Simultaneous MRI, Radiotherapy Technology Offers Precision Targeting

A new research radiation-therapy system features a unique combination of radiotherapy delivery and simultaneous magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The system is being designed to provide continuous soft-tissue MRI during treatment so that clinicians can see exactly where the radiation is being delivered.

The University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center (UWCCC; Madison, WI, USA), will soon become one of the first oncology research centers to acquire a radiotherapy system from ViewRay, Inc. (Cleveland, OH, USA), a medical device company.

Radiation therapy is crucial in the fight against cancer, and almost two-thirds of all cancer patients receive radiation therapy during their illness. However, natural organ motion can hamper the precision of radiation delivery to the tumor. "Patients breathe, swallow, and digest with movement of internal organs during treatment,” said Paul M. Harari, MD, professor and chair of the UW department of human oncology. "We plan to use the system to observe and address this problem in a new way with the use of MR imaging. Our researchers are particularly interested in studying possible applications in the treatment of thoracic, abdominal, and pelvic malignancies, where precise radiation targeting must account for organ motion.”

The UWCCC is known for conducting some of the most innovative research in the field. A number of original treatment technologies have been developed at UW, particularly in the area of image-guided radiotherapy using pretreatment CT. "We have great respect for the work of UW's researchers and clinicians, and we've enjoyed a longstanding connection to the Carbone Cancer Center,” said ViewRay president and CEO Gregory M. Ayers, MD, PhD. "Now the UWCCC team will lead the radiation oncology community in exploring a new way of monitoring treatments and adapting to changes in a patient's anatomy.”

The ViewRay system is designed to enable clinicians to plan and deliver precision radiotherapy and radiosurgery to treat lesions, tumors, and conditions anywhere in the body where radiation treatment is indicated.

ViewRay holds the exclusive worldwide license for its combination of MRI and radiotherapy technologies. Now in the late stages of development, the ViewRay system is currently available only as a non-human-use research system. The company is working to secure clearance from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for commercial distribution of the system for clinical use.

Related Links:
University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center
ViewRay