The MR-LINAC System Allows for Customization of Radiation Treatment
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Paul B. Renz, DO, discusses the ideal uses of magnetic resonance-guided linear accelerator system.
The MR-LINAC (magnetic resonance-guided linear accelerator) is designed to assess a patient’s changing anatomy over the course of treatment allowing for more precise treatment.
In this video, Paul B. Renz, DO, a radiation oncologist at Allegheny General Hospital, Allegheny Health Network (AHN), in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, discusses the ideal uses of MR-LINAC system. The MR-LINAC excels in treating cancers located near delicate organs, such as pancreatic, prostate, liver, head and neck, and rectal cancers, where precision is crucial.
Renz explained that a patient’s anatomy can change daily. “They may gain or lose weight; their tumor may move or change its motion based on their respirations. [In addition,] the filling of the stomach or differences in the bowel position change day by day. On a regular LINAC, these changes are not accounted for, and instead, we try to mimic the plan [that is established] at their initial planning session,” he explains.
With the MR-LINAC system, clinicians are able to conduct a detailed image set each day of the patient’s treatment and then customize the radiation in a process called adaptive treatment planning. This practice allows for more customization in personalized care.
The approach also helps to minimize adverse events (AEs) due to this precision. For example, the prostate is near the rectum and the pancreas is near the stomach. The MR-LINAC system allows for these other delicate organs to move and change without them being harmed in the treatment process.
Since this technology is relatively new, overall survival data remains immature. However, preliminary data suggest a reduction in adverse events, raising hopes that this could lead to higher radiation doses with better therapeutic effects. Renz explained that retrospective studies show improved outcomes in pancreatic cancer patients who are ineligible for surgery when treated with dose-adapted and escalated radiation, making this approach promising for enhancing survival.
