ASTRO 2024
American Society for Radiation Oncology
The 2024 ASTRO Annual Meeting was held from 29th September to 2nd October at the Walter E. Washington Convention Centre in Washington, DC. Our Manchester radiotherapy related researchers (RRR) were among 11,000 attendees from across the globe for the 66th annual meeting. This congress focussed on “Targeting Provider Wellness for Exceptional Patient Care” and boasted a variety of healthcare professionals including, radiation oncologists, medical oncologists, radiation biologists and more.
“It was inspiring to hear about the research presented by our Manchester cohort at this year’s ASTRO conference. Our researchers demonstrated their extraordinary commitment to advancing the field of radiotherapy related research and showcased their latest findings on a global stage. Their contributions embody our vision of fostering international collaboration and underscore our mission to improve cancer care for patients worldwide. I am immensely proud of their dedication and the meaningful discussions they led among global experts.”
~ Professor Robert Bristow | Director of the MCRC
ASTRO 2025, welcomed over 11,000 participants from across the globe. It featured 600+ expert speakers, representing 150 countries. The conference presented more than 2,200 abstracts, including 150 proffered papers, 200+ mini oral sessions, and 1,800 posters. Across its 200+ sessions, ASTRO 2025 showcased cutting-edge research and innovations in radiation oncology, bringing together professionals dedicated to advancing cancer care.
In this blog, we flag our researchers who represented Manchester at ASTRO 2025.
Professor Ananya Choudhury
Presidential Symposium highlights new innovations in genitourinary (GU) cancer: ‘Bladder Preservation – A Modern Choice for Patients’
Professor Ananya Choudhury was among the Manchester RRR cohort at ASTRO 2025 and was invited to speak at the Presidential Symposium. This invitation was a reflection of the progressive work and dedication to the field of GU cancers by Professor Choudhury, who shared the practical use of bladder radiation, that is, the “dawn of a more personalized radiotherapy.”
She covered how we now have technology available that enables consultants to adjust the shift-changing of the bladder and that adaptive therapy improves the coverage of the planned target volume (PTV). She concluded that now is the time to further personalise bladder cancer treatment, choosing the correct radiosensitizer for the patient and making that part of the treatment pathway. You can find out more on the ASTRO website.
“I was delighted to be invited to talk about bladder cancer radiotherapy. Showcasing innovations in radiotherapy, many of which came from UK research, was important for patients and the international community. Radiotherapy is used more often for bladder cancer in the UK compared to other countries. Outcomes with radiotherapy are similar to surgery, providing a real alternative which allows the patient cure while keeping their bladder and avoiding a major operation.”
~ Professor Ananya Choudhury | Chair and Honorary Consultant in Clinical Oncology
Professor Peter Hoskin
Asymptomatic Bone Metastases and Other Considerations
Professor Peter Hoskin delivered a talk in the ‘Simplifying Bone Metastases’ session covering ‘Asymptomatic Bone Metastases and Other Considerations’. His talk identified the multiple areas where clinical trial data exists on palliative bone irradiation as well as explaining the nuances to be considered in the irradiation of symptomatic bone lesions.
Dr Martin Swinton
Hypoxia Detection in Prostate Cancer with Oxygen-Enhanced BOLD MRI
Dr Martin Swinton presented their joint research paper on ‘Hypoxia Detection in Prostate Cancer with Oxygen-Enhanced BOLD MRI’. Given that intra-tumoral hypoxia is associated with a worse prognosis in prostate cancer, this work examined MR imaging detection of hypoxia in order to identify men who would benefit from treatment intensification. Martin discussed MR detection of hypoxia, using the GLUT1 intrinsic biomarker to define intraprostatic hypoxia, and examined the potential for T2* sequences with oxygen challenge to differentiate hypoxic regions.
“It was a real privilege to be able to attend the ASTRO conference and share some of the hypoxia imaging work done at The Christie to an international audience. That work was made possible through funding from CRUK RADNET and the PCUK FASTMAN grant, a large collaborative effort across multiple departments at The Christie and the MCRC as well as patients who kindly give up their time to aid research.”
~ Dr Martin Swinton | Clinical Research Fellow
Dr James Price
Oxygen-Enhanced MRI in Patients with p16-Positive Oropharyngeal Cancer Undergoing (Chemo)-Radiotherapy
Dr James Price presented an investigation of oxygen-enhanced MRI (OE-MRI), a novel imaging technique, to detect hypoxia (and its resolution) for patients with cancer of the tongue base and throat. In the study, 30 patients underwent OE-MRI scans before and during radiotherapy. OE-MRI was able to track the resolution of hypoxia during treatment, which occurred at varying timepoints and differed for primary tumours vs involved lymph nodes. Further work is planned to compare OE-MRI with other imaging modalities and to collaborate with other centres to introduce OE-MRI there.
“It was a privilege to attend ASTRO to present this exciting work on behalf of Michael Dubec and the study research team. There is a great deal of interest worldwide in imaging hypoxia and using such imaging biomarkers to personalise patients’ radiotherapy. It was particularly exciting to discuss OE-MRI with clinicians and scientists from around the world and discuss potential collaborations.”
~ Dr James Price | PhD Clinical Research Fellow at The Christie/ The University of Manchester
Dr Taha Lodhi
Exploring Gene Expression and Pathway Analysis in Localized Prostate Cancer: Insights from a Retrospective Cohort Study with a Focus on Hypoxia and Angiogenic Biomarkers Post-EBRT and HDR-BTb
Dr Taha Lodhi presented his research on gene biomarkers linked to hypoxia and angiogenesis in prostate cancer. This study, based on samples from a phase 3 randomised controlled trial, identified biomarkers to determine which patients might benefit from a combined approach of external beam radiotherapy and high-dose-rate brachytherapy. The findings suggest that genes, including HIF1-α, SLC2A1, and CD34, are associated with improved outcomes when both treatments are utilised, particularly in tumours with mild to moderate hypoxia. These insights offer a promising pathway for clinicians to personalise prostate cancer treatment based on each tumour’s unique biological profile.
“Presenting our research at ASTRO was invaluable. Clinically, understanding resistance mechanisms in prostate cancer remains challenging, and identifying candidates who might benefit from brachytherapy is difficult. It was inspiring to see global interest from experts, emphasising a collective goal towards precision oncology. I’m excited to see how these findings could transform patient care in the future.”
~ Dr Taha Lodhi | CRUK PhD Clinical Research Training Fellow
