☢️ Treatment Type

Radiotherapy Clinical Trials UK

Find actively recruiting radiotherapy clinical trials in the UK. Discover how proton beam therapy, SBRT, radiopharmaceuticals, and precision radiation are transforming cancer treatment.

Free to use — Live data from ClinicalTrials.gov — Updated hourly

What Is Radiotherapy?

Radiotherapy (radiation therapy) uses high-energy radiation to destroy cancer cells. It is a cornerstone of cancer treatment — over 50% of cancer patients receive radiotherapy at some point. Clinical trials are advancing radiotherapy through precision targeting, new delivery technologies, and combining radiation with immunotherapy and other treatments.

Types of Radiotherapy in Clinical Trials

Proton Beam Therapy

Uses proton particles instead of X-rays to target tumours with extreme precision, sparing healthy tissue. UK trials focus on brain tumours, childhood cancers, and cancers near critical organs.

Stereotactic Radiotherapy (SBRT/SRS)

Delivers high-dose radiation with sub-millimetre accuracy in 1-5 sessions. Trials explore SBRT for lung, liver, spine, and prostate tumours where surgery is not possible.

Radiopharmaceuticals

Radioactive drugs that seek out and bind to cancer cells. Trials include PSMA-targeted therapy for prostate cancer, radium-223 for bone metastases, and newer agents for neuroendocrine tumours.

IMRT & VMAT

Intensity-modulated and volumetric arc therapy shape radiation beams to match tumour geometry. Trials optimise these techniques to reduce side effects and improve local tumour control.

Radiotherapy + Immunotherapy

Emerging research combining radiation (which can release tumour antigens) with immunotherapy drugs to trigger a whole-body anti-cancer immune response — the abscopal effect.

Brachytherapy

Internal radiation where radioactive sources are placed inside or near the tumour. Trials focus on prostate, cervical, and breast cancers with new applicator designs and dose rates.

Conditions Using Radiotherapy in Trials

Radiotherapy is used in trials across many cancer types. Select a condition to explore relevant trials:

🎗️ Breast Cancer 🫁 Lung Cancer 🔵 Prostate Cancer 🧠 Glioblastoma 🟤 Colorectal Cancer 🩺 Head & Neck Cancer 🩺 Bladder Cancer 🩺 Cervical Cancer 🟣 Pancreatic Cancer 🫁 NSCLC ⚫ Melanoma 🩸 Leukaemia

FAQs About Radiotherapy Trials

What is the difference between radiotherapy and chemotherapy?
Radiotherapy uses targeted radiation to destroy cancer cells in a specific area of the body. Chemotherapy uses drugs that circulate throughout the body to kill cancer cells. Radiotherapy is local treatment; chemotherapy is systemic. They are often used together for maximum effect.
Is proton beam therapy available in UK clinical trials?
Yes. The NHS opened proton beam therapy centres at The Christie in Manchester and University College London Hospital. Several clinical trials are investigating proton beam therapy for cancers where traditional radiation poses risks to surrounding healthy tissue.
What is SBRT and why is it being studied in trials?
Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy (SBRT) delivers very high doses of radiation with extreme precision in fewer sessions. Clinical trials are exploring SBRT for tumours in the lung, liver, spine, and prostate where traditional surgery may not be suitable.
What are radiopharmaceuticals?
Radiopharmaceuticals are radioactive drugs that target specific types of cancer cells. Examples include radium-223 for prostate cancer and lutetium-177-PSMA for advanced prostate cancer. Clinical trials are expanding their use across many cancer types.

Related Treatment Types

💊 Chemotherapy

Often combined with radiotherapy in multimodal cancer treatment approaches

🛡️ Immunotherapy

Radiation can stimulate immune responses — trials combine both for synergy

🎯 Targeted Therapy

Targeted drugs combined with precision radiation for enhanced tumour killing

🔗 Antibody-Drug Conjugates

Precision delivery systems complementary to targeted radiation approaches

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