Our research into radiotherapy

Radiotherapy is one of the cornerstones of cancer treatment, along with surgery and chemotherapy. Around 40 per cent of patients whose cancer is cured receive radiotherapy as part of their treatment, and the technique benefits millions of people worldwide.

Cancer Research UK has a long history of research into radiotherapy. In the 1980s we played a crucial early role in the development of precisely targeted radiotherapy called IMRT. And we have developed a new approach to radiotherapy, CHART, which improves survival for people with the most common type of lung cancer.

We're currently campaigning to improve radiotherapy services in England - sign the petition asking David Cameron for an action plan to make sure that the best radiotherapy services are available across the country.

Watch the video to find out more about radiotherapy and our research, or you can read the transcript.

Research into radiotherapy has declined significantly in the UK in recent years. This is why, as part of our five-year research strategy, we’ve promised to provide greater investment in this area.

A major new initiative is the Cancer Research UK - MRC Gray Institute for Radiation Oncology and Biology in Oxford, which opened in 2008. This brings together world-class scientists and doctors to transform the future of radiotherapy treatment for people with cancer. And our new Cancer Research UK Centres in Liverpool and Belfast are also pioneering research into radiotherapy.

Below are some of the highlights of our radiotherapy research, and you can find out more about our progress and achievements in our radiotherapy briefsheet.