Doubling access while halving toxicity with adaptive lung cancer radiotherapy
Background
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death and the fifth most commonly diagnosed cancer in Australia. Most cancer patients benefit from radiation therapy, and a specific type called hypofractionated radiation therapy has been shown to improve overall survival. This treatment involves delivering high doses of radiation over few treatment sessions, making it an effective option for individuals. However, 1 in 2 lung cancer patients are ineligible for these highly effective treatments because they suffer from metastases and cannot safely receive high-dose radiation therapy due to the multiple tumours moving as patients breathe.
About the project
Dr Hindley and his team are developing a technology called Voxelmap that can track the movement of tumours and organs in real-time in lung cancer patients receiving hypofractionated radiation therapy. This innovative technology could double the number of patients eligible for this effective treatment, while also minimising damage to surrounding healthy tissues.
Impact
This research has the potential the advance a paradigm shift in lung cancer treatment towards an adaptive radiation therapy approach that improves patient survival and quality of life. If successful, this technology could reduce the number of hospital visits by up to 90% and also be applied to other cancer types.