Dear Radiation Oncology Insider,
Using intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) instead of conventional radiation therapy could result in better survival rates for patients with head and neck cancer, according to a thought-provoking new study that's the subject of this edition's Insider Exclusive.
Since its arrival in the 1990s, IMRT has generally been acknowledged to produce fewer side effects in patients. But this benefit comes with a higher price tag compared to convention radiation therapy, and it's unknown whether IMRT produces better survival rates.
To answer that question, researchers from the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center surveyed the outcomes of more than 3,100 patients who were treated with IMRT or conventional radiation therapy. They found that the IMRT patients had higher rates of cause-specific survival.
The results indicate that IMRT could actually be a cost-effective technology -- perhaps beating back some of the arguments questioning its value. Read more by clicking here for an article you're getting before the rest of the AuntMinnie.com membership.
In other news, there have been positive steps in the war on lung cancer in the U.S. over the past several months. Lung cancer rates for men have continued to decline over the past 10 years, according to the recently released Annual Report to the Nation on the status of cancer. And middle-aged black men have been major beneficiaries of the trend, according to a separate analysis.
Also, researchers from Saudi Arabia recently reported on their experience in implementing intraoperative radiation therapy for breast cancer treatment in the country.
Finally, European researchers investigated the use of targeted radiation therapy for women undergoing surgery for early breast cancer. Get the details by clicking here.
We hope you find these articles useful. Remember to check back in with the Radiation Oncology Digital Community for more important news in the world of radiation therapy.
