Nanomedicine presents exciting new opportunities for the detection and treatment of cancer. Current cancer imaging methods and treatment approaches in clinics frequently fall short of entirely curing cancer and can have severe side effects. Theranostic nanoparticles, however, have the potential to revolutionize effective cancer treatment and early cancer detection. The objective of this study is to show how magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles and photoluminescent gold nanoclusters (MN‐AuNCs) may be combined effectively to produce bimodal imaging nanoparticles that possess magnetic and optical properties and can be used for both magnetic resonance imaging and optical biopsy. These findings demonstrate that MN‐AuNCs, when exposed to visible light, also have the capability to produce singlet oxygen, which is necessary for photodynamic therapy of cancer. In addition, it shows that they are non‐toxic, accumulate inside the cells, and cause cell death during exposure to visible light. The creation of these MN‐AuNCs offers a novel remedy for the current shortcomings in cancer diagnosis and treatment. Since they have both therapeutic and imaging capabilities, MN‐AuNCs have the potential to improve patient outcomes while lowering the risk of negative side effects.

FLASH radiation therapy is an emerging technique that provides several advantages over conventional radiotherapy. By delivering ultra-high dose rate radiation, the damage to healthy tissues surrounding the treatment area is minimized, treatment time is reduced and treatment outcomes of radioresistant tumors are improved. Despite its promising potential, FLASH radiation therapy remains relatively understudied, particularly in the field of dosimetry. Polymer gel dosimetry is a promising technique for verifying FLASH radiation therapy because it enables volumetric dose distribution measurements with high spatial accuracy. This study investigates the applicability of two commonly used polymer gel dosimeters, nPAG and NIBMAGAT, enhanced with nanoparticles, in ultra-high dose rate radiation therapy. The results indicate that NIBMAGAT gel, enriched with Ag nanoparticles, outperforms nPAG. NIBMAGAT gel exhibits less saturation at high doses, maintains dose rate independence and offers comparable sensitivity to nPAG formulation.

Background and purpose: Cancer mortality rates in the Baltic States (Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania) exceeds the European Union (EU) average, in part due to limited access to radiation therapy (RT). We updated RT capacity and utilization to inform regional planning.Patient/material and methods: We conducted a census of all 11 RT centres (2016–2023) via a standardized questionnaire, cross-validated with national registries and international databases. We compared technology availability, workforce, and utilization with EU countries in relation to the present cancer burden and projections to 2050. This multicentre observational study adhered to STrengthening the Reporting of OBservational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) guidelines.Results: Only 35–42% of cancer patients received RT, below the 50% recommendation. Linear accelerator availability ranged from 3.8 to 5.1 per million inhabitants, figures that are almost half those seen in EU countries with higher Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita. While the use of intensity modulated RT, volumetric modulated arc therapy and stereotactic RT increased, staffing levels has remained static in recent years. Mortality-to-incidence ratio correlated negatively with GDP (r = –0.7) and RT capacity (r = –0.7).Interpretation: Despite technological progress in the Baltic States, major gaps persist in RT access and workforce levels. Baltic States still underperform compared to EU countries with higher GDP per capita in terms of equipment availability, workforce capacity, and overall cancer outcomes. Future-oriented strategic investments, based on regional collaboration and shared infrastructure are urgently needed, including the development of a regional particle therapy centre, to ensure equitable access to state-of-the art advanced cancer care across the Baltic States.

Objectives: To compare the QoL of patients diagnosed with low- or favorable-intermediate-risk PCa after focal HDR brachytherapy and active surveillance. Our secondary objectives were to compare progression-free survival (PFS) between patients who underwent focal treatment and those who were actively surveilled and to assess early and late GU and GI adverse effects after the focal HDR brachytherapy. Methods: This prospective randomized controlled trial was conducted at the National Cancer Center located in Vilnius, Lithuania. The study was initiated after approval from the Vilnius Regional Biomedical Research Ethics Committee was obtained (Approval ID 2022/6-1438-911). Twenty-seven patients were assigned to the AS group and 28 to the focal HDR group. Results: During the median follow-up time of 14 and 17 months for AS and HDR groups, respectively, the QoL, evaluated by the EORTC QLQ-30 and PR25 instruments, showed no statistically significant differences in functional scores between the groups after baseline adjustment. Additionally, patients in the HDR group reported better urinary outcomes as measured by EORTC PR25 and IPSS scores at 6, 12, and 18 months. There were no statistically significant differences in erectile function between the groups as measured by the IIEF. Early toxicity was low (no Grade ≥3 events), and only two cases (7.1 %) of Grade 2 GU toxicity were reported in the HDR group within the first 3 months, with one case persisting for 6 months. Late toxicity was not assessed during this interim follow-up. The HDR group demonstrated a non-significant trend toward better oncological outcomes, with fewer PSA-based recurrences and a higher mean PFS than the AS. At the time of last follow-up, 49/55 (89 %) patients were censored (22/27 in the AS and 27/28 in the HDR group). Conclusions: A current study shows comparable QoL and early toxicity results between AS and HDR groups. Any domain-level signals were below MCID and did not persist after baseline adjustment. Results of PFS are underpowered at this interim analysis due to short follow-up and high censoring, and should be considered hypothesis-generating only. However, as current results are only exploratory and insufficient to assess durable disease control or late toxicity, a longer follow-up, larger cohorts, and a multicenter approach are needed to provide definitive outcomes to demonstrate the benefit of focal brachytherapy.