Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy Causes Acceptable Levels of Toxicity: Presented at ELCC

GENEVA -- April 29, 2008 -- The nonfatal toxicity that sometimes accompanies stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) appears to be an acceptable adverse effect of the treatment in patients with early-stage non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), researchers reported here at the 1st European Lung Cancer Conference (ELCC).

Robert D. Timmerman, MD, Radiation Oncologist, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, and collaborators in the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group 0236 protocol studied a cohort of 59 patients between May 2004 and October 2006. Subjects in this phase 3 trial had inoperable NSCLC and had no other planned therapy.

source: Doctors Guide

TomoTherapy Participates in New Venture to Develop a Compact Proton Therapy System

MADISON, Wis. – April 28, 2008 – TomoTherapy Incorporated (NASDAQ: TOMO) today announced its participation in a new venture, Compact Particle Acceleration Corporation (CPAC), to develop a state-of-the-art, compact proton therapy system for the treatment of cancer. The system will feature a dielectric-wall accelerator (DWA).

CPAC conducted the initial closing of phase I of the investment, and anticipates completing phase I with one or more additional closings over the next several months. Investors in CPAC will include TomoTherapy, private investors and potential customers. A total investment of approximately $45 million is anticipated to be completed in three phases which are linked to key technological milestones.

The DWA technology, which resulted from defense-related research at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), has the potential to bring fixed and rotational intensity-modulated proton therapy (IMPT) to treat cancer into the medical mainstream.

source; TomoTherapy Inc.

Elekta’s New Line of Stereotactic Treatment Solutions is Redefining Excellence in Stereotaxy

April 24, 2008 – Elekta, a global leader in minimally invasive neurosurgery will feature its latest line of stereotactic solutions at the 76th Annual Meeting of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons’ (AANS), April 26 - May 1 in Chicago, Illinois. Highlights include Leksell Gamma Knife® Perfexion™ and Elekta Axesse™, two stereotactic treatment solutions that are creating new possibilities for the most challenging cases.

Now in clinical use in twenty locations across North America, Leksell Gamma Knife Perfexion combines the proven precision of the revolutionary Leksell Gamma Knife, with a three hundred percent expansion in clinical reach to treat a wider range of targets faster and more efficiently than ever before. The system’s unique geometric and dosimetric design simultaneously administers hundreds of beams of low-intensity radiation that converge to deliver a single, therapeutic dose of radiation with pin-point accuracy to the most difficult targets; while integrated treatment planning and delivery streamlines the radiosurgery process to treat even multiple brain lesions in a single automated procedure.

source: Elekta

Elektra Announces First LInear Accelerator Order in New Zealand

Elekta, a world leader in clinical solutions for radiosurgery and radiation therapy, has finalized its first-ever New Zealand order. Auckland Radiation Oncology Limited (ARO) have decided to invest in a new Elekta Synergy® system with MOSAIQ™ EMR and Elekta VMAT, for delivery in April.

Andrew Wong, M.D., says ARO’s decision to purchase Elekta was based on several factors. “Elekta Synergy technology is state of the art. The 3D cone-beam imaging performed at the time of treatment assures not only high-quality images but also exceptional precision in treating tumors. An additional consideration was Elekta’s willingness to address ARO’s questions and concerns with customized service and support.”

ARO will be the first site in New Zealand to utilize Elekta Synergy which will be also capable of performing Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy (VMAT). This advanced cancer treatment technology improves on Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT) by simultaneously controlling the position and speed of the linear accelerator gantry, the multileaf collimator and the dose rate, enabling highly conformal radiation doses to the target site, while sparing surrounding healthy tissue.

source: http://newsroom.cision.com

American Society For Therapeutic Radiology And Oncology Launches Online Practice Quality Improvement Project

The American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology launched its Performance Assessment for the Advancement of Radiation Oncology Treatment (PAAROT) program on April 1 as a way for ASTRO members to satisfy the American Board of Radiology's Maintenance of Certification program requirements.

PAAROT was fully qualified as meeting the ABR's criteria for a Type-2 Practice Quality Improvement project in October 2007, and will allow participating physicians to analyze their strengths and areas that need improvement, as well as receive feedback on where specific changes can be made in their practices - all online. A practice inventory will then be compiled from which participants will select a minimum of one area to improve upon, which will be the focus of their PQI project.

source: Medical News Today

Varian Medical Systems Announces Record Demand for New RapidArc™ Radiotherapy Treatment Capability

PALO ALTO, Calif., April 23 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Varian Medical Systems (NYSE: VAR) today announced it has received more than 60 orders for its new RapidArc radiotherapy product for faster image-guided intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT). RapidArc orders have been concentrated in North America but have also come in from Europe and Asia since the product was introduced to the market in January, according to the company.

"We are delighted with the early interest in RapidArc, which promises to be a formidable weapon in the battle against cancer," says Tim Guertin, president and CEO of Varian Medical Systems. "This represents the strongest demand for any new product in our history and reflects the need for faster, more user-friendly systems that enable clinics to offer more patients greater access to advanced image-guided IMRT treatments with precision and quality. With RapidArc, we are adding to the already-unsurpassed versatility and value of our Clinac® and Trilogy® accelerators, making it possible for clinics to use a broader range of imaging, motion management, and dose delivery techniques to deliver an optimal cancer treatment for each and every patient." The company expects to begin shipment of the RapidArc product before the end of this month.

source: Varian Medical Press Release

Oncothyreon's PX-478 Enhances Antitumor Effects of Radiation Therapy in Preclinical Models of Pancreatic and Brain Cancer

BELLEVUE, WA, April 15 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ - Oncothyreon Inc. (Nasdaq: ONTY - News; TSX:ONY - News) announced today that data from preclinical studies of PX-478, an investigational small molecule cancer therapy, were presented yesterday by David L. Schwartz, M.D, University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, at the Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) in San Diego. The data demonstrate that PX-478 enhances the effect of radiation therapy in xenograft models of both glioma, a form of brain cancer, and pancreatic cancer. Oncothyreon is currently conducting a Phase 1 clinical trial of PX-478 in patients with advanced metastatic cancer.

PX-478 is a small molecule inhibitor of hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1 alpha, a component of the transcription factor HIF-1 that plays a critical role in the cellular response to low oxygen levels (hypoxia). HIF-1 helps to restore normal oxygen levels in part by stimulating the growth of new blood vessels into the tumor through the induction of angiogenic agents, including vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Restoration of normal oxygen levels has been shown to counteract the cell-killing effects of radiation therapy.

source: BioSpace

TomoTherapy to Acquire Linear Accelerator Manufacturer in China

MADISON, Wis. – April 17, 2008 – TomoTherapy Incorporated (NASDAQ: TOMO), maker of the Hi·Art® treatment system for advanced radiation therapy, announced today that it has entered into an agreement to acquire privately held linear accelerator manufacturer Chengdu Twin Peak Accelerator Technology Inc., based in Chengdu, China.

A linear accelerator (linac) is a key component in radiation therapy systems, used to create high-energy x-rays for cancer treatments. The linear accelerators designed, developed and manufactured by Twin Peak will be used to supplement TomoTherapy’s existing supply source.

According to Fred Robertson, CEO of TomoTherapy: “We are very pleased to make this announcement. The acquisition of Twin Peak represents a substantial advance in our ability to control the quality and features of our products. This is also a piece of our longer-term strategy of reducing the cost of the Hi·Art treatment system to improve margins.”

source: Tomotherapy

Yashoda Commissions 1st RapidArc for Cancer

RapidArc is a form of volumetric arc therapy that operates up to eight times faster than conventional IMRT

Yashoda group of Hospitals announced the commissioning of Asia's first RapidArc-radiation technology unit at new Yashoda Cancer Hospital at Somajiguda, Hyderabad shortly. Arc is the latest technology in radiation therapy treatment that is going to be introduced at Yashoda Hospital simultaneously along with leading cities world over. After its R&D in the US and abroad, Varian Medical Systems is introducing RapidArc as a major advancement in high precision radiotherapy treatment delivery, which will improve dose conformity and shorten treatment times with more accurate and focused radiation at no additional cost.

source: Express Healthcare

Royal College of Radiologists publishes latest audit of radiotherapy waitng times

The Royal College of Radiologists' (RCR) latest audit on radiotherapy waiting times shows a significant improvement on the results obtained two years ago. Now a third of patients receiving curative radiotherapy wait longer than the recommended maximum of four weeks; previously the figure was 50% of patients. The 2007 survey of radiotherapy waiting times in the United Kingdom is published yesterday, Monday 14 April 2008.

UK wide audits have previously been conducted by the College in 1998, 2003, and 2005; the latest results come from a survey conducted in September 2007. These results show sustained improvement on 2003 and 2005, and a return to the findings of 1998. In particular, the percentage of patients waiting more than 28 days for radical radiotherapy dropped from 53% in 2005 to 32% in 2007.


source: RCR Press Release

Radiation Beneficial for Older Breast Cancer Patients

Fairfax, Va., April 11, 2008 – A breast cancer patient’s age alone should not determine whether or not she receives standard breast-conservation treatments, including a lumpectomy and radiation therapy; however, if additional health problems (comorbidities) are present, treatments should be individualized based on age and the type of comorbidities, according to a study in the April 1 edition of the International Journal for Radiation Oncology*Biology*Physics, the official journal of the American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology.

The occurrence of breast cancer in women increases as women age. According to the National Cancer Institute’s SEER Cancer Statistics Review, women between the ages of 75 and 79 have the highest incidence of breast cancer diagnoses at 497 cases per 100,000 people. Along with cancer, most women in this age group are dealing with additional health problems.

source: ASTRO.org

Drug Found to Offer Protection from Radiation Damage

Scientists have developed a new drug known as CBLB592 which appears to block radiation damage to the body and has the potential to make radiotherapy cancer treatments safer and more effective. The drug could also be used in the event of a "dirty bomb" or nuclear disaster.

Radiation kills cancerous cells be causing damage which encourages cell suicide, or apoptosis. However, healthy tissues are also sensitive to radiation, particularly the bone marrow and gastrointestinal tract. This limits the amount of radiation physicians can use in cancer treatment.

In a series of experiments, researchers injected CBLB592 into mice and rhesus monkeys from 15 minutes to an hour before exposing the animals to lethal doses of full-body radiation. They found the drug dramatically improved the animals' survival however didn't block radiation from treating the tumors of the mice.

abstract

Distance Learning Course In Radiation Oncology For Cancer Treatment

A shortage of medical specialists for cancer treatment in developing countries is a driving force behind a new web-based educational course that could help change the health-care picture over time. The course - in the speciality of radiation oncology - is being spearheaded in the Asia and Pacific region through partners working with the IAEA.

Radiation oncologists are physicians skilled in the use of radiotherapy, which plays a positive role in the care and treatment of about half of all cancer patients. The incidence of cancer is rising in developing countries, and the IAEA has intensified its programmes and work with partner organizations in the field.

source: Medical News Today

Purdue Engineers Create Needle Sized Dosimeter to Assist with Radiation Therapy

Purdue University engineers are creating a tiny wireless dosimeter small enough to fit into a large diameter needle and be injected by syringe into a tumor site. The device will tell physicians the exact radiation dose administered as well as the precise tumor location. It is anticipated that the information provided will be invaluable in helping to effectively kill more tumors.

Babak Ziaie, an associate professor in the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, is leading a team that has tested a prototype "wireless implantable passive micro-dosimeter". It is expected that the device will be in clinical trials by 2010. Research findings may be found in a paper written by doctoral student Chulwoo Son and Ziaie and appearing in the June issue of IEEE Transactions On Biomedical Engineering.

adapted from material published by thePurdue University News Service

Atlanta Oncology Associates Offers First and Only AccuBoost Breast Cancer Radiotherapy Procedure in Metro Atlanta

ATLANTA, April 3, 2008 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- Atlanta Oncology Associates (AOA), one of the largest radiation therapy groups in the Southeast, recently installed the first AccuBoost breast cancer radiotherapy system in Metro Atlanta -- only the eighth in the United States -- at their Northlake office in Tucker (1475 Montreal Road; 770-270-5085). The first patient was treated March 31.

The AccuBoost system is an image-guided radiation therapy (IGRT) technique that uses high-dose radiation (HDR) brachytherapy to deliver a focused dose to the lumpectomy site.

"We believe AccuBoost will greatly benefit our patients and are honored to offer the only system in Atlanta," said Dr. Dale McCord, President and CEO of AOA. "The initial boost phase of a breast cancer patient's treatment is critical, and while we have a very highly trained staff, having a system that ensures accuracy and consistency will eliminate potential miscues."

source: Prime Newswire