Fat Tissue Is Sensitive to Irradiation

Researchers led by Dr. Béatrice Cousin at Institut Louis Bugnard found that irradiation damages fat tissue. They report their findings in the January 2009 issue of The American Journal of Pathology.

Radiation therapy directed at cancer management also damages normal tissues. Autologous transplant of tissues such as fat tissue has often been used to prevent the fibrosis, organ dysfunction, and necrosis that result from radiation treatment; however, the effects of radiation on the transplanted fat tissue had not been studied.

Dr. Cousin's group characterized adipose tissue isolated from mice after total body irradiation. They found that fat pads weighed significantly less post-irradiation and had decreased adipocyte size and a reduced number of mature adipocytes. Poglio et al also observed severe decreases in the number of proliferating cells and increases in the number of dying cells.

Taken together, the data from Dr. Cousin's group suggest that "in terms of therapeutics, these acute affects may modify the reconstructive capacity of adipose tissue and therefore its use in autologous fat tissue transfer after irradiation." These results call into question the effectiveness of transplanting adipose tissue during radiation therapy.

source: EurekAlert

Pediatric Patient Treated Using RapidArc™ Radiotherapy Technology in Switzerland

BELLINZONA, Switzerland, Dec. 22 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- A Swiss cancer clinic is among the first in the world to use a new, faster radiotherapy technology from Varian Medical Systems to treat a child patient. A 12-year-old girl with Hodgkin's lymphoma was treated using Varian's RapidArc™ technique at the Istituto Oncologico della Svizzera Italiana (IOSI) in Bellinzona, southern Switzerland.

The girl received her targeted radiotherapy dose in less than two and a half minutes, using two continuous revolutions of the device while she lay on the treatment machine. The RapidArc treatment was considerably faster than would have been possible with conventional intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) treatments, which are slower and more difficult for radiotherapy radiographers because they target tumors using a complex sequence of fixed beams from multiple angles.

source: Varian

SenoRx Announces Additional Patent Granted for Contura(tm) Multi-Lumen Radiation Balloon (MLB)

IRVINE, Calif., Dec 18, 2008 (GlobeNewswire via COMTEX) -- SenoRx, Inc. today announced that the United States Patent and Trademark Office has granted the company its sixth brachytherapy-related patent and fourth patent directly related to its Contura(tm) Multi-Lumen Radiation Balloon (MLB) catheter for the treatment of breast cancer. The new claims allowed in United States Patent No. 7,465,568 add to SenoRx's current intellectual property relating to asymmetrically irradiating a patient's breast with the Contura MLB after breast biopsy or lumpectomy procedures.

SenoRx received 510(k) clearance for Contura MLB from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in May 2007 for delivering radiation to the tissue surrounding the lumpectomy cavity following surgery for breast cancer. For appropriate patients, Contura MLB is one of a new class of devices which may reduce treatment time to five days from six to eight weeks. SenoRx believes that the Contura MLB may play an important role in the shift from traditional whole breast radiation therapy to localized partial breast radiation therapy.

source: Global Newswire

Refining Cancer Treatments To Reduce Potential Nerve Damage

While radiation treatments deliver precise doses of high-energy X-rays to stop cancer cells from spreading or to shrink tumors, oncologists have become increasingly concerned about inadvertent exposures during head and neck cancer treatments to nerves responsible for upper body mobility. To reduce the possibility of permanent nerve damage, UC Davis Cancer Center researchers have taken the lead in establishing new treatment guidelines for physicians nationwide.

The team, led by Allen Chen, assistant professor of radiation oncology, noticed a trend following treatment for cancers of the tonsil, tongue, throat, and other head and neck organs: A number of patients reported ongoing weakness and sensation problems in their necks, shoulders and upper arms. Chen recognized that these symptoms could be attributed to injury of the brachial plexus nerves, which begin at the back of the neck and extend behind the clavicle and down to the hand. Specific standards for delivering radiation treatments and avoiding this critical body structure, however, did not exist.

source: Medical News Today

Beyond the Abstract - Recent London Improvements in Curative Radiation Therapy for Relevant Early Prostate Cancer

BERKELEY, CA (UroToday.com) - The most effective form of treatment for localized prostate cancer remains a matter of great debate. There are no randomized controlled trials comparing radiotherapy with prostatectomy. Long-term outcome data from historical series, even those from the 1990s, have limited relevance as rapid advances in radiotherapy techniques have since permitted further dose escalation to the prostate. The published article describes recent advances in radiotherapy techniques and discusses the improved outcomes with regard to cure and toxicity.

It has been demonstrated in the last decade that delivering a conventionally fractionated dose above 72Gy to early prostate cancer improves cure rates. Whilst delivery of this dose is possible with the previous gold-standard modality (3D-conformal radiotherapy), intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) allows the prostate and seminal vesicles to be irradiated to higher doses, delivered in distributions bespoke for the size and shape of the individual’s gland, with further reductions in dosage to surrounding tissues. Our team has compared two different methods of IMRT (Linac and Tomotherapy) and found they provide very similar dosimetry, hence equivalent efficacy.

source: UroToday

DOR BioPharma Announces FDA Clearance of IND for DOR201 in Radiation Enteritis

Ewing, NJ – December 8, 2008 – DOR BioPharma, Inc. (OTCBB: DORB) (“DOR” or the “Company”), a late-stage biopharmaceutical company developing products to treat the life-threatening side effects of cancer treatments and serious gastrointestinal diseases, and vaccines against certain bioterrorism agents, announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has completed its review and cleared the Investigational New Drug (IND) application for DOR201, a time-release formulation of oral beclomethasone dipropionate (oral BDP), for the prevention of acute radiation enteritis. DOR is, therefore, cleared to initiate a Phase 1/2 clinical trial in acute radiation enteritis.

The IND application included the Phase 1/2 protocol BDP-ENT-01, which is designed as a multicenter, open-label, sequential, dose-escalation study in approximately 36 patients. Patients with rectal cancer who are scheduled to undergo concurrent radiation and chemotherapy prior to surgery will be enrolled in four dose groups. The objectives of the study are to evaluate the safety and maximal tolerated dose of escalating doses of DOR201, as well as the preliminary efficacy of DOR201 for prevention of signs and symptoms of acute radiation enteritis. The study is planned to be initiated in the first half of 2009.

source: DOR BioPharma

Prostate Cancer Patient in Montpellier Becomes First Cancer Patient in France Treated with Varian's RapidArc™ Radiotherapy

MONTPELLIER, France, Dec. 4 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- A 60-year-old prostate cancer patient from Montpellier has become the first person in France to be treated using RapidArc™ technology from Varian Medical Systems for fast and precise forms of intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT). Each of his treatments at the CRLC Val D'Aurelle - Paul Lamarque in the city took just 75 seconds, several times faster than conventional IMRT treatments. Dr. Pascal Fenoglietto, the hospital's chief medical physicist for scientific projects, presented the case to colleagues at the annual meeting of the French Society of Radiation Oncologists (SFRO) in Paris from November 12- 14.

"The treatments went extremely well and the patient was very pleased because compared to conventional IMRT it was three times quicker," Dr. Fenoglietto said. "We are now able to use the time we save on treatment delivery to take more images and increase the quality of our care."

source: Varian

Survival Rates In Advanced Rectal Cancer Patients May Be Improved By Preoperative Radiation

Dec. 1, 2008, WILKES-BARRE, PA. – Patients treated with radiation prior to surgery for advanced rectal cancer have fewer instances of cancer recurrence and better overall survival rates, according to a recent Geisinger report.

The report examined a treatment called neoadjuvant therapy, which can reduce cancerous tumor size or limit the spread of cancer, before surgery to remove the tumor. Neoadjuvant therapy may include chemotherapy and/or radiation.

Neoadjuvant therapy should not be considered a “one size fits all” approach for rectal cancer patients, said the report’s primary author, Mohammed Mohiuddin, MD, FRCR, FACR. Dr Mohiuddin is director of The Henry Cancer Center and co-director of Geisinger Health System’s Cancer Institute.

“Physicians need to consider a variety of factors such as tumor size, cancer stage and patient preference before deciding on the course of preoperative treatment,” said Dr. Mohiuddin, who has published extensively on the topic of radiation oncology.

source: Geisinger

Physicists Receives Patent for Design of Precision Cancer Therapy System

Four physicists at the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Brookhaven National Laboratory have been awarded U.S. Patent No. 7,432,516 B2 for the design of a “medical synchrotron” capable of delivering precision doses of proton radiation to cancerous tumors with minimal damage to surrounding healthy tissue. The new device would be more precise and less costly than existing proton-therapy systems, potentially increasing the availability and benefits of this treatment for cancer patients worldwide. The Brookhaven scientists are now seeking industrial partners to license and commercialize the technology.

“In the realm of cancer treatment, proton therapy is considered ‘surgery without a knife’ because proton beams can deliver cell-killing energy with extreme precision, unlike conventional x-ray radiation therapy,” said Brookhaven physicist Stephen Peggs, one of the lead scientists on the project. Peggs, while working at DOE’s Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory, witnessed the completion of the nation’s first hospital-based proton-therapy synchrotron, installed at California’s Loma Linda University Medical Center in 1990.

source: AZoMaterials

ASTRO and ACR announce joint radiation oncology practice accreditation program

The American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology and the American College of Radiology have announced a new partnership for radiation oncology practice accreditation that builds on the ACR's current successful program that has served as the industry standard for more than 20 years.

As a result of this collaboration, radiation oncology programs will have expanded access to this well established and efficient process of both self-assessment and independent external expert audit, based on nationally recognized guidelines, including ACR and ASTRO guidelines and technical standards, that assesses the qualifications of personnel, policies and procedures, equipment specifications, quality assurance (QA) activities, patient safety and ultimately the quality of patient care.

source: ASTRO

Radiation Before Surgery Improves Pancreatic Cancer Outcomes

NEW YORK (Nov. 25, 2008) — Pancreatic cancer is one of the deadliest and most difficult to treat cancers. Now, in a major step forward, researchers at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center have shown that administering radiation therapy prior to surgery nearly doubles survival in pancreatic cancer patients with operable tumors.

"Patients who received pre-surgical (neoadjuvant) radiation had almost double the overall survival compared with similar patients who didn't undergo radiation, and survived significantly longer than patients who received radiation after the tumor was removed," says the study's senior author, Dr. David Sherr, assistant professor of clinical radiation oncology at Weill Cornell Medical College, and a radiation oncologist at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center.

The findings are published in the Nov. 15 issue of the International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology and Physics.

source: Weill Cornell Medical College

Varian Medical Systems Introducing OncoView™ - an Oncology Specific Image Management and Storage Solution

CHICAGO, Nov. 25 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- RSNA Booth # 6221 -- Varian Medical Systems (NYSE: VAR) today is introducing a new product that makes it easier for clinicians to store, manage and view images generated during cancer treatments. Varian will showcase its new OncoView™ image management and storage solution at the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) meeting in Chicago, November 30 - December 4, 2008.

"OncoView provides oncology professionals with a reliable, scalable way of archiving and accessing the images and data that impact decisions about a patient's course of treatment," said Karla Knott, senior director of marketing for Varian's Oncology Systems business. "It is designed specifically to archive information covering the entire cancer treatment process from diagnosis to survivorship and follow-up."

Clinicians are using more images to make decisions and monitor progress over the course of cancer treatments. For image-guided radiotherapy, new images are generated at every step in the treatment process. "There is a vast -- and growing -- amount of images and related information that must be stored, and clinicians need a reliable system for easily archiving and instantly accessing this information in a meaningful way that is connected to the clinical "story line" for each patient," says Erwin Nell, manager, systems marketing. "OncoView addresses this need. It supports archiving of the most commonly used imaging modalities in oncology care, including CT, MR, PET, kV X-rays, cone-beam CT, and electronic portal images. It also stores non-imaging data, including radiotherapy treatment plans, dose levels, and other important treatment details."

source: Varian Medical Systems

Physicists Receive Patent for Improved Cancer Therapy Device; New Design Would Deliver More Precise Radiation Doses at Lower Cost

UPTON, N.Y., Nov. 24 (AScribe Newswire) -- Four physicists at the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Brookhaven National Laboratory have been awarded U.S. Patent No. 7,432,516 B2 for the design of a "medical synchrotron" capable of delivering precision doses of proton radiation to cancerous tumors with minimal damage to surrounding healthy tissue. The new device would be more precise and less costly than existing proton-therapy systems, potentially increasing the availability and benefits of this treatment for caner patients worldwide. The Brookhaven scientists are now seeking industrial partners to license and commercialize the technology.

"In the realm of cancer treatment, proton therapy is considered 'surgery without a knife' because proton beams can deliver cell-killing energy with extreme precision, unlike conventional x-ray radiation therapy," said Brookhaven physicist Stephen Peggs, one of the lead scientists on the project. Peggs, while working at DOE's Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory, witnessed the completion of the nation's first hospital-based proton-therapy synchrotron, installed at California's Loma Linda University Medical Center in 1990.

source: AScribe

Type Of Breast Reconstruction Impacts Radiation Therapy Outcomes

For breast cancer patients who underwent a mastectomy who undergo radiation therapy after immediate breast reconstruction, autologous tissue reconstruction provides fewer long-term complications and better cosmetic results than tissue expander and implant reconstruction, according to a study in the November issue of the International Journal of Radiation Oncology*Biology*Physics, the official journal of the American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology.

After undergoing a mastectomy (surgical removal of the breast), many women choose to have a breast reconstruction procedure performed immediately to better cope with the psychological and esthetic side effects of the surgery. However, the reconstruction can complicate radiation therapy treatments and sometimes radiation can negatively affect the outcome of reconstruction and increase the risk of long-term complications.

source: ASTRO

Radiation Delay Associated with Worse Outcome for Women with Localized Breast Cancer

Two recent studies have focused on the importance of timely and complete adjuvant radiation therapy in women with localized breast cancer. Researchers from Canada reported in an early online publication in the Journal of Clinical Oncology on November 17, 2008 that delaying radiation beyond 20 weeks adversely affects outcome in women with early-stage breast cancer not receiving chemotherapy.[1] Researchers from Cornell Medical College reported that women with early-stage breast cancer receiving suboptimal radiotherapy had worse outcomes. The details of this study appeared in the December, 2008 issue of Cancer.[2]

Researchers from Columbia University have previously reported that delay of adjuvant radiation of more than three months following a lumpectomy may increase local recurrences and affect survival among women with early breast cancer. Thus, women who undergo lumpectomy are advised to have radiation within three months of surgery.

source: CancerConsultants

Proton therapy may reduce serious side effect of lung cancer treatment

Patients with locally advanced lung cancer who receive chemotherapy and proton therapy, a specialized form a radiation therapy only available in a few centers in the United States, have fewer instances of a serious side effect called bone marrow toxicity than patients who receive chemotherapy and another type of radiation therapy called intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT), according to a study presented at the 2008 Chicago Multidisciplinary Symposium in Thoracic Oncology, sponsored by ASTRO, ASCO, IASLC and the University of Chicago.

The standard of care for patients with locally advanced non-small-cell lung cancer is chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Unfortunately, these aggressive treatments can put patients at risk of a serious side effect called bone marrow toxicity that can lead to delayed or missed treatments, hospitalizations and growth problems.

source: GEN

Major advance in cancer radiotherapy

Radical improvements in outcome for many cancer sufferers are in prospect following one of the most significant advances in radiotherapy since x-rays were first used to treat a tumour in 1904. The use of charged particles as an alternative to x-ray or gamma ray radiation can extend the scope of radiotherapy to tumours previously requiring invasive surgery, while speeding up diagnosis and reducing collateral damage to surrounding tissue.

This fast emerging field of charged particle cancer therapy was thrashed out at a recent workshop organised by the European Science Foundation (ESF), which discussed new instruments that will lead to improvements in both diagnosis and treatment. Diagnosis and treatment are closely linked in radiotherapy, since more accurate location of tumour cells in turn enables the radiation dose to be more precisely focused.

source: European Science Foundation

TomoTherapy Completes Acquisition of Linear Accelerator Manufacturer in China

MADISON, Wis. (Business Wire EON/PRWEB ) November 4, 2008 -- TomoTherapy Incorporated (NASDAQ: TOMO), maker of the Hi·Art® treatment system for advanced radiation therapy, announced today that it has finalized the 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 Steve Books, chief operating officer of TomoTherapy, “With the acquisition of Twin Peak, we are reducing our sole supplier risk associated with our linac supply, a critical component to the Hi∙Art treatment system. This acquisition will also expand TomoTherapy’s competency in design and manufacturing of linear accelerators which is expected to improve Hi·Art system reliability and positively impact margins.”

source: TomoTherapy

Study Shows Women With Breast Cancer Treated With Radiotherapy Using Tangential Fields Have Increased Risk Of Developing Cancer In The Other Breast

Women with breast cancer treated with radiotherapy using tangential fields - where radiation is directed at an angle to the breast - after lumpectomy show increased risk of breast cancer in the other breast, with an even higher risk in younger women and in those with family members who have had breast cancer, warns a study.

Women who have had breast cancer have a three to four times higher risk of developing a new primary cancer in their other breast (contralateral breast cancer), compared with the risk of a first primary breast cancer in other women. This increased risk could be due to a common cause for the tumours in both breasts, such as a genetic tendency to breast cancer or hormonal risk factors.

source: Medical News Today

Radiation Oncology Experts from 16 Countries Attend Conference on TomoTherapy

MADISON, Wis. – Oct. 29, 2008 – TomoTherapy Incorporated (NASDAQ: TOMO) announced today that Technical University of Munich, Germany, recently welcomed 175 radiation oncology experts from 16 countries to the ‘International Conference on the Clinical Use of TomoTherapy’. The two-day event featured 35 technical talks from doctors and physicists. Presentations covered the multiple cancer types clinicians are treating with CT-guided, helical TomoTherapySM and treatment protocols that show promise in gaining improved outcomes for patients.

“We were extremely pleased to host this exciting scientific meeting to explore the clinical use of TomoTherapy,” said Prof. Michael Molls, M.D., chairman of Radiation Oncology, Klinikum Rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich. “Our clinic has used TomoTherapy for the last 2 years in a project funded by the German Oncology research foundation. This new technology, which combines CT imaging with a linear accelerator in one device, allows us to treat patients with a higher accuracy and to better shape dose distributions to target tumour volumes.”

source: TomoTherapy

Radiation Therapy Oncology Group and US Oncology Enter Collaboration to Increase Patient Access to National Clinical Trials

HOUSTON, October 16, 2008—The Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG) and US Oncology, Inc. today announced they have entered into a collaboration to increase patient access to national cancer clinical trials with a radiation focus in the community setting.

The collaboration means patients receiving cancer care at practices affiliated with US Oncology have access to RTOG trials for disease sites including brain, head & neck, lung, gastrointestinal, genitourinary, cervix, and breast cancers. RTOG trials focus on testing the integration of radiation therapy with new systemic therapies and surgery.

The collaboration also marks the first time US Oncology, as a network of member practices, has participated in cooperative group trials in radiation oncology. In addition, US Oncology is the first multi-state, national organization to become an affiliate member of RTOG. Current members include large regional practices and academic practices with several facilities in metropolitan areas.

source: US Oncology

High energy beams a boost for cancer treatment

Chinese nuclear physicists have developed a medical treatment using heavy ion beams to destroy malignant tumors more than 2.1 cm below the skin's surface.

Compared with light ion beams, such as gamma rays and X-rays used in traditional radiotherapies, heavy ion beams are considered the most effective means so far of accurately moderating the amount of radiation and minimizing the damage done to healthy cells, said Zhan Wenlong, the country's leading nuclear physicist.

He explained the new treatment uses stronger heavy ion beams that reach a maximum of 400 mega electron volts (MeV) and can travel further into the human body to kill deeper tumors. With this medical goal achieved, China joins Germany, Japan and the United States using heavy ions in cancer therapy.

source: China Daily

Clinicians in Netherlands Treat Lung Cancer Patients Using New RapidArc Radiotherapy Technology from Varian Medical Systems

AMSTERDAM, Netherlands, Oct. 14 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Doctors in the Netherlands have used RapidArc technology from Varian Medical Systems (NYSE: VAR) to treat four early stage lung cancer patients in what is believed to be among the world's first treatments of their kind. Clinicians at VU University Medical Center in Amsterdam now plan to replace conventional stereotactic radiotherapy treatments with RapidArc for all such patients.

A 57-year-old male, diagnosed with a 1.2cm diameter non-small cell lung tumor in the right upper lobe and deemed unfit for surgery as a result of severe emphysema, was the first patient to receive the pioneering radiotherapy treatment at the hospital in early September.

"We normally use ultra-precise stereotactic radiotherapy in these cases and we have now treated more than 400 such patients in this way," said Dr. Ben Slotman, chairman of the hospital's department of radiation oncology. "But RapidArc offers some real time-savings over stereotactic radiotherapy and its use in this case is a al breakthrough for us and our patients."

source: Varian Medical Systems

Optimized Radiation for Prostate Cancer Therapy

The determination of the precise anatomical location of a tumor is the prerequisite for setting optimal parameters for radiation treatment of prostate cancer.

This approach guarantees that the ionizing radiation only destroys tumorous cells and does not affect other organs in the vicinity of the prostate. In a cooperative study with Innsbruck Medical University and the East-Vienna Center of Social Medicine, two physicists of Vienna University of Technology (TU), evaluated the mean deviation of radiation parameters for prostate cancers and compared various sources of radiation.

Movement inaccuracies of up to two centimeters may occur in prostate radiation. “During the radiation treatment, patients have to lie on a table for some 20 minutes without moving. Over time, the muscles relax and the pelvis drops. As a consequence, the radiation may focus on the bladder or other organs. In our calculations, we concentrated on the precision of localizing the prostate and on improvement potentials in treatment,” explained Karin Poljanc, Assistant Professor at the Atomic Institute of Austrian Universities.

compete article: Innovations Report

TomoTherapy to Enhance Remote Service and Diagnostics Capabilities

(Media-Newswire.com) - MADISON, Wis. – Oct. 1, 2008 – TomoTherapy Incorporated ( NASDAQ: TOMO ), maker of the Hi·Art® treatment system for advanced radiation therapy, today announced plans to enhance the remote service and diagnostics capabilities of its industry-leading customer support program.

In late 2008, TomoTherapy will pilot the Questra IDM ( Intelligent Device Management ) Application Suite, an auto-intelligent remote support solution from Questra Corporation. Phase I integration of this capability will provide TomoTherapy with the ability to remotely update Hi·Art system software and receive product performance information over a secure Internet connection to enhance overall user experience. In subsequent phases of implementation, the Questra-based solution is expected to offer Hi·Art users remote planning, plan review and quality assurance capabilities.

source: Media Newswire

Study Shows Radiation Device May Customize Therapy, Enable Some to Avoid More Lengthy Treatment

A study of the first approximately 100 patients who have received partial breast irradiation with a small, whisk-like, expandable device inserted inside the breast has shown that after one year, the device is effective at sparing nearby healthy tissue from the effects of radiation. The device, called SAVI™, is aimed at providing customized radiation therapy while minimizing exposure to healthy tissue around the breast after a woman has received a lumpectomy for early stage cancer.

The findings, reported recently at the American Society of Clinical Oncology's 2008 Breast Cancer Symposium held in Washington, D.C., showed that nearly half of the women, because of their anatomy or the location of the tumor, would not have qualified for other such similar internal radiation therapy techniques and would have likely needed a much longer course of therapy.

The device is another option for women with early breast cancer who have received a lumpectomy to remove a cancer. Radiation specialists sometimes opt to give women internal radiation – a process called brachytherapy – with the goal of giving concentrated doses of radiation to areas of concern while avoiding healthy tissue such as the heart, lungs, ribs and skin.

source: Moores Cancer Center at University of California

Radiotherapy students to benefit from new award winning training technology

Radiotherapy students in the Faculty of Health and Social Care Sciences are set to benefit from a new virtual environment to help them learn and practice essential clinical skills.

The Faculty has recently completed the installation of Virtual Environment Radiotherapy Training, or VERT, an award-winning suite of software designed to simulate the delivery of radiotherapy treatment to cancer patients.

VERT creates a virtual clinical environment in which a simulated treatment room, treatment machine and patient are projected onto a large screen in 3D. The software is designed to give students a life-like experience of the radiotherapy environment and allows them to hone their practical skills in a completely safe situation.

source: Faculty of Health and Social Care Sciences

Study Shows Radiation Device May Customize Therapy, Enable Some To Avoid More Lengthy Treatment

A study of the first approximately 100 patients who have received partial breast irradiation with a small, whisk-like, expandable device inserted inside the breast has shown that after one year, the device is effective at sparing nearby healthy tissue from the effects of radiation. The device, called SAVI™, is aimed at providing customized radiation therapy while minimizing exposure to healthy tissue around the breast after a woman has received a lumpectomy for early stage cancer.

The findings, reported recently at the American Society of Clinical Oncology's 2008 Breast Cancer Symposium held in Washington, D.C., showed that nearly half of the women, because of their anatomy or the location of the tumor, would not have qualified for other such similar internal radiation therapy techniques and would have likely needed a much longer course of therapy.

source: Medical News Today

OHSU Cancer Institute Researchers Look at How Breathing Relates to Prostate Movement During Radiation

Results of the research are being presented at the American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology

Oregon Health & Science University researchers have determined exactly how much breathing affects prostate movement during radiation treatment.

The results of this research are being presented from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. today at the 50th annual American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology in Boston.

“Many people think that the prostate is a static organ, meaning that it doesn’t move in relation to the bony pelvis, but that is not the case. The prostate is a moving organ, and we know it moves because of many factors including how full other organs are, such as the bladder,” said Tasha McDonald, M.D., Radiological Society of North America research resident grant recipient, OHSU Department of Radiation Medicine.

source: Oregon Health and Science University

Whole Brain Radiation Not Best for Cancer That Has Spread

(HealthDay News) - The common practice of adding whole brain radiation to more focused radiation treatment for cancers that have spread to the brain not only caused greater learning and memory problems, but also was associated with a shorter survival time in a controlled study.

The survival time data should be approached with caution, because the primary purpose of the study was to help settle a debate about the effects of whole brain radiation on mental function, said study author Dr. Eric L. Chang, an associate professor of radiation oncology at M. D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. He presented the results Sept. 22 at the American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology annual meeting, in Boston.

source: CBC News

Whole Brain Radiation Increases Risk of Learning and Memory Problems in Cancer Patients with Brain Metastases

Cancer patients who receive stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) and whole brain radiation therapy (WBRT) for the treatment of metastatic brain tumors have more than twice the risk of developing learning and memory problems than those treated with SRS alone, according to new research from The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center.

The findings of the phase III randomized trial were presented at today's 50th annual meeting of the American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology.

Led by Eric L. Chang, M.D., associate professor in the Department of Radiation Oncology at M. D. Anderson, the study offers greater context to the ongoing debate among oncologists about how best to manage the treatment of cancer patients with one to three brain metastases.

The American Cancer Society estimates approximately 170,000 cancer patients will experience metastases to the brain from common primary cancers such as breast, colorectal, kidney and lung in 2008. More than 80,000 of those patients will have between one and three brain metastases.

source: M.D. Anderson

Calypso Medical and Siemens Announce Innovative Product Development Collaboration Agreement

CONCORD, Calif. and SEATTLE, Sep 22, 2008 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Calypso Medical Technologies, Inc. (Calypso Medical) and Siemens Healthcare today announced a product collaboration agreement that will begin to integrate Calypso Medical's real-time tumor tracking data with Siemens' linear accelerator products. The first application to be addressed under this agreement will include adaptive gating, the capability of automatically interrupting the radiation beam from a linear accelerator in response to patient motion, organ motion or tumor position.

Calypso Medical's GPS for the Body(R) technology uses tiny electromagnetic transponders placed in or around the tumor to provide precise, continuous information on the location of the tumor at all times during external beam radiation therapy. This real-time information is critical in cases where the tumor may move due to normal physiological processes or if the patient moves during treatment. These types of movement may cause the radiation to miss its intended target and hit adjacent healthy tissue. In contrast to other tumor targeting solutions, Calypso's GPS for the Body(R) technology provides continuous tumor position information, thereby optimizing the delivery of radiation to the tumor and minimizing misapplied radiation to normal tissue.

source: MarketWatch

TomoTherapy and Vision RT Partner to Expand Hi-Art(R) System Imaging Options

ASTRO 2008 - TomoTherapy Incorporated Investor Contact: Stephen C. Hathaway Chief Financial Officer 608.824.2800 shathaway@tomotherapy.com or Media Contact: Patty Kitowski Marketing Communications Manager 608.824.2820 pkitowski@tomotherapy.com TomoTherapy Incorporated (NASDAQ: TOMO) announced today that it has partnered with Vision RT to expand imaging options for Hi-Art(R) treatment system users. The companies will jointly introduce AlignRT(R) 3D imaging technology
for the Hi-Art platform at the annual meeting of the American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology (ASTRO) in Boston, Mass., Sept. 21-25, 2008. TomoTherapy will distribute AlignRT(R) for use with both its TomoHelical(TM) and new TomoDirect(TM) delivery modes.

"We are excited about our strategic alliance with Vision RT, a company that is as focused on best-in-class clinical workflow and high-quality patient treatments as we are," said Fred Robertson, CEO of TomoTherapy. "AlignRT(R) does for Hi-Art system imaging what TomoDirect does for Hi-Art treatment delivery: both provide a new option for our users that can significantly improve patient throughput across a broad range of cancer cases."

source: PR-Inside

UNC spin-off company receives $2 million grant to market cancer treatment technology

A University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill spin-off company has been awarded a $2 million grant to commercialize a new technology to improve radiation treatment of prostate cancer.

The grant from the National Cancer Institute, as part of its Small Business Innovation Research program, will enable Morphormics Inc. to market its proprietary technology for rapidly constructing anatomical “roadmaps” of individual patients.

“These roadmaps are critical navigational aids that help physicians keep a radiation beam focused on the tumor, while at the same time avoiding nearby parts of the body that could be harmed by radiation exposure,” said Edward L. Chaney, Ph.D., Morphormics’ vice president of technology, professor in the School of Medicine’s department of radiation oncology, and member of the UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center.

source: UNC News

Blacks Less Likely Than Whites To Receive Standard Of Care In Radiation Therapy For Breast Cancer

Black women are less likely than white women to receive radiation therapy after a lumpectomy, the standard of care for early stage breast cancer, according to a new study by researchers at The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center.

The study, the largest of its kind, was presented in advance of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Breast Cancer Symposium, and is the first national study to examine such racial disparities in radiation therapy. Led by Grace Li Smith, M.D., Ph.D., a postdoctoral fellow in M. D. Anderson's Department of Radiation Oncology, the researchers reviewed the Medicare records of more than 37,000 patients diagnosed with early stage breast cancer in 2003.

source: Medical News Today

Brain Cancer Patients at Two Leading Hospitals Treated Using Fast and Efficient RapidArc™ Radiotherapy Technology

PALO ALTO, Calif., Sept. 2 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Two leading cancer centers have carried out groundbreaking radiosurgery treatments for multiple brain metastases using new RapidArc™ radiotherapy technology from Varian Medical Systems (NYSE: VAR). The MIMA Cancer Center in Melbourne, Florida and VU University Medical Center in Amsterdam, Netherlands were each able to treat brain metastases more quickly and efficiently than would have previously been possible.

Stereotactic radiosurgery is used to quickly eradicate tumors by targeting them with high doses of radiation using precisely-shaped, image-guided, X-ray beams in just one to five treatment sessions. Varian's RapidArc, which targets treatment beams at tumors while rotating continuously around the patient, makes it possible to complete stereotactic radiosurgery sessions many times faster than conventional techniques that use stationary beams.

source: Varian

TomoTherapy Receives FDA 510(k) Clearance for TomoDirect™ Radiotherapy Technology

MADISON, Wis. – August 26, 2008 – TomoTherapy Incorporated (NASDAQ: TOMO) today announced that it has received FDA 510(k) clearance for its TomoDirect™ radiation therapy technology. TomoDirect is an innovative new discrete-angle, sliding-beam delivery mode for the Hi·Art® treatment system. With this capability, clinicians gain an efficient complement to helical TomoTherapySM, one that enables fast treatment planning and delivery, while broadening the spectrum of patients that can be optimally treated with the industry’s most advanced platform for cancer care.

“This is a major milestone for TomoTherapy and, in turn, for cancer centers of all sizes,” said Fred Robertson, CEO of TomoTherapy. “TomoDirect significantly improves the throughput of our system, and widens the TomoTherapy treatment options available for clinical use. Now, more cancer patients can benefit from true, next-generation treatment technology.”

source: TomoTherapy

Siemens To Showcase Innovative Radiotherapy Solutions At ESTRO 27

At this year's ESTRO exhibition on the 14th - 18th September in Goteberg, Sweden, Siemens Healthcare will be showcasing the latest advancements in oncology imaging, treatment and therapy management. The medical devices and IT solutions have been designed to provide technological flexibility now and into the future, ensuring the optimum in patient safety and comfort.

The ARTISTE Solution is Siemens' innovative linear accelerator that offers a full complement of sophisticated imaging tools to optimise workflow. Featuring a small, 5mm thickness over the full-field, the 160 MLC™ Multileaf Collimator provides targeted treatment to the tumour shape independent of its size. MVision™ Megavoltage (MV) Cone Beam Imaging utilises one beam, one source and one detector to provide excellent target imaging in 2D or 3D. ARTISTE's 550 TxT™ Treatment Table is designed to ensure accurate patient positioning, providing an efficient and stable platform with the mechanical strength to accommodate even large patients.

source Medical News Today

SNM and ASTRO Team Up to Advance Molecular Imaging and Cancer Research

RESTON, Va.—SNM and the American Society for Therapeutic Radiation and Oncology (ASTRO) will cosponsor a symposium this fall examining the impact of translational advances on radiation oncology and cancer imaging. The two-day meeting, which takes place October 17–18, will bring together some of the world's leading experts and young investigators in the emerging field of molecular imaging.

"Collaborative forums, such as this meeting exploring intersections of molecular imaging and oncology, are critical to advancing our understanding of the underlying causes of disease," said SNM President Robert W. Atcher, Ph.D., M.B.A., emerging medical technology team leader at Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico and UNM/LANL Professor of Pharmacy at the University of New Mexico. "Continuing education and opportunities for colleagues to share research are essential to advancing the practice of molecular imaging—and to helping patients and their care givers gain the vital information they need in order to effectively treat disease as early as possible."

source: SNM Press Release

Targeted radiation therapy can control limited cancer spread

Precisely targeted radiation therapy can eradicate all evidence of disease in selected patients with cancer that has spread to only a few sites, suggests the first published report from an ongoing clinical trial.

In the August 15, 2008, issue of Clinical Cancer Research, researchers from the University of Chicago Medical Center report that targeted radiation therapy had completely controlled all signs of cancer in 21 percent of patients who had five or fewer sites of metastatic disease.

"This was proof of principle in patients who had failed the standard therapies and had few, if any, remaining options," said the study's senior author, Ralph Weichselbaum, MD, professor and chairman of radiation and cellular oncology at the University of Chicago Medical Center. "We had encouraging results, including several long-term survivors, in patients with stage-IV cancers that had spread to distant sites."

source: University of Chicago Medical Center

Targeted Radiation Therapy Can Control Limited Cancer Spread

Precisely targeted radiation therapy can eradicate all evidence of disease in selected patients with cancer that has spread to only a few sites, suggests the first published report from an ongoing clinical trial.

In the August 15, 2008, issue of Clinical Cancer Research, (published online August 12) researchers from the University of Chicago Medical Center report that targeted radiation therapy had completely controlled all signs of cancer in 21 percent of patients who had five or fewer sites of metastatic disease.

source: Medical News Today

TomoTherapy to Introduce TomoDirect™ at ESTRO, ASTRO Annual Meetings

MADISON, Wis.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--TomoTherapy Incorporated (NASDAQ: TOMO) today announced that it will introduce the TomoDirect™ discrete-angle delivery mode1 for the TomoTherapy® Hi·Art® treatment system at two upcoming radiation oncology conferences. This innovative new technology allows Hi·Art system users to quickly plan and deliver advanced TomoTherapySM radiation treatments with a series of linear beam paths, rather than the existing helical path. With TomoDirect, clinicians can choose several discrete angles and the optimal modulation level required for delivery, based on specific patient therapy goals. TomoDirect will be unveiled at the annual meetings of the European Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology (ESTRO) in Gothenburg, Sweden, Sept. 14-18, 2008, and the American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology (ASTRO) in Boston, Mass., Sept. 21-25, 2008.

“We are excited about TomoDirect because it will greatly increase the overall flexibility and efficiency of the Hi·Art treatment system,” said Fred Robertson, CEO of TomoTherapy. “Along with helical TomoTherapy delivery, TomoDirect will enhance our customers’ revenue-generating opportunities, and strengthen their ability to deliver the highest quality radiation therapy to the broadest patient population.”

souirce: Business Wire

TomoTherapy to Introduce TQA at 50th Annual AAPM Meeting

MADISON, Wis. (Business Wire EON) July 24, 2008 -- TQA has been developed by TomoTherapy in partnership with medical physicists experienced in the clinical use of the Hi Art treatment system. Bob Cravens, M.S., TomoTherapy's lead applied physicist and TQA architect, believes customer input was critical in bringing this powerful set of physics tools to market.

'TQA was built by, and for, our physics colleagues in the clinic,' says Cravens. 'They helped us identify key data and workflow requirements1, and provided valuable feedback throughout the development process. The result is an application that integrates easily into daily workflow, increases productivity and facilitates more informed decision-making. Additionally, it better aligns our support team with TomoTherapy customers, allowing them to share the same data set.'

source: PR Web

MIMA Cancer Center Becomes First in World to Treat Soft Tissue Carcinoma With Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy Using RapidArc™ Radiotherapy Technology

MELBOURNE, Fla., July 22 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Doctors at Melbourne Internal Medical Associates (MIMA) Cancer Center have become the first in Florida to treat cancer using RapidArc™ radiotherapy technology from Varian Medical Systems (NYSE: VAR). They are also the first in the world to use this technology to deliver stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) in the treatment of soft tissue carcinoma.

A 72-year-old man with Merkel cell carcinoma was treated for a soft tissue tumor in his thigh, which had developed close to where a similar tumor had been treated with conventional radiotherapy six months earlier.

"In this case, it was important that we avoid exposing the previously-treated area to any additional radiation," said Todd Scarbrough, M.D., radiation oncologist and director of the MIMA Cancer Center. "Using RapidArc, we completed each of his treatment sessions in just five minutes, including imaging and treatment. In the past, using conventional IMRT, this type of treatment would have required 30 minutes per session to complete."

source:Varian

Treating Rare Breast Cancer with Radiation Therapy May Lower

Patients with a rare type of breast cancer may benefit from receiving radiation therapy in addition to surgery to prevent recurrence, according to a study in the July issue of the International Journal of Radiation Oncology*Biology*Physics, the official journal of the American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology.

Phyllodes tumors are rare breast tumors that develop in the connective tissue of the breast, as opposed to more common carcinomas, which develop in the ducts or lobules of the breast. Most patients are treated for phyllodes tumors with either a lumpectomy or mastectomy, with only a small fraction of patients receiving radiation therapy.

Traditionally, adjuvant radiation therapy is recommended for cancer patients with local recurrence risks of 15 percent or greater, but the value of adjuvant radiation therapy has not been extensively studied for phyllodes tumors because they are so rare.

source:ASTRO

TomoTherapy Tops MD Buyline Rankings for Second Straight Quarter

MADISON, Wis.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--TomoTherapy Incorporated (NASDAQ: TOMO), maker of the TomoTherapy® Hi·Art® treatment system for advanced radiation therapy, has earned top honors in MD Buyline’s user satisfaction rankings for the second consecutive quarter, solidifying its position as the customer service leader in linear accelerator-based radiation therapy.

MD Buyline measures user satisfaction based on evaluations by more than 3,300 hospitals in the member network. Members rank their satisfaction in six areas: system performance; system reliability; installation and implementation; applications training; service response time; and service repair quality. TomoTherapy ranked number one in overall composite score, and either first or second in each contributing category. The ratings appear in MD Buyline's Quarterly User Satisfaction Report, which was published on July 1, 2008.

source: Business Wire

Recipients Of 2008 Awards, Grants Announced By ASTRO

The American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology's Research Evaluation Committee has announced the recipients of several awards and grants that are funded by the Radiation Oncology Institute (formerly the ASTRO Education and Development Fund) and distributed each year as part of the organization's overall effort to prevent, treat and cure malignancies.

The Junior Faculty Career Research Training Award is awarded to stimulate interest in radiation research early in academic career development by giving junior physician faculty the opportunity to focus on research in radiation oncology, biology, physics or outcomes/health services research; it is presented each year to a board-eligible physician or physicist in radiation oncology or a radiobiologist who is within the first three years of his or her junior faculty appointment. This is a two-year award in the amount of $125,000 per year. This year's recipients are Christopher D. Willey, M.D., Ph.D., of the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, Ala., and Erik P. Sulman, M.D., Ph.D., of M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston.

source: Medical News Today

Six Weeks of Radiation Therapy May Be Unnecessary for Many Breast Cancer Patients

SUNNYVALE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Many women with breast cancer may not need six weeks of daily radiation after surgery. This explosive finding was made public at the recent International Society of Intraoperative Radiation Therapy (ISIORT) conference held in Madrid, Spain earlier this month.

A Single Dose of Radiation is Enough

Renowned surgeon Dr. Umberto Veronesi, founder of the European Institute of Oncology, shared for the first time the results of a long-awaited, eight-year randomized trial comparing his breast cancer patients’ response to two types of radiation therapy. The results so far show that women who received breast conserving surgery, followed by a single dose of intraoperative electron-beam radiation therapy (IOERT) at the time of surgery, had an equal chance of survival as women who underwent the surgery, followed by six weeks of post-operative radiation therapy.

source: IntraOp Medical

Salvage Radiotherapy Improves Prostate Cancer-specific Survival

Radiation therapy following a recurrence of prostate cancer may reduce deaths specifically caused by the disease. These results were recently published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer among American men. Often, men treated with initial therapy will experience a biochemical recurrence. This refers to an increase in prostate specific antigen (PSA) levels, which are small proteins shed into the blood by the prostate. Levels of PSA often indicate either the presence or recurrence of prostate cancer; therefore, follow-up after initial therapy includes PSA readings. PSA doubling time refers to the duration of time it takes for PSA levels to double; this measurement is often even more important than the absolute levels of PSA.

source: CancerConsultants

Siemens Next Generation Technology May Bring New Hope to Cancer Patients

CONCORD, Calif., June 17 /PRNewswire/ -- The ARTISTE(TM) Solution from
Siemens Healthcare  has recently gone clinical
in three of the most prominent cancer centers around the world. Dozens of
patients have been treated to date at MAASTRO Clinic in the Netherlands,
German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) in Heidelberg, Germany, and Baton
Rouge General's Pennington Cancer Center in Louisiana.

   The ARTISTE Solution is a linear accelerator engineered specifically
for Adaptive Radiation Therapy (ART). Unique in design, ARTISTE is an
integrated imaging and workflow solution that offers a comprehensive
portfolio of image-guided and advanced treatment delivery protocols,
including in-room CT imaging capabilities and a new multileaf collimator,
160 MLC(TM).

source: PR Newswire

Combining Radiation and Surgery Significantly Improves Survival for

Adding radiation therapy to surgery significantly improves overall survival in patients diagnosed with node-positive head and neck cancer when compared to treating with surgery alone, according to a study in the June issue of the International Journal of Radiation Oncology*Biology*Physics, the official journal of the American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology.

Radiation therapy is commonly used after surgery to treat some head and neck cancers, but very few studies have been conducted to determine its impact on survival. Researchers at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine departments of Radiation Oncology and Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery in New York sought to determine with this study the impact of radiation and surgery on a head and neck cancer patients' overall survival.

source: ASTRO

Solid Tumor Cells Not Killed by Radiation and Chemotherapy Become Stronger

DURHAM, N.C. – Because of the way solid tumors adapt the body's machinery to bring themselves more oxygen, chemotherapy and radiation may actually make these tumors stronger.

"In a sense, these therapies can make the tumor healthier," said Mark W. Dewhirst, D.V.M., Ph.D., professor of radiation oncology at Duke University Medical Center. "Unless the treatment is very effective in killing many if not most tumor cells, you are shooting yourself in the foot."

Dewhirst and colleagues Yiting Cao, M.D., Ph.D., of Duke Pathology, and Benjamin Moeller, M.D., Ph.D. have introduced this counter-intuitive idea at recent conferences and in a review article featured in the June issue of Nature Reviews Cancer.

Radiation and chemotherapy do kill most solid tumor cells, but in the cells that survive, the therapies drive an increase in a regulatory factor called HIF1 (hypoxia-inducible factor 1), which cells use to get the oxygen they need by increasing blood vessel growth into the tumor. Solid tumors generally have low supplies of oxygen, Dewhirst explained and HIF1 helps them get the oxygen they need.

The review article concludes that blocking (HIF1) would provide a clear mechanism for killing solid-tumor cells, particularly cells that are proving resistant to radiation or chemotherapy treatments.

source: mary Jane Gor, Duke University Medical Center

Pitt Researchers Identify Gene That Influences Damage From Radiation Therapy

Researchers with the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute (UPCI) have identified a gene that may play a role in promoting radiation-induced intestinal damage. The research, published by Cell Press in the June issue of the journal Cell Stem Cell, could lead to new strategies for protecting normal tissues from radiation during cancer treatment.

Although radiation is one of the most effective treatments for cancer, damage to cells lining the gastrointestinal tract is a major limiting factor for patients undergoing pelvic or abdominal radiotherapy. The specific mechanisms that underlie radiation-induced gastrointestinal toxicity, known as gastrointestinal (GI) syndrome, are not well understood. Previous studies have suggested that damage to intestinal stem cells or blood vessel cells, which are called endothelial cells, may be involved in the development of GI syndrome.

source: Medical News Today

Preventing Too Much Radioactive Exposure - Rabbit(R) Helps To Battle Cancer

"We looked at other processors, but having memory and I/O, and a dedicated C compiler with examples made Rabbit the right choice" - Martin Brown, Best Medical Canada

One of the most effective methods to combat cancer and tumors is radiation therapy. Along with the benefits there also exists a significant level of risk, since too much radioactive exposure can cause new formations of cancer or even lead to death. In order to protect from over-exposure, a subspecialty called dosimetry calculates the radiation level of in a mass or tissue. Measurements are made with a device called MOSFET (Metal Oxide Field Effect Transistor) dosimeter. Dosimeters have become widely popular for clinical use, especially with radiotherapy. With the help of the RCM3100 RabbitCore, Best Medical Canada is taking dosimetry to a whole new level.

source: MedicalNewsToday

Follow-Up Radiation For Early Breast Cancer Less Likely To Be Received By Blacks, Hispanics Than Whites

Black and Hispanic women are less likely than white women to receive the radiation therapy routinely prescribed following surgery for early breast cancer, according to a study that Dana-Farber Cancer Institute researchers will present at the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology in Chicago.

Although the disparity in rates is relatively small, the findings suggest that thousands of black and Hispanic breast cancer patients may be undertreated following a lumpectomy. The data (abstract 535) will be presented during a poster session on Monday, June 2, 8 a.m. - 12 p.m. CT, Lakeside Center Building, 450A.

Medical News Today

Verity Radiation Therapy Becomes Second U.S. Medical Center to Treat Cancer Patients Using RapidArc(TM) Radiotherapy Technology

PLANO, Texas, May 27 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Earlier this week,
Verity Radiation Therapy, at The Texas Clinic at Prestonwood, became the
second medical center in the United States to commence treating cancer
patients with RapidArc(TM) radiotherapy technology from Varian Medical
Systems (NYSE: VAR) earlier this week. RapidArc is an advanced form of
image-guided, intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) that can be
delivered two to eight times faster than is possible with conventional IMRT
or helical tomotherapy.

"We delivered our first RapidArc treatment yesterday, to a patient with
prostate cancer who was about two weeks into an eight and a half week
course of traditional IMRT treatments," said Dr. Ed Gilbert, radiation
oncologist. "Before, his treatments were taking about 10 minutes each day
to complete. Yesterday, using the RapidArc approach, we completed the
entire process in about 6 minutes. That included positioning the patient,
taking images, adjusting his position, and delivering the treatment. Actual
treatment delivery was completed in less than 90 seconds, compared to five
and a half minutes with the conventional approach."

source: PR Newswire

Invasive Methods Unnecessary For Prostate Cancer Radiation Therapy Treatment Planning

Modern 3-D computed tomography (CT) is an effective method for locating the prostatic apex for radiation therapy treatment planning in prostate cancer patients because it eliminates the need for an invasive procedure and the related side effects, according to a study in the May 1 issue of the International Journal of Radiation Oncology*Biology*Physics.

Retrograde urethrography, which involves inserting a catheter into the male urethra to inject contrast, is the standard method used to identify the area of the prostate to be treated with radiation. However, this method is invasive and uncomfortable for patients and comes with risks of side effects, such as urethral injury and infection, as well as additional costs.

source: Medical News Today

FDA Clears Calypso® Medical’s GPS for the Body® for Prostatectomy Patients

SEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Calypso® Medical announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) cleared a new indication for the use of implantable Beacon® electromagnetic transponders with the Calypso System in external beam radiation therapy. Known as GPS for the Body®, the Calypso System utilizes transponders to setup and continuously track the position of targeted tissue during radiation treatment. In the event that the tumor site moves outside of acceptable limits, the clinician adapts therapy during daily treatment to ensure the treatment is delivered as prescribed to the cancerous tissue while avoiding adjacent healthy organs. This is the only technology platform designed to provide objective, accurate and continuous tracking information during external beam radiation therapy without adding ionizing radiation. Radiation therapy is the standard of care for patients with a high risk of prostate cancer recurrence or those in whom recurrence has been diagnosed. Previously, GPS for the Body® technology was cleared solely for use in patients with an intact prostate. Studies indicate up to 20% of prostatectomy patients are diagnosed with recurrent prostate cancer following surgery and require adjuvant radiation therapy.

source: Calypso Medical

SAVI Applicator Outperforms Competing Devices, Study Concludes

PHOENIX--(BUSINESS WIRE)--A study conducted at Arizona Oncology Services (AOS) found important advantages for the SAVI™ applicator over other radiation devices used for accelerated partial breast irradiation (APBI). The study and one other also conducted at AOS were presented as posters at the recent 2008 World Congress of Brachytherapy.

SAVI is a single-entry, multi-catheter device that delivers radiation as part of breast conservation therapy. It is the only APBI single-entry device that can customize the dose according to patient-specific anatomy. By more precisely targeting radiation therapy, SAVI treats the tissue where the cancer is most likely to recur, while minimizing the exposure of healthy tissue such as the skin, heart, lungs and ribs.

In the first study, SAVI was compared to two balloon applicators. The researchers noted that SAVI’s multiple peripheral catheters, each of which can be individually loaded with a radiation source, enabled them to significantly lower the radiation dose delivered to the skin while maintaining full coverage of the target volume. When compared to the other devices, this capability provided better protection to the skin and chest wall.

source: Business Wire

External-Beam Radiation Therapy For Localized Prostate Cancer Linked To Bladder, Lung And Colorectal Cancer

Patients undergoing external-beam radiation therapy (EBRT) for localized prostate cancer may be at an increased risk for secondary malignancy, according to a study from researchers in Canada, Italy and the United States presented during the Annual Scientific Meeting of the American Urological Association (AUA) in Orlando. Researchers will present data to reporters during a special press conference on May 19, 2008 at 1:30 p.m.

These findings have significant implications for men evaluating treatment options for localized prostate cancer.

source: Medical News Today

Top Cancer Hospitals in Denmark and Netherlands First in Europe to Treat Patients With RapidArc™ Radiotherapy

COPENHAGEN, Denmark and AMSTERDAM, Netherlands, May 14 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Doctors in Denmark and the Netherlands have successfully carried out Europe's first clinical treatments using advanced RapidArc™ technology from Varian Medical Systems (NYSE: VAR). Cancer patients at Copenhagen's Rigshospitalet and Amsterdam's VU University medical center became the first people in Europe to benefit from this advanced form of intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT).

Dr. Svend Aage Engelholm, chief radiation oncologist of the Department of Radiation Oncology at Copenhagen University Hospital (Rigshospitalet), says, "Our first image guided RapidArc treatment went perfectly and the only unusual aspect was that the patient joined the clinical team in a celebratory glass of champagne after treatment. He was certainly aware that this was the first clinical treatment of its kind in Europe." Dr. Engelholm said the actual treatment took just 75 seconds to deliver.\

source: Varian

Study Says New Radiation Therapy Technology for Breast Cancer Helps Protect Tissue, Adds Options for Patients

SAN DIEGO -- New research conducted at Moores Cancer Center at University of California, San Diego shows that the SAVI™ breast brachytherapy applicator, a new approach for delivering accelerated partial breast irradiation (APBI), may provide better protection of healthy tissue than other partial breast irradiation methods

The research team, led by Catheryn Yashar, M.D., assistant professor and chief of breast and gynecological services in the UC San Diego Department of Radiation Oncology, presented study results at the recent 2008 World Congress of Brachytherapy.

Moores Cancer Center at UC San Diego is one of the first medical facilities in the nation to offer SAVI.

The UC San Diego team reported that the SAVI applicator provided better protection of skin, lung, and chest wall/rib tissue than two earlier methods of radiation treatment. That advantage makes SAVI a viable treatment option for patients whose anatomy or surgical cavity location may prevent them from being treated by the other methods, according to the scientific poster presentation of the study.

source: Cianna Medical

External-Beam Radiation Therapy for Localized Prostate Cancer Linked to Bladder, Lung and Colorectal Cancer

Newswise — Patients undergoing external-beam radiation therapy (EBRT) for localized prostate cancer may be at an increased risk for secondary malignancy, according to a study from researchers in Canada, Italy and the United States presented today during the Annual Scientific Meeting of the American Urological Association (AUA) in Orlando. Researchers presented data to reporters during a special press conference on May 19, 2008 at 1:30 p.m.

These findings have significant implications for men evaluating treatment options for localized prostate cancer.

Using records from 10,333 men treated for localized prostate cancer (6,196 with radical prostatectomy and 4,137 with EBRT) between 1983 and 2004, researchers examined subsequent diagnoses of bladder, lung and colorectal cancer to determine whether the incidence rate of these secondary malignancies was greater in patients who underwent EBRT as opposed to radical prostatectomy.

source: Newswise

University of Alabama at Birmingham First in the U.S. to Treat Cancer Patients with RapidArc™ Radiotherapy

BIRMINGHAM, Ala., May 7 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Health System became the first medical center in the United States this week to commence treating cancer patients with a revolutionary new technique called RapidArc™ radiotherapy. RapidArc, from Varian Medical Systems (NYSE: VAR) makes it possible to deliver advanced image-guided, intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) two to eight times faster than is possible with conventional IMRT or helical tomotherapy.

"Our first RapidArc patient has early-stage prostate cancer, and chose radiation therapy for his treatments," said John B. Fiveash, M.D., radiation oncologist. "He'll be receiving daily treatments for four weeks, so he was quite pleased to find out that, using RapidArc technology, we would be completing his treatments in under two minutes per day. Delivering IMRT would have taken at least five times longer with earlier technologies."

source: Varian Medical Systems

Delays In Starting Radiotherapy Can Increase Risk Of Cancer Recurrence

In both breast and head and neck cancers the risk of local recurrence increases with longer radiotherapy waiting times, finds a Canadian meta-analysis. The study, published in Radiotherapy and Oncology, concludes that delays in radiotherapy treatment should be kept to the minimum time possible.

Waiting times for radiotherapy were first identified as cause for concern around 20 years ago. Treatment delays can be attributed to increasing demands for radiotherapy caused by the growing incidence of cancer due to an ageing population and the discovery and adoption of new indications for radiotherapy. "When the increasing demand is not matched by a commensurate increase in treatment capacity, waiting lists for RT become inevitable," write the authors Zheng Chen and colleagues, from Queen's Cancer Research Institute ( Kingston, Ontario, Canada) and Cross Cancer Institute ( Edmonton, Alta, Canada).

source: Cancer Media Service

Respiratory-Gated Radiotherapy Reduces Need for Repeat Planning: Presented at ELCC

Timothy A. O'Leary

GENEVA -- April 29, 2008 -- Use of respiratory-gated radiotherapy (RGRT) in patients with locally advanced lung cancer reduces the need to adapt or modify radiotherapy treatment plans, researchers reported here at the 1st European Lung Cancer Conference (ELCC).

Jason Pantarotto, MD, Radiation Oncologist, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, Netherlands, and his collaborators designed their trial to evaluate whether adaptive modification of RGRT treatment plans was needed in patients receiving concurrent chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

"Our preliminary results suggest that adaptive radiotherapy has a limited role when RGRT is used to reduce toxicity," he said in his presentation on April 25.

source: Doctors Guide

States Limit Costly Sites for Cancer Radiation - NY Times

ANDREW POLLACK

Seeking to rein in medical costs, a commission in Michigan on Wednesday moved to prevent hospitals in the state from each spending $100 million or more to provide a new form of radiation treatment for cancer.

The commission, which sets standards for major hospital construction, said it would allow only one center to be built in the state for the treatment, which is known as proton beam therapy. It ordered the state’s largest hospitals — four of which had already proposed their own centers — to collaborate on that one project.

“The costs of multiple centers, each having the most expensive medical equipment yet developed, would be tremendous,” the state’s Certificate of Need Commission said.

source: New York Times

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

TomoTherapy to Install Hi·Art® System at Leading Veterinary Medical School

MADISON, Wis – March 27, 2008 – TomoTherapy Incorporated (NASDAQ: TOMO) announced today plans to install its advanced radiation therapy system at the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Veterinary Medicine. Upon completion of installation, this will be the first TomoTherapy® Hi·Art® treatment system in the world to be used for veterinary medicine.

Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle recently signed a bill that authorizes construction of a new school wing, where the Hi·Art treatment system will be installed. The goal is for construction to begin in the fall of 2008, with treatments starting in late 2009 or early 2010.

The technology has come full circle. The UW-Madison School of Veterinary Medicine was involved with the first TomoTherapy SM clinical trials, which involved treating pet dogs with nasal tumors (especially sensitive to treat because they are close to the dog’s eyes and brain).

source: TomoTherapy

Differences in IMRT Radiation Doses May Complicate Study Results in Lung Cancer

Differences between the prescribed dose of radiation in intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) and the dose that’s actually delivered may make comparison studies in lung cancer difficult to interpret. These findings were reported in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.

Radiation therapy is often used in the treatment of various forms of cancer. Radiation therapy uses beams of radiation to slow or stop cancer cell growth, which shrinks or eliminates the tumor.

Intensity modulated radiation therapy is an advanced radiation technique that uses computers to control the devices that deliver precise radiation doses to malignant tumors or specific areas of the tumor.

source and copyright: Cancer Consultants.com

ProCure Training and Development Center for Proton Therapy Opens

BLOOMINGTON, Ind.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--ProCure Treatment Centers, Inc. today is celebrating the grand opening of the ProCure Training and Development Center (TDC), the first facility in the world dedicated to proton therapy training.

“We are honored to have ProCure Treatment Centers, the leader in development and training for proton therapy, headquartered here,” said Bloomington Mayor Mark Kruzan. “We are living in a proton savvy city that is now home to the only training facility of its kind. The Training and Development Center will bring medical professionals from across the country to Bloomington.”

The TDC will provide hands-on training for radiation oncologists, medical physicists, dosimetrists, radiation therapists and other staff involved in proton therapy treatment. The facility offers clinical, technical, interpersonal and administrative training that simulates all aspects of proton therapy treatment in a replica of a proton therapy treatment center featuring everything but the actual protons.

source: Business Wire

New Compact Proton Radiotherapy Device Designed with SolidWorks

CONCORD, Mass.—(BUSINESS WIRE)—March 24, 2008— Still River Systems, a Littleton, Mass. company, is using SolidWorks(R) 3D CAD software to develop a new compact and affordable proton radiotherapy treatment device.

Unlike conventional X-ray based radiation therapy systems, Still River Systems' Monarch 250(TM) uses proton beam for radiotherapy. Proton beam radiotherapy employs a particle accelerator device that uses electric fields to propel electrically charged particles to high speeds and then contain and shape them to output a highly focused proton beam toward a precisely defined target. This technology can sharply reduce damage to healthy tissue by precisely focusing the radiation dose to the tumor. Proton radiotherapy is especially valuable in critical structures of the body like the eye, brain, base of the skull, spine, and prostate. It also limits radiation exposure for safe treatment of children.

source: MCADCafe.com

Zapping Cancer Cells with Accuracy

Put in the eyes. Take out the spinal cord. Rotate his head. For cancer specialist Dr G. Selvaratnam and his team of medical experts, these are daily preoccupations.

They twist and turn a patient's vital organs, studying the whole make-up from every imaginable direction to pinpoint the exact location of cancer cells.

It's a procedure even the faint-hearted would appreciate because it's done virtually.

The gadget which makes this and much more possible, is the RM14-million Trilogy Linear Accelerator (TLA) , which sits behind six-inch walls in the NCI Cancer Hospital in Nilai, Negri Sembilan.

article at: NST Online

RCR welcomes START, showing that fewer fractions of radiotherapy work for breast cancer treatment

LONDON, UK - (HealthTech Wire) - The Royal College of Radiologists welcomes the latest results from the Standardisation of Breast Radiotherapy Trial (START), which has found that radiotherapy treatment for breast cancer can now be given in fewer treatments than the international standard of 25 fractions. Local recurrence in the breast has reduced markedly over the last 10 years and now only affects one woman in 25. This is due to improved cancer care and quality assurance. In addition radiotherapy side effects are now less marked.

Professor Andy Adam, President of the Royal College of Radiologists said, “START represents the culmination of twenty years of study conducted by researchers from the UK, and as such is an important milestone in radiotherapy research. It shows that treatment for women with breast cancer can be given in a quicker and more convenient way, and it has the potential to improve the treatment of breast cancer patients across the world.”

source: Health Tech Wire

Varian Announces Global Clinical Council to Develop RapidArc(TM) Cancer Treatments

PALO ALTO, Calif., March 19 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Varian Medical
Systems (NYSE: VAR) has formed a council of leading cancer centers in North
America and Europe to further the development of clinical protocols using
its revolutionary RapidArc(TM) radiotherapy technology for fast and precise
cancer treatments. RapidArc makes it possible to deliver advanced
image-guided, intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) two to eight
times faster than is possible with conventional IMRT or helical
tomotherapy.

The RapidArc council members include researchers and scientists from
the VU University Medical Center in Amsterdam, Netherlands; Rigshospitalet
in Copenhagen, Denmark; CRLC Val d'Aurelle in Montpellier, France;
University Hospital in Zurich, Switzerland; BC Cancer Agency in Vancouver,
Canada; University of Maryland Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Cancer Center
in Baltimore, USA; and University of Alabama at Birmingham, Alabama, USA.

PR Newswire

Fewer but bigger treatments best for breast cancer

Alison Motluk

Where radiation and breast cancer are concerned, less may be better. That's according to two studies involving thousands of women followed for half a decade. The women were given fewer doses -- but stronger ones.

Radiation therapy is a fine art. Doctors need to administer enough to eradicate the cancer, but in sufficiently small doses that normal healthy tissue isn't compromised. The current internationally accepted standard for treating early breast cancer is to give 50 Gray of radiation in 25 separate "fractions", of 2 Gray each, over five weeks.

The two new studies challenge that. In one, dubbed START A, John Yarnold at the Institute of Cancer Research in Sutton, UK and colleagues recruited 2236 women with early breast cancer from 17 centres around the UK.

source and complete article: New Scientist

UWE first in UK to install radiotherapy training tool

A revolutionary new tool to help train radiotherapy radiographers has just been installed at the University of the West of England. The Vertual (sic) Linear Accelerator (VLA) will enable students to develop technical skills in a virtual setting before they go onto clinical placements. UWE is the first university in the UK to install this version of a virtual linear accelerator and will be the only university in the South West to house this resource. VLAs will be installed in 10 Universities throughout the UK as part of a £5m Department of Health initiative, detailed in the Cancer Reform Strategy, in response to a predicted increase in the need for radiotherapy radiographers to treat cancer in an aging population as identified by the National Radiotherapy Advisory Group (NRAG).

A linear accelerator (LA) is the main tool used by radiotherapy radiographers to deliver doses of radiotherapy to tumours. As these tools are in constant operation in oncology units it is becoming more challenging to allocate sufficient time for students to learn and practise the requisite technical skills prior to practice.

source: University of the West of England