Four decades in medicine,
nearly thirty-five in oncology.
Dr. Sapna Nangia is a senior Radiation Oncologist and Proton Therapy Specialist in India with 40 years of clinical experience, including nearly 35 years dedicated to oncology. Her current clinical focus is on head and neck cancers, skull base cancers, breast cancers and gynaecological cancers.
Her expertise includes Proton Therapy, IMRT, IGRT, SBRT, Helical Tomotherapy and Brachytherapy. Over four decades she has contributed to the development and advancement of modern radiation oncology in India through clinical practice, research, innovation, publications and teaching.
Her approach combines extensive clinical experience with personalised treatment planning — considering the cancer type, stage, tumour location, previous treatment and individual treatment objectives before recommending an appropriate radiation treatment strategy.
MBBS — AFMC, Pune
MD Radiotherapy — SGPGI, Lucknow
Five years — Captain, Army Medical Corps
Reg. No. 15167
Senior Radiation Oncologist,
Apollo Proton Cancer Centre, Chennai
A path built around
one question.
Military medicine, then one of India’s foremost postgraduate institutes, then the earliest days of intensity-modulated radiotherapy in the country — and, since 2019, protons.
- Undergraduate MBBS Armed Forces Medical College (AFMC), Pune
- Early career Captain, Army Medical Corps Five years of clinical service with the Indian Army
- Postgraduate MD, Radiotherapy Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute (SGPGI), Lucknow
- 1995–2006 One of India’s early IMRT programmes Batra Hospital, Delhi — established in 2002–2003, with clinical research and publications on IMRT and head and neck cancer, including one of the early large Indian series of head and neck IMRT patients
- 2009–2012 Radiation oncology services established Fortis Hospital, Noida — introducing IGRT and SBRT
- 2012–2019 Modernisation of the radiation department Indraprastha Apollo Hospital, New Delhi — MRI-based brachytherapy, specialised radiation approaches for head and neck cancers, and cardiac protection during breast cancer treatment
- 2019 onwards Proton therapy and advanced radiation oncology Apollo Proton Cancer Centre, Chennai — head and neck, skull base, breast and gynaecological cancers
Proton therapy,
since 2019.
Dr. Sapna Nangia has focused extensively on proton therapy and advanced radiation oncology. Her work has contributed to advancing precision in proton therapy, particularly for head and neck cancers, including approaches aimed at reducing radiation exposure to surrounding normal tissues and improving treatment tolerance.
- Head and neck cancers
- Skull base cancers
- Breast cancers
- Gynaecological cancers
For selected head and neck cancers, including tumours involving the paranasal sinuses, oropharynx, tonsil and base of tongue, proton therapy may be considered when clinically appropriate. Suitability depends on the cancer type, tumour location, stage, treatment objectives and individual clinical factors.
Four cancer groups,
treated in depth.
Head and Neck Cancers
IMRT and proton therapyExtensive experience in the radiation treatment of head and neck cancers, including specialised approaches for selected cancers of the oral cavity, oropharynx, tonsil, base of tongue and paranasal sinuses.
Skull Base Cancers
Beside critical structuresSkull base cancers can present complex radiation treatment challenges because of their proximity to critical structures. Dr. Nangia has specialised expertise in evaluating advanced radiation therapy and proton therapy options for selected skull base cancers.
Breast Cancers
Cardiac-sparing radiationAdvanced cardiac-sparing approaches, including a patented deep-inspiration breath-hold (DIBH) device for left-sided breast cancer designed to substantially reduce radiation exposure to the heart, and a breath-hold workflow using Helical Tomotherapy.
Gynaecological Cancers
Brachytherapy where appropriateSpecialised radiation oncology care for gynaecological cancers, using advanced radiation techniques and brachytherapy where clinically appropriate.
The technique is chosen
for the cancer.
Her experience includes treatment planning, image-guided radiation delivery, stereotactic radiation, internal radiation treatment and advanced techniques designed to improve treatment precision. The choice of technique is based on the diagnosis, tumour characteristics, treatment objective and overall clinical condition.
Including nearly 35 years in oncology
One of India’s first, established at Batra Hospital
At Apollo Proton Cancer Centre, Chennai
Proton, IGRT, IMRT, SBRT, Tomotherapy, Brachytherapy
Research, innovation
and publications.
Research and innovation have remained an important part of Dr. Sapna Nangia’s career, with publications and clinical research in IMRT, head and neck cancer, cardiac-sparing radiation therapy and advanced radiation oncology techniques.
She has developed patented innovations in radiation treatment, including the DIBH device for left-sided breast cancer, and her research has explored the importance of individualised cardiac risk assessment and cardiac-sparing radiation therapy, particularly in the South Asian population. She remains actively involved in teaching and mentoring postgraduates and registrars, and has taken part in cancer-awareness talks and camps.
- Research on IMRT and head and neck cancer treatment
- Cardiac-sparing radiation therapy and advanced radiation techniques
- A patented DIBH device for left-sided breast cancer radiation
- Individualised cardiac risk assessment for the South Asian population
- Teaching and mentoring of postgraduates and registrars
Technology chosen for the patient,
not the other way round.
Every cancer diagnosis is different. Advanced radiation technology should be selected according to the individual patient’s clinical requirements rather than used as a one-size-fits-all approach. Treatment planning may consider:
- Cancer type and stage
- Tumour location and extent
- Pathology and diagnostic findings
- CT, MRI, PET and other imaging
- Previous cancer treatment
- Planned surgery or systemic therapy
- Treatment objectives
- Individual clinical factors
This assessment helps determine whether radiation therapy or proton therapy may be appropriate, and which technique may be most suitable.
Experience, sub-specialisation
and a personal plan.
- 40 years of clinical experience, including nearly 35 years in oncology
- Senior Radiation Oncologist and Proton Therapy Specialist in India
- Specialised focus on head and neck, skull base, breast and gynaecological cancers
- Expertise in Proton Therapy, IMRT, IGRT, SBRT, Helical Tomotherapy and Brachytherapy
- Experience in advancing modern radiation oncology techniques in India
- Patented innovation in DIBH for left-sided breast cancer
- Extensive research and publication experience
- Commitment to teaching and mentoring
- Focus on personalised and precision radiation treatment
Understand your radiation therapy
or proton therapy options.
With four decades of clinical experience and nearly 35 years dedicated to oncology, Dr. Sapna Nangia provides specialised expertise in advanced radiation oncology and proton therapy — with treatment approaches selected according to each patient’s individual clinical requirements.