The status of molecular radiotherapy in the UK — new report from BIR
19 April 2011
A new report from The British Institute of Radiology (BIR), Molecular radiotherapy in the UK: Current status and recommendations for further investigation, provides an overview of the current practice of molecular radiotherapy (MRT) in UK hospitals, both in respect of the availability of treatments and the range of doses delivered.
It provides evidence that lays the foundations for a concerted effort to improve the practice of MRT in the UK.
MRT has long been a neglected 'Cinderella' service. Treatment is minimally invasive and offers effective localised or systemic therapy, particularly for rare cancers for which there are often few alternatives.
Recent radiopharmaceutical developments, advances in quantitative imaging and radiation dosimetry, and a better understanding of patient care can enable this treatment to realise its full potential if the issues outlined within this report are addressed.
This report reviews the current status and evidence base of MRT in the UK and provides recommendations to improve its use and effectiveness. To support this report a survey of 232 UK centres was carried out to ascertain the range and number of treatments administered.
The motivation for this report stems from the general perception within the community that scientific developments, support for infrastructure and the availability of MRT in the UK have not kept pace with that seen in external beam radiotherapy and chemotherapy. However, an increasing number of radiopharmaceuticals is becoming available for a range of treatments and the market is expected to grow significantly in the next decade.
The report concentrates on therapy procedures that are prevalent in the UK. Issues of support for MRT are focused on the radiopharmacy, for routine preparation and further development of radio-pharmaceuticals, and on physics for imaging and internal dosimetry.
It is hoped that this report will encourage further investigation into the treatment of cancer with radiopharmaceuticals and will stimulate the clinical and scientific developments necessary to support cost-effective growth in this area.
Dr Stuart Green, Director of Medical Physics at University Hospital Birmingham and past president of the BIR says, "This project has revealed some striking data on the current practice of MRT in UK hospitals, both in respect of the availability of treatments and the range of doses delivered.
"It provides evidence that lays the foundations for a concerted effort to improve the practice of MRT in the UK. The project has therefore been at the very heart of the mission of The British Institute of Radiology. I am very pleased that the BIR has been able to support this team through such an important project and to deliver this excellent and timely report. I would like to congratulate them on a job well done."