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