Dattoli developed a significant interest in non-surgical cancer therapy options throughout his medical studies. He concentrated his efforts on developing treatment options for prostate cancer using brachytherapy after learning about achievements with other forms of cancer. Dr. Richard Sorace lured Dattoli away from Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center more than 30 years ago, pushing the young doctor to go to Tampa and co-found a brachytherapy clinic.