Ochsner MD Anderson Becomes First in Southern United States to Deploy Breakthrough Biology-Guided Radiotherapy Technology

Ochsner MD Anderson is the first in the South to offer biology-guided radiotherapy, using PET signals to track and destroy lung and bone tumors in real-time.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 11, 2026, 5:46 AM EDT

Source: The information in this article was sourced from Ochsner Health System

The Arrival of Biology Guided Precision in the Gulf South

Ochsner MD Anderson Cancer Center has announced a transformative expansion of its clinical capabilities with the introduction of biology-guided radiotherapy (BgRT). This move positions the New Orleans based facility as the first in the Southern United States, and one of only eight in the world, to offer a treatment that utilizes the unique biological signatures of cancer cells to direct radiation. Currently FDA approved for primary and metastatic tumors located in the lung and bone, BgRT represents a shift from traditional anatomical targeting to a more responsive, biological approach. According to Dr. Troy G. Scroggins Jr., chair of radiation oncology at Ochsner MD Anderson, this technology allows for unprecedented precision, especially when treating tumors that are in constant motion within the body.

Integrating PET Imaging with Linear Accelerator Technology

The newly installed platform at Ochsner Baptist represents a technical marriage between two foundational oncological tools: positron-emission tomography (PET) and the linear accelerator (LINAC). While PET imaging has long been the gold standard for cancer staging, its integration directly into the radiation delivery system allows for real-time tracking that was previously impossible. This hybrid platform enables the machine to deliver high-dose radiation that follows the tumor’s movement second by second. By combining diagnostic-level imaging with therapeutic delivery, the system ensures that the radiation beam remains locked on the malignant tissue, effectively turning the cancer’s own metabolic activity into a homing beacon for its destruction.

The Mechanism of Radiopharmaceutical Targeting

The treatment process begins with the injection of a specific radiopharmaceutical, which is rapidly consumed by active cancer cells due to their high metabolic demands. As the cancer cells ingest the tracer, they emit subatomic signals that are immediately detected by the BgRT system. These biological signals provide a continuous update on the tumor’s exact location and metabolic state during the actual radiation delivery. This real-time feedback loop allows the system to determine the precise amount of radiation required and the exact trajectory needed to hit the target. The therapy essentially creates a "spotlight" effect, where the radiation dose sh...