An Outlook of Personalization for Radiation Therapy

3. What do you think are the keys to success for personalization in radiotherapy? We see four keys to success for personalizing RT: • Technology adoption and education – Physicians’ knowledge of and belief in RT technologies will be crucial to its success. They need to stay abreast of cutting-edge technologies, such as intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT), stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT), and other adaptive therapies. Peer-to-peer education exchanges are inspiring physicians to embrace RT technology and utilize it for effective treatment. • Data-driven decision-making – By leveraging patient data, including genomics, imaging, and clinical history, we will be able to better tailor treatments. AI-driven algorithms can optimize dose delivery and predict outcomes. • Government support – Endorsement from governments and decision-makers is essential for regulating, subsidizing, and supporting new technologies when introduced into the region. By leveraging the expertise of RT professionals and fostering collaborations, we aim to enhance capabilities and improve access to cancer treatment, ultimately benefiting patients across the Asia Pacific & Japan region sustainably. • Patient engagement – Personalization also means educating patients about their treatment options, potential side effects, and long-term outcomes. Informed patients actively participate in decision-making. For example, Elekta’s Kaiku Health app serves as a patient companion throughout their cancer treatment, enabling patients to report symptoms directly to their care team. 4. How is Elekta addressing sustainability? Sustainability is a key focus area in cancer care, particularly because radiotherapy devices have a longer lifespan, unlike other medical equipment, with the lifecycle of a linac extending beyond ten years. Elekta has initiated two major sustainability initiatives to address this. Firstly, our CT-Linacs achieve energy savings of up to 50 percent compared to other industry-standard CT-Linacs, as per recent studies. Secondly, our predictive care technology, IntelliMax, uses AI-driven remote maintenance software to guarantee 98 percent uptime. This ensures that RT centers experience minimal downtime, allowing them to concentrate on providing optimal patient care with peace of mind, supported by our certified and dedicated field service engineers. Elekta also follows the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Protocol for carbon accounting, calculating emissions from direct sources like fuel use and gaseous fuel for heating. Indirect emissions arise from purchased energy (electricity and district heating). Additionally, Elekta addresses other indirect emissions related to its value chain. 5. What’s the outlook for the Asia Pacific & Japan market regarding the future of cancer care? Populations in the Asia Pacific and Japan region are experiencing rising rates of cancer incidence, driving our commitment to a world where everyone has access to the best cancer care. The challenge is evident in countries like Indonesia, which has less than one radiotherapy unit per million inhabitants, compared to the WHO’s recommendation of seven units per million. In contrast, Japan has around ten units per million citizens, making it a highly diverse market. As part of our strategy, we are expanding the number of RT systems across the region. We believe that by increasing the availability of RT systems, we can reach a larger population in need and positively impact cancer care outcomes. To achieve this, we are actively fostering partnerships and collaborations with healthcare institutions, government bodies, and industry stakeholders, leveraging the diversity of the Asia-Pacific region. Together with governments, NGOs, the IAEA, and other partners, we will continue to collaborate with radiotherapy professionals to build hope for everyone dealing with cancer.