Elekta’s Monaco System Used for First Time to Create VMAT Plan for Delivery on Varian Treatment System

The Department of Radiation Medicine at Oregon Health & Science University’s (OHSU) Knight Cancer Institute was first to treat a cancer patient using Elekta’s Monaco® software to create a Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy (VMAT) treatment plan and then deliver it on a Varian Trilogy® treatment machine. Prior to this first clinical use combining Monaco VMAT and Trilogy, OHSU physicists had produced Monaco test plans using prior treatment data from 15 patients, the plans for which had been generated using their customary planning system. The Monaco test plans compared favorably to the clinical plans in three crucial aspects, said Wolfram Laub, Ph.D., M.B.A., chief physicist for the OHSU Knight Cancer Institute’s radiation medicine department and clinical associate professor at OHSU.

“First, Monaco uses the XVMC Monte Carlo dose engine, which is considered the gold standard for dose calculation,” he said. “Comparing the Monaco plans to those produced by our usual planning system, I noticed higher volumes of normal tissues exposed to low radiation dose levels, which I attribute to the fact that Monte Carlo can more accurately account for photon scatter.”

Dr. Laub, who serves as a consultant for Elekta, believes that the Monaco treatment plans tend to be less complex in terms of the shape of IMRT segments, when producing the same quality plans. QA passing rates on average have been observed to be higher. “Less complexity is always better as long as it doesn’t impact plan quality,” he said.

The third observation regarding the Monaco plans applies to the advantages of using biological constraints. “I believe that biological constraints give a great deal of control over a treatment plan. They allow the use of templates, or what I call a ‘class solution,’ which is not possible to the same extent when dosimetrists use DVH constraints for optimization – since those really need to be tailored for each patient.”

source: Elekta

Elekta’s Gamma Knife and Radiation Therapy Systems for Cancer Treatment Take Top Three Places in 2012’s Best in KLAS for Radiation Therapy

Elekta swept the top three rankings in the KLAS research firm’s recently released 2012 Best in KLAS Awards: Medical Equipment & Infrastructure report*

Elekta’s Leksell Gamma Knife® Perfexion™ radiosurgery system and Elekta Synergy® and Elekta Infinity™ radiation therapy systems earned the #1, #2 and #3 rankings, respectively, out of eight possible rankings.

In the report, Perfexion scored 93.9 out of 100, and 100 percent of customers indicated they would buy again. On a 1 to 9 scale, Perfexion received an 8.7 from respondents for satisfaction with product uptime, the highest score among all vendors rated in the market segment.

Elekta Synergy scored 87.1 out of 100, and 100 percent of customers specified they would purchase again. Elekta Infinity received a score of 85.4, with 86 percent indicating they would buy again. All three Elekta solutions posted an improved rating change from last year’s KLAS report: Perfexion, +1 percent; Synergy, +1 percent; and Infinity, +4 percent.

“Once again, we’re honored that the KLAS respondents continue to hold Elekta products in such high regard, and that they’ve been able earn even higher marks than last year,” says Jay Hoey, Executive Vice President, Elekta North America. “We translate our customers’ perceptions of these solutions as a reflection of how well they help improve and prolong patients’ lives.”

source: Elekta

IsoRay Announces World's First Cesium-131 Mesh Treatment for Meningioma Brain Tumors

RICHLAND, WA, Jun 05, 2012 (MARKETWIRE via COMTEX) -- IsoRay Inc. ISR -2.69% , a medical technology company and innovator in seed brachytherapy and medical radioisotope applications, today announced another milestone in the treatment of brain tumors using its groundbreaking Cesium-131 (Cs-131) seed sutured mesh for internal radiation therapy. Dr. Kris Alan Smith, surgeon and Medical Director, Gamma Knife Center, supported by Dr. David G. Brachman, Medical Director of Radiation Oncology at St. Joseph's Hospital & Medical Center, Barrow Neurological Institute in Phoenix, Arizona, performed the world's first Cesium-131 brachytherapy seed sutured mesh implant on a female patient suffering from a recurring meningioma tumor.

Meningiomas are an assorted set of tumors that develop in membranous layers surrounding the central nervous system. According to the American Brain Tumor Association, meningiomas are the most common primary brain tumor and represent one-third of all brain tumors. These fast growing tumors often reoccur. They cause pressure on the brain, destroying brain cells and causing a variety of health and quality of life problems for the stricken patient. There are both benign and malignant meningioma tumors.

The Cesium-131 brachytherapy sutured mesh implant was performed on a female patient suffering from her fourth reoccurrence of a meningioma. The sutured mesh was placed over the resected tumor at the time of surgery to provide immediate radiation therapy to the entire tumor bed and margins, which is aimed at preventing tumor reoccurrence.

source: Isoray

DARA BioSciences Announces Launch of Bionect for Treatment of Skin Irritation and Burns Associated With Radiation Therapy for Cancer

RALEIGH, N.C., June 6, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- DARA BioSciences, Inc. (Nasdaq:DARA) (the "Company" or "DARA"), an emerging oncology and oncology-support specialty pharmaceutical company, announced the commercial launch of Bionect® for the treatment of skin irritation and burns associated with radiation therapy.

DARA has hired a dedicated team of five field-based Regional Business Directors who will coordinate the commercial introduction of Bionect for the cancer care market across the United States. Each Director brings over 20 years of commercial experience as well as extensive expertise in product launches and niche product marketing.

"This is a milestone event for DARA. In a very short period of time we have transformed ourselves into a fully integrated specialty pharmaceutical company. The launch of Bionect demonstrates our ability to execute against our corporate objective of making this transformation a reality. Our goal is to become the preeminent company in oncology supportive care. Bionect is the first step in that direction," said CEO Dr. David J. Drutz.

Nearly two-thirds of cancer patients will receive radiation therapy during their illness. This equates to approximately one million patients per year treated with radiotherapy. Up to 87 percent of these radiation oncology patients may experience moderate to severe radiodermatitis, during or after therapy. Such treatment breaks down skin barriers, which may lead to infection. The management of these skin reactions varies among cancer centers and is often based on personal preference and historical practices rather than clinical evidence. In a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial, Bionect, the only low-molecular-weight hyaluronic acid available in the market, was shown to help resolve radiation-induced inflammation and also to postpone the first signs of acute epithelitis.

source: DARA Bioscience

Large U.S. Multi-Center Study Confirms Safety and Efficacy of SIR-Spheres(R) microspheres in More Than 600 Patients with Unresectable Liver Metastases

CHICAGO, Jun 04, 2012 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- SIR-Spheres(R) microspheres are well-tolerated and effective internal radiotherapy for unresectable, heavily pre-treated colorectal cancer liver metastases, according to results from a new study of more than 600 patients presented today at the 2012 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting. The data were presented by lead investigator Andrew Kennedy, M.D., FACRO, from Cancer Centers of North Carolina and North Carolina State University.(1) SIR-Spheres microspheres are manufactured by Sirtex and are the only fully FDA-approved microsphere radiation therapy for the treatment of colorectal liver metastases.

"This is the largest, most comprehensive study to date evaluating the use of Selective Internal Radiation Therapy (SIRT) in liver metastases from colorectal cancer," said Dr. Kennedy. "The data presented at ASCO confirm the safety and efficacy of this treatment option for patients and provide truly useful, validated information for clinicians. It is our hope that these results will help encourage appropriate patient selection discussion during tumor boards and with individual patients and their families."

SIR-Spheres microspheres are a novel outpatient treatment for colorectal liver metastases, both alone and in combination with chemotherapy. SIR-Spheres microspheres were FDA approved for use in colorectal liver metastases in 2002 and are now available at more than 400 cancer centers worldwide.

source= Marketwatch

ViewRay Receives FDA 510(k) Clearance for MRI-Guided Radiation Therapy System

CLEVELAND, May 30, 2012 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- ViewRay(TM) Incorporated, a privately held medical device company, has received U.S. FDA 510(k) premarket notification clearance for its MRI-guided radiation therapy system. The ViewRay system features a unique combination of radiotherapy delivery and simultaneous magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for the treatment of cancer. ViewRay's treatment planning and delivery software received 510(k) premarket notification clearance in 2011.

"FDA clearance of our integrated system is a major milestone in the development of our technology," said ViewRay President and CEO Gregory M. Ayers, MD, PhD. "It has already been an exciting year for ViewRay, with an additional round of funding and the installation of our first research systems at major U.S. medical centers. Early clinical imaging studies have verified the quality of the system's MR images, and now we're looking forward to clinical applications." The ViewRay system provides continuous soft-tissue imaging during treatment so that clinicians can see and record precisely where radiation therapy is being delivered, as it's being delivered.

ViewRay's patented cancer treatment technology was invented by company founder James F. Dempsey, PhD, while he was a member of the radiation oncology faculty at the University of Florida. "ViewRay began with the idea that we need to see what exactly we're doing when we treat cancer patients with radiation therapy," said Dempsey, now ViewRay's chief scientific officer. "Thanks to our clear vision, an outstanding engineering team, and dedicated leadership, we're now able to bring that idea into the clinic, where it can help cancer patients."

source: MarketWatch

The US Oncology Network to Standardize on Elekta’s MOSAIQ Oncology Information System

The US Oncology Network (The Woodlands, Texas) – among the largest networks of community-based oncology physicians in the United States – has selected Elekta’s MOSAIQ® Oncology Information System (OIS) as the standard radiation oncology OIS across The Network. In the agreement, The Network committed to purchase five Elekta Infinity™ linear accelerators.The order was booked during Elekta’s third quarter 2011/12.

The recent agreement continues The US Oncology Network’s long-standing relationship with Elekta, as many Network practices are already MOSAIQ users.

“We have found the MOSAIQ OIS software to be very workflow friendly – it increases productivity within our radiation therapy departments,” says Charles Smith PhD, The US Oncology Network Vice President of Cancer Center Services. “Standardizing on the same MOSAIQ version across the entire enterprise will enable us to implement and share best workflow practices and help us to deliver high quality radiation therapy in a cost effective way.”

Dr. Vivek Kavadi, Radiation Oncology Medical Director for The US Oncology Network, says: “This MOSAIQ investment will enable radiation oncologists across The US Oncology Network to better share clinical best practices and support our integrated care platform.”

MOSAIQ is a comprehensive vendor neutral OIS that centralizes radiation oncology and medical oncology patient data into a single user interface, accessible by multidisciplinary teams across multiple locations. MOSAIQ provides hospitals and oncology staff access to the underlying clinical and administrative data, improving both clinical care and operational effectiveness.

source: Elekta

IsoRay's GliaSite Approved for Sale in 31 European Countries

IsoRay Inc. ISR -9.33% , a medical technology company and innovator in seed brachytherapy and medical radioisotope applications, today announced that the GliaSite(R) radiation therapy system, the world's only balloon catheter device used in the treatment of brain cancer, has earned the European CE Mark, allowing immediate sale in 31 European countries. The system's balloon catheter is a landmark technology that allows physicians to treat more patients than ever before with brachytherapy or internal radiation and provides important benefits over other radiation treatment options.

The CE mark designates that the manufacturer conforms with the essential product requirements of the applicable European Commission directives. Granted after a rigorous evaluation process, the CE mark allows a product to be legally marketed in the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) member states as well as the European Union.

IsoRay Chairman and CEO Dwight Babcock commented, "This is a major event for IsoRay as it opens the door to revenue opportunities in international markets where our current distributor previously marketed GliaSite(R) for its prior manufacturer. In addition, it allows us to pursue other distribution opportunities in countries not previously serviced. This historic moment completes the last requirement essential to initiate the international launch of our GliaSite(R) radiation therapy system".

source: IsoRay

New Study Shows Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy (SBRT) as an Emerging Ablative Therapy for Recurrent Gynecologic Cancer

Fort Myers, FL, May 12, 2012 --(PR.com)-- For the past five years, a small group of Lee County women has been participating in a groundbreaking study using a type of radiation therapy initially used in the treatment of prostate cancer. In the study, presented at the Society for Gynecologic Oncology National Meeting, Southwest Florida physicians Constantine Mantz, M.D., Edward Grendys, M.D., Fadi Abu Shahin, M.D. and James Orr, M.D. recounted the success they have had using Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy (SBRT) on women with recurrent gynecologic cancers.

Thirty-six patients have been treated using SBRT and have been followed for more than two years. Stereotactic radiation therapy combines radiation therapy with guidance technology. SBRT delivers radiation very precisely to the affected area. The treatment involves sophisticated x-ray technology to capture highly detailed images of the tumor and achieve an extremely degree of accuracy for treatment.

Dr. Orr explains, “We have now developed a new technology for women with recurrent gynecological cancer to alleviate their symptoms and potentially eradicate disease in areas that can be life threatening due to bleeding and infection. It can be used to treat virtually all types of gynecological cancers, including ovarian cancer. The other major benefit to this treatment is that it runs for 10 days instead of months of chemotherapy.”

Because the radiation is delivered so accurately, areas can be retreated if necessary. “While this does not take the place of chemotherapy or wider range radiation, it can be used in conjunction with standard treatment protocols with great success. This is a fantastic way of treating recurrent disease in a manner that has minimal impact on the patient’s quality of life,” Dr. Orr added. “If a woman has had cancer, and has a recurrence, this is an extremely effective tool for treating the cancer quickly and easily, and letting the patient get on with her life.”

source: PR.com

Mobile Skin Cancer Treatment Now Features Xstrahl Superficial Radiation System

CARSON CITY, Nev., April 30, 2012 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- AlderMed(TM) ( www.aldermed.com ) announced today it has entered into a three-year exclusive distribution agreement with Gulmay Medical(TM), manufacturer of the Xstrahl-100 therapy system. AlderMed provides the first mobile service to bring low-dose superficial radiotherapy treatment directly to the point-of-care. Together they strive to bring skin cancer patients a non-surgical, painless and effect treatment for non-melanoma skin cancer at their dermatology and cosmetic surgery office.

Applying the AlderMed SRTeam service model, along with the proprietary mobile x-ray technology of the Xstrahl-100(TM) system, dermatologists can offer their patients more choices when treating basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas. Not only does AlderMed deliver the treatment, it brings added expertise to the dermatologist by providing its own staff of radiation therapists, including access to consultation with medical physicists and radiation oncologists. When compared to other treatment modalities and surgical options, the Xstrahl-100 delivers high cure rates, low recurrence rates, no scarring and the convenience of treatment at the doctor's office.

"We are privileged to work with the global leader in X-ray therapy devices," said Larry Findleton, president at AlderMed. "We believe our service improves the quality of care for the patient. At the same time, increasing the value of the dermatologist's practice, by bringing a very affordable, mobile non-surgical skin cancer treatment service to their office."

source: PR newswire

Accuray Launches First Study to Compare CyberKnife® SBRT to Surgery and IMRT for Treatment of Early-Stage Prostate Cancer

SUNNYVALE, Calif., April 26, 2012 – Accuray Incorporated (Nasdaq: ARAY), the premier radiation oncology company, announced today the launch of the Prostate Advances in Comparative Evidence (PACE) Study, an international, multi-center, randomized study to compare CyberKnife® Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy (SBRT), da Vinci assisted and manual laparoscopic surgery and conventionally fractionated intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT), for the treatment of localized prostate cancer. The PACE Study aims to build upon the strong foundation of published evidence for CyberKnife prostate SBRT by creating comparative evidence to support its future potential as the gold standard in the treatment of organ confined prostate cancer. This information will enable clinicians and patients to make informed treatment decisions based on the highest level of clinical evidence.

Currently, there is no clear gold standard for localized prostate cancer treatment. A lack of comparative clinical data has prevented definitive conclusions to be drawn as to which therapy can be considered the preferred treatment for localized prostate cancer. Treatment decisions have often been made based on historical experience, aged comparisons of older treatment techniques or single modality experiences. Physicians and leading industry groups, including The Agency for Healthcare Quality and Research (AHRQ) and the Medicare Evidence Development and Coverage Advisory Committee (MEDCAC), have called for a randomized study comparing the most popular treatment options to bring clarity to the treatment landscape.

source; Accuray

Elekta Announces First Patients Treated with Major Breakthrough in Cancer Therapy

Using Agility(TM)*, Elekta's latest MLC innovation, patients at St. James's University Hospital were the first in the world to benefit from this modern advancement in the treatment of cancer. With twice the number of leaves typical of many standard MLCs, Agility precisely sculpts delivered radiation to the unique contours of the tumor while reducing the risk of exposure to surrounding healthy tissue.

A multileaf collimator, a device made up of numerous individual tungsten leaves, is commonly used to shape beams of radiation as therapeutic doses are delivered from different angles around the patient.

"This truly represents a radical improvement in the way we deliver radiotherapy, combining both speed and precision in tailoring the radiation beams to the exact shape of the patient's tumor," says Vivian Cosgrove, Ph.D., head of radiotherapy physics at St. James's. "Agility enables a faster delivery of advanced radiotherapy treatments. Reduced treatment times will lead to a better experience for the patient and will improve access to the technology for the benefit of more of our patients."

The product of an extensive R&D effort by Elekta to transform cancer care, the leaves of Agility are also capable of traveling at twice the speed of other MLCs commonly used in radiotherapy.

source:MarketWatch

Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy optimal for localized prostate cancer

Chapel Hill - A treatment for localized prostate cancer known as Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT) is better than conventional conformal radiation therapy (CRT) for reducing certain side effects and preventing cancer recurrence, according to a study published in the April 18, 2012 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association. In 2012, approximately 241,740 American men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer.

The study also showed IMRT to be as effective as proton therapy, a newer technique that has grown in popularity in recent years. Ronald Chen, MD, MPH, senior author, says, "Patients and doctors are often drawn to new treatments, but there have not been many studies that directly compare new radiation therapy options to older ones."

Chen is assistant professor of radiation oncology and a research fellow at the Sheps Center for Health Services Research at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He is a member of UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center.

He explains, "In the past 10 years, IMRT has largely replaced conventional CRT as the main radiation technique for prostate cancer, without much data to support it. This study validated our change in practice, showing that IMRT better controls prostate cancer and results in fewer side effects.

"Our data show that in comparing IMRT to proton therapy, IMRT patients had a lower rate of gastrointestinal side effects, but there were no significant differences in rates of other side effects or additional therapies."

source: EurekAlert?

AMIC Obtains Exclusive License for Injectable Radiogel for High-Dose Interstitial Radiation Therapy

KENNEWICK, Wash., April 10, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Advanced Medical Isotope Corporation (“AMIC”) (OTCBB:ADMD), a company engaged in the production and distribution of medical isotopes, has obtained an exclusive license to eight patents for injectable radiogel technology for use in high-dose radiation therapy. The license was granted by Battelle pursuant to an option between Battelle and AMIC announced in February 2011.

The Agreement grants AMIC an exclusive license to make, have made, use and sell a radiogel system including an injectable, water-based biodegradable polymer that delivers Yttrium-90 microspheres directly into tumor tissues. The solution warms to body temperature quickly after injection and then polymerizes into a lattice that traps the Yttrium-90 microspheres in place. High-energy beta particles from Yttrium-90 efficiently irradiate cancer cells within the targeted volume but very little radiation escapes. This feature maximizes the overall radiation dose to cancer cells while minimizing radiation exposure and associated side-effects in nearby normal tissues.


The injectable radiogel may also be administered transdermally or intraoperatively when treating solid tumors that cannot be removed safely by surgical excision, such as inoperable liver cancer, brain tumors, head and neck tumors, kidney tumors, and pancreatic cancer. Levels of activity may be accelerated to treat radiation-resistant solid tumors that may not respond well to conventional external-beam therapy.

Yttrium-90 is a well-established medical isotope with many applications in cancer treatment. The combination of insoluble Yttrium-90 microspheres and the radiogel carrier offers physicians an opportunity to deliver a safe, effective treatment option at a low cost.

source: AMIC

Varian Medical Systems Receives FDA 510(k) Clearance for Use of Transponder to Monitor Motion During Radiotherapy Anywhere in Body

PALO ALTO, Calif., Feb. 28, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Varian Medical Systems (NYSE: VAR) has received 510(k) clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for a surface beacon transponder to be used with the Varian Calypso system as a real-time tracking device capable of monitoring motion during radiotherapy treatments for indications anywhere in the body. The Surface Beacon® Transponder is placed temporarily on the skin for real time tracking of respiratory and other patient motion during radiotherapy, thereby greatly expanding the number of cancer sites for which the Calypso technology can be used.

"Our new surface transponder allows users to track patient motion in real-time during treatment," says Chris Toth, vice president of marketing for Varian's Oncology Systems group. "It can be placed on a patient's chest wall to monitor respiratory motion during radiotherapy. It is designed to improve targeting in some of the most prevalent types of cancer, including breast cancer."

For example, chest wall monitoring during treatment of the left breast can correlate with the position of the heart. Having a tool to monitor this position in real-time enables clinicians to design treatments that eliminate or significantly reduce dose to the heart. Breast cancer is the most common cancer for women in the U.S. – an estimated 30 percent* of women will develop breast cancer over their lifetime.

source: Varian Medical

Accuray Recognized for Delivering 'World-Class' Customer Service

SUNNYVALE, Calif., Feb. 29, 2012 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Accuray Incorporated ARAY -1.74% , the premier radiation oncology company, announced today that it has received the NorthFace ScoreBoard Award(SM) (NFSB Award) from Omega Management Group Corp. (Omega) in recognition of achieving excellence in customer service and support in 2011. In addition to getting exceptional ratings for customer satisfaction, Accuray is the first organization also to qualify for outstanding customer loyalty based on its Net Promoter ScoreTM (NPS) under a new NFSB-NPS methodology Omega announced on Dec. 6, 2011. 

Since 2000, the NFSB Award has been presented annually to companies that, as rated solely by their own customers, exceeded expectations in customer service and support during the prior calendar year. 

"The NorthFace ScoreBoard Award recognizes organizations that not only offer exemplary customer service, but who also center their existence on a deep commitment to exceeding customer expectations," said John Alexander Maraganis, founder, president and CEO of Omega. "There is no award designed specifically for NPS users that recognizes such achievement at this high level, so we are pleased to welcome Accuray to the elite group of NFSB Award recipients." 

source: PR Newswire

Apeiron Initiates Clinical Study to Investigate Prevention of Radiation-Induced Skin Damage in Breast Cancer Patients

Vienna, 27th February 2012: APEIRON Biologics AG (Apeiron) today announced that a clinical trial has started with the agent superoxide dismutase (project APN201) to investigate its potential for prevention of radiation dermatitis in breast cancer patients.

Today, Apeiron announced that a clinical trial has started with a liposomal topical formulation of the enzyme human recombinant superoxide dismutase (project APN201) at the University Hospital for Radiation Therapy / Radio-oncology of the Medical University Graz. APN201 is being developed clinically in collaboration with the Austrian contract manufacturer Polymun Scientific. The double blind, placebo-controlled study is conducted at a single center and shall enroll 20 breast cancer patients that receive radiation therapy after breast-preserving surgery.

Superoxide dismutase (SOD) is an enzyme that degrades and renders harmless highly reactive oxygen radicals that occur, amongst other situations, during radiotherapy of cancer. This pilot study aims at investigation of safety and tolerability of topical APN201 as well as hints for efficacy to prevent radiation dermatitis in breast cancer patients that undergo radiotherapy after surgery. In general, about fifty percent of cancer patients receive radiotherapy (in addition to chemotherapy, surgery and other therapies). Often, concomitant skin damage occurs which is comparable to burns. This radiation dermatitis can be severe and even lead to discontinuation of radiotherapy. Today, radiation dermatitis is mainly treated symptomatically with skin creams.

source: PharmaLive

Soligenix Announces Results From Its Phase 1/2 Clinical Trial of SGX201 for the Prevention of Acute Radiation Enteritis

PRINCETON, N.J., Feb. 10, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Soligenix, Inc. (OTCBB: SNGXD) (Soligenix or the Company), a development stage biopharmaceutical company, announced preliminary results today from a Phase 1/2 clinical trial evaluating SGX201, a time-release formulation of oral beclomethasone 17,21-dipropionate (oral BDP), for the prevention of acute radiation enteritis.

The Phase 1/2 protocol BDP-ENT-01 was designed as an open label, randomized, dose-finding study at five centers. Sixteen patients with rectal cancer scheduled to undergo concurrent radiation and chemotherapy prior to surgery were enrolled in one of four dose groups, with dosing administered throughout the duration of radiation therapy plus one week. The primary objective of the study was to evaluate the safety and tolerability of escalating doses of SGX201, as well as to assess the preliminary efficacy of SGX201 for prevention of signs and symptoms of acute radiation enteritis. The study was supported in large part by a two-year Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant award from the National Cancer Institute (NCI), which provided Soligenix with approximately $510,000.

The study demonstrated that oral administration of SGX201 was safe and well tolerated across all four dose groups.  There was also evidence of a potential dose response with respect to diarrhea, nausea and vomiting and the assessment of enteritis according to NCI Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events for selected gastrointestinal events. In addition, the incidence of diarrhea was lower than that seen in recent published historical control data in this patient population.

source: Solagenix

Technique Provides New Option for Breast Reconstruction After Radiation Therapy

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill., Jan 30, 2012 (GlobeNewswire via COMTEX) -- For breast cancer patients who have undergone radiation therapy, a new technique consisting of fat injection followed by implant placement may provide a much-needed alternative for breast reconstruction, reports a study in the February issue of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery(R), the official medical journal of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS). 

"Fat grafting seems to reduce the radiation-induced complications in implants," according to the authors of the new study, led by Dr. Salgarello Marzja of University Hospital "A. Gemelli" in Rome. With further study, the combination technique may offer women who have undergone radiation therapy an effective new reconstructive option. 

Fat Grafts Provide a 'Bed' for Implant Reconstruction 

Dr. Marzja and colleagues investigated the use of fat grafting to achieve better results with implant-based breast reconstruction after surgery plus radiation therapy for breast cancer. Because of an increased risk of complications, women who have undergone radiation therapy are usually not considered for reconstruction using implants. 

Over a three-year period, researchers used the combination technique in 16 patients who underwent surgery followed by radiation therapy for breast cancer.

source: MarketWatch

Research from the 2012 Genitourinary Cancers Symposium highlights new treatments, compares existing therapies for prostate cancer

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – Research on promising new therapies and data on the relative benefits of established treatments for prostate cancer were released today, in advance of the fourth annual Genitourinary Cancers Symposium, being held February 2-4, 2012, at the San Francisco Marriott Marquis in San Francisco, Calif.
The results of five studies were highlighted in a media presscast (press briefing via live webcast):

1) Vigorous Exercise Linked to Expression of Certain Genes in Early-Stage Prostate Cancer: A study shows that men with early-stage prostate cancer who exercise vigorously at least three hours a week have more than 180 genes that are expressed differently in the prostate than those who did not exercise as intensively. These genes include known tumor suppressor genes and DNA repair pathways, suggesting a number of potential mechanisms by which vigorous exercise may help delay cancer progression, as prior studies have shown.

2) IMRT Better Than Conformal Radiation Therapy for Reducing Prostate Cancer Recurrence and Side Effects, May Also Be Superior to Proton Beam Therapy: A large comparative effectiveness study shows that men with localized prostate cancer who are treated with intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) are less likely to experience cancer recurrence or significant side effects from treatment than those who receive conventional conformal radiation therapy (CRT). The analysis also found that proton beam therapy, a newer and more costly form of radiation treatment, did not significantly improve outcomes compared to IMRT.

3) External Beam Radiation Leads to Most Side Effects, Highest Costs of Three Common Prostate Cancer Treatments: An analysis of more than 100,000 prostate cancer patients shows that treatment with external beam radiation therapy (EBRT) resulted in higher long-term toxicities and treatment-related costs than prostatectomy and brachytherapy, two other common treatments for the disease.

4) Novel Investigational Drug Targeting Bone Metastases Improves Survival for Metastatic Prostate Cancer: A randomized, phase III trial shows that a new radiation-emitting agent aimed at treating bone metastases both improved survival and delayed cancer-related bone problems in men with castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). The agent, radium-223 chloride, is the first alpha particle emitting agent targeting bone metastases shown to improve survival in metastatic CRPC.

5) Study Shows New Targeted Drug Improves Overall Survival in Metastatic Prostate Cancer: An international, randomized phase III trial shows for the first time that an investigational oral drug that halts androgen signaling significantly improves overall survival in patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer.

source: EurekAlert

Study Highlights CyberKnife SBRT Benefits for Treatment of Central Lung Tumors

SUNNYVALE, Calif., January 26, 2012 – Accuray Incorporated (Nasdaq: ARAY), the premier radiation oncology company, announced today publication of a study demonstrating the benefits of the CyberKnife® Robotic Radiosurgery System in treating central lung tumors. Historically, the treatment of central lung tumors using gantry based Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy (SBRT) has been challenging and required a great deal of accuracy to avoid risks of damaging critical structures, such as the airway, esophagus and heart that can result in serious complications including death, leaving patients with fewer, less effective and sometimes only palliative options. This study, published in the January 2012 online issue of Radiotherapy & Oncology (commonly known as the Green Journal), demonstrated that the CyberKnife System, which leverages the Synchrony® Respiratory Tracking System and Lung Optimized Treatment to non-invasively track and correct for respiratory motion, allows clinicians to deliver lung SBRT to patients with central lung lesions with minimal toxicity, sparing surrounding healthy tissue, such as the esophagus, trachea and heart while also providing high levels of tumor control.

The study, “Outcome of Four-Dimensional Stereotactic Radiotherapy for Centrally Located Lung Tumors,” reports on 56 patients (39 with primary lung cancer and 17 with metastatic tumors) treated with CyberKnife lung SBRT who were ineligible for surgery or chemotherapy, refused surgery or chemotherapy, or had an inoperable tumor. Local tumor control was 91 percent for the entire group at one year and 76 percent for the entire group at two years. The analysis of toxicity rates demonstrated that there were no serious complications reporting no acute grade three esophagitis, no grade four (life threatening/disabling) or five (fatal) toxicities in the patients treated.

source: Accuray

High Dose Rate Electronic Radiation Skin Cancer Treatment Now Available in US

01/23/2012 // San Jose, CA, USA // PeterWendt // Michael David

California Skin Institute founder Greg S. Morganroth, M.D., announced today the addition of electronic brachytherapy (eBx) to the skin cancer treatment options provided by Silicon Valley’s largest dermatology practice. This new treatment technique, a cutting-edge development allowing for extremely conformal, focused, high-dose radiation to be administered to isolated areas, completes the full spectrum of skin cancer treatments offered by California Skin Institute and their team of dermatologists, Mohs surgeons, radiation oncologists, dermatopathologists, and plastic surgeons.

Traditional options for skin cancer treatment are categorized as surgical (traditional excision and Mohs Surgery) and non-surgical (topical drugs and radiation therapy). Localized radiation treatment provides high cure rates, pain-free treatment, and excellent cosmetic results in tandem with a long-proven history of successful use.

The electronic brachytherapy now administered by California Skin Institute is a state-of-the-art alternative to more traditional radiation therapies found in hospital settings. California Skin Institute’s radiation technologists and board-certified radiation oncologists utilize a miniaturized x-ray source to deliver accurate, high-dose radiation to skin cancer cells while sparing the surrounding normal tissue.

source: Wired Pr News

Varian Medical Systems Showcases Advanced Radiotherapy Systems for Treating Cancer at 2012 Arab Health Congress and Exhibition

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, Jan. 23, 2012 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Varian Medical Systems VAR +0.01% , the world leader in radiotherapy, is spotlighting its family of advanced treatment machines and integrated software solutions at the 2012 Arab Health Congress and Exhibition over the next four days. The Varian exhibit (Sheikh Saeed Hall, Booth No. S3-E40) focuses on latest developments and future innovations in Varian's complete line of medical linear accelerators - including the fast and precise TrueBeam system - along with Eclipse(TM) treatment planning software, ARIA® oncology information software, proton therapy systems, brachytherapy solutions, and its full range of X-ray tubes and digital image detectors.

"We are excited to be able to showcase our advanced treatment, software and imaging systems at this prestigious event," says Rolf Staehelin, Varian's director international marketing for EMEA and APAC. "Varian is the clear market leader in radiotherapy and radiosurgery in the Gulf Corporate Council (GCC) countries and is at the forefront of technology advances that help clinicians benefit patients by delivering faster and more efficient treatments. We are looking forward to sharing our excitement about these developments with the radiation oncology community in this key region."

Designed to advance the treatment of lung, breast, prostate, gynaecologic, liver, head and neck, intracranial and other types of cancer, Varian's TrueBeam(TM) system was engineered from the ground up to treat tumors with unprecedented speed and accuracy.

source: Market Watch

Brainlab’s ExacTrac® System Achieves Major Sales Milestone

Munich, January 11, 2012 – Today Brainlab announced the 500th sale of its ExacTrac® patient positioning system for frameless radiosurgery. The scale of uptake highlights physicians continued focus on adopting clinically proven systems for high-precision cancer treatments and their ongoing investment in ensuring access to advanced radiation therapy for patients.

The ExacTrac® system, first developed almost a decade ago, has been proven consistent and reliable in supporting accurate frameless radiosurgery for patients with tumors of the brain, spine and beyond. The system has since been internationally recognized as offering high accuracy, flexibility and increased patient comfort during treatment.

ExacTrac® works by combining with advanced radiosurgery treatment systems to allow physicians to treat cancers using a frameless radiosurgery technique. This offers a valuable alternative to the historical practice that requires immobilization with an invasive head ring affixed to the skull. The advanced image guidance and computer-driven optimization of ExacTrac® enables physicians to control every step of the treatment pathway, improving workflow and flexibility of treatment planning.

Samuel Ryu, M.D., Director of Radiation Oncology at the Henry Ford Health System, USA, comments on the evolution of cancer treatment to frameless radiosurgery:

'We have transitioned to frameless radiosurgery after conducting thorough scientific verifications of the precision of the technique. We have now widely adopted the technique and are applying protocols to treat more than 99 percent of our patients frameless.'

source: Brainlab

Evolving URMC Studies Uphold Precision Radiation to Control Cancer

The University of Rochester Medical Center has been a leader in the study of stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) for the past decade, and two of the latest research projects show that SBRT is emerging as an important tool for more people with advanced cancer.

Alan W. Katz, M.D., M.P.H., and Michael T. Milano, M.D., Ph.D., in separate studies in the International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology, Physics, report that SBRT can lead to long-term survival for liver cancer patients who are awaiting a transplant, and for select patients with early metastasis of many types of cancer.

Their work is the latest from a body of research conducted at the URMC’s James P. Wilmot Cancer Center, which was among the first institutions in the country to use SBRT. The therapy delivers high doses of radiation precisely to the tumor without harming adjacent tissues. Doctors use a coordinate system to map their target, and then deliver multiple, intersecting radiation beams at the spot, like several flashlights focused in one area. Because of their early use of this technology, Wilmot scientists have been able to study patients for longer periods under a variety of circumstances.
Michael T. Milano, M.D.

“Although we have known for quite some time that it is possible to treat metastatic disease, the technology needed to catch up to the concept,” said Milano, an associate professor of Radiation Oncology at Wilmot. “Now, physicians have a greater comfort level with SBRT due to treatment and imaging technology that can pinpoint smaller tumors, and data from our institution and others showing that SBRT works very well in certain cases.”

source: University of Rochester Medical Center

Varian Medical Systems Receives FDA 510(k) Clearance for Software that Speeds Up Radiotherapy Treatment Planning

PALO ALTO, Calif., Jan. 10, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Varian Medical Systems (NYSE: VAR) has received FDA 510(k) clearance for a new radiotherapy treatment planning tool designed to work with the company's market leading Eclipse™ treatment planning software to reduce the amount of time needed for planning advanced treatments.

"In order to create a customized treatment plan, a clinician must take the patient's anatomical images and identify and outline the tumor and nearby organs in a process called contouring. This is critical when specifying what is to be irradiated or protected during radiotherapy treatments," said Jefferson Amacker, director, clinical solutions. "Traditionally, contouring has been a time-consuming process."

Varian has combined two techniques in Smart Segmentation Knowledge Based Contouring, making it possible for clinicians to accomplish the contouring process more quickly:

1) Smart Segmentation, which analyzes anatomical images, drawing on information about human anatomy to identify and outline organs and other structures,
and

2) Knowledge Based Contouring, which allows the clinician to start the planning process by drawing on a library of expertly pre-contoured images that have important anatomical structures already outlined. The clinician then follows a special process for matching these pre-contoured images with those of the patient to create the desired contours.

source: Varian

Study Highlights CyberKnife Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy (SBRT): Noninvasive Brachytherapy-like Treatment for Prostate Cancer

SUNNYVALE, Calif., Jan. 9, 2012 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Accuray Incorporated ARAY -0.45% , the premier radiation oncology company, today announced publication of a study describing the clinical outcomes of prostate cancer patients treated with stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) using Accuray's CyberKnife® Robotic Radiosurgery System in a manner that uniquely mimics HDR (high dose rate) brachytherapy dosing within the prostate gland. The University of California--San Francisco (UCSF) study, published in the January 2012 issue of the International Journal of Radiation Oncology - Biology - Physics (IJROBP) (commonly known as the Red Journal), employed a radiation dose scheme mimicking that of conventional invasive HDR brachytherapy to deliver high doses of radiation to regions of the prostate known to have a higher burden of prostate cancer cells instead of delivering a single uniform dose to the prostate. Patients with organ confined prostate cancer were treated in four short outpatient treatment sessions. Historically, HDR brachytherapy has been shown to be an effective treatment for prostate cancer, but requires the insertion of invasive catheters into the prostate making this treatment difficult for patients and technically challenging for physicians, limiting its widespread adoption. The CyberKnife System is able to easily and quickly mimic this proven treatment in a noninvasive manner because of its ability to easily create and paint complex doses within the prostate.

The study, "Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy as Monotherapy or Post-External Beam Radiotherapy Boost for Prostate Cancer: Technique, Early Toxicity, and PSA Response," reported on 38 patients ranging in age from 54 to 82 years with a minimum follow-up of 12 months. Twenty of the 38 patients were treated with CyberKnife SBRT monotherapy and 18 were treated with CyberKnife SBRT boost following external beam radiotherapy (EBRT).

source: MarketWatch

Proton therapy effective prostate cancer treatment

Proton therapy, a type of external beam radiation therapy, is a safe and effective treatment for prostate cancer, according to two new studies published in the January issue of the International Journal of Radiation Oncology•Biology•Physics (Red Journal), the American Society for Radiation Oncology’s (ASTRO) official scientific journal.

In the first study, researchers at the University of Florida in Jacksonville, Fla., prospectively studied 211 men with low-, intermediate-, and high-risk prostate cancer. The men were treated with proton therapy, a specialized type of external beam radiation therapy that uses protons instead of X-rays. After a two year follow-up, the research team led by Nancy Mendenhall, MD, of the University of Florida Proton Therapy Institute, reported that the treatment was effective and that the gastrointestinal and genitourinary side effects were generally minimal.

“This study is important because it will help set normal tissue guidelines in future trials,” Dr. Mendenhall, said.

In the second study, researchers from Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, Loma Linda University Medical Center in Loma Linda, Calif., and the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group in Philadelphia performed a case-matched analysis comparing high-dose external beam radiation therapy using a combination of photons (X-rays) and protons with brachytherapy (radioactive seed implants).

source: ASTRO