated the common use of extended radiation therapy for patients with metastatic cancer nearing the end of life. Despite guidelines advising against this practice, researchers found that it is still used in many cases. The study aims to shed light on this treatment approach and its implications for patient care.
The American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) has released a new clinical guideline outlining the use of external beam radiation therapy (EBRT) to treat adult patients with primary liver cancers. The guidelines emphasize multidisciplinary care and provide evidence-based recommendations on indications, dosing, techniques, and trea...
Researchers used AI tools to analyze tissue samples from 439 patients with head and neck cancers, identifying those who could benefit from reduced radiation therapy. The study aims to improve treatment decisions for patients, reducing side effects and improving quality of life.
The study combined seven randomized clinical trials with 8,000 patients to compare overall and treatment-specific outcomes of Black and white men with localized prostate cancer who received radiation therapy. The results showed that there were significant racial disparities in response to radiation therapy for prostate cancer.
Scientists have observed that ionizing radiation can cause intermolecular Coulombic decay in organic molecules, leading to damage in DNA and proteins. This new understanding could lead to the development of more effective substances for radiation therapy and improve knowledge of how radiation damages healthy tissue.
A new post-surgery approach for treating HPV-related throat cancer uses low-dose radiation and spares the majority of patients from chemotherapy. The trial found high survival rates and quality of life in patients at medium risk for recurrence.
A recent study has identified a new mechanism by which oral cancer cells acquire radioresistance through the transfer of microRNA, specifically miR-503-3p. This discovery brings hope for the development of new treatments for radiation-resistant oral cancer.
A team at Osaka University has initiated the world's first in-human investigator-initiated clinical trial of sodium astatine ([ <sup> 211 </sup> At]NaAt) injection for refractory differentiated thyroid cancer patients. The phase I trial evaluates safety, pharmacokinetics, and efficacy of astatine for use in alpha therapy.
A new UCL-led study found that people who survived childhood cancer have a higher risk of cardiovascular disease, infections, and disorders of the immune system by age 45. The study also suggests that cancer survivors treated with chemotherapy and radiotherapy face greater long-term health effects.
Researchers discovered that childhood cancer patients treated with abdominal or total body irradiation exhibit abnormalities in their adipose tissue, similar to those found in obese individuals with cardiometabolic disease. This suggests that strategies to reduce radiation dose to fat may be necessary to prevent long-term dysfunction i...
A study found that arginine treatment improved outcomes in cancer patients with brain metastases, showing a complete or partial response in nearly 78% of patients. The amino acid may be useful as an anticancer therapy when combined with radiotherapy or other treatments.
A recent study published in PLOS ONE found that combining copper ions with a drug once used for treating alcoholism kills medulloblastoma cancer cells and prevents new ones from forming. The therapy also curtails the creation of cancer stem cells, which initiate tumor growth and recurrence.
Researchers have identified genetic mutations in genes CBP and p300 that drive radiation resistance in head and neck tumors. Inhibiting these proteins with certain drugs makes tumor cells more susceptible to radiotherapy.
A multi-center study demonstrated improved overall survival and quality of life for inoperable pancreatic cancer patients treated with MRIdian SMART, with a median survival of 26 months. The treatment showed low rates of major adverse events and was more effective than standard radiation therapy.
A new international meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials found that adding androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) to definitive radiotherapy improves metastasis-free survival by 8% and overall survival by 7%. Prolonging adjuvant ADT for 18-36 months also shows similar benefits.
The NRG-RTOG 0815 trial found that adding androgen suppression to dose-escalated radiotherapy did not improve overall survival, but reduced rates of biochemical failure and distant metastases. Future studies are needed to identify subsets of patients who may benefit from this intervention.
A new analysis of US national data finds that external-beam radiation therapy is a proven treatment option for patients with unresectable liver cancer but is rarely prescribed, with only 3.6% of patients receiving it. The study suggests that institutional and regional practice patterns play a key role in driving treatment decisions.
A recent clinical trial found that a shortened course of radiation therapy after prostate removal surgery does not increase long-term side effects or lower quality of life compared to conventional treatment. Patients who underwent hypofractionated, post-operative radiation therapy experienced comparable genitourinary and gastrointestin...
A Phase III clinical trial found no significant increase in genitourinary or gastrointestinal toxicity with hypofractionated post-operative prostate bed radiotherapy compared to conventional radiotherapy. However, dose-escalated radiation therapy was not shown to be superior to conventional RT.
Scientists at Osaka University developed a novel system for targeted cancer radiation therapy using gold nanoparticles labeled with astatine-211. The nanoparticles are highly toxic to cancer cells while remaining localized, minimizing damage to healthy tissues.
Researchers at H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute use computer modeling to study the relationship between tumor-immune environment and radiation response. They discover that tumor cells will either escape immune predation or be eradicated based on the numbers of immune effector and suppressor cells present. The model hel...
Researchers identified a pattern that links the accumulation of amyloid beta (Aβ) proteins with a reduction of serotonin, which may help predict who will develop late-life depression. The study found that individuals expressing this pattern had more severe depressive symptoms.
Researchers have developed a new cancer photodrug that can treat deep-seated tumors more effectively and with reduced toxicity. Copper cysteamine photosensitizers allow the production of reactive oxygen species to kill cancer cells, minimizing damage to healthy cells.
Researchers found that radiation therapy triggers heart muscle cells to express different genes and increase sodium ion channels, reducing arrhythmias. The treatment also continued to show benefits for at least two years in surviving patients.
A new study finds that left-sided breast cancer radiation therapy increases the risk of coronary artery disease in younger survivors, with a significant increase in risk seen at 10.5% for those who received left-sided radiation therapy compared to 5.8% for right-sided.
A systematic review and meta-analysis of 12 observational studies found that radiation-induced cancer risks from radioactive iodine therapy are small. Higher dose levels may detectable in observational studies, but overall risk remains low.
A Dartmouth research team has been selected to present their abstract on a new advancement in Cherenkov imaging at the ASTRO Annual Meeting. The work, which involves designing a color-sensitive camera to image Cherenkov emission from patients, allows for more accurate quantification of radiation delivery and safe treatment.
Researchers from Cleveland Clinic have published results showing that Temporally Feathered Radiation Therapy (TFRT) is a safe and feasible approach to reduce toxicity in radiation treatment. The technique optimizes radiation delivery time to improve normal tissue recovery, potentially improving patient quality of life.
Researchers at McGill University identified proteins that drive cancer stem cells in brain tumours. Targeting the protein galectin1 may provide a more effective treatment for glioblastoma when combined with radiation therapy. The study found significant improvement in tumour response to radiation therapy, resulting in expanded lifespan.
A study by the Center for Cell-Based Therapy in São Paulo, Brazil, has discovered a set of biomarkers that can be used to predict which patients with glioblastoma may have tumors resistant to radiation therapy. The genetic signature helps doctors choose the best treatment option for these patients.
Researchers at Queen Mary University of London confirmed HER2's role in predicting DCIS recurrence and response to adjuvant radiotherapy. HER2 overexpression is associated with a significantly increased risk of in situ recurrence.
Researchers found changes in erythrocyte morphology and nanoparticles on cell surfaces during radiation therapy, which may indicate treatment effectiveness or prognosis. The study suggests that analyzing these changes could lead to the development of a diagnostic method for assessing RT efficacy.
A new clinical guideline from ASTRO provides guidance on the use of radiation therapy to treat adult patients with soft tissue sarcoma, recommending optimal radiation dosing and techniques. The guideline also addresses the role of radiation therapy for retroperitoneal sarcomas.