Radiation-Induced Neoplasms

SOMERSET, N.J., March 19, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- ProCure Proton Therapy Center marks its 13th anniversary this March, celebrating a legacy of state-of-the-art technology with a patient-centered approach in cancer care. Since 2012, ProCure has helped more than 7,300 patients live their lives out loud during cancer treatments, through the power of precisely targeted proton therapy with minimal side effects. Proton therapy enables ProCure's physicians to pinpoint radiation doses to attack cancer cells while sparing surrounding healthy tissue and minimizing side effects often associated with conventional radiation therapy. According to ProCure's leadership, that makes all the difference in the patient's ability to engage without interruption with the people and activities that matter most. "When we opened in Central New Jersey 13 years ago, we were on a mission to deliver transformative care in a region that includes parts of two major metro areas and three states, and beyond," said ProCure Medical Director, Brian Chon, M.D. "We understood that this powerful treatment approach would have a significant regional impact, but seeing the positive effects on the lives of thousands of patients and their loved ones makes it up close and personal for everyone on our team." Feedback from numerous ProCure patients aligns with this perspective that the human side of care is just as important as the advanced technology. For example, recent patient Tim said, "From the moment I first went for a consultation and throughout my treatment I could not have received any more compassionate care. The staff is outstanding with a deep concern for your progress to get better. I cannot say enough great things about them." Laura, a survivor of metastatic breast cancer, shared a similar perspective on her treatment experience at ProCure. "You were their priority," she said. "They paid attention. They noticed you when you walked in. They acknowledged you. They said hello. Proton therapy is just one piece of my puzzle. But it was really nice." Whether coming from the U.S. or abroad, all ProCure patients have been able to continue spending their time on activities ranging from creative passions like professional writing or singing to the simple pleasures of delighting in the company of family and friends. "We do everything we can to make sure that being in treatment does not keep our patients from making the most of every day," Dr. Chon said. "And we look forward to doing the same for thousands more in the decades to come." About ProCure Proton Therapy Center ProCure Proton Therapy Center in Somerset, NJ, opened in March 2012 as the tri-state region's first proton therapy facility, treating a range of cancers including diseases of the prostate, breast, lung, brain, head and neck, and gastrointestinal system, as well as sarcomas and many pediatric cases. Using the most advanced radiation treatment available, ProCure has treated more than 7,300 patients overall, including 750+ pediatric patients coming from the U.S. and abroad, and enables many cancer patients to choose a non-surgical treatment personalized to their medical needs and lifestyles, often with fewer side effects and less downtime—giving them more freedom to enjoy what matters most in their lives. For more information, visit ProCure.com. Media Contact: Sarah Ferrington, Marketing Manager Phone: 732-357-2609 Email: [email protected] SOURCE ProCure Proton Therapy Center WANT YOUR COMPANY'S NEWS FEATURED ON PRNEWSWIRE.COM? 440k+ Newsrooms & Influencers 9k+ Digital Media Outlets 270k+ Journalists Opted In GET STARTED

Pictured: MRI images of the brain for neurological Six months after treatment with the radiopharmaceutical therapy, 77.8% of patients with meningioma were alive and had not experienced further disease progression, beating the 26% benchmark established in earlier studies. Phase II data presented Sunday at the American Society for Radiation Oncology annual meeting suggest Novartis’ Lutathera may improve progression-free survival in patients with tough-to-treat meningioma brain tumors. Lutathera is a combination of a radionuclide, 177Lu, and a peptide that binds to somatostatin receptors. The combination enables the targeted delivery of radiation therapy. Lutathera received FDA approval for use against gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors in 2018. Novartis has yet to expand the label to cover additional diseases but Lutathera is potentially applicable to other tumors that express somatostatin. That potential informed a Phase II trial led by Kenneth Merrell, a radiation oncologist at the Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine. The study was designed to show if Lutathera could be an option for people with meningioma, a brain tumor, who progress after treatment with surgery or radiation. Researchers have reported recurrence rates of 40% to 80% for certain grade meningiomas. As the tumor recurs, patients quickly run out of safe and effective salvage treatments. Because nearly all meningiomas express somatostatin, the Mayo Clinic oncologist identified Lutathera as a drug that could provide people with another option. “There is no standard of care or proven option for managing refractory meningioma,” Merrell said in a statement. “Many of these patients continue to experience aggressive tumor growth and significant related complications, and ultimately the illness may prove fatal. It is a very challenging prognosis to manage, and in many cases, we are left with only supportive measures.” The single-arm study enrolled 20 people with surgery- and radiation-refractory meningioma to receive four administrations of Lutathera eight weeks apart. Six months after treatment, 77.8% of the patients were alive and had not experienced further disease progression. The researchers said earlier studies had established 26% as the benchmark for progression-free survival (PFS) after six months. Median PFS in the Lutathera study was 10.7 months. The trial had yet to reach median overall survival at the time of the ASTRO analysis. One year after treatment, 88.5% of patients were alive. No patients experienced grade 4 or 5 adverse events, the most severe side effects, that were attributable to the treatment. Ten patients had moderate, grade 3 hematologic adverse events. There was also one case each of grade 3 hepatitis and seizure that were at least possibly attributable to treatment. Five people stopped taking Lutathera, in two cases because of possible treatment-related adverse events.

Delivering high-quality emergency care for kids may mean fewer CT scans, according to a new study. The research validates intra-abdominal injury (IAI) and traumatic brain injury (TBI) prediction rules established by the Pediatric Emergency Care Applied Research Network (PECARN). Delivering high-quality emergency care for kids may mean fewer CT scans, according to a new study from UC Davis Health's Department of Emergency Medicine. The research -- published in The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health Journal -- validates intra-abdominal injury (IAI) and traumatic brain injury (TBI) prediction rules established by the Pediatric Emergency Care Applied Research Network (PECARN). The IAI and TBI prediction rules were created by co-principal investigators Nathan Kuppermann, chair of Emergency Medicine, and James Holmes, executive vice chair of Emergency Medicine. They sought to decrease inappropriate computed tomography (CT) use in injured children. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), trauma is the leading cause of death in children in the United States. Among pediatric traumatic deaths, TBI has been the most common cause and IAI accounts for 30% of cases. Currently, CT scanning is the standard for diagnosing IAIs and TBIs. However, the procedure is associated with lethal ionizing radiation-inducing malignancies, or cancer, at an estimated rate of one per 500 abdominal CT scans in children younger than five years of age. In adolescents, the figure is one per 600 scans. "A CT scan can be a useful diagnostic tool for diagnosing and treating patients, but it also has risks of radiation-induced malignancy," explained Kuppermann. "By validating these evidence-based rules, we hope to decrease unnecessary CT imaging of children with head or abdominal trauma and increase patient safety by decreasing the risks of potential malignancies." Benefits of IAI and TBI rules The study was conducted at six pediatric trauma centers. However, prior evidence suggests the PECARN IAI and TBI rules can be safely implemented in community hospitals. By utilizing the IAI and TBI rules, community hospitals can increase the readiness of their emergency departments to care for acutely sick and injured children. "The care a child receives in the emergency department can set them on a path to survival or not," explained Holmes. "These rules can increase readiness of emergency departments to ensure that every child receives high-quality emergency care." Additionally, authors of the study believe these results could impact racial and ethnic differences in medical imaging use in emergency departments throughout the United States. "Evidence shows there are racial, ethnic and demographic disparities in medical imaging use in emergency departments," said Kuppermann. "Providing clinicians an evidence-based protocol to follow can standardize and prevent any differences in care." Methods and findings of the study The investigators conducted a prospective cohort study in six Level-1 pediatric trauma centers. They studied the cases of children younger than 18 years with blunt abdominal or minor head trauma. Enrolled children were evaluated if they were positive or negative for the previously derived PECARN prediction rules prior to knowledge of CT results. Overall, 7,542 patients with blunt abdominal trauma and 19,999 patients with head trauma were enrolled in the study. The IAI rule had an accuracy rate of 100% (145/145) for patients needing a CT scan and a negative predictive value of 100% (3,488/3,488). The TBI rule for patients younger than 2 years had an accuracy rate of 100% (42/42) for patients needing a CT scan and a negative predictive value of 100% (2,940/2,940). For children 2 years-and-older, the TBI rule had an accuracy rate of 98.8% (168/170) for patients needing a CT scan and a negative predictive value of 99.97% (6,015/6,017). Neither of the two children with TBIs misclassified by the TBI rule required neurosurgery or other therapy beyond hospital observation. "With this robust validation, these clinical prediction rules should now be widely disseminated and implemented into clinical practice," said Holmes. "Widespread use may further decrease unnecessary CT scans in injured children." Other participating centers in the study, funded by the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development included Children's Medical Center, Dallas, UT Health Houston, Rady Childrens Hospital San Diego. Children's Hospital, Los Angeles and UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital, Oakland.