Consortium to develop MR-guided radiotherapy

The Christie NHS Foundation Trust in Manchester, U.K., is the newest institution to join an assembly of organizations with the objective of researching an integrated and real-time MR-guided radiotherapy system for more accurate treatment delivery, according to today’s announcement from Elekta and Philips Healthcare.

The integrated system now has seven championing teams. In addition to the Christie NHS Foundation, the University Medical Center Utrecht and The Netherlands Cancer Institute-Antoni van Leeuwenhoek Hospital in the Netherlands, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, The Froedtert and Medical College of Wisconsin Cancer Center in Milwaukee, Wis., and The Institute of Cancer Research in partnership with The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust in London are all on board.

The Christie was apparently involved in the development of cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) 14 years ago. This MR system would represent a real-time imaging technique that could cut down on excessive tumor margins and track tumors as they change shape or position after tumor staging and even initial surgical planning.

"We are very excited to be a part of an international consortium of truly exceptional centers that are striving as we are to develop technological innovations to benefit patients," said Ananya Choudhury, PhD, a consultant and honorary senior clinical lecturer, clinical oncology at The Christie, in a press release. "Unlike any imaging modality now in use in combination with radiotherapy, MRI can provide highly detailed images of the tumor and surrounding normal tissues. Moreover, MRI will permit physicians to non-invasively visualize and track the target during beam delivery – real-time imaging – which will further improve treatment accuracy."

This system is still in its beginning stages and has not yet been approved for clinical use.