KEY TAKEAWAYS: First cancer center in the southern U.S. to offer BgRT. Therapy uses tumor biology to guide radiation in real time. Reduces radiation exposure to healthy tissue and treats multiple tumors. Eligible patients across the region will soon access the treatment.   Ochsner MD An derson Cancer Center will become the first facility in the southern United States to offer biology-guided radiotherapy (BgRT), a cutting-edge treatment approved by the FDA for patients with primary or metastatic lung and bone tumors. The center will join only seven other sites worldwide providing the therapy. The treatment uses the tumor’s own biological signals to guide radiation delivery in real time, allowing clinicians to target cancer cells with high precision while minimizing exposure to healthy tissue. The technology is capable of tracking tumor movement during treatment and treating multiple tumors in a single session. “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,” said Troy G. Scroggins Jr., chair of radiation oncology at 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 BgRT system, installed at Ochsner Baptist, combines PET (positron-emission tomography) imaging with a linear accelerator (LINAC). Patients receive a radiopharmaceutical prior to treatment, which accumulates in cancer cells and produces signals that guide radiation delivery second by second. The method reduces the volume of healthy tissue exposed to radiation, improving safety and patient outcomes. Ochsner MD Anderson’s introduction of BgRT adds to its portfolio of advanced cancer therapies. The institution treats more than 40,000 patients annually. Multidisciplinary teams, sometimes consisting of up to 20 specialists, collaborate on each patient’s care. Ochsner MD Anderson is part of Ochsner Health, the largest nonprofit health care provider in Louisiana, Mississippi, and the Gulf South, which operates 47 hospitals and over 370 clinics. The partnership with MD Anderson Cancer Center allows patients access to clinical trials and treatments based on MD Anderson’s protocols while receiving care close to home. Eligible patients from across the region will soon be able to access the BgRT therapy. For more information on treatment options, visit ochsner.org/cancercare. ...read more read less