The National Cancer Institute estimates 55,000 new cases of pancreatic cancer to have been diagnosed in 2018, with a 5 year survival rate of 8.5%.
MRI guided radiation therapy has been shown to be a promising therapy for treating locally advanced pancreatic cancer, suggesting potential for improving survival of patients receiving lower doses without increasing side effects of serious gastrointestinal toxicity.
133 patients with borderline resectable or inoperable locally advanced pancreatic cancer will be enrolled in this study, who will be treated using high definition MRI and daily treatment plans adapted to allow delivering ablative radiation doses safely. Real time MRI imaging will be used in all patients throughout treatment delivery to monitor target locations and control the radiation beam as required.
This trial builds upon findings from other cancer institutions to further explore MRI guided therapy’s impact on associated toxicity, local control, and patient outcomes in pancreatic cancer in this first prospective, multi-institutional study to evaluate delivering ablative doses of radiation using ViewRay’s MRIdian system.
