Combination of MRI, Radiation Therapy Technology Designed to Improve Treatment, Reduce Side Effects

New technology has been designed to improve the accuracy of cancer treatments through a combination of medical imaging and radiotherapy delivery.

Researchers at the Siteman Cancer Center at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis (MO, USA), a U.S. leader in the early adoption and use of advanced treatments for cancer patients, will soon become the first in the world to test an innovative radiotherapy system from ViewRay, Inc. (Cleveland, OH, USA).

Radiation therapy is critical in the fight against cancer, and nearly two-thirds of all cancer patients receive radiation therapy during their illness. However, patients and their internal organs move naturally and continually during treatment, preventing clinicians from determining precisely where the radiation is going in a patient's body. The ViewRay system is being designed to provide continuous soft-tissue magnetic resonance aiming (MRI) during treatment so that clinicians can see precisely where the radiation is being delivered, potentially improving treatment success, and reducing side effects.

"This is a tremendous opportunity for us to lead the region in the implementation of real-time MRI guidance for radiation therapy for cancer patients,” said Dennis Hallahan, M.D., FASTRO, head of radiation oncology at the Siteman Cancer Center. "The problem of patient organ motion is one that needs to be solved. We believe the ViewRay technology holds great potential for treating patients with cancers in parts of the body that are sensitive to motion, such as the head and neck, lung, prostate, and cervix. The technology fits perfectly with our mission to advance the field of cancer therapy.”

"We couldn't have asked for a better partner for our technology,” said ViewRay president and CEO Gregory M. Ayers, M.D., Ph.D. "Washington University researchers are known for their groundbreaking scientific investigation and for their translation of new discoveries into meaningful clinical treatments. We are excited to be working with them to test and refine a system we believe will offer a significant advancement in radiation therapy.”

At this time, the ViewRay system is for nonclinical research use only.

ViewRay is a medical device company developing advanced radiation therapy technology for the treatment of cancer. Using MRI-guided radiotherapy, the ViewRay system is intended to provide continuous soft-tissue imaging during treatment. The system is being designed so that clinicians--for the first time--will be able to see where the actual radiation dose is being delivered and adapt to changes in the patient's anatomy, potentially improving outcomes, and reducing side effects.

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Siteman Cancer Center at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis