Professor Duncan McLaren
Consultant Clinical Oncologist
MBBS, BSc (First Class Hons), FRCR, FRCP(Ed)
I am a specialist in Genito-Urinary Oncology and run a large practice offering non-surgical treatment with radiotherapy and chemotherapy for urological cancer patients. I have a particular interest in prostate brachytherapy (seeds) and dose escalated hypo-fractionated radiotherapy. I was appointed as a Consultant Clinical Oncologist and Honorary Clinical Senior Lecturer at the Edinburgh Cancer Centre in 1998.
I undertook undergraduate training at St Mary's Hospital Medical School in London from 1983-1989. I also undertook an intercalated BSc in Clinical Science and gained First Class Honours. I did my General Medical training at Queens University Hospital Nottingham and specialist cancer training at Velindre Cancer Hospital Cardiff. I then did a Clinical Fellowship specialising in GU oncology at the British Columbia Cancer Agency, Vancouver.
Edinburgh was the first Scottish Centre to offer prostate brachytherapy in 2001. State-of-the-art volumetric arc based radiotherapy (VMAT) and intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) for prostate cancer are routinely available. In addition, the prostate stereotactic ablative radiotherapy (SBRT) service has been up and running since 2017.
For patients with bladder cancer neo-adjuvant chemotherapy is routinely used before surgery or concurrent chemo-radiotherapy. I am a co-investigator on the UK RAIDER trial investigating dose escalated IMRT for bladder cancer in addition.
Chemotherapy and new targeted therapy drugs are an important area of disease management. I have extensive experience in the use of Taxotere chemotherapy Abiraterone, Enzalutamide and Alpharadin for example in prostate cancer and Sunitinib, Pazopanib and Axitinib for renal cancer. I ensure early access to newly licensed effective drugs and entry into clinical trials for new treatments as team leader for Urological cancer trials with in the SE of Scotland.
Treatment information
Some of the principal treatments carried out by Professor Duncan McLaren at Spire include:
Other treatments
- Bladder cancer
- Kidney cancer
- Prostate cancer
- Radiotherapy
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Additional information
Clinical interests
Bladder cancer
Kidney cancer
Prostate cancer
Specialist in prostate, bladder and kidney cancer. Specialist treatment with radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Prostate 'seed' Brachytherapy. Access to new drug treatments in clinical trials.
Qualification and professional memberships
Professional memberships
Royal College of Radiologists (London)
Royal College of Physicians (Edin)
Former member of National Cancer Research Network Clinical Trials (NCRN) group for Prostate Cancer and Bladder Cancer
British Urological Group
South East Scotland GU Cancer Group (SCAN)
UK and Ireland Brachytherapy Users Group
Chair of the Edinburgh Radiation Research Collaborative
Research and publications
Lead clinician for radiotherapy research at the Edinburgh Cancer Centre
Lead clinician for GU Chemotherapy and Radiation Trials at the Edinburgh Cancer Centre
Collaborative research with Edinburgh University Engineering Department, Royal Dick Veterinary School and Edinburgh Cancer Research Centre to develop a lab on a chip system to measure prostate tumour hypoxia and optimise radiotherapy delivery. In time I hope to implant this device directly into tumours within the prostate and individualise radiotherapy treatments by timing radiotherapy delivery with peak oxygen levels within the tumour.
Collaborative research with the University of Edinburgh Oncology Physics unit to develop image processing techniques to localise the prostate tumour within the prostate for focal therapy or a radiation dose boost. Toxi-triage co investigator to look at measuring biomarkers of radiation exposure.
I am co-investigator on a biomarker of radiation sensitivity project as part of a large European grant and ongoing research with oncology physics to identify tumours more accurately for targeting with radiotherapy via novel imaging processing techniques.
Current NHS posts
Consultant Clinical Oncologist, Edinburgh Cancer Centre
Honorary Senior Lecturer, University of Edinburgh
Personal profile
I am married with two children, we have a pet dog and stay in Edinburgh. I enjoy playing as much golf and supporting as much rugby as time allows.
Contact information
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