Feasibility Study on Magnetic Resonance Imaging-Guided Radiation Therapy Using an MR-Linac
- Gender
- Women and men
- Age
- 18 years and older
- Trial type
- Interventional
- Line of therapy
- all
- Phase
- —
What is this trial about?
Radiation therapy using the MR-Linac is used when tumors need to be treated with particularly high precision while minimizing damage to the surrounding healthy tissue as much as possible. The aim of this study is to determine whether a novel combination of magnetic resonance imaging and radiation therapy—the so-called MR-Linac—can be reliably used in everyday clinical practice. Adult patients for whom radiation therapy is medically necessary and who have no contraindications to an MRI scan are eligible to participate.
Trial flow
Requirements
Diagnosis: Rectal Cancer; Head and Neck Cancer; Liver Cancer; Breast Cancer; Prostate Cancer; Oligometastasis; Esophageal Cancer
Age: 18–99 years
Line of therapy: Unabhängig von Therapielinie
Key inclusion criteria: Existing indication for radiation therapy
Allocation
Einarmigen Studie
Treatment
Follow-up
Diagnosis: Rectal Cancer; Head and Neck Cancer; Liver Cancer; Breast Cancer; Prostate Cancer; Oligometastasis; Esophageal Cancer
Age: 18–99 years
Line of therapy: Unabhängig von Therapielinie
Key inclusion criteria: Existing indication for radiation therapy
Einarmigen Studie
Detailed description
The current standard treatment for many types of cancer consists of conventional radiation therapy, for which computed tomography (CT) is usually used for planning. However, the image quality of CT is inferior to that of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), especially when it comes to soft tissue. The MR-Linac system could significantly improve the precision of treatment. It combines two devices: an MRI scanner for high-resolution imaging and a linear accelerator for irradiating tumors. What makes this system unique is that precise images of the tumor can be taken immediately before and during radiation therapy. This allows the radiation to be adjusted very precisely, which could better spare the surrounding healthy tissue and reduce side effects.
The goal of this study is to investigate whether treatment using MR-Linac can be reliably implemented in everyday clinical practice (feasibility study). The study will assess whether at least 85% of the planned treatments, lasting 1 to 7 weeks, can be carried out. All patients will receive treatment with MR-Linac as part of the study. There is no follow-up observation.
Eligible participants include women and men aged 18 and older with various types of tumors, such as prostate cancer, breast cancer, rectal or esophageal cancer, head and neck tumors, liver tumors, or brain tumors. Patients who require palliative radiation therapy (which is not intended to cure the disease) may also participate. Treatment is provided exclusively using the new MR-Linac device at the University Hospital of Tübingen. Individuals with contraindications for an MRI (e.g., severe claustrophobia or certain metal implants) as well as pregnant women are excluded.
Facts
- Which diseases: Prostate, breast, rectal, esophageal, head and neck, liver, and CNS tumors, as well as a few metastases (oligometastases) and symptom-oriented (palliative) indications
- Cancer characteristics: Patients scheduled for radiation therapy, regardless of prior treatment
- What the study investigates: Feasibility of treatment using the MR-Linac device
- Study objective: To determine whether at least 85% of treatments can be performed as planned
- How long will the study last: through 2027; individual treatment duration 1–7 weeks
- Study characteristics: one group, open-label, single-center study at the University Hospital of Tübingen
Trial sites
1 trial site in Germany is listed.
Universitätsklinikum Tübingen
Geissweg 3, 72076 Tübingen
Recruiting
This list is compiled to the best of our knowledge but without guarantee: it may be incomplete, and a site's recruitment status can change at any time.
- Dr. med. Sebastian SommerSpecialist in internal medicine with a focus on hematology and oncology
- PD Dr. med. Matthias FröhlichSpecialist in internal medicine, immunology and emergency medicine
This description is based on the public trial registry (NCT04172753) and was translated into plain language by our medical editorial team. Whether participation is an option for you is a decision you make together with your treating physician.