An innovative approach to the treatment of lung cancer with radiation reduces the risk of heart injury

Researchers from the “Christie” Foundation, attached to the National Health Services Authority in Manchester, UK, revealed preliminary encouraging results that use a quick educational approach to judge the effect of radiation dose adjustment to the heart during radiotherapy for lung cancer. The study, which was presented during the European Society for Radio Therapy and Oncology (Estro 2025), indicates a slight improvement in survival figures after a year, thanks to a new radiological technique aimed at protecting the upper sensitive part of the heart from excessive radiation exposure. The heart near the crops in lung cancer has long been a challenge for doctors when using radiotherapy, as part of the heart receives doses that can lead to serious complications in the long run. A new technique in radiotherapy and previous research has shown that the upper part of the heart specifically – which became known as the “avoidance” area – is considered more sensitive to radiation, and that it is exposed to high doses linked to the low survival rate. Based on this data, the medical team has applied a new technique to radiotherapy that limits the dose aimed at that sensitive area of ​​the heart, without affecting the coverage of the crop itself. This amendment was used in routine clinical practice in April 2023, and was integrated within the framework of a study aimed at absorbing the largest possible number of patients, without the complicated complicated restrictions in traditional clinical trials. Unlike classical clinical trials, which can last for years, and many patients are excluded because of strict qualification standards, the study known as a fast -RT -ABO -BO -to an innovative approach known as’ fast learning ‘, as daily patients’ data integrated, is unidentified within the study unless they prefer to withdraw. ‘Reduction of heart exposure’ and this method made the collection of data from 1708 lung cancer patients from the first to third phase, of which 786 received the new technology to reduce the heart of the heart since April 2023, while the rest underwent traditional treatment. The new technology to reduce the exposure of the heart in radiotherapy depends on the use of accurate planning images to determine the ‘heart avoidance area’, and after defining this area within the treatment planning software, the radiological dose distribution plans are changed, so that the rays are directed to the crop, while the dose is not allowed to be a maximum limit of 19.5 Gry 20 to 33 sessions do not exceed. These adjustments are implemented using advanced radiotherapyte techniques, by adjusting the severity that provides the dose that must be accurately directed, without affecting the crop coverage, or reducing the effectiveness of the treatment. The study researcher, Gareth Price, says that the purpose of this study is to make clinical research more representative of reality and learn from each patient, and not just those who apply strict criteria. Staying alive and preliminary results indicates a slight improvement in the survival after 12 months of implementing the new technology, and the acceptance of patients in participation was almost complete as only one patient withdrew from 786. This method is expected to improve the chances of applying rapid and direct adjustments to treatment protocols based on realistic data, not experimental simulation. The Head of the European Radiation and Oncology Association, Matthias Kinberger, who did not participate in the study, said that technology alone cannot make a revolution in radiotherapy “, but rather the way we learn and develop treatment, and this study is a living model of how to use realistic data to provide safer and more effective care.” The study will continue to follow up patients and expand the database, with the aim of ensuring the impact of technology in the long run, especially with regard to survival, the quality of life and reducing heart damage. The team also works to develop more accurate predictive models to understand the relationship between dosage adjustments and clinical results.