Magnetic Resonance Guided Radiation Therapy for Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma, Advantages, Challenges, Current Approaches, and Future Directions. Front Oncol 2021;11:628155
Date
05/29/2021Pubmed ID
34046339Pubmed Central ID
PMC8144850DOI
10.3389/fonc.2021.628155Scopus ID
2-s2.0-85107182435 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site) 31 CitationsAbstract
INTRODUCTION: Pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PAC) has some of the worst treatment outcomes for any solid tumor. PAC creates substantial difficulty for effective treatment with traditional RT delivery strategies primarily secondary to its location and limited visualization using CT. Several of these challenges are uniquely addressed with MR-guided RT. We sought to summarize and place into context the currently available literature on MR-guided RT specifically for PAC.
METHODS: A literature search was conducted to identify manuscript publications since September 2014 that specifically used MR-guided RT for the treatment of PAC. Clinical outcomes of these series are summarized, discussed, and placed into the context of the existing pancreatic literature. Multiple international experts were involved to optimally contextualize these publications.
RESULTS: Over 300 manuscripts were reviewed. A total of 6 clinical outcomes publications were identified that have treated patients with PAC using MR guidance. Successes, challenges, and future directions for this technology are evident in these publications. MR-guided RT holds theoretical promise for the treatment of patients with PAC. As with any new technology, immediate or dramatic clinical improvements associated with its use will take time and experience. There remain no prospective trials, currently publications are limited to small retrospective experiences. The current level of evidence for MR guidance in PAC is low and requires significant expansion. Future directions and ongoing studies that are currently open and accruing are identified and reviewed.
CONCLUSIONS: The potential promise of MR-guided RT for PAC is highlighted, the challenges associated with this novel therapeutic intervention are also reviewed. Outcomes are very early, and will require continued and long term follow up. MR-guided RT should not be viewed in the same fashion as a novel chemotherapeutic agent for which dosing, administration, and toxicity has been established in earlier phase studies. Instead, it should be viewed as a novel procedural intervention which must be robustly tested, refined and practiced before definitive conclusions on the potential benefits or detriments can be determined. The future of MR-guided RT for PAC is highly promising and the potential implications on PAC are substantial.
Author List
Hall WA, Small C, Paulson E, Koay EJ, Crane C, Intven M, Daamen LA, Meijer GJ, Heerkens HD, Bassetti M, Rosenberg SA, Aitken K, Myrehaug S, Dawson LA, Lee P, Gani C, Chuong MD, Parikh PJ, Erickson BAAuthors
Beth A. Erickson MD Professor in the Radiation Oncology department at Medical College of WisconsinWilliam Adrian Hall MD Chair, Professor in the Radiation Oncology department at Medical College of Wisconsin
Eric Paulson PhD Chief, Professor in the Radiation Oncology department at Medical College of Wisconsin
