4th MESTRO Congress — Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, November 2025

The 4th Congress of the Middle East Society for Therapeutic Radiation Oncology (MESTRO 2025) was held at Alfaisal University, Riyadh, on November 21–22, 2025. The congress was reported by the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) as one of the most prominent specialised medical events in the region, drawing more than 80 speakers and a broad international faculty from within the Kingdom and abroad, alongside participation from leading pharmaceutical and medical technology companies. The congress theme — Artificial Intelligence and New Technology in Radiation Oncology — reflected the most consequential shift underway in the specialty. The scientific sessions opened with a comprehensive review of the latest developments in radiation oncology across major Gulf centres, with prominent speakers from Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman, Kuwait, and the UAE. Dedicated dialogue sessions addressed advanced technologies in use for cancer treatment in Egypt, Jordan, Morocco, Turkey, and Iraq. A specialised Saudi team presented on efforts to develop Proton Therapy in the Kingdom and the challenges associated with its implementation — a technology that has contributed significantly to reducing radiation-related complications, particularly in paediatric patients. Professor Fadi Jaara, Head of the Radiation Oncology Department at Cleveland Clinic, presented on Carbon Ion Therapy, outlining the development plans for the carbon ion treatment centre in Abu Dhabi. Carbon ion therapy is among the most advanced and precise particle therapy technologies available, particularly for tumours resistant to conventional treatments. King Hussein Cancer Centre (Jordan) shared its experience with MR-Guided Radiotherapy — a first of its kind in the region in terms of precision and technical sophistication — demonstrating the growing regional capacity for cutting-edge treatment delivery. The scientific programme also included specialised sessions on multidisciplinary cancer patient care, basic and applied research, clinical trials, an interactive platform for speakers and patients, and a dedicated technical exhibition featuring pharmaceutical and medical technology companies. Dr. Saad Alrashidi, Congress President, affirmed that hosting the congress at Alfaisal University in Riyadh embodies the Kingdom's commitment to investing in health knowledge and medical technology. He noted that the congress has seen annual growth in both the scale of participation and the quality of scientific contributions, establishing it as a leading scientific platform in the Middle East for the exchange of expertise in radiation oncology. The second day of the congress was extensively covered by Al Riyadh newspaper (23 November 2025), reporting on the scientific sessions and the congress's closing recommendations. The second day featured expanded presentations on advanced particle therapy — proton and carbon ion — with international experiences in building and operating particle therapy centres, and discussions on the challenges of training specialised personnel. Researchers presented simulation-based training experiences for paediatric tumour treatment, alongside updates on the ARCHERY study, which is achieving significant progress in automated radiotherapy planning. Clinical and industry sessions addressed the latest approaches to managing radiotherapy side effects, and reviewed advances in the treatment of prostate cancer, gastrointestinal cancers, and brain tumours. The medical physics programme covered precision dosimetry and radiation safety, and discussed FLASH Radiotherapy and Adaptive Radiotherapy (ART) techniques and their potential to improve treatment quality. Evening sessions addressed the latest approaches to head and neck cancer treatment, comparative studies on patient positioning and its impact on targeting accuracy, and SGRT (Surface-Guided Radiotherapy) techniques and their role in improving treatment precision without reliance on traditional markers. International initiatives supporting patient access to advanced radiotherapy worldwide were also reviewed. The congress concluded with a set of formal recommendations, issued at the close of the second scientific day. These called for: unifying efforts among radiation oncology centres in Saudi Arabia and the Gulf states; establishing a unified Gulf cancer patient registry to collect data and track treatment outcomes and side effects; strengthening partnerships between MESTRO and specialised oncology societies across the Gulf and Arab world; expanding scientific cooperation with regional institutions; activating and standardising the use of artificial intelligence in diagnosis and radiotherapy; supporting cancer research by providing resources and empowering researchers; and promoting regional cooperation to establish and develop advanced particle therapy centres — proton and carbon ion — given their significant contribution to treating complex tumours. The congress also recommended strengthening scientific collaboration with Al-Azhar University's oncology department and the National Cancer Institute of Egypt in the areas of research and therapeutic technology development. Sources: Saudi Press Agency (SPA), 10 November 2025 — spa.gov.sa/N2440057; Al Riyadh newspaper, 23 November 2025 — alriyadh.com/2162207; Ajel newspaper, 23 November 2025 — ajel.sa/local/ype2gql63z MESTRO thanks all delegates, faculty, sponsors, and the local organising committee at Alfaisal University for making the 4th Congress a landmark event. The society looks forward to welcoming the radiation oncology community back to Riyadh for the 5th Congress on December 4–5, 2026.