MRI vs CT for Radiation Therapy

Recruiting at 9 trial locations

Overseen By Nancy Lee, MD

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

Disqualifiers: Pacemaker, Aneurysm clip, Pregnant, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Approved in 1 Jurisdiction This treatment is already approved in other countries

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 45

637 Participants Needed

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial explores the benefits of using MRI imaging during radiation treatment for cancer. Specifically, it tests the MR-Linac, a new device that combines a radiation machine with an MRI scanner to improve treatment accuracy. The study aims to enhance how MRIs guide radiation therapy without altering current treatment plans. Individuals currently undergoing radiation therapy or healthy volunteers without conditions that prevent MRI scans, such as a pacemaker or severe claustrophobia, might be suitable for this trial. As a Phase 2 trial, this research measures how well the treatment works in an initial, smaller group, offering participants a chance to contribute to important advancements in cancer treatment.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. It seems that participating in the study won't change your current treatment plans.

What prior data suggests that the MR-Linac device is safe for use in radiation therapy?

Research shows that MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) is generally safe in medical settings. One major advantage of MRI is its avoidance of ionizing radiation, which can be harmful in large amounts. This makes MRI a safer choice for repeated scans, such as when monitoring changes in tumors or organs over time.

Studies have found that using MRI during radiation treatment, known as online adaptive MR-guided radiotherapy, carries a low risk of serious side effects. Patients usually tolerate MRI well. Additionally, MRI is commonly used to diagnose tumors and assess treatment effectiveness, making it a familiar and trusted method in healthcare.

Overall, MRI is a safe option for patients, with research supporting its low risk of causing problems during medical use. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about this trial because it explores innovative MRI methods to improve radiation therapy for cancer patients. Unlike traditional imaging techniques, these advanced MRI methods aim to provide clearer images and better precision in targeting tumors. This could lead to more effective radiation treatments with fewer side effects, making cancer therapy safer and more personalized. By refining how doctors assess treatment responses, these methods could revolutionize patient care and outcomes.

What evidence suggests that the MR-Linac device is effective for improving MRI-guided radiation treatment?

This trial will compare MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) with CT (computed tomography) for planning radiation therapy. Research has shown that MRI aids in planning radiation therapy by providing clearer images of soft tissues than CT, helping doctors better define a tumor's shape and location. This is particularly useful in treating prostate cancer, where MRI adds crucial details to the planning process. Early findings suggest that MRI-guided radiation therapy allows for more precise treatment by showing how the tumor changes during therapy. This can lead to better outcomes, as doctors can adjust the treatment in real time based on the tumor's response. Overall, MRI proves to be a powerful tool in making radiation treatments more accurate and effective. ^{6 7 8 9 10}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Nancy Lee, MD

Principal Investigator

Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

Inclusion Criteria

Men and women age 18 or older

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Radiation

Participants undergo radiation therapy with MRI or CT exams to evaluate new imaging techniques

Ongoing during radiation therapy

One or more research MRI or CT exams not to exceed 45 minutes

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after treatment

5 years

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• MRI

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: participants undergoing radiation therapy & normal volunteers Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Protocol participation will consist of one or more research MRI or CT exams not to exceed 45 minutes.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

Lead Sponsor

Trials

1,998

Recruited

602,000+

Citations

1. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11499544/

The role of MRI in radiotherapy planning: a narrative review ... Ultra-fractionation, together with the use of MRI as linear accelerator guidance, was shown to be particularly effective in increasing treatment ...

2. siemens-healthineers.com siemens-healthineers.com/radiotherapy/mri-for-rt/mrinsights-rt/blog/transforming-radiotherapy

the benefits of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) in ... The integration of MRI into radiotherapy planning, especially for prostate cancer, offers significant benefits in addition to CT imaging. MRI's superior soft- ...

3. ascopubs.org ascopubs.org/doi/10.1200/GO.21.00366

The Promise of Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Radiation ... In this review, we briefly discuss the RT-related applications of MRI in the management of brain, prostate, and GI malignancies.

4. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1053429623000681

MRI-Guided Adaptive Radiation Therapy MRIgRT has improved image-guided radiation therapy by providing superior image quality compared to CBCT, intrafraction visualization of internal structures, ...

5. clinical-breast-cancer.com clinical-breast-cancer.com/article/S1526-8209(24)00136-8/fulltext

Potential of MRI in Assessing Treatment Response After ... This review highlights tumor volume measurements, ADC, and TTE as promising MRI metrics for assessing treatment response post-NRT in breast cancer.

6. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8472473/

Practical Safety Considerations for Integration of Magnetic ... Another advantage of MRI is that it does not subject patients to ionizing radiation, which is ideal for continuous real-time imaging for tumor and organ motion ...

7. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2452109418302604

Safety and Feasibility of Magnetic Resonance Imaging ... This study aimed to report on the safety, feasibility, and workflow of using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) simulation, while immobilized in the treatment ...

8. jamanetwork.com jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2818117

Safety and Tolerability of Online Adaptive High-Field ... The findings of this study suggest that online adaptive MR-guided radiotherapy is associated with a low risk of high-grade acute toxic effects.

9. tipsro.science tipsro.science/article/S2405-6324(23)00028-8/fulltext

Incidental findings and safety events from magnetic ... This study retrospectively reviews the incidental findings and safety events that were observed at a single institution during introduction of MRI sim for head ...

10. aapm.onlinelibrary.wiley.com aapm.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/mp.14695

Task group 284 report: magnetic resonance imaging ... The major objectives of this report are to provide recommendations for commercially available MR simulators, including initial equipment selection, siting, ...