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.
" 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 CT-guided SBRT, which typically requires larger treat.