Research overview

Dr Navita Somaiah, Translational Biology Radiobiology Team

Radiotherapy is widely used in the treatment of cancer and typically delivered in small daily doses (fractions) with the aim of sparing normal tissues relative to cancers. However, recent clinical trials led by ICR/RM in breast and prostate cancer, have led to increasing interest in hypofractionation (use of fractions >2Gy).

We are investigating cell and molecular determinants of sensitivity to radiotherapy fraction size to enable personalised fractionation approaches.

Finally, to exploit a therapeutic gain between normal tissue toxicity and tumour control, the team are using novel approaches such as big data analytics to identify predictors of normal tissue toxicity following radiotherapy.