by
Lauren Dubinsky, Senior Reporter | July 21, 2017
The Henry Ford Cancer Institute announced today that, for the first time ever, it treated a cancer patient with ViewRay's MRIdian Linac.
"This novel technology is the only FDA-approved linear accelerator radiation unit of its kind that 'takes off the blindfold' for the radiation oncologist to allow the doctor to actually see and track the target as it moves in real time during treatment, using MR imaging," Dr. Benjamin Movsas, chair of radiation oncology at the institute, told HCB News.
The MRIdian Linac was approved by the FDA in February and
the first system was installed at the Cancer Institute at Henry Ford Medical Center-Cottage in Grosse Pointe last month.
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The first patient was treated on Wednesday for prostate cancer. With the technology, the radiation oncologists were able see the precise location of the prostate in real time, as well as nearby organs.
That allows the team to align the tumor with the treatment beams and make adjustments in real time in order to avoid hitting sensitive organs.
"I've been in this field now for over 20 years, and I've been waiting for a radiation treatment unit like this for over 20 years," said Movsas. "This will transform radiation treatments moving forward to benefit patients with cancer."
The MRIdian Linac can be used to treat a range of cancers, but it's especially useful for tumors that tend to move during the procedure. That includes tumors in the liver, pancreas, adrenal gland and lung.
For pancreatic cancer in particular, it can show the exact shape and location of the tumor and critical structures to avoid, such as the stomach, liver and small intestine.
The system can also be used to treat breast, prostate, kidney and gynecological cancers.
This is not the first time the Henry Ford Cancer Institute was a pioneer in using novel technology. It was also the first in the world to treat a patient with stereotactic spine radiosurgery, which ultimately led to a National Cancer Institute landmark randomized trial that is now nearing completion.
The institute's radiation oncology department has long-standing interest and expertise in MR-based radiation treatment planning including a dedicated MR planning simulator and research grants on this topic.
"We are indeed very honored and proud to be the first in the world to pioneer the ViewRay MR linac," said Movsas.
