Aster Whitefield Hospital has achieved a major milestone by completing over 140 Intraoperative Electron Radiation Therapy (IOeRT) procedures—cementing its position as India’s first and only hospital to implement this cutting-edge cancer treatment technology.
Introduced last year, IOeRT is an advanced intraoperative radiation technique that delivers targeted radiation directly to the tumor site during surgery. This method enhances treatment precision, protects surrounding healthy tissues, and significantly reduces recovery time and treatment duration.
Clinical outcomes at Aster Whitefield have shown zero cases of Grade 3 skin toxicity and minimal postoperative complications. A prospective study involving 113 breast cancer patients treated with IOeRT demonstrated reduced seroma formation, lower infection rates, and faster recovery.
The hospital has extensively adopted IOeRT in managing early-stage breast cancer through Accelerated Partial Breast Irradiation (APBI) and Intraoperative Boost Therapy. In APBI cases, patients receive a single intraoperative radiation dose—eliminating the need for 15–20 post-surgery sessions—cutting treatment costs by nearly 50%. Similarly, Boost Therapy applications have achieved up to 25% cost savings while maintaining excellent cosmetic outcomes and minimal side effects, even for high-risk patients.
Beyond breast cancer, Aster Whitefield has successfully applied IOeRT in treating oligorecurrent tumours and retroperitoneal sarcomas, with its findings presented at the Federation of Asian Organizations for Radiation Oncology (FARO), a leading global oncology platform.
As per the GLOBOCAN report, India’s cancer incidence is projected to rise by 57.5% by 2040. In this context, IOeRT offers a promising, patient-friendly alternative for complex cancers such as breast, gastrointestinal, and lung cancers—where precision and early intervention are critical.
Originally developed in Japan and Europe, IOeRT utilizes mobile electron accelerators to deliver radiation with pinpoint depth control and negligible exit dose—minimizing damage to nearby organs. Building on its success, Aster Whitefield plans to expand IOeRT applications to pancreatic, colorectal, and soft tissue sarcoma cases, supported by ongoing studies evaluating long-term outcomes and survival rates.