For Professor Chris Nutting, treating cancer is about ensuring patients can return to their lives with as few lasting effects from treatment as possible.
A Consultant Clinical Oncologist specialising in head and neck cancer at The Royal Marsden Private Care, Chris has spent more than 25 years at the forefront of advances in radiotherapy. He is also Medical Director of Private Care and was the founding Clinical Director of The Royal Marsden Private Care at Cavendish Square, in the heart of the Harley Street Health District.
“The best part of my job is seeing patients who come to me scared and worried about what’s wrong with them, and hopefully to treat them successfully and get them back to a normal life.”
Research and impact
Chris knew from medical school that he wanted to become an oncologist, drawn to a specialty where research and new treatments continually change what is possible for patients. A defining moment came early in his career, when he travelled to the US to learn a new form of computer-guided radiotherapy before bringing the technique back to London.
That experience shaped a career focused on making radiotherapy more precise. Treating cancers of the mouth and throat is challenging as tumours can sit close to structures essential for swallowing, speaking and producing saliva, meaning the effects of treatment can remain with patients long after their cancer has gone.
Working with technologists and software designers, Chris helped develop a more targeted approach to radiotherapy, allowing radiation to focus more precisely on the tumour while protecting healthy tissue. A randomised trial led by his team reduced permanent dry mouth following treatment from around 90% of patients to around 20%. The approach was subsequently approved by NICE, rolled out across the NHS and became a global standard of care.
“It’s the opportunity to magnify something which you’ve done in your own patients and your own hospital here at The Royal Marsden, which can then be magnified across the UK and then maybe across the globe as well.”
Thousands of Royal Marsden patients participate in research each year, helping test new drugs, radiotherapy techniques and surgical approaches that can go on to change clinical practice around the world.
His proudest achievements
After it became clear that HPV was responsible for a significant number of throat cancers in men, Chris became one of the clinicians campaigning for the HPV vaccination programme to be extended to boys. Following years of work with MPs, the Department of Health and Social Care and other bodies, the Government announced the extension in 2018.
“That’s probably the largest single thing I’ve achieved in my career.”
Chris has practised in the District for around 15 years and was closely involved in developing The Royal Marsden’s Cavendish Square centre. Patient feedback informed its design, from natural light in chemotherapy areas to spaces that let people choose between privacy and spending time with other patients during treatment.
Looking ahead
Chris sees the increasing personalisation of cancer treatment as one of the most significant developments in oncology. In particular, he believes molecular sequencing of tumours will increasingly enable clinicians to identify treatments based on the characteristics of an individual patient’s disease.
Asked to describe the Harley Street Health District, Chris said:
“High-quality care, innovation and excellent patient service.”
Explore previous People of Harley Street Health District episodes, including Vivian Metselaar, Registered Manager and Psychologist at Kindt Clinics and Dr Lauren Flynn, Head of Medical Operations at Tandem Health.
