MRI-Guided Radiotherapy System Under Evaluation for Cancer Treatment

New technology is the first wide-ranging image-guided radiation therapy system, providing a patented combination of simultaneous radiotherapy delivery and continuous magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for the treatment of cancer.

Investigators from the Siteman Cancer Center at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and Washington University School of Medicine (St. Louis, MO, USA), have begun studying the imaging capabilities of an innovative radiation therapy system from ViewRay, Inc. (Cleveland, OH, USA). The Siteman Cancer Center is a leader in the early adoption and use of sophisticated treatments for cancer patients.

The Siteman Cancer Center’s clinical research started in January 2012, when imaging and simulated treatments were completed on the ViewRay system with a group of volunteer patients. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the quality of images captured by ViewRay’s MRI technology. The internal study involved 27 patients with various types of cancer, including lung, head and neck, breast, and prostate cancer. Most patients were scanned twice.

“It is important to evaluate any new technology early to assess potential clinical impacts,” said Parag J. Parikh, MD, assistant professor of radiation oncology at the Siteman Cancer Center and lead investigator for the study. “We are comparing the new images with available radiation oncology imaging techniques and will report the results at upcoming scientific meetings.”

High-quality soft-tissue imaging is a fundamental element of the ViewRay system: MR images are used to plan treatments, position patients for treatment, and track each patient’s position during treatment. “When physicians can clearly see the target, we are better able to adapt the treatment to changes in the patient’s anatomy,” said ViewRay chief medical officer Prabhakar Tripuraneni, MD, FACR, FASTRO. “By verifying the high quality of the ViewRay system’s images, the Siteman study establishes the potential value of MRI-guided radiation therapy.”

ViewRay’s integrated imaging and radiotherapy delivery system received marketing clearance from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in May 2012.

ViewRay is a medical device company developing advanced radiation therapy technology for the treatment of cancer. The ViewRay system provides continuous soft-tissue imaging during treatment, using MRI-guided radiotherapy, so that clinicians are able to see where the actual radiation dose is being delivered and modify to changes in the patient’s anatomy.

Related Links:
Siteman Cancer Center
ViewRay