HCA UK invests £15m in MR-guided radiotherapy at Harley Street Clinic

HCA Healthcare UK has invested £15m in a new MR-guided radiotherapy system at The Harley Street Clinic in London.

Installation of an Elekta Unity MR-Linac, which combines high-resolution MRI with a linear accelerator to allow clinicians to visualise tumours while radiotherapy is being delivered, expands HCA’s capacity to treat complex cancers.

The system enables clinicians to adapt a patient’s radiotherapy plan during a treatment session in response to changes in the position or shape of a tumour and surrounding organs.

HCA UK said the technology could be particularly useful in treating cancers affected by movement within the body, including prostate and central lung tumours. More precise targeting can allow higher radiation doses to be delivered while limiting exposure to surrounding healthy tissue, with the potential to reduce the number of treatment sessions required for some patients.

This is HCA UK’s first MR-Linac installation globally and makes The Harley Street Clinic one of a small number of providers in London offering MR-guided adaptive radiotherapy.

Treatment will be provided by a multidisciplinary team of clinical oncologists, physicists, dosimetrists and radiographers. The service will be led by consultant Dr Elena Moreno Olmedo, a specialist in MR-guided radiotherapy, who will oversee treatment sessions and real-time adaptation of patients’ radiotherapy plans.

HCA UK has also joined the international Elekta MR-Linac Consortium, through which participating centres collaborate on research and the development of clinical approaches to MR-guided radiotherapy.

Dr John Conibear, clinical oncologist and radiotherapy lead clinician at HCA UK, said the ability to monitor and respond to tumour movement in real time allowed clinicians to treat patients ‘with greater accuracy and confidence’, particularly where tumours have traditionally been difficult to target.

He added that the technology had the potential to improve outcomes and reduce the number of treatment sessions needed by some patients.

William Pressley, CEO of The Harley Street Clinic, said: ‘We’re proud to be one of the first independent hospitals in London to offer advanced radiotherapy with the use of the MR‑Linac at The Harley Street Clinic. The introduction of this technology reflects our continued investment in advanced cancer care and our commitment to providing patients with access to the latest treatment innovations. This technology enables our expert teams to deliver highly precise, adaptive radiotherapy, reinforcing our position as a leading centre for complex cancer treatment.’