NEW ORLEANS - Ochsner MD Anderson Cancer Center in New Orleans will soon be one of only eight cancer treatment facilities in the world, and the first in the South, to offer biology-guided radiotherapy (BgRT), a breakthrough treatment currently FDA approved for patients diagnosed with primary or metastatic tumors to lung and bone. The new treatment uses the unique biology of the cancer itself to guide radiotherapy delivery, even in tumors that are in motion.
“Biology-guided radiotherapy marks a significant advancement in enhancing the precision of radiation treatment, offering improved control over tumor motion and the potential to lower radiation toxicity. This approach aims to provide more focused, accurate treatment with fewer side effects for our patients,” said Troy G. Scroggins Jr., MD , chair of radiation oncology, Ochsner MD Anderson. “We are leading a transformative shift in cancer care. With this treatment, we can broaden the scope of radiotherapy beyond early-stage cancers to include potential treatment for metastatic disease and bring precision oncology closer to reality for our patients.”
The machine that administers the BgRT therapy has been installed at Ochsner Baptist , one of eight Ochsner MD Anderson locations. It is the first platform to combine PET (positron-emission tomography) imaging technology—the gold standard for cancer staging and imaging—with a linear accelerator (LINAC) to deliver a radiation dose that tracks the cancer’s motion in real-time.
Just before treatment, a patient is injected with a radiopharmaceutical, which is consumed by the cancer cells. As this happens, signals are produced from the tumor. This new technology uses these signals from the patient’s cancer cells to then determine where and how much radiation to deliver, second by second, during actual treatment delivery. The therapy essentially uses the biological activity of the cancer to destroy it.
By tracking the delivery of the radiation dose to the cancer cells in real-time during treatment—like a spotlight following the tumor—it shifts the dose in response to tumor motion and reduces the volume of tissue that receives radiation.
This BgRT therapy is engineered to treat multiple tumors in the same treatment plan while sparing healthy tissue, resulting in less toxicity for the patient. This new treatment will soon be available to eligible patients from across the region.
Ochsner MD Anderson continues its ongoing commitment to leading-edge cancer care, empowering patients and families with access to some of the latest, most promising treatments. Cancer care at Ochsner Health is recognized by U.S. News & World Report, ranking as high performing in leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma treatment and colon, lung, gynecological and prostate cancer surgeries. The Ochsner Cancer Institute treats more than 40,000 patients each year and has cared for patients from all 50 states and 28 countries. Each patient’s care team can include as many as 20 multidisciplinary cancer specialists working together to provide high-quality treatment.
To learn more about Ochsner MD Anderson and the treatment options available to patients, please visit ochsner.org/cancercare .
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About Ochsner MD Anderson Cancer Center
Ochsner MD Anderson Cancer Center combines the expertise of Ochsner Health, Louisiana’s leader in cancer care, with the world-renowned MD Anderson Cancer Center . As the only fully integrated cancer program in Louisiana based on MD Anderson’s standards and protocols, it offers patients access to cutting-edge treatments, innovative clinical trials, and personalized care plans. With a multidisciplinary team of specialists and advanced technology, Ochsner MD Anderson provides comprehensive care for both common and rare cancers across multiple locations in southeastern Louisiana. This partnership ensures patients receive expert cancer care close to home.
About Ochsner Health
Ochsner Health is the leading nonprofit healthcare provider in Louisiana, Mississippi and across the Gulf South, delivering expert care at its 47 hospitals and more than 370 health and urgent care centers. Ochsner is nationally recognized for inspiring healthier lives and stronger communities through expertise, quality and digital connectivity. In 2025, more than 40,000 dedicated team members and 5,000 employed and affiliated physicians at Ochsner cared for more than 1.6 million people from every state in the nation and 65 countries. To learn more about how Ochsner empowers people to get well and stay well, visit www.ochsner.org .