Asian Cancer Specialists Trained in Faster, Cost-Saving Radiotherapy Techniques Through IAEA Programme

Radiotherapy professionals from 10 Asian countries have completed an International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) training course on ultra-hypofractionated radiotherapy, an advanced cancer treatment approach that significantly shortens treatment times while maintaining safety and effectiveness.

Held in Malaysia in August, the regional course trained doctors, therapists and medical physicists to adopt ultra-hypofractionation as a standard of care, helping health systems reduce costs, ease workforce pressures and expand access to life-saving cancer treatment.

"Malaysia was honoured to host this regional training course, which brought together radiotherapy professionals from across Asia to strengthen expertise in ultra-hypofractionated radiotherapy," said Norhidayu Salimin, clinical oncologist at Malaysia's National Cancer Institute and course director. "It marks a critical step toward improving access, outcomes and quality of life for cancer patients across the region."

Faster Treatment, Greater Access

Ultra-hypofractionated radiotherapy delivers fewer, higher-dose radiation sessions over a shorter period, compared with conventional radiotherapy. The approach is resource-sparing, allowing treatment centres to serve more patients with the same equipment and workforce—an important advantage in regions facing growing cancer burdens.

Despite progress in expanding access to radiotherapy globally, shortages of equipment and trained staff continue to limit timely care. Hypofractionation offers a proven solution.

"The IAEA-led Lancet Oncology Commission on Radiotherapy and Theranostics showed that this approach could extend radiotherapy access to 2.2 million additional breast and prostate cancer patients, while unlocking billions in cost savings," said May Abdel-Wahab, Director of the IAEA Division of Human Health. "Replacing just 50 per cent of conventional radiotherapy with hypofractionation could save $2.76 billion globally for these two cancers alone."

Building Capacity as Cancer Burden Rises

With cancer incidence and mortality in Asia projected to double over the next 25 years, the IAEA organised the course through its technical cooperation and human health programmes to accelerate the safe adoption of advanced radiotherapy techniques.

Thirty specialists from Bangladesh, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Vietnam gathered in Putrajaya for a week of intensive lectures and hands-on training.

Experts from IAEA Rays of Hope Anchor Centres in Jordan, India and the Republic of Korea shared real-world experience implementing ultra-hypofractionated radiotherapy in diverse healthcare settings.

"Ultra-hypofractionation is rapidly becoming the global standard of care," said Anoud Alnsour, radiation oncologist at Jordan's King Hussein Cancer Center. "This course demonstrates how regional collaboration can close radiotherapy access gaps and advance equitable, sustainable cancer care."

Training Across the Radiotherapy Team

The programme delivered tailored sessions for each professional group:

• Radiation oncologists refined contouring skills for brain, liver, lung and prostate cancers

• Radiation therapists trained in patient positioning and immobilisation techniques

• Medical physicists focused on quality assurance, commissioning, four-dimensional imaging and small-field dosimetry

Ultra-hypofractionation is delivered through stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) for cancers of the lung, liver, kidney, pancreas, prostate and colon, and through stereotactic radiosurgery for brain and spine tumours—allowing highly targeted treatment with sub-millimetre precision.

"This course was invaluable," said Koeurn Chhoeurt, medical physicist at Calmette Hospital in Cambodia. "We now feel confident to implement stereotactic body radiation therapy and radiosurgery as a standard of care in our centre."

The IAEA says the training marks a key step in strengthening cancer treatment capacity across Asia, ensuring that advanced, efficient radiotherapy techniques reach more patients—faster and at lower cost.