An innovative alternative for large tumors with no other therapeutic options
The Canary Islands Comprehensive Cancer Center (COIC) at San Roque University Hospitals continues to advance in the development of innovative treatments for cancer patients with very advanced stages of disease. In this context, the Radiation Oncology Department has participated in the development and application of a new modality of Lattice Radiotherapy , a technique specifically designed for the treatment of large, unresectable tumors resistant to conventional treatments.
These patients typically present with large tumors that do not respond adequately to systemic treatments, and for which therapeutic options are very limited. In addition to compromising survival, these lesions can cause intense pain, ulceration, infections, functional limitations, and a significant decline in quality of life.
Lattice radiotherapy has emerged as an innovative alternative for these cases. The technique involves delivering very high doses of radiation to strategic points within the tumor, called vertices , while maintaining minimal exposure to surrounding healthy organs. This approach increases treatment efficacy while reducing the risk of toxicity. The director of the Canary Islands Comprehensive Cancer Center, Professor Dr. Pedro Lara , is part of the international team that published a significant scientific article in June 2026 in the prestigious journal Nature Reviews Clinical Oncology , describing the principles and clinical applications of this technique.
Furthermore, since 2022, the Radiation Oncology Department at COIC has developed its own innovative advanced planning method for Lattice Radiotherapy, capable of further increasing the dose delivered to the tumor while minimizing side effects on healthy tissue. The results obtained to date are particularly promising. The team has demonstrated that this advanced Lattice Radiotherapy modality can be administered in just three days of treatment, achieving an objective response rate of 82% and a survival rate exceeding 50% at one year of follow-up. These results are especially significant considering that these patients had very advanced tumors and lacked other effective therapeutic alternatives.
This significant scientific advancement culminated in the presentation of the doctoral thesis entitled “ Automated Planning of Clinical Dosimetry for Lattice Radiotherapy ,” developed by David Macías , a hospital physicist at San Roque University Hospitals and professor at Fernando Pessoa University of the Canary Islands. The thesis was defended on June 19th at San Roque University Hospitals, further solidifying the center's role as a leader in research, innovation, and the development of new therapeutic strategies in radiation oncology.
With this new milestone, the Canary Islands Comprehensive Cancer Center (COIC) of San Roque University Hospitals reinforces its commitment to applied research and the incorporation of cutting-edge treatments that allow it to offer new opportunities to patients with advanced cancer.
