UCLA Journal of Radiation Oncology FALL 2024 and ANNUAL REPORT - Flipbook - Page 20
UCLA RADIATION ONCOLOGY JOURNAL
M R I - G U I D E D R A D I AT I O N T H E R A P Y
REDUCES LONG-TERM SIDE EFFECTS FOR
P A T I E N T S W I T H P R O S T AT E C A N C E R
FINDINGS
After a comprehensive two-year follow-up, researchers at the UCLA Health Jonsson
Comprehensive Cancer Center found that MRI-guided stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT)
for prostate cancer significantly reduced long-term side effects and improved quality of life,
particularly in bowel and sexual health, compared to conventional CT-guided treatment.
“The MIRAGE trial is the only randomized trial to date comparing these state-of-the-art
technologies in radiation oncology. It was designed to see whether MRI-guided SBRT led
to less toxicity than CT-guided SBRT,” said Dr. Michael Steinberg, Professor and Chair of
Radiation Oncology at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Director of Clinical
Affairs at the UCLA Health Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center and senior author of the
study.
BACKGROUND
The research team conducted a secondary analysis of the phase 3 clinical trial, called
MIRAGE, to evaluate the impact of using MRI guidance to deliver high-precision radiation
therapy for prostate cancer. Radiation therapy is a standard treatment option, especially for
those with localized prostate cancer. However, the side effects of treatment can be severe and
long-lasting, affecting a patient’s urinary, bowel, and sexual function. MRI guidance allows for
more targeted treatment with reduced planning margins around the prostate, meaning less
exposure to surrounding healthy tissue. This approach was compared with the standard CTguided SBRT, which typically requires larger treatment margins.
RESULTS
The team found that patients receiving MRI-guided SBRT experienced significantly fewer
urinary and bowel side effects. Specifically, 27% of MRI-guided patients reported moderate or
severe urinary issues—such as urinary incontinence and irritation—compared to 51% of those
receiving CT guidance. Additionally, gastrointestinal toxicity—such as bowel issues—were
reported by only 1.4% of MRI-guided patients, a notable reduction compared to 9.5% in the
CT-guided group. MRI guidance also correlated with improved scores on specific quality-oflife measures, including bowel function and sexual health.
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