Keynote Talks
We are pleased to announce the following talks for the 2026 SABR Symposium.
Houda Bahig
Talk 1: Risky Business of Safe SBRT in Ultracentral Tumours and Interstitial Lung Disease
This talk addresses the two situations in which lung SBRT carries a meaningful risk of treatment-related death, ultracentral tumours and interstitial lung disease. The objectives are to review the toxicity data and the dose de-escalation, fractionation and adaptive strategies proposed for ultracentral disease, and to describe the risk factors and dosimetric predictors of pneumonitis that inform SBRT in ILD. The published literature is reviewed along with ongoing trials, and a framework for weighing the competing risks of treatment in these patients is proposed.
Talk 2:Thirty-Five Fractions Is a Lot of Parking, or the Case for Head and Neck SBRT
Stereotactic body radiotherapy has moved from a salvage option for recurrent head and neck cancer to prospective evaluation in the definitive, boost and oligometastatic settings. This talk reviews the published literature in each setting, including toxicity and the technical requirements specific to the head and neck. Practical aspects of planning and delivery are discussed, along with lessons drawn from the shared experience of centres practising head and neck SBRT. Ongoing trials are reviewed; randomised evidence remains however limited, and the questions to be answered before SBRT enters routine practice are outlined.
Melvin Chua
Talk 1: The biology of SABR in modern oncology
Modern day oncology calls for multidisciplinary management and integration of local and systemic therapies in both locoregionally-advanced and recurrent-metastatic settings. SABR is more than just a local ablative tool and offers unique biology that can be leveraged across multiple indications. I will speak on specific scenarios where SABR could offer therapeutic advantages – countering radioresistance; targeting oligoprogressive disease; and how best to deploy in combination with immunotherapy to exploit synergistic interactions.
Talk 2: SABR in prostate cancer
SABR has become the standard of care in the treatment of both localised and metastatic prostate cancer. While PACE-B established SABR prostate as a regimen of equipoise compared to conventional fractionation in the treatment of prostate alone, the field is advancing to expand its applications to more clinical scenarios including simultaneous treatment of the pelvis in advanced disease and re-irradiation of local failures. Clinical genomics is also an exciting angle where it could enhance the precision of SABR in prostate cancer.
Stefanie Corradini
Talk 1: One and Done? Single-Fraction SABR for Liver Tumours
Single-fraction SABR promises maximum treatment efficiency and ablative potential – but is one fraction always the best approach? This talk will explore the evidence for single-fraction SABR in primary and metastatic liver tumours, focusing on patient selection, lesion location and optimal dose. Practical cases will highlight the importance of motion management, image guidance and protection of the healthy liver tisscue and adjacent luminal organs.
Talk 2: Straight to the Heart: Pushing the Boundaries of SABR
Primary and secondary cardiac malignancies are rare, clinically challenging and often considered unsuitable for local treatment. This talk will examine the emerging role of SABR as a non-invasive treatment option, including the available clinical evidence, patient selection and realistic therapeutic goals. Practical challenges such as cardiac and respiratory motion, dose prescription and protection of critical cardiac structures will be discussed.
Patricia (Patty) Díez
Talk 1: Precision at scale: A blueprint for national SABR rollout
England has a well-established track record of introducing new radiotherapy technologies and techniques through clinical trials, national implementation programmes and robust quality assurance (QA) frameworks. One notable example is the National Health Service England (NHSE) SABR programme. Initially, NHSE funded 18 centres to implement SABR through a comprehensive accreditation process that included contouring and planning benchmark cases, prospective case review and dosimetry audit. Building on this foundation, a subsequent national rollout programme paired experienced centres with those developing new services, supporting implementation through mentorship and peer review. Delivered by a large multidisciplinary team, this initiative has successfully accredited all 51 radiotherapy centres in England for lung, bone and nodal SABR, with credentialing for additional indications ongoing. The presentation will describe the development, delivery and outcomes of the programme, highlighting key lessons from the national rollout and the role of QA in supporting safe and consistent implementation at scale.
Talk 2: From niche to nationwide: Technology's role in transforming SABR in the UK
A small number of UK centres began delivering SABR as early as 2005, supported by access to dedicated treatment platforms such as CyberKnife. Over the following two decades, SABR evolved from a specialist technique offered in a limited number of centres to an established treatment option delivered across the UK. This growth has been underpinned by advances across the patient pathway, including improvements in imaging, motion management, treatment planning, image guidance and treatment delivery. Together, these developments have enhanced the precision, efficiency and reproducibility of SABR, enabling the safe and consistent delivery of the high doses and steep dose gradients required for tumour ablation while minimising toxicity. Technological innovation has also supported wider patient access and the expansion of clinical indications, helping to establish SABR as an increasingly important component of modern radiotherapy practice in the UK.
David Palma
Talk 1: Oligometastatic Cancers – What We’ve Learned from 15 years of Clinical Trials
This talk will review the history of oligometastatic cancers, and the top lessons learned that can inform our clinical practice today. The talk will discuss patient selection, doses, pearls for treatment planning, and the newest biomarkers that may soon be guiding treatment.
Talk 2: SABR in 2036: How Will We Be Practicing 10 Years from Now?
This talk will discuss the emerging areas of treatment, how our practice will change in the next decade, and how we can best prepare ourselves and our specialty for the future of SABR.