LATEST NEWS: 24 February 2026

The first Australian participant has been recruited to take part in an innovative trial that could mark a shift in how radiation therapy is delivered in lung cancer.

Led by Professor Paul Keall, Director of the Image X Institute at the University of Sydney (pictured above), the USyd/TROG 21.08 VITaL (Ventilation Imaging for Thoracic Lung cancer radiation therapy) trial is investigating a novel imaging modality that could reduce radiation therapy side effects, improving quality of life for patients with lung cancer.

While more than three-quarters of patients with lung cancer require radiation therapy, it can cause a side effect known as radiation-induced lung injury, which can cause long-term breathing difficulties and other morbidities that impact people’s quality of life.

The VITaL trial, which will involve 165 people with lung cancer from Australia and internationally, is investigating a new imaging modality called CT ventilation imaging that aims to reduce side effects that can occur from radiation therapy.

CT ventilation imaging gives a picture of high- and low-functioning lung regions overlaid on the CT image. When clinicians plan for a patient’s radiation therapy, this image enables them to avoid delivering radiation doses to healthy, high-functioning areas of the lung, and to instead redirect radiation through lower-functioning areas.

The randomised controlled trial was launched after receiving a $1.86m National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) grant last year.

Associate investigator Prof Shalini Vinod recruited the first patient to the trial from Liverpool Hospital in January 2026. It is one of more than 15 sites that are set to recruit patients to take part in the trial.

The trial will investigate whether participants with lung cancer undergoing radiation therapy with the CT ventilation imaging approach have better quality of life, fewer treatment-related side effects, better lung function and whether they are more likely to receive and complete immunotherapy after radiation therapy compared to participants undergoing usual treatment.

The VITaL trial was developed through the TROG Cancer Research trial pipeline, and TROG is collaborating with the trial sponsor, University of Sydney, to lead the radiation therapy quality assurance (RTQA) program, ensuring high quality, standardised treatment and protocol compliance in the trial.

TROG is delighted to partner with the University of Sydney which is the trial sponsor, as well as the NHMRC Clinical Trial Centre (CTC) which will provide statistical, health economics and quality of life expertise. The trial is also endorsed by the Thoracic Oncology Group Australia (TOGA).

Professor Keall said if the VITaL trial is successful, there is potential to improve the quality of life and lung function for 10,000 lung cancer patients in Australia, and 1.7 million patients globally each year.

Congratulations to the entire team on the launch of this trial which could have far-reaching impact.

• Read more about the VITaL trial