Immobilization

• Ionizing radiation, or the emission of high-energy waves or particles, works as a therapy by damaging a cancer cell’s DNA.
• It’s an effective tool for killing cancer cells because they are generally much less adept at DNA repair compared to healthy cells.
• Damaging specific parts of DNA prevents cancer cells from reproducing, effectively killing them.

Fundamentals of radiation therapy

• At the heart of radiation therapy lies the fundamental principle that cancer cells are more susceptible to radiation than healthy cells.
• Sometimes resistance to radiation in cancer cells may be comparable or even greater than that of their neighboring cells.
• When tumors lie close to vital organs that are highly sensitive to radiation, such as the brain or the bowels, it significantly limits the amount of radiation that can be delivered.

External beam radiation therapy

• External beam radiation involves directing radiation from an outside source to a single part of the body.
• Another form of radiotherapy is proton beam therapy, or PBT, which directs protons instead of X-rays at tumors.

Image-guided radiation therapy

• By acting as the eyes of the care team, imaging reduced uncertainty about the location of tumors and improved the precision and accuracy of radiation therapy.
• Newer linear accelerators are now incorporating MRIs, which significantly improve visualization of patient anatomy and tumors, further advancing treatment precision and accuracy.

Researchers are also adding positron emission tomography, or PET, scanners that provide information about the metabolic function of tumors. This advance makes it possible to increase the radiation dose specifically at the most active areas of tumors.

Adaptive therapy

• An emerging approach to radiation therapy called adaptive therapy uses imaging to dynamically adjust treatment as the tumor or its positioning changes each day.
• However, adaptive therapy may apply several adjustments or lead to a completely new treatment plan in order to address changes to the tumor’s condition over the course of treatment.
• The fact that the process needs to be repeated multiple times renders adaptive therapy particularly resource-intensive and time-consuming.

Brachytherapy

• Brachytherapy – stemming from the Greek word “brachys,” meaning “short” – is another widely used method in radiation therapy.
• In contrast to external beam radiation therapy, where radiation often must pass through healthy tissue to reach cancer cells, brachytherapy applies radiation directly to the tumor.

• The conventional approach to brachytherapy involved using needles to place or inject radioactive seeds inside or adjacent to the cancerous tissue.
• An increasingly popular form of brachytherapy called high-dose rate brachytherapy involves using a tube to guide a more highly radioactive seed directly to the affected tissue before removing it after a few minutes.

Future of radiation therapy

• Researchers are also exploring treatments using ions heavier than protons to more effectively damage DNA in cancer cells and enhance the efficacy of radiation therapy.
• Advances in the field hint at a future of more personalized radiation therapy, highlighting the fusion of technology and medical expertise in the fight against cancer.

The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

• WARSAW, Ind., Dec. 06, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- OrthoPediatrics Corp. (“OrthoPediatrics” or the “Company”) (Nasdaq: KIDS), a company focused exclusively on advancing the field of pediatric orthopedics, announced the launch of a new division, focused on non-surgical intervention for pediatric orthopedics.
• The OrthoPediatrics Specialty Bracing division (“OPSB”) will serve as a flagship house of brands and innovative products that expand the Company’s Total Addressable Market by approximately $600 million.
• Since the transaction, the Company has been aggressively building a portfolio of complementary products to address the large unmet needs for specialty bracing within the pediatric orthopedic market.
• OrthoPediatrics’ President of Trauma & Deformity Correction, Joe Hauser will also lead the new non-operative business, commenting, “We are excited for the launch of the new OPSB division, and our continued expansion into pediatric orthopedic non-surgical treatments for kids.

• WALTHAM, Mass., Dec. 21, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Alcresta Therapeutics, Inc., a leading commercial-stage company focused on developing and commercializing novel enzyme-based products, today announced 510(k) clearance of its next-generation RELiZORB® (iMMOBILIZED LIPASE) cartridge by the Center for Devices and Radiological Health (CDRH) of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
• The next-generation RELiZORB device was developed to address the enteral nutrition needs of a wider population of patients living with rare diseases.
• "Since its initial clearance in 2015, RELiZORB has supported enterally fed patients by breaking down fats in their enteral formula, making them readily absorbable.
• The clearance of this next-generation device represents a significant milestone that will allow more patients to benefit from the unique role RELiZORB plays in enteral feeding."

• Samsara is committed to supporting the growth and resilience of the Mexican transportation industry, which is experiencing extraordinary growth.
• Today, at Expo Transporte, Samsara is excited to introduce a range of innovative products designed to specifically address these challenges: increasing efficiency, cutting costs, protecting drivers and assets, and preventing theft.
• These innovative solutions reflect Samsara's dedication to empowering Mexican transportation companies as they navigate the evolving landscape of the industry.
• We invite you to explore our products, designed to help you operate more efficiently, enhance security, and protect your assets at Expo Transporte 2023 in Guadalajara (Booth #J1867, Salón Jalisco).