The Division of Radiotherapy provides external and intraoperative radiation treatment to outpatients and inpatients, while the Unit of Brachytherapy performs radioactive implants in an integrated fashion in the field of Radiation Therapy. Additional support to the division is provided by the full-time personnel from the Medical Physics Unit, who participate in all radiation therapy activities including the Quality Assurance Program. The recently established Molecular Imaging Unit will carry out research on animal models of cancer in collaboration with other laboratories of the Institute with the specific aim of developing new tracers for assessing key variables for precision radiation therapy, such as hypoxia, apoptosis, angiogenesis and cell proliferation. The Unit will also develop and implement dedicated Positron Emission Tomography (PET) protocols for selected patients undergoing radiotherapy.

The Division supports projects on 3D-Conformal Radiation Therapy (3D-CRT), Intraoperative Radiation Therapy (IORT) and permanent implants in the prostate, as these are the most important areas of clinical research and development in the field.

The Division is equipped with high-technology systems allowing for image-guided treatment planning (with possibility of fusion of the computer tomography, magnetic resonance and positron emission tomography images). We are able to perform precise radiotherapy administration using modern technologies like intensity modulation radiotherapy (IMRT) and stereotactic radiotherapy. These approaches with their high dose conformity and normal tissue avoidance enable more confident dose escalation and hypofractionation. Record & verify system, connected to treatment planning systems and linear accelerators, is helpful for the automatic check of treatment parameters. Availability of two mobile linear accelerators deliver intraoperative radiotherapy for breast cancer and other tumors. Similarly, dedicated planning systems and treatment units are daily used in order to perform image-guided high-precision brachytherapy for various malignancies, including interstitial implants for early prostatic cancer.

The Radiotherapy Division and both the Brachytherapy and the Molecular Imaging Units, are actively involved in educational activities for pre and postgraduate medical students, and for biotechnology university students, and medical technicians. In addition to teaching commitments at the University of Milan, which focus on practical training for postgraduate students of the School of Radiotherapy, staff members continue to be involved in training activities for the European School of Oncology (ESO), the European Society for Therapeutic Radiation Oncology (ESTRO), the Italian Association of Radiation Oncology (AIRO), and the PTCOG (Proton Therapy Co-operative Group) and other national and international societies. The Division prepares and implements a series of courses/conferences on “Advances in Radiation Therapy” for the ESO.