Radiation Oncology Unit

Programme description

The Radiation Oncology Unit, directed by Doctor Laura Lozza, is a University center and provides curative and palliative radiation therapy to patients based on a multidisciplinary approach, following national or international guidelines and research protocols. The clinical activity is driven by teams specialized in specific cancer types, who are in charge of the radiotherapy treatment of breast cancer, pediatric tumors, tumors of the genitourinary district, tumors of the digestive system, lung cancer, soft tissues sarcomas, lymphomas, head and neck cancer, gynecologic cancer, brachytherapy treatments, cranial and body stereotaxis. A specific clinic dedicated to patients who need palliative radiation. The Radiation Oncology Unit also includes a ward with six beds.

This Unit can rely on six Linac and one HDR brachytherapy unit. In 2022, our Radiation Oncology Unit has treated 2390 patients. Treatments use recent technologies, such as IMRT (Intensity Modulated Radiotherapy), VMAT (Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy), IGRT (Image Guided Radiotherapy), breath gating, breath hold, SBRT (Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy), GPS localization (Calypso), High-Dose Rate Brachytherapy (HDRBCT) and Proton therapy provided thanks to our close cooperation with CNAO, the National Center for Hadron therapy. Hypo fractionation is routinely used, especially in breast cancer and palliative treatments. The Radiation Oncology Unit participates in national and international trials and focuses its research activity on the development of predictive models of radio-induced toxicity with evaluation of clinical, radiomics and genetic variables. Comparison of toxicity data and predictive modeling have been carried out in a recent European multicenter project (REQUITE) in breast, lung and prostate cancer. Further research is focused on head and neck cancer, in which a multidisciplinary approach (surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy with photons and/or heavy ions) could offer a more efficient and less toxic treatment, both in operable and inoperable patients. Research on gynecologic cancer studies treatment quality in terms of applicability, clinical and dosimetric outcomes on locally advanced cervix cancer according to European excellence standards.  One of our goals is to reduce toxicity, improving quality of life, in the treatment of all cancer types, but particularly gastrointestinal and pelvic cancer.

Our Institute is a referral center for adult soft tissue sarcomas, with highly skilled radiation oncologists for their treatment. Hematological treatments follow the most recent guidelines and, when needed, TBI may be performed. Proton therapy is used more and more in pediatrics neoplasms, with excellent outcomes.

Visiting observers can modulate their training by specializing in one type of cancer or rotating in all the groups of the Radiation Oncology Unit.

Tutors: All our radiation oncologists are eligible to train and supervise visiting observers.  The tutor will be identified according to the subject of interest for the individual student.