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About the Project

PreciseOnco: The next leap in cancer care

The project “The next leap in cancer care: combining multi-modality and spectral imaging, advanced therapies, robotics and AI to enable standardized, precise interventional oncology treatments for cancer patients” (PreciseOnco) is a European research and innovation project dedicated to transforming interventional oncology, a rapidly growing medical discipline that uses image‑guided, minimally invasive procedures to diagnose and treat cancer. 

Funded by the Innovative Health Initiative (IHI), the five‑year project brings together industry leaders, clinical experts, researchers, and professional societies from across Europe.

PreciseOnco aims to make a lasting contribution to precision, safety, and efficiency in interventional oncology. By integrating advanced spectral imaging, artificial intelligence, and robotic assistance into clinical workflows, the project is expected to improve tumour targeting, treatment guidance, and intra‑procedural decision‑making in minimally invasive cancer care.  In this way, the project will redefine how clinicians plan, guide, and assess minimally invasive treatments of cancers of the liver, kidney, lung, lymph nodes and musculoskeletal system.

Each year, millions of patients are diagnosed with cancer, and for many of them, minimally invasive treatments such as thermal ablation, transarterial chemoembolisation, radioembolisation, or electrochemotherapy offer effective alternatives to surgery. However, the success of these treatments depends critically on image quality, procedural precision, and the ability to assess treatment effects during the intervention itself. PreciseOnco addresses these challenges by enabling a new level of precision and confidence in interventional oncology procedures.

Our Vision

PreciseOnco envisions a future where minimally invasive cancer treatments are delivered with high precision, consistency, and confidence, making advanced interventional oncology safer, more effective, and accessible to patients across Europe.

Our Mission

PreciseOnco’s mission is to develop and clinically validate integrated, workflow ready solutions that combine advanced imaging, intelligent software, and robotic assistance, ensuring that innovations are not only technologically advanced, but also clinically relevant, usable, and ready for real world adoption.

The aim of PreciseOnco is to boost the interventional oncology field by integrating cutting-edge spectral imaging, motion correction technologies and robotic assistance to enhance the precision and safety of IO procedures.

Clinical Studies

PreciseOnco’s clinical studies ensure that all technologies are clinically relevant, safe, and ready for adoption. In these studies, PreciseOnoc focuses on cancers of the liver, kidney, lung, lymph nodes, and musculoskeletal system, areas where interventional oncology already plays a key role and where improvements in image guidance and treatment assessment can deliver immediate patient benefit.

The project spans the entire interventional care pathway, from treatment planning and intra‑procedural guidance to real‑time feedback and post‑treatment assessment, addressing both clinical outcomes and workflow efficiency.

VISTA

  • Spectral CBCT
  • Angio CT

The clinical study VISTA (Virtual Spectral Imaging for Superior Thermal Ablation Guidance) will be conducted at UMCU in collaboration with partner sites in LUMC and APHP. It aims to evaluate the effectiveness of spectral CBCT in overcoming the limitations of conventional CT and CBCT in thermal ablation procedures. The study will assess its ability to enhance lesion visualization, improve tumor boundary delineation, and reduce motion artifacts. VISTA aims to improve treatment precision, reduce complications, and improve patient outcomes during interventional procedures for liver and kidney tumors. Spectral CBCT will be compared to conventional CBCT in terms of image quality, diagnostic confidence, and radiation dose.

SPOT ON

  • Spectral CT
  • Angio CT
  • Robotics
  • Biomarkers

The clinical study SPOT ON (SPectral angiography-computed tomography to Optimize percutaneous Tumor ablation) aims to evaluate the clinical value of spectral CT imaging in optimizing percutaneous thermal ablation procedures, comparing spectral CT-based tumor visualization, targeting, and margin assessment to conventional CT, with the goal of improving local tumor control and minimizing recurrence rates. It is performed by LUMC, APHP and HCL.

HORA EST HCC2

  • Spectral CT
  • Angio CT
  • Robotics
  • Biomarkers

The clinical study HORA EST HCC 2 (High-precision One-session Robotic Ablation and chemoEmbolisation guided by Spectral computed Tomography in Hepatocellular Carcinoma: a phase II non-randomized study) investigates the efficacy, safety, and workflow benefits of combining thermal ablation with adjuvant segmental TACE in a single session, with the aim of improving patient outcomes, reducing procedure time, and optimizing oncological care through the use of AngioCT. It is performed by the collaboration between LUMC, APHP, and HCL.

SPECTRA L

  • Spectral CT
  • Angio CT
  • Biomarkers

The clinical study SPECTRA-L (Spectral Performance Evaluation of a CT-Equipped Therapeutic Radiology Angio Suite in Liver), conducted at APHP in collaboration with LUMC, and HCL, aims to evaluate the clinical utility of integrating multidetector spectral CT into the Angio Suite for TACE patients. The study will assess whether spectral CT, using advanced features like iodine quantification and material decomposition, can predict treatment response at the end of the intervention and potentially enhance the precision of tumor assessment.

LASER

  • Spectral CT
  • Angio CT
  • Robotics
  • Biomarkers

The clinical study LASER (Locoregional therApies Spectral Evaluation of Responses), led by HCL with participation from LUMC, APHP, and UMCU, seeks to identify spectral CT markers for predicting treatment success in thermoablation, electrochemotherapy, and irreversible electroporation for liver, kidney, nodal, lung, and musculoskeletal tumors. The study will examine whether spectral imaging can improve visualization, guide treatment adaptation, and predict post-procedural outcomes, particularly in real-time tumor monitoring.

Key Innovations

At the heart of PreciseOnco is the integration of several advanced technologies:

  • Spectral CT and cone‑beam CT (CBCT), providing richer tissue characterisation and improved visualisation compared to conventional imaging.
  • Artificial intelligence, used to enhance image quality, reduce artefacts, compensate for motion, and support advanced visualisation.
  • Robotic assistance, enabling highly accurate and reproducible instrument placement and reducing variability between operators.
  • Spectral imaging biomarkers, offering new ways to assess treatment endpoints, predict response, and improve follow‑up.
  • Workflow and system integration, ensuring that innovations fit seamlessly into clinical practice without adding complexity.

Together, these elements aim to deliver clearer insights, faster decision‑making, and greater confidence during cancer interventions.

By contributing technological innovation, evidence‑based solutions and standardised approaches, PreciseOnco supports the broader goals of value‑based healthcare, improved resource utilisation, and wider patient access to advanced minimally invasive cancer treatments across Europe.

Facts and Figures

Project Name

PreciseOnco

Coordinator

Philips Medical Systems

Partners

13 partners from 6 European countries

Runtime

1 January 2026 – 31 December 2030 (60 months)

Funding

PreciseOnco’s total EU funding is 14.9 million