Summary: A UCLA study found that MRI-guided stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) for prostate cancer significantly reduces long-term urinary, bowel, and sexual side effects, improving quality of life compared to CT-guided treatment.

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Key Takeaways

  • Reduced Side Effects: MRI-guided stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) for prostate cancer significantly lowers long-term urinary, bowel, and sexual side effects compared to CT-guided treatment.
  • Improved Quality of Life: Patients receiving MRI-guided SBRT reported better quality of life in bowel function and sexual health due to reduced exposure to surrounding healthy tissue.
  • Precision Advantage: MRI-guided SBRT allows for more precise targeting with narrower treatment margins, minimizing radiation exposure to healthy tissue and reducing the risk of lasting side effects.

After a two-year follow-up, researchers at University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA’s) 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, especially in bowel and sexual health, compared to conventional CT-guided treatment.

“The MIRAGE trial is the only randomized study comparing MRI-guided and CT-guided SBRT in radiation oncology, designed to assess whether MRI guidance reduces treatment toxicity,” says Michael Steinberg, MD, professor and chair of radiation oncology at UCLA.

Minimizing Prostate Cancer Side Effects

Researchers conducted a secondary analysis of the phase 3 MIRAGE trial, examining MRI-guided high-precision radiation therapy for prostate cancer. This approach minimizes exposure to surrounding tissue by reducing the treatment margin around the prostate, unlike standard CT-guided SBRT, which typically requires broader margins. Radiation therapy is a common treatment for localized prostate cancer, but side effects can impact urinary, bowel, and sexual function.

Cutting Prostate Cancer Treatment Side Effects

Patients receiving MRI-guided SBRT reported fewer urinary and bowel side effects: 27% of MRI-guided patients experienced moderate or severe urinary issues, compared to 51% in the CT-guided group. Gastrointestinal issues affected only 1.4% of MRI-guided patients, versus 9.5% of those treated with CT guidance. MRI guidance also led to improved quality of life in bowel function and sexual health.

Improving Prostate Cancer Treatment Outcomes

The study highlights MRI-guided SBRT’s potential to improve prostate cancer treatment outcomes by reducing side effects.

“This adds compelling evidence that MRI-guided SBRT, with its precision and real-time prostate tracking, significantly reduces urinary, bowel, and sexual side effects,”says Amar Kishan, MD, executive vice chair of radiation oncology at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and first author of the study. “, executive vice chair of radiation oncology at UCLA and first author of the study. “The narrower treatment margins result in less exposure to healthy tissue, reducing the risk of lasting side effects and enhancing quality of life.”