Using surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy to improve the delivery of radiotherapy in 3D tumour models

Over 50% of all cancer patients receive radiotherapy as part of their treatment. Many patients may be cured, however resistance to the effectiveness of radiotherapy remains a significant clinical problem. Factors such as tumour hypoxia (low oxygen) play a crucial role in determining patient response to therapy. Our objective is to use surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) sensors to understand how to improve the delivery of radiotherapy to resistant tumors. SERS will be used as an analytical tool in models of resistant tumors to measure the response of the tumor model to therapy, to understand how hypoxia affects the response to therapy, and to understand how best to deliver radiotherapy to hypoxic tumors.