Coventry study exploring shorter Radiotherapy treatments
University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust is leading a study into whether shorter radiotherapy treatments can improve quality of life for people with advanced lung cancer
University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire (UHCW) NHS Trust is leading a study to explore whether shorter, higher-dose radiotherapy treatments can improve the quality of life for patients with advanced lung cancer.
The ‘Shortened High-dose Palliative Radiotherapy for Lung Cancer’ (SHiP-Rt) study has already recruited 23 of 37 patients and will also involve participants from University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust, and The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust.
Currently, patients with advanced lung cancer typically receive 36 Gray (Gy) radiotherapy over 12 daily treatments, spanning about 16 days. The SHiP-Rt study is investigating whether delivering higher doses in six treatments given every other day could be a safe and feasible alternative using modern radiotherapy techniques.
Dr Raj Shrimali, Consultant Clinical Oncologist at UHCW NHS Trust and Chief Investigator for the study, said: “Palliative patients need make only half the number of visits to hospital for treatment and will receive an equivalent dose in fewer visits. Our study will see whether this technique gives patients a better quality of life.
"We are recruiting patients from across the West Midlands and expect other cancer treatment centres to join in what could eventually turn into a national study.”
The study aims to reduce the number of hospital visits for patients while saving radiotherapy slots for others, potentially improving efficiency and cutting costs for the NHS without increasing side effects.
Dr Jo Hamilton, Consultant Clinical Oncologist at UHCW NHS Trust, added: “This is the first radiotherapy study in lung cancer to have originated in Coventry. We have an excellent team of radiotherapists and physicists, and as part of this study, we have also recruited our first Radiotherapy Research Fellow.”
The SHiP-Rt study is funded by the UHCW Charity and Coventry Hospitals Charity, with support from UHCW NHS Trust’s Cancer Services and Research and Development Department. It has also been approved by the Health Research Authority (HRA).
So far, of the 23 patients recruited, 12 are from UHCW NHS Trust, eight from The Shrewsbury & Telford Hospital NHS Trust, and three from University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust. University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust is in the process of joining as a study site.