The use of active surveillance for low-risk prostate cancer nearly tripled between 2010 and 2015, with 42.1% of men adopting this strategy. This increase is associated with a favorable prognosis and reduced toxicity from treatment.
Researchers are developing tools to help identify analogies using AI and crowd workers. This approach aims to scale up the process of finding helpful insights that can lead to scientific breakthroughs. The potential benefits include more efficient discovery and a greater number of profound advances.
Women physician researchers make 7-8% less per year than men, leading to tens of thousands of dollars less in lifetime wealth. Researchers used new models to calculate the impact of salary disparities on accumulated wealth.
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SAMSUNG T9 Portable SSD 2TB transfers large imagery and model outputs quickly between field laptops, lab workstations, and secure archives.
A study of over 2 million CT scans found that radiation doses vary greatly due to how scanners are used by medical staff, not patient or machine differences. Setting consistent dose standards could minimize unnecessary radiation risks.
A team of University of Arizona researchers discovered a protein called WIF-1 that might increase survival in glioblastoma patients. Long-term survivors rely on genes that suppress the Wnt signaling pathway, which fuels tumor growth. The study aims to create a drug targeting this pathway for more precise treatment.
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.
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Apple iPhone 17 Pro delivers top performance and advanced cameras for field documentation, data collection, and secure research communications.
The EXPLORER scanner captures a 3-D picture of the whole human body at once, producing images in as little as one second. It can track specially tagged drugs and has countless applications in diagnostics, disease progression, and new drug therapies.
The HiLo trial found no significant difference in recurrence rates between patients given a low radiation dose compared to the standard higher dose. This means patients with low-risk thyroid cancer can benefit from fewer side effects, long-term complications, and more convenient treatment options.
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 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.
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A new analysis of genetic data and clinical trial results suggests that African-American men may have comparatively higher cure rates when treated with radiation therapy. The study found that tumors from African-American men were more likely to have indicators of increased sensitivity to radiation, leading to improved outcomes.
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.
Researchers found a link between higher levels of interleukin-10 (IL-10) and lower disease-free survival rates after radiotherapy. Elevated CRP levels, a marker of inflammation, were not associated with DFS.
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.
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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.
At ASTRO's Annual Meeting, leading researchers will present their groundbreaking findings on clinical trials and radiation oncology research. The meeting features three news briefings highlighting advances in breast, lung, genitourinary, oral, and oligometastatic cancers.
Scientists are exploring a new propulsion idea that could eliminate fuel costs and make interplanetary travel easier. Dr. Mike McCulloch's quantised inertia theory predicts that objects can be pushed by differences in Unruh radiation in space.
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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.
A Baylor University study finds that children with certain types of brain tumors who undergo radiation treatment are more likely to forget recent memories than pre-treatment ones. The study suggests that radiation impacts the development of new cells in the hippocampus, leading to deficits in forming new memories.
A phase 1 clinical trial at the University of Colorado Cancer Center has shown promising results, with 72% 2-year survival in heavy smokers. The combination of olaparib, cetuximab, and radiation was found to be synthetically lethal for cancer cells, leading to enhanced cell death.
A small clinical benefit was observed in reduced risk of dying from breast cancer in women with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) treated with radiation plus lumpectomy. The absolute risk reduction was 0.27 percent, indicating that 370 women would need to be treated to save one life.
Researchers from the University of Houston have reported a new understanding of deep earthquakes, finding they are hosted in anisotropic rocks. This discovery explains why deep earthquakes radiate seismic energy differently than shallow ones, offering insights into the causes of these events.
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A study found that CT scans may increase brain tumor risk in children, with dose-response relationships observed between radiation exposure and tumor incidence. The researchers caution that careful justification and optimization of pediatric CT scans are essential to minimize risks.
A new study found that an experimental drug called AZ32 selectively sensitizes brain tumors to radiation, extending the survival of mouse models with human glioblastoma multiforme. The combination therapy forced GBM cells to undergo mitotic catastrophe, leading to cell death.
Research by Ingo Titze and Anil Palaparthi found that animals' high radiation efficiency is due to wide mouths, high frequencies, and body acoustical reflecting chambers. Humans lack these traits, limiting our ability to make long-range calls like animals do. The study aims to improve human call efficiency for emergency situations.
Researchers found that d-limonene, a compound in citrus oils, protected cells producing saliva in mice exposed to radiation therapy. The study shows promising results for alleviating dry mouth in head and neck cancer patients.
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Researchers discovered a new strategy against anaplastic thyroid cancer using stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT), which showed better results than conventional radiotherapy. The study was made possible by a patient's donation of $10,000 to fund research.
A new AI method developed by MD Anderson researchers uses deep neural networks to automate the contouring of high-risk clinical target volumes in head and neck cancers. The model achieves comparable results to trained oncologists, offering a potential solution to reduce inter-physician variability and improve treatment efficiency.
Scientists from GFZ and universities reconstructed past changes in Earth's magnetic field using paleomagnetic data. They found that the South Atlantic Anomaly is unlikely to be a precursor of a pole reversal, as it was followed by increased field strength and disappearance of similar anomalies in the past.
A new device has been developed to reduce radiation exposure in nanoscale-level imaging of living cells, allowing for more accurate and undamaged images. This innovation enables the study of biological, chemical, and materials science samples in their near-native environments.
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A novel technique called radiation segmentectomy (RS) uses yttrium-90 to destroy tumors while sparing surrounding tissue. The procedure has shown positive response in 71% of patients and improved survival outcomes, with a median overall survival of 6.7 years.
New research from two large international trials confirms that intracavitary and interstitial brachytherapy is safe and does not increase the risk of ureteral stricture in cervical cancer patients. The treatment is associated with better survival rates and fewer adverse side effects compared to other radiation therapies.
The European Organisation for the Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) and ESTRO join forces to launch E2-RADIatE, a pan-European infrastructure for efficient collaboration in radiation oncology. The initiative aims to generate robust data on cancer treatment and develop new therapeutic strategies.
A recent study found that stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) can improve overall survival and reduce cognitive side-effects in patients with brain metastases from small-cell lung cancer. The study compared outcomes of 5,752 patients who received whole-brain radiation therapy (WBRT) to those of 200 patients who received SRS.
A recent study found that medical students receive little formal instruction in radiation oncology, a crucial aspect of cancer treatment. The study highlights the need for radiation oncologists to take ownership over educating medical students about their specialty's value in patient care. Despite this gap, some departments reported en...
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Carnegie Mellon's RadPiper robots will identify uranium deposits on pipe walls at the U.S. Department of Energy's former uranium enrichment plant in Piketon, Ohio, saving tens of millions of dollars in completing characterization. The robot's use reduces hazards to workers and increases labor savings by an eight-to-one ratio.
A new study published in JAMA Oncology found that higher doses of radiation therapy did not improve survival rates for patients with intermediate-risk prostate cancer. However, the study did show lower rates of recurrence and tumor growth in the group receiving the higher dose, which could lead to better quality of life.
The new guideline recommends hypofractionated whole breast irradiation (WBI) for most breast cancer patients, regardless of age or tumor stage. This accelerated treatment offers a more convenient and lower-cost option without compromising cancer control or side effects.
A low-calorie diet has been shown to enhance intestinal regeneration after injury in mice, with reserve stem cells playing a key role. The study found that calorie restriction expanded reserve stem cells five-fold and improved their ability to regenerate tissue, implicating them as critical players in this process.
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Researchers are testing new palliative radiation techniques to spare esophageal effects and improve swallowing function in lung cancer patients. The PROACTIVE trial aims to reduce negative symptoms like heartburn and difficulty swallowing.
A University of Colorado Cancer Center study found low post-treatment mortality rates for both surgery and targeted radiation in early-stage lung cancer patients. Patients over 80 years old showed significantly higher mortality rates with surgery compared to targeted radiation.
A large percentage of US small-cell lung cancer patients do not receive standard chemotherapy and radiation treatments, leading to lower overall survival. Patients with federal insurance are more likely to receive chemotherapy but less likely to receive radiation therapy.
Researchers have discovered that radiosurgery can be an effective treatment option for patients with four or more brain lesions, even when the number of deposits exceeds the traditional three-lesion threshold. The study found no significant difference in survival rates between patients treated with radiosurgery for 4-10 metastases and ...
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Researchers developed a diamond-based detector that can measure the number of protons in a dose of radiation with almost perfect accuracy. The device allows for precise control of radiation doses for cancer treatment and research, enabling scientists to study cell responses to different doses of radiation.
Researchers at WashU Medicine used noninvasive radiation therapy to treat five patients with ventricular tachycardia, a life-threatening heart rhythm. The treatment resulted in a significant reduction in arrhythmia events, with some patients experiencing no episodes over the course of a year.
A new study by U.S. and Chinese scientists found that coal ash from high-uranium deposits in China contains radiation levels 43 times higher than UN safety standards. The use of such ash in residential building materials is not suitable due to potential human health risks.
A recent study by Duke Cancer Institute found that ACA Medicaid expansion significantly reduced uninsured rates among white patients and those living in higher-income areas, but had little impact on black patients and residents of high-poverty areas. In contrast, states without expanded Medicaid saw a decline in uninsured rates primari...
A study by NYU Langone Health found that a higher-dose, shorter form of radiation is safe and effective for breast cancer patients under 50, with no increased risk of late side effects. The new technique also yields good to excellent long-term cosmetic results in 92% of patients.
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A phase II trial found that patients with HPV-related oropharyngeal cancer who received half the standard radiation dose achieved equally high cure rates at two years, with 95% tumor control and 89% disease-free survival. The reduced treatment also resulted in lower side effects compared to standard therapy.
A phase III trial has confirmed the effectiveness of pelvic radiation as a standard treatment for high-risk stage I-II endometrial cancer. The study found that adjuvant pelvic radiation provided better pelvic control and fewer severe side effects compared to a brachytherapy-chemotherapy combination.
A new study finds that patients with severe distress are more likely to miss appointments and be admitted to the hospital during radiation therapy. The NCCN Distress Thermometer, a tool to measure psychological state, can help identify patients who need additional support during treatment.
A phase II trial found that radiation therapy and immunotherapy can halt tumor growth in patients with stage IV cancer, with at least 30% experiencing favorable response. The treatment combination was safe and well-tolerated, with stable disease achieved for half of the patients.
A phase III trial demonstrates a 32 percent overall survival rate at five years, setting a new benchmark for patients with inoperable stage III NSCLC. The trial also confirms that using a higher radiation dose is not beneficial and can lead to detrimental outcomes.
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Researchers have discovered that the taxane drug Paclitaxel stimulates a unique form of cell division called tripolar mitosis, which makes tumor cells more sensitive to radiation therapy. This discovery could lead to the development of personalized treatment strategies by identifying patients with high levels of specific biomarkers.
ASTRO has recognized 43 researchers and clinical teams for their top-rated research abstracts, showcasing innovative science in radiation oncology. The Resident Clinical/Basic Science Research Abstract Award and Annual Meeting Travel Award also support early-career scientists, with a total of $45,000 in honorariums awarded.
A new framework allows physicians to tailor radiation dose to achieve optimal image quality for pediatric patients. The framework considers the interdependency of quality, dose, and size, providing a basis for optimizing individual scan parameters.
A new fossil discovery in the Dominican Republic provides evidence for a major radiation of flies (Calyptratae) during the Cenozoic Era, with the Cretaceous-Paleogene extinction event playing a crucial role. The study estimates that this diversification occurred around 50 million years ago.
Researchers have identified a genetic rearrangement involving the NF2 gene that causes meningiomas in long-term childhood cancer survivors. The study suggests that cranial-spinal radiation increases the risk of developing aggressive and recurring brain tumors.
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The American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) has selected 23 distinguished members to receive the ASTRO Fellow designation. These individuals have made significant contributions to the field of radiation oncology in research, education, patient care, or service and leadership.
ASTRO honors Edith Peterson Mitchell, MD, a leading researcher and medical oncologist, for her work on chemoradiation treatments. Her research has helped raise the profile of radiation oncology by providing clinical evidence for combined modality treatment.