Vets use IMRT to treat aggressive cancer for the first time in the UK

Vets at the University of Edinburgh Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies treated aggressive cancer using intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) for the first time in the UK, and they now hope to replicate its performance in more patients. The procedure was used to treat Ralph, a five-year-old Gordon setter, who referred with regular nosebleeds and was found to have a nasal growth.

The procedure was performed using the VitalBeam linear accelerator located at the University of Edinburgh Hospital for Small Animals, with the team choosing IMRT because it can administer precise radiation to tumours in a safe manner while diminishing the risk to the health tissue around it.

A radiation oncology specialist vet at the university, Magdalena Parys, stated: “We decided to treat Ralph with IMRT because this gave us a better opportunity to spare more healthy tissue surrounding the tumour. In comparison to conventional radiotherapy, we were able to deliver lower doses to his eyes, brain and oral cavity, which in turn, resulted in minimal acute toxicity post radiation therapy. IMRT is particularly useful for tumours that are complex in shape or have critical organs nearby, as we can modify beam shape, direction and intensity. IMRT technique gives us the ability to deliver higher doses to the tumour itself, with no increase in dose to the surrounding healthy tissues and therefore, potentially decrease the number of treatments required. IMRT is a great technique, which we are aiming to use for as many patients as possible. It is however, very case specific and there are still patients where conventional techniques are just as good.”