Nigeria has taken a significant step in the fight against cancer with the introduction of Actinium-based radiopharmaceutical therapy, a cutting-edge treatment regarded as a major advancement in precision oncology.

The development is expected to expand access to targeted cancer care and improve treatment outcomes for patients.

The breakthrough was highlighted during the 2026 International Symposium on Radiopharmaceutical Therapy held in Lagos, where healthcare experts, researchers and policymakers discussed the future of cancer treatment in Africa.

Actinium therapy is a form of targeted treatment that delivers radiation directly to cancer cells while minimizing damage to healthy tissues. Specialists say the approach represents a shift from conventional treatments toward more personalized and precise cancer management.

Medical experts revealed that the therapy has already been used in selected cases involving breast cancer, sarcoma and lung cancer, with encouraging results reported among patients.

Stakeholders at the symposium emphasized the need for greater investment in research, infrastructure, skilled manpower and regulatory support to ensure that advanced cancer treatments become more widely available across the country.

They also called for stronger collaboration between Nigerian institutions and international partners to facilitate technology transfer and build local expertise in precision medicine.

Healthcare professionals described precision oncology as the future of cancer treatment, noting that innovations such as Actinium therapy could help improve survival rates and offer new hope to patients with complex or advanced cancers.

The milestone underscores Nigeria’s growing capacity to adopt advanced medical technologies and strengthens efforts to improve cancer care services within the country and across the African continent.