Advancements in Precision Radiation Treatment With the MR-LINAC

The MR-LINAC system enhances adaptive treatment planning by generating a new image set before each treatment, accounting for daily changes in a patient’s anatomy and tumor changes. This technology enables clinicians to precisely target diseased areas, sparing nearby organs and tissues, reducing the risk of adverse events (AEs).

In this video, Paul B. Renz, DO, a radiation oncologist at Allegheny General Hospital, Allegheny Health Network (AHN) in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, discusses anecdotal changes observed by clinician researchers using the MR-LINAC system, which have led to a reduction in AEs compared with conventional radiation therapy. In addition, the MOMENTUM study (NCT04075305)—a published international consortium analyzing MR-LINAC data from 30 centers across the US, Canada, and Europe, including Sweden, where the system is manufactured—aims to provide further insights.¹ Renz anticipates that more AE-related data will be released as additional findings are accrued over the next 2 to 5 years. Renz highlights a paper pending publication specifically in reduced AEs in pancreatic cancer treated with the MR-LINAC.

Renz also states that although data on this new technology is still immature, he and his colleague, Timothy Dougherty, MD, radiation oncologist with the AHN Cancer Institute, specializing in the treatment of genitourinary cancers (prostate, bladder, and kidney cancers), have observed that since implementing the MR-LINAC in 2018, their patients have reported fewer AEs typically associated with these disease types receiving conventional treatments.

Another challenge Renz highlights is the lack of established billing codes for this new technology, preventing hospitals from being reimbursed for MR-LINAC services. As a result, expansion to more patients has been slow. However, Renz expects this to accelerate once billing codes are updated and hospitals can broaden access. For now, the MR-LINAC is reserved for patients who would benefit most, such as those with isolated cancers near sensitive organs.

Reference

de Mol van Otterloo SR, Christodouleas JP, Blezer ELA, et al. The MOMENTUM study: an international registry for the evidence-based introduction of MR-guided adaptive therapy. Front Oncol. 2020; 10:1328. September 7, 2020. doi:10.3389/fonc.2020.01328