MedWorm: Proton Therapy

RaySearch Laboratories: RaySearch Receives 510(k) Clearance For RayStation

Health News from Medical News Today — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 08:00:00 +0100

RayStation® is RaySearch's proprietary complete treatment planning system that integrates all RaySearch's advanced treatment planning solutions into one flexible system. It includes functionality such as RaySearch's market-leading algorithms for IMRT and VMAT optimization, highly accurate dose engines for both photon and proton therapy and will have full support for 4D adaptive radiation therapy. The system is built on the latest software architecture and has a graphical user interface offering state-of-the-art usability... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

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Leading Varian-Equipped Proton Therapy Center Treats 100th Patient

Cancer / Oncology News From Medical News Today — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 10:00:00 +0100

Clinicians at the Rinecker Proton Therapy Center (RPTC) in Munich have treated their 100th patient using advanced proton therapy systems supplied by Varian Medical Systems (NYSE: VAR). The landmark treatment comes just three months after a second treatment gantry was commissioned at the center, which offers advanced pencil-beam proton scanning to cancer patients... (Source: Cancer / Oncology News From Medical News Today)

Leading Varian-Equipped Proton Therapy Center Treats 100th Patient

Health News from Medical News Today — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 10:00:00 +0100

Clinicians at the Rinecker Proton Therapy Center (RPTC) in Munich have treated their 100th patient using advanced proton therapy systems supplied by Varian Medical Systems (NYSE: VAR). The landmark treatment comes just three months after a second treatment gantry was commissioned at the center, which offers advanced pencil-beam proton scanning to cancer patients. These patients, requiring treatment for a wide range of cancers, have come from across Germany and 19 other countries, including Canada, Argentina, the UK and Switzerland... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

Leading Varian-Equipped Proton Therapy Center Treats 100th Patient

HSMN NewsFeed — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 16:32:19 +0100

MUNICH, March 11 (HSMN NewsFeed) -- Clinicians at the Rinecker Proton Therapy Center (RPTC) in Munich have treated their 100th patient using advanced proton therapy systems supplied by Varian Medical Systems (NYSE:VAR ). The landmark treatment comes just... Devices, OncologyVarian Medical Systems, proton therapy, proton beam, radiotherapy (Source: HSMN NewsFeed)

High-dose proton therapy and carbon-ion therapy for stage I nonsmall cell lung cancer

Cancer — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

A study was undertaken to evaluate the clinical outcome of particle therapy for stage I nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC).From April 2003 to April 2007, 80 patients with stage I NSCLC were treated with proton therapy or carbon-ion therapy (57 with proton therapy and 23 with carbon-ion therapy) using 3 treatment protocols. In the first protocol, 80 gray equivalents (GyE) of proton therapy was given in 20 fractions, and the second proton therapy protocol used 60 GyE in 10 fractions. For carbon-ion therapy, 52.8 GyE was given in 4 fractions. After achieving promising preliminary results for the first protocol, the authors started to use the second proton therapy protocol to shorten the overall treatment time. Carbon-ion therapy was started in 2005, and thereafter, both proton and carbon-ion t...

Still River Systems Selects RTI Software for Single-Room Proton Therapy System

HSMN NewsFeed — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 15:23:51 +0100

RTI Middleware Facilitates Dramatic Reduction in Size and Cost of Proton Therapy Systems SUNNYVALE, Calif.--(HSMN NewsFeed)--Real-Time Innovations (RTI), The Real-Time Middleware Experts, today announced that Still River Systems has selected RTI Data Di... Devices, OncologyReal-Time Innovations, Still River Systems, proton beam, radiotherapy (Source: HSMN NewsFeed)

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IBA to supply proton therapy system for N.J. center

Health Imaging News — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 19:31:37 +0100

IBA (Ion Beam Applications) will supply a proton therapy system to the ProCure proton therapy center in Somerset, N.J., and the center is expected to treat its first patient in 2012. (Source: Health Imaging News)

IBA to supply proton therapy system for N.J. center

Health Imaging News — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 19:31:37 +0100

Financing Closed for First Proton Therapy Center in New Jersey

HSMN NewsFeed — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 16:13:42 +0100

ProCure, New Jersey Physicians and Hospital to Offer Advanced Cancer Therapy SOMERSET, N.J.--(HSMN NewsFeed)--ProCure Treatment Centers, Inc. (ProCure), Princeton Radiation Oncology and CentraState Health System announced today that they have closed fin... Devices, OncologyProCure Treatment Centers, proton therapy, proton beam, radiotherapy (Source: HSMN NewsFeed)

Proton therapy needs to prove itself against standard RT

Cancer Network — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 12:00:00 +0100

Modeling study calculates that the adoption of proton therapy is possible if it is based on clinical evidence and not market forces. (Source: Cancer Network)

Vorsprung durch Technik: Evolution, implementation, QA and safety of new technology in radiotherapy

Radiotherapy and Oncology — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

These are exciting times in radiotherapy. The challenge repeatedly presented to the radiotherapy team by each new patient is one of treatment optimisation i.e., of delivering high and effective doses to the required targets but minimising unwanted side-effects, and this has continued to drive research and the development of technology and techniques. This issue of Radiotherapy and Oncology contains mainly papers from presentations at the recent ESTRO 10th Biennial Conference on Physics and Radiation Technology for Clinical Radiotherapy (Maastricht, September 2009) . Each of these meetings presents the current state of the art and draws together developments over the interval since the last , as also reflected in publications in the journal over that period. Better insights into radiobiolog...

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In Reply to Dr. Goitein

International Journal of Radiation Oncology * Biology * Physics — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 15:31:15 +0100

By focusing on beam-edge sharpness vs. risk of geographic miss, Dr. Goitein obfuscates our main point—namely, that the radiation oncology community is obliged to prove that a method of treatment that is much more expensive than conventional radiotherapy actually delivers measurably better patient outcomes. We passionately share his wish that “we focus on developing and delivering the best possible cancer therapy for our patients,” but would add “in the most cost-effective way.” No society, no matter how affluent, can afford to offer every potentially beneficial treatment to everyone regardless of cost, and it is unreasonable to expect that the possible benefits of proton therapy in general radiation oncology should be taken on trust. (Source: International Journal of Radiation On...

A case report of pseudoprogression followed by complete remission after proton-beam irradiation for a low-grade glioma in a teenager: the value of dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI.

Radiation Oncology — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

A fourteen years-old boy was treated post-operatively with proton therapy for a recurrent low-grade oligodendroglioma located in the tectal region. Six months after the end of irradiation (RT), a new enhancing lesion appeared within the radiation fields. To differentiate disease progression from radiation-induced changes, dynamic susceptibility contrast-enhanced (DSCE) MRI was used with a T2* sequence to study perfusion and permeability characteristics simultaneously. Typically, the lesion showed hypoperfusion and hyperpermeability compared to the controlateral normal brain. Without additional treatment but a short course of steroids, the image disappeared over a six months period allowing us to conclude for a pseudo-progression. The patient is alive in complete remission more than 2 years...

Accuracy of an Automatic Patient-Positioning System Based on the Correlation of Two Edge Images in Radiotherapy

Journal of Digital Imaging — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 06:58:43 +0100

Abstract We have clinically evaluated the accuracy of an automatic patient-positioning system based on the image correlation of two edge images in radiotherapy. Ninety-six head & neck images from eight patients undergoing proton therapy were compared with a digitally reconstructed radiograph (DRR) of planning CT. Two edge images, a reference image and a test image, were extracted by applying a Canny edge detector algorithm to a DRR and a 2D X-ray image, respectively, of each patient before positioning. In a simulation using a humanoid phantom, performed to verify the effectiveness of the proposed method, no registration errors were observed for given ranges of rotation, pitch, and translation in the x, y, and z directions. For real patients, however, there were discrepancie...

Proton therapy growing as hospitals vie for newest technology

bizjournals.com Health Care:Biotechnology headlines — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 05:00:00 +0100

The University of Florida Proton Therapy Institute in Jacksonville will soon no longer be distinguished as one of only seven hospitals with proton beams in the nation. (Source: bizjournals.com Health Care:Biotechnology headlines)

Proton Therapy Beneficial For Children With Cancer

Health News from Medical News Today — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 04:00:00 +0100

Children with cancer are now being accepted for treatment at the ProCure Proton Therapy Center in Oklahoma, where a wide range of tumors are treated with proton therapy , an alternative to X-ray radiation that spares healthy tissue and results in far fewer short- and long-term treatment side effects. According to the American Cancer Society, cancer is the leading cause of non-accidental death in children. In 2009, more than 10,000 new childhood cancer cases were diagnosed in children up to age 14 and nearly 1,400 deaths were attributed to the disease... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

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Proton Therapy Beneficial For Children With Cancer

Cancer / Oncology News From Medical News Today — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 04:00:00 +0100

Virginia university nets $565K for proton therapy

Health Imaging News — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 02:29:04 +0100

Hampton University in Hampton, Va., has been awarded a $565,000 equipment grant by the Department of Health and Human Services' Health Resources and Services Administration to equip its Proton Therapy Institute with modeling and simulation equipment that will be used to determine cancer treatment plans for patients. (Source: Health Imaging News)

Virginia university nets $565K for proton therapy

Health Imaging News — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 02:29:04 +0100

Orlando Health to build $24M proton therapy facility

bizjournals.com Health Care:Biotechnology headlines — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 05:00:00 +0100

Orlando Health in the fall will begin building a facility for a smaller version of a new technology many consider the best way to treat certain cancers. (Source: bizjournals.com Health Care:Biotechnology headlines)

Varian adds treatment room for Munich center

Health Imaging News — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 19:06:38 +0100

Medical device and software manufacturer Varian Medical Systems has commissioned a second treatment gantry room for the Rinecker Proton Therapy Center in Munich. (Source: Health Imaging News)

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Varian adds treatment room for Munich center

Health Imaging News — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 19:06:38 +0100

Medical device and software manufacturer Varian Medical Systems has commissioned a second treatment gantry room for the Rinecker Proton Therapy Center in Munich. (Source: Health Imaging News)

Cancer Patients Gain Greater Access to Intensity Modulated Proton Therapy Treatments at Leading German Clinic

HSMN NewsFeed — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 14:00:17 +0100

Varian Medical Systems Commissions Additional Treatment Gantry at Rinecker Proton Therapy Center MUNICH, Jan. 19 (HSMN NewsFeed) -- The Rinecker Proton Therapy Center (RPTC) in Munich has doubled its capacity with the successful commissioning of a sec... Devices, OncologyVarian Medical Systems, Proton therapy (Source: HSMN NewsFeed)

Development and verification of an analytical algorithm to predict absorbed dose distributions in ocular proton therapy using Monte Carlo simulations.

Physics in Medicine and Biology — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 17:12:27 +0100

The objective of this study was to determine if an analytical method could predict absolute dose distributions and D/MU values for a variety of treatment fields like those used in ocular proton therapy. To accomplish this objective, we used a previously validated Monte Carlo model of an ocular nozzle to develop an analytical algorithm to predict three-dimensional distributions of D/MU values from pristine Bragg peaks and therapeutically useful spread-out Bragg peaks (SOBPs). Results demonstrated generally good agreement between the analytical and Monte Carlo absolute dose calculations. While agreement in the proximal region decreased for beams with less penetrating Bragg peaks compared with the open-beam condition, the difference was shown to be largely attributable to edge-scattered proto...

Do We Have Enough Evidence to Implement Particle Therapy as Standard Treatment in Lung Cancer? A Systematic Literature Review.

The Oncologist — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Conclusion. The present results with protons and heavier charged particles are promising. However, the current lack of evidence on the clinical (cost-)effectiveness of particle therapy emphasizes the need to investigate the efficiency of particle therapy in an adequate manner. Until these results are available for lung cancer, charged particle therapy should be considered experimental. PMID: 20067947 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: The Oncologist)

Nuclear collision processes around the Bragg peak in proton therapy

Radiological Physics and Technology — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 07:12:47 +0100

In this study, we investigated the processes of energy deposition by considering interactions including the nuclear reactions between protons and water molecules by a Monte Carlo simulation for proton therapy. We estimated the number of particles produced by a variety of nuclear reactions, and we focused on the interaction in the low-energy region (below 1 MeV). Furthermore, we considered the charge-changing processes in the low-energy region (less than a few hundred keV). Finally, we evaluated the total dose and the contribution of primary protons and secondary particles through nuclear reactions to the absorbed dose. The results showed that the protons generate numerous neutrons via nuclear reactions. Particularly, neutrons with relatively low energies produce recoil protons b...

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Proton Therapy

About.com Prostate Cancer — Fri, 25 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0100

Proton therapy for prostate cancer is a relatively new and less well known treatment option for certain man with prostate cancer. Learn all about proton therapy for prostate cancer here. (Source: About.com Prostate Cancer)

Proton beam therapy following resection for childhood ependymoma

Child's Nervous System — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 16:37:35 +0100

Discussion The greatest benefit may be for young patients with tumors requiring relatively high doses of radiation and adjacent to critical structures. Children with central nervous system ependymomas meet these criteria and have a very high likelihood of benefit from proton radiation. At present, proton radiation is limited to select centers. However, knowledge of many of the physical advantages of proton therapy has spread rapidly over the past several years, and its availability is becoming more widespread. Content Type Journal ArticleCategory Review PaperDOI 10.1007/s00381-009-1059-4Authors Shannon M. MacDonald, Harvard Medical School Department of Radiation Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital Cox 340, 100 Blossom Street Boston MA 02114 USATorunn I. Yock, Ha...

The Development and Clinical Use of a Beam ON-LINE PET System Mounted on a Rotating Gantry Port in Proton Therapy

International Journal of Radiation Oncology * Biology * Physics — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 15:05:58 +0100

Conclusions: The BOLPs-RGp was developed for the DGPT. The accuracy of proton treatment was evaluated by measuring changes of daily measured activity. Information about the positron-emitting nuclei generated during proton irradiation can be used as a basis for ensuring the high accuracy of irradiation in proton treatment. (Source: International Journal of Radiation Oncology * Biology * Physics)

New proton therapy center opens in Oklahoma

Health Imaging News — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 19:44:24 +0100

The ProCure Proton Therapy Center in Oklahoma City has opened its second treatment room, allowing for the expansion of the number of patients, as well as the types of tumors that the center can treat. (Source: Health Imaging News)

New proton therapy center opens in Oklahoma

Health Imaging News — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 19:44:24 +0100

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Dose-Rate Effects When Estimating Risks for Second Malignancies: In Regard to Fontenot et al (Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 2009;74:616–622)

International Journal of Radiation Oncology * Biology * Physics — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 15:21:30 +0100

To the Editor: In the work by Fontenot et al. , the risk for developing a second malignancy after prostate radiation therapy was estimated for proton therapy and intensity-modulated X-ray therapy (IMRT). The authors conclude that proton therapy can reduce the risk for a second cancer when compared with IMRT. (Source: International Journal of Radiation Oncology * Biology * Physics)

A systematic review of proton therapy in the treatment of chondrosarcoma of the skull base

Urosurgical Review — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 23:49:00 +0100

Abstract Chondrosarcoma (CSA) of the skull base (SB) is an uncommon, slowly growing, neoplasm comprising approximately 0.1% of all intracranial tumors and 6% of SB lesions. Even though its growth is slow, CSA is a potentially lethal tumor. The therapeutic approach to CSA of the SB is still controversial and clinical experience is limited because of the relative rarity of this tumor. The use of proton therapy (PT) after maximal surgery is widely accepted, but there are no controlled studies demonstrating the need of PT and its superiority in comparison to radiotherapy with photons. We conducted a systematic review of the scientific literature published during the period between January 1980 and June 2008 on data regarding irradiation of CSA of the SB with PT and a series of...

Radiation protection constraints for use of proton and ion accelerators in medicine

Radiation Protection Dosimetry — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 17:54:49 +0100

This paper gives some guidelines for radiation protection at proton therapy facilities. The energy and angular distribution of secondary radiation from thick iron and tissue targets bombarded by 250-MeV protons were calculated with Monte Carlo simulations in order to emphasise the influence of the various components of the radiation field on the shielding design. The main constraints for radiation protection (e.g. workload, use and occupancy factors, etc.), shielding design (including access mazes) and the estimate of material activation are also discussed with some practical examples. (Source: Radiation Protection Dosimetry)

First Patients Complete Treatment at ProCure Proton Therapy Center in Oklahoma City

HSMN NewsFeed — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 15:03:16 +0100

OKLAHOMA CITY--(HSMN NewsFeed)--The first group of patients have completed treatment at the ProCure Proton Therapy Center in Oklahoma City, the sixth center in the country to provide proton therapy, an alternative to X-ray radiation that spares healthy tis... Devices, OncologyProCure Treatment Centers, Proton Therapy, proton beam, radiotherapy (Source: HSMN NewsFeed)

St. Jude And UF Proton Therapy Institute To Begin Proton Therapy Clinical Trial

Health News from Medical News Today — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 08:00:00 +0100

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and the University of Florida Proton Therapy Institute have formed a collaboration to provide proton therapy for St. Jude patients. The announcement follows the approval of the first clinical study to evaluate the use of proton therapy for rare brain cancers in children younger than 3 years old. Under the clinical protocol, St. (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

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St. Jude And UF Proton Therapy Institute To Begin Proton Therapy Clinical Trial

Cancer / Oncology News From Medical News Today — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 08:00:00 +0100

Proton Therapy Boost Reduces Prostate Cancer Recurrence

Medscape Radiology Headlines — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 15:08:47 +0100

A boost of proton therapy led to less biochemical recurrence of prostate cancer in a new study, although it was not a head-to-head comparison of proton therapy and conventional radiation technology. Medscape Medical News (Source: Medscape Radiology Headlines)

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital And UF Proton Therapy Institute To Begin Proton Therapy Clinical Trial

Health News from Medical News Today — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 09:00:00 +0100

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital And UF Proton Therapy Institute To Begin Proton Therapy Clinical Trial

Cancer / Oncology News From Medical News Today — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 09:00:00 +0100

Proton Therapy Is Promising, But Pricey; Some Are Concerned Patients Will Be Steered To Expensive Treatment That May Not Be More Effective

Cancercompass News: Other Cancer — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0100

As he fought the brain cancer that killed him Aug. 25, Sen. Edward Kennedy received proton radiation treatment at Massachusetts General Hospital. People asked me when Sen. Kennedy died, 'What did it (proton therapy) buy him? said Leonard Arzt, executive director of the National Association for Proton Therapy in Washington, D.C. (Source: Cancercompass News: Other Cancer)

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St. Jude and UF Proton Therapy Institute to begin proton therapy clinical trial

EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 05:00:00 +0100

(St. Jude Children's Research Hospital) St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and the University of Florida Proton Therapy Institute have formed a collaboration to provide proton therapy for St. Jude patients. (Source: EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health)

St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and UF Proton Therapy Institute to begin proton therapy clinical trial

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0100

St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and the University of Florida Proton Therapy Institute have formed a collaboration to provide proton therapy for St. Jude patients. The announcement follows the approval of the first clinical study to evaluate the use of proton therapy for rare brain cancers in children younger than 3 years old. (Source: St. Jude Children's Research Hospital)

St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and UF Proton Therapy Institute to begin proton therapy clinical trial

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0100

Monte Carlo simulation of the neutron spectral fluence and dose equivalent for use in shielding a proton therapy vault.

Physics in Medicine and Biology — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 06:48:22 +0100

Authors: Zheng Y, Newhauser W, Klein E, Low D Neutron production is of principal concern when designing proton therapy vault shielding. Conventionally, neutron calculations are based on analytical methods, which do not accurately consider beam shaping components and nozzle shielding. The goal of this study was to calculate, using Monte Carlo modeling, the neutron spectral fluence and neutron dose equivalent generated by a realistic proton therapy nozzle and evaluate how these data could be used in shielding calculations. We modeled a contemporary passive scattering proton therapy nozzle in detail with the MCNPX simulation code. The neutron spectral fluence and dose equivalent at various locations in the treatment room were calculated and compared to those obtained from a thick iron tar...

IBA showcases low-cost proton therapy

Diagnostic Imaging — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 12:00:00 +0100

Belgium-based IBA (Ion Beam Applications) is hawking its two-room proton therapy solution this week at the American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology (ASTRO) meeting as a smaller, lower-cost alternative to traditional proton therapy centers. (Source: Diagnostic Imaging)

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Prostate Cancer Recurrences Reduced By Adding Proton Therapy "Boost" To X-Ray Radiation Therapy

Health News from Medical News Today — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 13:00:00 +0100

Men who receive a "boost" of proton therapy after receiving a standard course of X-ray radiation therapy have fewer recurrences of their prostate cancer compared to men who did not receive the extra dose of proton radiation, according to a first-of-its-kind study presented November 2, 2009, at the American Society for Radiation Oncology's 51st Annual Meeting in Chicago. (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

In Prostate Cancer Patients Proton Therapy Is Well-Tolerated

Health News from Medical News Today — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 13:00:00 +0100

Proton beam therapy can be safely delivered to men with prostate cancer and has minimal urinary and rectal side effects, according to a study presented November 2, 2009, at the American Society for Radiation Oncology's 51st Annual Meeting in Chicago. (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

Reduction of low-, intermediate-risk prostate cancer recurrence observed with proton therapy ‘boost’

HemOncToday.com — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 11:33:00 +0100

(Source: HemOncToday.com)

Proton Therapy Is Well-tolerated In Prostate Cancer Patients

ScienceDaily Headlines — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 04:00:00 +0100

Proton beam therapy can be safely delivered to men with prostate cancer and has minimal urinary and rectal side effects, according to a new study. (Source: ScienceDaily Headlines)

Prostate cancer recurrence reduced by proton boost to radiation therapy

MedWire News - Oncology — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0100

Adding a round of proton therapy to photon radiotherapy reduces cancer recurrence rates in low-risk prostate cancer patients, according to the results of a randomized trial. (Source: MedWire News - Oncology)

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Prostate cancer recurrence reduced by proton boost to radiation therapy

MedWire News - Prostate Cancer — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0100

UF study: Proton therapy safe

bizjournals.com Health Care:Health Insurance headlines — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 18:45:36 +0100

Researchers at the University of Florida Proton Therapy Institute have early evidence that prostate cancer patients treated with proton therapy experience minimal urinary and rectal side effects. A recently completed study from the Institute, which houses the only proton therapy beam in the Southeast, compiled data from 212 men treated with three different clinical protocols from August 2006 to October 2007 for low, intermediate and high risk prostate cancer. The result was that 99 percent of patients receiving high dose proton therapy were free from severe treatment-related complications in the genitourinary and gastrointestinal systems one year after treatment. (Source: bizjournals.com Health Care:Health Insurance headlines)

UF study: Proton therapy safe

bizjournals.com Health Care:Biotechnology headlines — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 18:45:36 +0100

ASTRO: IBA launches a two-room proton therapy

Health Imaging News — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 17:56:20 +0100

Ion Beam Applications (IBA) has introduced Proteus Nano, a two-room proton therapy solution at the annual meeting of the American Society for Radiology Oncology (ASTRO) in Chicago this week. (Source: Health Imaging News)

ASTRO: IBA launches a two-room proton therapy

Health Imaging News — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 17:56:20 +0100

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IBA Launches MaxiPRO, An Innovative Rental Solution That Makes Proton Therapy More Accessible To Cancer Patients Everywhere

Health News from Medical News Today — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 11:00:00 +0100

IBA (Ion Beam Applications S.A.) announces today the launch of MaxiPRO Rental for Proton Therapy centers, which will enable significantly more hospitals and cancer centers to make Proton Therapy available for their cancer patients. (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

Proton therapy is well-tolerated in prostate cancer patients

EurekAlert! - Cancer — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 05:00:00 +0100

(American Society for Radiation Oncology) Proton beam therapy can be safely delivered to men with prostate cancer and has minimal urinary and rectal side effects, according to a study presented Nov. 2, 2009, at the American Society for Radiation Oncology's 51st Annual Meeting in Chicago. (Source: EurekAlert! - Cancer)

Adding proton therapy 'boost' to X-ray radiation therapy reduces prostate cancer recurrences

EurekAlert! - Cancer — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 05:00:00 +0100

(American Society for Radiation Oncology) Men who receive a "boost" of proton therapy after receiving a standard course of X-ray radiation therapy have fewer prostate cancer recurrences compared to men who did not receive the extra dose of proton radiation. (Source: EurekAlert! - Cancer)

IBA releases new rental solution for proton therapy

Health Imaging News — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 19:02:38 +0100

Ion Beam Applications (IBA) has launched a new rental solution-MaxiPRO for proton therapy centers that will enable more hospitals and cancer centers to make proton therapy available for their cancer patients. (Source: Health Imaging News)

IBA releases new rental solution for proton therapy

Health Imaging News — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 19:02:38 +0100

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Fallacies in the arguments for new technology: the case of proton therapy

Journal of Medical Ethics — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 17:01:41 +0100

In a seminal article in the Journal of Medical Ethics, Søren Holm and Tuja Takala analysed two protechnology arguments in bioethics: the hopeful principle and the automatic escalator. They showed how these arguments relate to problematic arguments such as the precautionary principle and the empirical slippery slope argument, and argued that they should be used with great caution. The present article investigates the recent debate on proton beam therapy, where the hopeful principle and the automatic escalator are identified. However, the debate reveals a series of other arguments that deserve similar caution. An analysis of these arguments indicates that the roots of their fallacies are to be found in the ignorance of the uncertainties about risks and benefits and an overly optimisti...

Proton therapy report advises caution

Cancer Network — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 13:30:01 +0100

The limited evidence on the comparative effectiveness of proton-beam therapy, especially in comparison to other radiation-based treatment modalities, undermines the value of this up-and-coming technology, according to a comparative effectiveness report by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. (Source: Cancer Network)

Long-term follow-up and a detailed prognostic analysis of patients with oropharyngeal cancer treated with radiotherapy

Journal of Cancer Research and Clinical Oncology — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 17:59:50 +0100

Conclusions Primary radiotherapy was recommended for OPC patients with the lateral wall at the primary site because of good LRC. The treatment method to the older population and T4 tumor is future tasks. Content Type Journal ArticleCategory Original PaperDOI 10.1007/s00432-009-0700-7Authors Natsuo Tomita, Aichi Cancer Center Hospital Department of Radiation Oncology 1-1 Kanokoden, Chikusaku Nagoya 464-8681 JapanTakeshi Kodaira, Aichi Cancer Center Hospital Department of Radiation Oncology 1-1 Kanokoden, Chikusaku Nagoya 464-8681 JapanKazuhisa Furutani, Aichi Cancer Center Hospital Department of Radiation Oncology 1-1 Kanokoden, Chikusaku Nagoya 464-8681 JapanHiroyuki Tachibana, Aichi Cancer Center Hospital Department of Radiation Oncology 1-1 Kanokoden, Chikusaku Nagoy...

Proton Beam Radiotherapy Versus Three-Dimensional Conformal Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy in Primary Peripheral, Early-Stage Non–Small-Cell Lung Carcinoma: A Comparative Dosimetric Analysis

International Journal of Radiation Oncology * Biology * Physics — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 17:39:49 +0100

Conclusions: Single-, two-, or three-field passively or actively scanned proton therapy delivered comparable PTV dose with generally less dose to normal tissues in these hypothetic treatments. Actively scanned beam plans typically had more favorable dose characteristics to the target, lung, and other soft tissues compared with the passively scanned plans. The clinical significance of these findings remains to be determined. (Source: International Journal of Radiation Oncology * Biology * Physics)

They came to bury proton therapy, not to praise it

Diagnostic Imaging — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 12:00:00 +0100

Using logic that could just as easily be applied when considering a toddler, the federal government damned proton therapy on Sept. 14 with a report that brands the cancer treatment as lacking evidence of effectiveness and safety. (Source: Diagnostic Imaging)

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Todd Cancer Institute at Long Beach Memorial Medical Center and Miller Children's Hospital Granted Approval for Proton Therapy Project

HSMN NewsFeed — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 20:11:27 +0100

Proton Therapy Center Will Provide Southern California Cancer Patients Greater Access to Advanced Treatment Options LONG BEACH, Calif.--(HSMN NewsFeed)--The Todd Cancer Institute (TCI) at Long Beach Memorial Medical Center (LBMMC) and Miller Childrens ... Devices, OncologyStill River Systems, proton therapy, proton beam, radiotherapy (Source: HSMN NewsFeed)

Advances In Radiation Therapy For Cancer: NCI Science Writers Seminar

Health News from Medical News Today — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 11:00:00 +0100

What Please join us for a science writers' seminar to discuss new treatments, technologies and research advances in radiation therapy for cancer. The opening of the new Roberts Proton Therapy Center at Penn Medicine, the world's largest proton therapy facility, highlights these growing trends in cancer care. A preview tour of the soon-to-open facility will wrap up the seminar. (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

McLaren Health, ProTom bringing proton therapy center to Michigan

Health Imaging News — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 11:46:08 +0100

Michigan’s McLaren Health Care and ProTom International, a Texas-based health care technology company, are partnering to build a $50 million proton beam therapy center in Flint, Mich. (Source: Health Imaging News)

McLaren Health, ProTom bringing proton therapy center to Michigan

Health Imaging News — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 11:46:08 +0100

Data Lacking On Proton Therapy Vs. Traditional Radiation For Cancer - AHRQ

OncologySTAT Latest News — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 16:14:35 +0100

Particle beam radiation - also known as proton therapy - is a "promising" cancer treatment, but potential advantages over alternative radiation therapies remain unproven due to a lack of long-term comparative... (Source: OncologySTAT Latest News)

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Still River names Jachinowski CEO

Health Imaging News — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 02:28:20 +0100

Still River Systems, a developer of proton therapy systems for cancer treatment, has appointed Joseph K. Jachinowski as its CEO and to its board of directors. (Source: Health Imaging News)

Still River names Jachinowski CEO

Health Imaging News — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 02:28:20 +0100

Still River Systems, a developer of proton therapy systems for cancer treatment, has appointed Joseph K. Jachinowski as its CEO and to its board of directors. (Source: Health Imaging News)

Prague proton therapy center deploys Elekta rad onc tools

Health Imaging News — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 17:28:09 +0100

Elekta will provide treatment planning and oncology information management systems for the Proton Therapy Center Czech S.R.O. in Prague, Czech Republic. (Source: Health Imaging News)

Prague proton therapy center deploys Elekta rad onc tools

Health Imaging News — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 17:28:09 +0100

Elekta will provide treatment planning and oncology information management systems for the Proton Therapy Center Czech S.R.O. in Prague, Czech Republic. (Source: Health Imaging News)

Physiologic Reactions After Proton Beam Therapy in Patients With Prostate Cancer: Significance of Urinary Autoactivation

International Journal of Radiation Oncology * Biology * Physics — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 17:12:35 +0100

Conclusions: Urine is a major diffusion mediator of autoactivation after proton beam therapy. Our results indicate that physiologic factors can influence PET images of autoactivation in the context of proton beam therapy verification. (Source: International Journal of Radiation Oncology * Biology * Physics)

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Brain Injury After Proton Therapy or Carbon Ion Therapy for Head-and-Neck Cancer and Skull Base Tumors

International Journal of Radiation Oncology * Biology * Physics — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 17:12:28 +0100

Conclusion: Particle therapies produced minimal symptomatic brain toxicities, but sequential evaluation with magnetic resonance imaging detected a greater incidence of RIBCs. Significant differences were observed in the irradiated brain volume between the brain lobes with and without RIBCs. (Source: International Journal of Radiation Oncology * Biology * Physics)

IBA Selects Elekta Software for Key Proton Therapy Site in Prague

HSMN NewsFeed — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 15:55:58 +0100

STOCKHOLM, Sweden--(HSMN NewsFeed)--Elekta (STO:EKTAB) will provide treatment planning and information management systems for a major Proton Therapy facility in Prague, Czech Republic. The software solutions will facilitate the highest quality of patient c... Devices, OncologyElekta, MOSAIQ, Proton Therapy, proton beam, radiotherapy (Source: HSMN NewsFeed)

Comparison of the effectiveness of radiotherapy with photons, protons and carbon-ions for non-small cell lung cancer: A meta-analysis.

Wed, 02 Sep 2009 23:00:00 +0100

Conclusion: Survival rates for particle therapy were higher than those for CRT, but similar to SBRT in stage I inoperable NSCLC. Particle therapy may be more beneficial in stage III NSCLC, especially in reducing adverse events. PMID: 19733410 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Radiotherapy and Oncology : journal of the European Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology)

Reply

Urology — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 13:11:22 +0100

Dr. Macchia raises several important issues in his commentary on our article, “Access to Information Sources and Treatment Considerations among Men with Local Stage Prostate Cancer.” First, he notes that much of what he has viewed from print, television, radio, and now the Internet is highly biased. His hunches are supported by Special Senate Committee on Aging, which convened a hearing on direct-to-consumer advertising of medical devices. At that hearing Senator Herb Kohl noted that, “As with direct-to-consumer drug ads, the FDA has raised concerns about advertising restricted [not over-the-counter] medical devices; specifically, about whether appropriate risk and safety information is provided to consumers, including seniors and the elderly.” As an example of what we see as a pro...

Building a compact proton accelerator

Physics Today News Picks — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 23:00:00 +0100

CNET News: New research being developed at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, could reduce the size of proton accelerator machines from that of a football field to that of a traditional X-ray machine. The smaller size and cost could increase the availability of proton therapy treatments. Related Link Electromagnetic and Thermal Simulations for the Switch Region of a Compact Proton Accelerator (Source: Physics Today News Picks)

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Varian Medical Systems Selected for New Proton Therapy Center in Sweden

HSMN NewsFeed — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 13:35:25 +0100

STOCKHOLM, Aug. 20 (HSMN NewsFeed) -- Varian Medical Systems (NYSE: VAR ) today announced it has been selected to equip a new proton therapy center in Sweden. In a ceremony conducted by Swedish authorities yesterday following a public tender, Varian was ... Devices, OncologyVarian Medical Systems, proton therapy, proton beam, radiotherapy (Source: HSMN NewsFeed)

Green Light Given To Develop Proton Therapy Services In England

Health News from Medical News Today — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 08:00:00 +0100

England has taken its first steps to providing an advanced form of radiotherapy to patients, Health Minister Ann Keen announced recently. Hospitals are being invited to bid to provide Proton Beam Therapy, which can cure tumours without damaging vital organs. (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

[Proton beam therapy in pediatric radiotherapy.]

Cancer Radiotherapie — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 23:00:00 +0100

Authors: Habrand JL, Bolle S, Datchary J, Alapetite C, Petras S, Helfre S, Feuvret L, Calugaru V, De Marzi L, Bouyon-Monteau A, Dendale R, Kalifa C, Grill J, Doz F Pediatric tumors still represent a formidable challenge despite the considerable therapeutical advances that have been reported for the past 30 years. This is largely related with the untowards side-effects of local therapy that are still acknowledged as the "price for cure". In this setting, Proton therapy a sophisticated radiotherapeutical modality seems to represent a real breakthrough due to its unique ability to spare close and distant normal organs compared with modern photons techniques. We summarize in this paper current clinical and dosimetrical evidences including an update of the Orsay series on 108 children. ...

Uncertainty reduction in intensity modulated proton therapy by inverse Monte Carlo treatment planning.

Physics in Medicine and Biology — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 01:38:32 +0100

We present the inverse Monte Carlo treatment planning system IKO for protons (IKO-P), which tries to minimize the errors described above to a large extent. Additionally, robust planning is introduced by beam angle optimization according to an objective function penalizing paths representing strongly longitudinal and transversal tissue heterogeneities. The same score function is applied to optimize spot planning by the selection of a robust choice of spots. As spots can be positioned on different energy grids or on geometric grids with different space filling factors, a variety of grids were used to investigate the influence on the spot-weight distribution as a result of optimization. A tighter distribution of spot weights was assumed to result in a more robust plan with respect to movement...

Oklahoma's new proton therapy center

Physics Today News Picks — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 23:00:00 +0100

Physics Today: A new $120 million proton therapy center opened in Oklahoma City two weeks ago. It is only the sixth proton treatment center in the US and will treat approximately 1500 patients a year. The 18,300 m2 facility is a joint project between ProCure Treatment Centers, Inc, a four-year-old start-up company; Radiation Medicine Associates, one of the state's leading radiation oncology practices; and INTEGRIS Health, the state's largest Oklahoma-owned, not-for-profit healthcare corporation, which will managed the patients after treatment. ProCure is currently building a US network of proton therapy centers, the first of which will be in Chicago, Detroit and in locations to be determined in New Jersey and South Florida. Proton therapy is attractive to physicians because for som...

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Protons In The War On Cancer

Health News from Medical News Today — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 09:00:00 +0100

Latest research on proton therapy highlights medical physics meeting next week in Anaheim Proton therapy -- which uses beams of the subatomic particles to treat cancer -- is a hot topic at this year's American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM) meeting, which takes place from July 26 - 30 in Anaheim, CA. (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

Dosimetric Study of Pelvic Proton Radiotherapy for High-Risk Prostate Cancer

International Journal of Radiation Oncology * Biology * Physics — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 00:00:00 +0100

Conclusions: Use of 3D-PRT significantly reduced the dose to normal tissues in the pelvis while maintaining adequate target coverage compared with IMRT or IMRT/3D-PRT. When treating the prostate, seminal vesicles, and pelvic lymph nodes in prostate cancer, proton therapy may improve the therapeutic ratio beyond what is possible with IMRT. (Source: International Journal of Radiation Oncology * Biology * Physics)

Microscopic Gold Particle-Based Fiducial Markers for Proton Therapy of Prostate Cancer

International Journal of Radiation Oncology * Biology * Physics — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 11:11:12 +0100

We examined the feasibility of using fiducial markers composed of microscopic gold particles and human-compatible polymers as a means to overcome current problems with conventional macroscopic gold fiducial markers, such as dose reduction and artifact generation, in proton therapy for prostate cancer.Methods and Materials: We examined two types of gold particle fiducial marker interactions: that with diagnostic X-rays and with a therapeutic proton beam. That is, we qualitatively and quantitatively compared the radiographic visibility of conventional gold and gold particle fiducial markers and the CT artifacts and dose reduction associated with their use.Results: The gold particle fiducials could be easily distinguished from high-density structures, such as the pelvic bone, in diagnostic X-...

Tumor-Volume Simulation During Radiotherapy for Head-and-Neck Cancer Using a Four-Level Cell Population Model

International Journal of Radiation Oncology * Biology * Physics — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 23:00:00 +0100

Conclusions: Our results indicate that the change in gross tumor volume for head-and-neck cancer can be adequately described by a relatively simple radiobiologic model. In future research, we propose to study the variation of model parameters by fitting to clinical data for a cohort of patients with head-and-neck cancer and other tumors. The potential impact of other processes, like concurrent chemotherapy, on tumor volume should be evaluated. (Source: International Journal of Radiation Oncology * Biology * Physics)

ProCure Proton Therapy Center opens in Oklahoma

Health Imaging News — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 17:53:00 +0100

A ProCure Proton Therapy Center for the treatment of cancer patients opened Wednesday in Oklahoma City, Okla. (Source: Health Imaging News)

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New ProCure Proton Therapy Center Celebrates Grand Opening

HSMN NewsFeed — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 15:20:58 +0100

An Important Option in Cancer Treatment Comes to Oklahoma City OKLAHOMA CITY--(HSMN NewsFeed)--The first group of what will eventually be 1,500 patients a year are being accepted for proton therapy treatment for their cancer at the new ProCure Proton Th... Devices, OncologyProCure Treatment Centers, proton therapy, proton beam, radiotherapy (Source: HSMN NewsFeed)

RaySearch Wins Breakthrough Order for Proton Treatment Planning System

HSMN NewsFeed — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 15:14:46 +0100

STOCKHOLM--(HSMN NewsFeed)--RaySearch Laboratories AB (STO:RAYB) has entered into a partnership and licensing agreement with Westdeutsches Protonentherapiezentrum Essen gGmbH (WPE). WPE is a proton therapy center under construction at the University Hospit... Devices, OncologyRaySearch Laboratories, proton therapy, proton beam, radiotherapy (Source: HSMN NewsFeed)

Current clinical evidence for proton therapy.

Cancer Journal — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 23:00:00 +0100

Authors: Brada M, Pijls-Johannesma M, De Ruysscher D Proton beam therapy provides the opportunity for more localized delivery of ionizing radiation with the potential for improved normal tissue avoidance to reduce treatment related morbidity and to allow for dose escalation to improve disease control and survival without increased toxicity. However, a systematic review of published peer-reviewed literature reported previously and updated here is devoid of any clinical data demonstrating benefit in terms of survival, tumor control, or toxicity in comparison with best conventional treatment for any of the tumors so far treated including skull base and ocular tumors, prostate cancer and childhood malignancies. The current lack of evidence for benefit of protons should provide a stimulus f...

Technology for proton therapy.

Cancer Journal — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 23:00:00 +0100

We describe how this new technology can be integrated into a proton therapy facility. PMID: 19672145 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Cancer Journal)

Charged particle therapy: the physics of interaction.

Cancer Journal — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 23:00:00 +0100

Authors: Lomax AJ Particle therapy has a long and distinguished history with more than 50,000 patients having been treated, mainly with high-energy proton therapy. Particularly, for proton therapy, there is an increasing interest in exploiting the physical characteristics of charged particles for further improving the potential of radiation therapy. In this article, we review the most important interactions of charged particles with matter and describe the basic physical principles that underlie why particle beams behave the way they do and why such a behavior could bring many benefits in radiation therapy. PMID: 19672144 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Cancer Journal)

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Field size dependence of the output factor in passively scattered proton therapy: influence of range, modulation, air gap, and machine settings.

Medical Physics — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 23:00:00 +0100

Authors: Daartz J, Engelsman M, Paganetti H, Bussière MR At the Francis H. Burr Proton Therapy Center field specific output factors (i.e., dose per monitor unit) for patient treatments were modeled for all beamlines (two gantries, fixed stereotactic, and fixed eye beamline). The authors evaluated the accuracy of dose calculation and output model for small fields. Measurements in a water phantom were performed in three of our beamlines quantifying the dependency of the output factor on the field size for a variety of proton ranges. The influence of snout size, air gap, modulation, and second scatterer was investigated. The impact of field size on output depends strongly on the depth of interest. The air gap has a notable influence on small field outputs. A field size specific corre...

Proton Beam Radiation Therapy in the Treatment of Pediatric Central Nervous System Malignancies: A Review of the Literature

Journal of Pediatric Oncology Nursing — Fri, 29 May 2009 04:00:00 +0100

One of 5 pediatric cancers occurs within the central nervous system. Although outcomes have improved, the greatest challenge with these patients remains the balance between cure and long-term morbidity. Patients who have undergone radiation therapy remain at high risk for developing a multitude of severe long-term sequelae. As radiation therapy remains a mainstay of treatment much attention has gone into improving its quality and precision. Multiple options exist for these patients, including conventional photon radiotherapy, conformal radiation, and now, proton beam radiotherapy. Proton beams are able to provide utmost precision for targeting the site of the tumor while decreasing radiation doses to surrounding tissues. Studies are showing that the benefits of proton therapy surpass both ...

ProCure Treatment Centers to Equip Chicago Facility With Software Solutions From Elekta

HSMN NewsFeed — Tue, 26 May 2009 15:33:38 +0100

CHICAGO, May 26 (HSMN NewsFeed) -- ProCure Treatment Centers, Inc., (ProCure) has selected Elekta to provide workflow enhancing software and treatment planning systems for its second IBA-equipped proton therapy center, which is under construction in subu... Devices, OncologyElekta, ProCure Treatment Centers, proton therapy, radiotherapy, MOSAIQ (Source: HSMN NewsFeed)

Bid for £20m proton therapy unit

BBC News | Health | UK Edition — Tue, 26 May 2009 12:55:06 +0100

A cancer hospital on Merseyside attempts to become the first centre in the UK to provide specialist treatment for brain tumours and rare cancers. (Source: BBC News | Health | UK Edition)

Internal Audit Of A Comprehensive IMRT Program For Prostate Cancer: A Model For Centers In Developing Countries?

Health News from Medical News Today — Tue, 26 May 2009 09:00:00 +0100

UroToday.com - During the last economic boom of 2003-2007, cancer centers in second and third-tier countries across the globe made significant investments in radiotherapy infrastructure, acquiring state-of-the-art technologies such as intensity modulated radiotherapy, image-guided radiotherapy, proton therapy and stereotactic radiotherapy, to mention a few. (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

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Errors on proton prostate cancer therapy ‘can be reduced to <2.5 mm’

MedWire News - Prostate Cancer — Tue, 26 May 2009 00:00:00 +0100

An action level image-guided radiation therapy process allows all errors in final prostate position for proton therapy to be limited to less than 2.5 mm, conclude US investigators. (Source: MedWire News - Prostate Cancer)

Dose escalation with proton or photon radiation treatment for pancreatic cancer

Radiotherapy and Oncology — Mon, 18 May 2009 23:00:00 +0100

Abstract: Purpose: The purpose was to determine the optimal radiation therapy modality (three-dimensional conformal photon-radiation therapy [3DCRT], intensity-modulated photon-radiation therapy [IMRT], or passive-scattering proton therapy [PT]) for safe dose escalation (72Gy) in pancreatic tumors in different positions relative to organs at risk (OAR) anatomy.Methods and materials: A 3-cm pancreatic tumor was virtually translated every 5mm over 5cm laterally. We generated two plans for each of the three techniques (3DCRT, IMRT, and PT), one that adhered to target coverage objectives and another to meet OAR sparing constraints with best coverage. We evaluated distances between gross tumor volumes and isodoses and compared dose–volume histograms.Results: IMRT was more conformal in higher ...

Dose escalation with proton or photon radiation treatment for pancreatic cancer.

Sat, 16 May 2009 23:00:00 +0100

CONCLUSIONS: Our study showed that the optimal radiation therapy modality for safe dose escalation depends on pancreatic tumor position in relation to OAR anatomy. PMID: 19454367 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Radiotherapy and Oncology : journal of the European Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology)

Risk of Secondary Malignant Neoplasms From Proton Therapy and Intensity-Modulated X-Ray Therapy for Early-Stage Prostate Cancer

International Journal of Radiation Oncology * Biology * Physics — Sun, 10 May 2009 21:33:45 +0100

Conclusions: When considering exposure to primary and secondary radiation, proton therapy can reduce the risk of an SMN in prostate patients compared with contemporary IMRT. (Source: International Journal of Radiation Oncology * Biology * Physics)

Protons promise lower second-cancer risk

AuntMinnie.com Headlines — Fri, 08 May 2009 07:00:00 +0100

Proton therapy offers a lower second-cancer risk than that associated with photon radiotherapies, even when neutron effects are taken into account, according to research from M. D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. (Source: AuntMinnie.com Headlines)

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Dumbbell-shaped thoracic chondroid chordoma mimicking a neurinoma

Acta Neurochirurgica — Tue, 05 May 2009 05:50:00 +0100

Abstract A 31-year-old woman was admitted to the hospital with paraparesis and pyramidal signs. Magnetic resonance imaging disclosed a homogenously enhaced mass occupying the spinal canal at the T1-T2 level and extending to the apical pleural space through the right intervertebral foramen. Surgical resection was achieved using a laminectomy and complete facetectomy. Histological examination indicated chondroid chordoma. The patient received postoperative proton radiotheraphy. Chondroid chordoma is a subtype of chordomas with better prognosis, and it may appear as a dumbbell-shaped tumor as previously described in classical chordomas. Content Type Journal ArticleCategory Case ReportDOI 10.1007/s00701-009-0321-6Authors C. Fernández Carballal, University General Hospital...

Risk assessment for cancer induction after low- and high-LET therapeutic irradiation

Strahlentherapie und Onkologie — Mon, 04 May 2009 05:38:52 +0100

Summary The risk of induction of a second primary cancer after a therapeutic irradiation with conventional photon beams is well recognized and documented. However, in general, it is totally overwhelmed by the benefit of the treatment. The same is true to a large extent for the combinations of radiation and drug therapy. After fast neutron therapy, the risk of induction of a second cancer is greater than after photon therapy. Neutron RBE increases with decreasing dose and there is a wide evidence that neutron RBE is greater for cancer induction (and for other late effects relevant in radiation protection) than for cell killing. Animal data on RBE for tumor induction are reviewed, as well as other biological effects such as life shortening, malignant cell transformation in...

Proton therapy for tumors of the skull base

Strahlentherapie und Onkologie — Mon, 04 May 2009 05:38:50 +0100

Abstract Charged particle beams are ideal for treating skull base and cervical spine tumors: dose can be focused in the target, while achieving significant sparing of the brain, brain stem, cervical cord, and optic nerves and chiasm. For skull base tumors, 10-year local control rates with combined proton-photon therapy are highest for chondrosarcomas, intermediate for male chordomas, and lowest for female chordomas (94%, 65%, and 42%, respectively). For cervical spine tumors, 10-year local control rates are not significantly different for chordomas and chondrosarcomas (54% and 48%, respectively), nor is there any difference in local control between males and females. Observed treatment-related morbidity has been judged acceptable, in view of the major morbidity and mortali...

Initial experience of using an active beam delivery technique at PSI

Strahlentherapie und Onkologie — Mon, 04 May 2009 05:38:47 +0100

In this report we discuss the usual initial difficulties encountered in the commissioning of a new technology, the very positive preliminary experience with the system and the optimistic expectations for the future. The long range goal of this project is to parallel the recent developments regarding inverse planning for photons with a similar advanced technology optimized for a proton beam. Content Type Journal ArticleCategory Accelerator and Medical PhysicsDOI 10.1007/BF03038879Authors Eros Pedroni, Paul Scherrer Institute Division of Radiation Medicine CH-5232 Villigen PSI SwitzerlandTerence BöhringerAdolf CorayEmmanuel EggerMartin GrossmannShixiong LinAntony LomaxGudrun GoiteinWerner RoserBarbara Schaffner, Paul Scherrer Institute Division of Radiation Medicine CH-5232 Villigen...

The Effectiveness and Safety of Proton Radiation Therapy for Indications of the Eye

Strahlentherapie und Onkologie — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 05:59:09 +0100

Conclusion: There is limited evidence on the effectiveness and safety of proton radiation due to the lack of well-designed and well-reported studies. There is a need to lift evidence on proton therapy to a higher level by performing dose-finding randomized controlled trials (RCTs), comparative studies of proton radiation versus standard given alternatives and prospective case studies enrolling only patients treated with up-to-date techniques, allowing extrapolation of results to similar patient groups. Content Type Journal ArticleCategory Review ArticleDOI 10.1007/s00066-009-1900-4Authors Geertruida E. Bekkering, KU Leuven BeSyRe Bekkering Systematic Reviews, Geel, Belgium; Academic Center for General Practice Leuven BelgiumAnne W. S. Rutjes, University of Bern Div...

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Secondary Neutron Doses for Several Beam Configurations for Proton Therapy

International Journal of Radiation Oncology * Biology * Physics — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 14:48:10 +0100

Conclusions: Although the secondary neutron doses in proton therapy were higher when a scattering mode rather than a scanning mode was used, they did not exceed the scattered photon dose in typical photon treatments. (Source: International Journal of Radiation Oncology * Biology * Physics)

A Dosimetric Comparison of Proton and Intensity-Modulated Photon Radiotherapy for Pediatric Parameningeal Rhabdomyosarcomas

International Journal of Radiation Oncology * Biology * Physics — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 14:46:54 +0100

Conclusions: For pediatric PRMS, superior normal tissue sparing is achieved with proton radiation therapy compared with IMRT. Because of enhanced conformality, proton plans also demonstrate greater normal tissue dose distribution asymmetry. Longitudinal studies assessing the impact of proton radiotherapy and IMRT on normal tissue function and growth symmetry are necessary to define the clinical consequences of these differences. (Source: International Journal of Radiation Oncology * Biology * Physics)

Effects of fotemustine or dacarbasine on a melanoma cell line pretreated with therapeutic proton irradiation

Journal of Experimental and Clinical Cancer Research — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 04:00:00 +0100

Conclusion: The obtained results are the consequence of a high resistance of HTB140 melanoma cells to protons and/or drugs. The inactivation level of the HTB140 human melanoma cells after protons, FM or DTIC treatments was not enhanced by their combined application. (Source: Journal of Experimental and Clinical Cancer Research)

The Promises And Perils Of Proton Radiotherapy: Two-Day Symposium In Baltimore

Cancer / Oncology News From Medical News Today — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 08:00:00 +0100

Proton therapy has been hailed as a revolutionary cancer treatment, with higher cure rates and fewer side effects than traditional X-ray photon radiotherapy. Proton therapy is the modality of choice for treating certain small tumors of the eye, head, head or neck. It is also safer -- especially for young children -- because it exposes less of the tissue surrounding a tumor to the dosage, proton therapy lowers the risk of secondary cancers later in life. (Source: Cancer / Oncology News From Medical News Today)

Two-day symposium in Baltimore to tackle the promises and perils of proton radiotherapy

EurekAlert! - Cancer — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 04:00:00 +0100

(American Institute of Physics) Proton therapy has been hailed as a revolutionary cancer treatment, with higher cure rates and fewer side effects than traditional X-ray photon radiotherapy. Proton therapy is the modality of choice for treating certain small tumors of the eye, head, head or neck. It is also safer -- especially for young children -- because it exposes less of the tissue surrounding a tumor to the dosage, proton therapy lowers the risk of secondary cancers later in life. (Source: EurekAlert! - Cancer)

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Advances in Proton Therapy, Pencil Beam Technology Reach Patient Care

M. D. Anderson Cancer Center - News Releases — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 04:00:00 +0100

Today more than ever, new tools are enabling physicians at the Proton Therapy Center at The University of Texas M. D. Anderson to harness supercharged proton particles and conform them more closely to the rugged landscape and uneven contours of a cancer tumor. Using a technology known as pencil beam scanning. (Source: M. D. Anderson Cancer Center - News Releases)

Prescribing, Recording, and Reporting Proton-Beam Therapy

International Journal of Radiation Oncology * Biology * Physics — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 15:41:06 +0100

Proton therapy has a long history and is experiencing rapid growth. Comprehensive reviews of proton therapy technology have been few and have had varying emphases. Also, no standards have been available in terms of the dose prescription and reporting for proton therapy. This International Commission on Radiation Units and Measurements (ICRU) report on proton therapy dose prescription and reporting, including discussions on nearly all technical aspects of proton therapy, is a timely publication to meet the needs of all interested radiotherapy and engineering professionals. (Source: International Journal of Radiation Oncology * Biology * Physics)

Proton therapy in chordoma of the base of the skull: a systematic review

Urosurgical Review — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 06:50:03 +0100

Abstract Chordoma is a rare, slow-growing, locally aggressive, primary bone tumor that arises from the skull base region in approximately 25–35% of cases. The therapeutic approach to chordoma has traditionally been surgery, followed by radiation therapy. The advent of charged particle radiotherapy has let us consider protons as the postoperative treatment of choice, but no controlled studies have yet confirmed the superiority of protons over photons. During January 2008, two independent researchers conducted a systematic review of the current data on the treatment of base of the skull chordoma C with proton therapy (PT) and, for comparison, with other irradiation techniques (conventional radiation therapy, ion therapy, fractionated stereotactic radiation therapy, and rad...

The enigma of proton therapy for head and neck cancers

Journal of Cancer Research and Therapeutics — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 08:32:19 +0100

Kazi RJournal of Cancer Research and Therapeutics 2009 5(1):58-58 (Source: Journal of Cancer Research and Therapeutics)

ProTom, MIT test accelerator

AuntMinnie.com Headlines — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 16:53:19 +0100

ProTom International and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Bates Linear Accelerator Center have completed a successful test of proton beam acceleration and extraction from ProTom's compact proton therapy system after two months of installation and commissioning. (Source: AuntMinnie.com Headlines)

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New Proton Therapy Equipment Enables More Tumors To Be Treated

Cancer / Oncology News From Medical News Today — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 10:00:00 +0100

An advance in the way protons are delivered at the University of Florida Proton Therapy Institute enables physicians to treat tumors that are deeper in the body, tumors that are very large and tumors that are situated closer to vital organs. Called uniform scanning, the new device moves a single beam of protons in a sweeping or "scanning" motion, enabling the beam to reach deeper into the body and to cover a wider treatment area than the more commonly used scattering method. (Source: Cancer / Oncology News From Medical News Today)

Dose perturbations from implanted helical gold markers in proton therapy of prostate cancer.

Journal of Applied Clinical Medical Physics — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 00:22:24 +0100

Authors: Giebeler A, Fontenot J, Balter P, Ciangaru G, Zhu R, Newhauser W Abstract Implanted gold fiducial markers are widely used in radiation therapy to improve targeting accuracy. Recent investigations have revealed that metallic fiducial markers can cause severe perturbations in dose distributions for proton therapy, suggesting smaller markers should be considered. This objective of this study was to estimate the dosimetric impact of small gold markers in patients receiving proton therapy for prostate cancer. Small, medium, and large helical wire markers of diameter 0.04 mm, 0.25 mm and 0.5 mm, respectively, and length 10 mm were implanted in an anthropomorphic phantom. Radiographic visibility was confirmed using a kilovoltage x-ray imaging system; the dose perturbations were predi...

Varian Medical Systems Has Received CE Mark For Proton Therapy System

Health News from Medical News Today — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 11:00:00 +0100

Varian Medical Systems today announced that it has received CE mark for the Varian Proton Therapy System, which is designed to help doctors to improve treatments and outcomes in many cancer cases. With proton therapy, doctors can use higher doses of radiation to control and manage tumors while significantly reducing damage to healthy tissue and vital organs. (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

Varian wins CE Mark for proton therapy system

AuntMinnie.com Headlines — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 07:00:00 +0100

Radiation therapy firm Varian Medical Systems has received the European CE Mark for its proton therapy system. (Source: AuntMinnie.com Headlines)

Varian wins California proton therapy contract

AuntMinnie.com Headlines — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 07:00:00 +0100

Radiation therapy firm Varian Medical Systems has inked an agreement with American Shared Hospital Services to provide proton therapy equipment for a new Bay Area proton beam radiation therapy facility. (Source: AuntMinnie.com Headlines)

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The role of fractionated radiotherapy and radiosurgery in the management of patients with craniopharyngioma

Urosurgical Review — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 09:22:22 +0100

Abstract The optimal management of craniopharyngiomas remains controversial. The first-line treatment usually consists of surgical resection. Complete tumor removal provides a high rate of long-term control; however, aggressive surgery is associated with significant incidence of complications. Radiotherapy (RT) is currently used in patients after limited surgery and achieves excellent long-term tumor control. Stereotactic radiotherapy, both in the form of radiosurgery (RS) or fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy (FSRT), has been developed as a more accurate technique of irradiation with more precise tumor localization and consequently a reduction in the volume of normal brain irradiated to high radiation doses. We provide a review of published data on outcome of conventi...

On the performances of Intensity Modulated Protons, RapidArc and Helical Tomotherapy for selected paediatric cases

Radiation Oncology — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 05:00:00 +0100

Conclusions: Five complex pediatric cases were selected as representative examples to compare three advanced radiation delivery techniques. While differences were noted in the metrics examined, all three techniques provided satisfactory conformal avoidance and conformation. (Source: Radiation Oncology)

IBA gets FDA nod for pencil-beam scanning

AuntMinnie.com Headlines — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 07:00:00 +0100

Radiopharmaceutical firm Ion Beam Applications (IBA) has received clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for its pencil-beam scanning treatment option for proton therapy. (Source: AuntMinnie.com Headlines)

Radiation therapy for children: evolving technologies in the era of ALARA

Pediatric Radiology — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 07:56:19 +0100

Abstract The evolution of ever more sophisticated oncologic imaging and technologies providing far more precise radiation therapy have combined to increase the utilization of sophisticated radiation therapy in childhood cancer. For a majority of children with common central nervous system, soft tissue, bone, and dysontogenic neoplasms, local irradiation is fundamental to successful multi-disciplinary management. Along with more precise target volume definition and radiation delivery, new technologies provide added certainty of patient positioning (electronic portal imaging, cone beam CT) and conformality of dose delivery (3-D conformal irradiation, intensity modulated radiation therapy, proton beam therapy). Each of the major areas of technology development are able to bet...

RaySearch Laboratories: First Patient Treated With RaySearch's Proton Therapy System

Radiology / Nuclear Medicine News From Medical News Today — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 08:00:00 +0100

In August this year, RaySearch Laboratories AB (STO:RAYB) signed an agreement with the Uppsala University Hospital in Sweden, covering the development of a new treatment planning system for proton radiation therapy carried out at the The Svedberg Laboratory. Yesterday, an important milestone was reached when the first patient was treated clinically with a treatment plan prepared using the new system supplied by RaySearch. (Source: Radiology / Nuclear Medicine News From Medical News Today)

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Dosimetric Changes Resulting From Patient Rotational Setup Errors in Proton Therapy Prostate Plans

International Journal of Radiation Oncology * Biology * Physics — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 00:00:00 +0100

Purpose: To evaluate the dose changes to the target and critical structures from rotational setup errors in prostate cancer patients treated with proton therapy.Methods and Materials: A total of 70 plans were analyzed for 10 patients treated with parallel-opposed proton beams to a dose of 7,600 60Co-cGy-equivalent (CcGE) in 200 CcGE fractions to the clinical target volume (i.e., prostate and proximal seminal vesicles). Rotational setup errors of +3°, −3°, +5°, and −5° (to simulate pelvic tilt) were generated by adjusting the gantry. Horizontal couch shifts of +3° and −3° (to simulate longitudinal setup variability) were also generated. Verification plans were recomputed, keeping the same treatment parameters as the control.Results: All changes shown are for 38 fractions. The me...

ASTRO News

International Journal of Radiation Oncology * Biology * Physics — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 17:51:15 +0100

Register online and reserve your housing early for the 2009 Advances in Technology: Practical Aspects on IMRT and Proton Therapy Symposium being held January 22–24, 2009, at the Sheraton Wild Horse Pass Resort and Spa in Chandler, Arizona. To register and book housing, visit www.astro.org/Meetings/UpcomingMeetings/AdvancesinTechnologySymposium/index.asp. (Source: International Journal of Radiation Oncology * Biology * Physics)

Dose–Volume Differences for Computed Tomography and Magnetic Resonance Imaging Segmentation and Planning for Proton Prostate Cancer Therapy

International Journal of Radiation Oncology * Biology * Physics — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 17:50:21 +0100

Conclusions: Using MRI to delineate the prostate results in more accurate target definition and a smaller target volume compared with CT, allowing for improved target coverage and decreased doses to critical normal structures. (Source: International Journal of Radiation Oncology * Biology * Physics)

Effects of Interfractional Motion and Anatomic Changes on Proton Therapy Dose Distribution in Lung Cancer

International Journal of Radiation Oncology * Biology * Physics — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 17:50:12 +0100

Conclusions: Adaptive re-planning during proton therapy may be indicated in selected patients with non–small cell lung cancer. For most patients, however, CTV coverage is adequate if tumor motion is taken into consideration in the original simulation and planning processes. (Source: International Journal of Radiation Oncology * Biology * Physics)

In Response to Schulz and Kagan

International Journal of Radiation Oncology * Biology * Physics — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 17:49:52 +0100

In their editorial, “Should proton beam therapy be widely adopted?” Schulz and Kagan posit that positive Phase III clinical trial data are needed before the wide adoption of proton beam radiotherapy . This has been the subject of several recent reports in the past year . Schulz and Kagan argue that the published clinical results of proton therapy have not indicated benefits sufficient to warrant the greater costs despite the superior physical dose distributions. (Source: International Journal of Radiation Oncology * Biology * Physics)

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Physicists receive patent for improved cancer therapy device

EurekAlert! - Cancer — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 05:00:00 +0100

(DOE/Brookhaven National Laboratory) Four physicists at the US Department of Energy's Brookhaven National Laboratory have been awarded US 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. (Source: EurekAlert! - Cancer)

Proton therapy reduces bone marrow toxicity compared with IMRT

AuntMinnie.com Headlines — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 07:00:00 +0100

Tighter control of how much radiation is focused on a tumor and how much affects adjacent structures appears to result in less bone marrow toxicity among patients treated with proton beam therapy, when compared with conventional intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT). (Source: AuntMinnie.com Headlines)

Proton induces apoptosis of hypoxic tumor cells by the p53-dependent and p38/JNK MAPK signaling pathways.

International Journal of Oncology — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 10:41:29 +0100

In conclusion, proton beam treatment did not differently regulate cancer cell apoptosis either in normoxic or hypoxic conditions via a p53-dependent mechanism and by the activation of p38/JNK MAPK pathways through ROS. PMID: 19020758 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: International Journal of Oncology)

CTS: Proton Therapy Reduces Bone Marrow Toxicity in Lung Cancer Patients

MedPage Today Hematology/Oncology — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 16:39:21 +0100

CHICAGO (MedPage Today) -- Non-small-cell lung cancer patients on chemotherapy who undergo treatment with proton beam radiation appear to suffer less bone marrow toxicity than those treated with conventional radiation therapy, researchers said here. (Source: MedPage Today Hematology/Oncology)

Proton Therapy May Reduce Serious Side Effect Of Lung Cancer Treatment

Health News from Medical News Today — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 14:00:00 +0100

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 (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

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Bone Marrow Toxicity In Advanced Lung Cancer May Be Reduced By Proton Therapy And Concurrent Chemotherapy

Radiology / Nuclear Medicine News From Medical News Today — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 11:00:00 +0100

Patients treated for locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer who receive chemotherapy and proton beam therapy have fewer instances of bone marrow toxicity than patients who receive the standard treatment of intensity-modulated radiation (IMRT) and concurrent chemotherapy, according to researchers from The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center. (Source: Radiology / Nuclear Medicine News From Medical News Today)

Analytical shielding calculations for a proton therapy facility

Radiation Protection Dosimetry — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 05:00:00 +0100

In this study, neutron shielding considerations for the proposed proton therapy facility were investigated using analytical techniques and Monte Carlo simulated neutron spectra. Neutron spectra calculations were done using the GEANT4 (v6.2) simulation code for various materials: water, carbon, iron, nickel and tantalum to estimate the neutron production at proton beam energies of 100, 175 and 250 MeV. Dose equivalent calculations were performed using analytical methods at various critical points within the facility, by folding the GEANT4 produced neutron spectra with dose equivalent rate data from the National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements (NCRP) Report #144. (Source: Radiation Protection Dosimetry)

Proton therapy and concurrent chemotherapy in lung cancer

Medicineworld.org: New Article Alert — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 04:45:59 +0100

Patients treated for locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer who receive chemotherapy and proton beam treatment have fewer instances of bone marrow toxicity than patients who receive the standard therapy of intensity-modulated radiation (IMRT) and concurrent chemotherapy, as per scientists from The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center........ (Source: Medicineworld.org: New Article Alert)

Proton therapy and concurrent chemotherapy may reduce bone marrow toxicity in advanced lung cancer

EurekAlert! - Cancer — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 05:00:00 +0100

(University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center) Patients treated for locally advanced nonsmall cell lung cancer who receive chemotherapy and proton beam therapy have fewer instances of bone marrow toxicity than patients who receive the standard treatment of intensity-modulated radiation and concurrent chemotherapy, according to researchers from the University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center. (Source: EurekAlert! - Cancer)

Proton therapy may reduce serious side effect of lung cancer treatment

EurekAlert! - Cancer — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 05:00:00 +0100

(American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology) 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, according to a study presented at the 2008 Chicago Multidisciplinary Symposium in Thoracic Oncology, sponsored by ASTRO, ASCO, IASLC and the University of Chicago. (Source: EurekAlert! - Cancer)

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Missing out

BBC News | Health | UK Edition — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 12:44:19 +0100

UK cancer patients must travel abroad for proton therapy (Source: BBC News | Health | UK Edition)

Proton Therapy Use Incites Debate Over Clinical Trials

JNCI — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 05:00:00 +0100

(Source: JNCI)

Futre ise of proton therapy

Huliq Health News — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 16:53:49 +0100

Despite the fact that proton therapy has been around for years, it is still a relatively uncommon way to treat cancer. (Source: Huliq Health News)

Jacksonville oncology clinic to get proton beam for cancer treatment

bizjournals.com Health Care:Biotechnology headlines — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 04:00:00 +0100

MANDARIN — First Coast Oncology plans to offer proton therapy for its cancer patients by using a smaller, less expensive version of previous proton therapy systems. (Source: bizjournals.com Health Care:Biotechnology headlines)