Leeds pioneers world-first radiotherapy treatment using new software tools
Advanced reirradiation planning software, co-developed by Leeds Teaching Hospitals and the University of Leeds, used for first patient.
By Joe Ramsden
••2 min read
AI
Generic image of a radiotherapy treatment planning software interface on a computer screen.
A patient at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust has become the first globally to receive radiotherapy planned using advanced reirradiation treatment tools co-developed by researchers and clinicians from the trust, the University of Leeds, and radiotherapy software company RaySearch.
The groundbreaking treatment was administered at Leeds Cancer Centre, marking a significant advancement in supporting decision-making for patients requiring a second course of radiotherapy on the same body part. This new approach aims to make reirradiation safer and more effective, mitigating risks to healthy tissues that have already received radiation.
Developed over a decade of research by scientists and clinicians from Leeds Teaching Hospitals and the University of Leeds, in collaboration with RaySearch, the tools are now integrated into the latest version of the company's treatment planning system, RayStation®. These tools precisely calculate the total radiation dose a patient has received, enabling clinicians to design reirradiation treatments with greater consideration for previously treated tissues.
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"Accounting for the previous radiotherapy when planning a new course is extremely challenging. Alongside our colleagues from the University of Leeds, we have been working for over ten years on the research that has underpinned the development of these new tools, and I am delighted that they are now available to teams in other hospitals. The tools will also give future radiotherapy trials better information about how changing the way that reirradiation is delivered influences the patients’ outcomes."
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"One of RaySearch’s key strengths is the way we bring together scientific innovation and close collaboration with clinicians to develop advanced software that addresses real clinical needs. This milestone in reirradiation reflects our broader commitment to advancing cancer care and addressing complex treatment needs worldwide."
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"This pioneering work demonstrates the importance of investing in research talent in Yorkshire. By pursuing bold and innovative ideas, the researchers behind this work, including those supported by Yorkshire Cancer Research, have helped drive vital advancements in radiotherapy that will benefit people with cancer now and in the future. Together with the expertise of teams at Leeds Cancer Centre, this work is helping to strengthen Leeds as a global centre of excellence in cancer research."
Leeds Teaching Hospitals treats approximately 7800 patients with radiotherapy annually and is recognised internationally for its research in the field. This research has received support from Cancer Research UK RadNet Leeds, Yorkshire Cancer Research, and the Medical Research Council.
