Professor Peter Hoskin, consultant clinical oncologist at the Mount Vernon Cancer Centre, Northwood, UK, and Professor of Clinical Oncology at University College, London, and colleagues, randomized 470 patients with primary prostate cancer and painful bone metastases to receive either a single dose of radiation or a single intravenous infusion of the bisphosphonate ibandronate (IB). Patients reported their primary site of pain at entry into the trial, and then at four, eight, twelve, 26 and 52 weeks after treatment.

Those who had not responded to the first treatment at four weeks crossed over to the alternative therapy and received their second treatment no later than week eight. Pain levels were measured at four and twelve weeks by examining analgesic use, using a combination of scoring via the WHO pain ladder and the Mercadante method, which defines analgesic use in morphine equivalents.

“We found that using IB was as good as single dose radiotherapy in controlling pain,” said Prof Hoskin. “Although there were more patients in the IB group with worse Mercadante scores at four weeks who needed re-treatment, at six and twelve months there was no long-term difference in pain relief between the two groups.”

Side effects were few; short-lived nausea and stomach upsets if radiotherapy passes through the abdomen and flu-like symptoms with IB. The patients in the trial were well balanced as to age, site of pain, prior treatment and performance status. The median survival of the four groups was 11.8 months (radiotherapy only), 11.4 months (IB only), 12.7 months (radiotherapy then IB), and 16.8 months (IB then radiotherapy).

“We hope to analyze these survival differences further in the hope that it can give us further pointers as to how and whether we should use a combination of treatments,” Prof Hoskin said. “Currently we are unsure about the optimal timing and scheduling of treatment for these patients.”

Science Brief thanks to EurekAlert.

Read more here:
Bone-strengthening drug gives pain relief in prostate cancer bone metastases

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Neuroblastoma is a cancerous tumor that develops from nerve tissue in infants and children. Accounting for six to 10 percent of all childhood cancers, it does not always follow the same pattern, with some patients regressing spontaneously and other progressing, despite aggressive therapy. The long-term survival rate for neuroblastoma is below 40 percent.

Science Brief thanks to EurekAlert.

Read more here:
New therapy for childhood neuroblastoma proves feasible and safe

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This first collaboration comes on the heels of the visit to Burkina Faso by Dr. Rolando Camacho-Rodriguez, the Cancer Control Coordinator at the Agency.

According to the Health Ministry, this disease has become a public health issue, since the country recorded over 7,814 cases of cancer (4,966 for women et 2,848 for men) in 2008. As a consequence, the ministry has set up a committee to take care of cases of cancer in the country’s hospitals

The IAEA will essentially help in the setting up of and appropriate oncology and nuclear medicine unit to better take care of cancer patients, Rolando Camacho said, insisting that prevention could reduce by 30 per cent the cases of cancer.

According to the Agency, it is urgent to open a radiotherapy unit and nuclear medicine facility.

The discussions with the IAEA delegation resulted in the development of a National cancer program.

This assistance from the IAEA will boost the National Health Development Programme (PNDS 2010-2020,) which is in preparation, after that of the period 2001-2010.

Source African Press Agency

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Marcel Olitte, Responsible Officer for the Radiation Protection Authority, indicated here that in this context, the Ministry of Renewable Energy is promulgating the Radiation Protection (Registration of Radiation Sources and Facilities) Regulations 2009.

He added that the aim of the regulations will be to compel all the owners of equipments that emit ionizing rays and all institutions and department that use radiation sources to register these sources within 30 days from the date the equipments are being used or the institutions are operational.

Olitte declared that once the registration has become effective, a Registration certificate will be issued.

Also Olitte stated that the sectors that are most concerned are the health sectors which are using various apparatus including X-Ray, radioscopy, radiotherapy machines and scanners.

He averred that in the industrial sector, the majority of apparatus that emit radiation are to be found in the welding industry.

And Olitte said that these rays are beneficial to human beings when they are used judiciously, but can be dangerous in the long term and can even cause death in case users are exposed to them for a long time.

Source African Press Agency

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