Philips Offers First MR-Only Solution For Prostate Cancer Treatment Planning

By Jof Enriquez,
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Royal Philips has unveiled the first commercially-available magnetic resonance-only (MR-only) simulation solution for radiotherapy treatment planning of prostate cancer in the United States.

Most radiotherapy treatment plans involve combining an MRI-based dataset with a CT-based dataset, because CT provides the electron density information needed for dose calculations that MR intrinsically lacks. Philips' FDA 510(k)-cleared MRCAT (Magnetic Resonance for Calculating ATtenuation) on the Ingenia MR-RT platform offers an MR-only alternative to this conventional MR-CT tandem modality, by using a single mDIXON MRI sequence to generate the needed electron density information, plus the high-quality soft-tissue contrast for target delineation that MR offers.

"Successful cancer treatment depends on the quality and accuracy of the radiation therapy plan, making imaging a critical piece in determining course of treatment," said Dr. Rodney Ellis, vice chairman of Radiation Oncology at the University Hospitals Seidman Cancer Center, in a press release. "The real power of MR-only simulation is that it enables us to develop personalized treatment plans. It can also streamline our workflows, which in turn reduces the burden on prostate cancer patients and the health system. Moreover, it can eliminate the systematic errors introduced by MR-CT registration."

The MRCAT solution allows radiation departments to use MRI as a single, standalone imaging modality for prostate cancer treatment planning, one that requires potentially fewer scans at reduced costs, according to Philips.

"MR-only simulation is a continuation of Philips' commitment to driving image-guided therapy in the market. Where CT solutions have played a leading role in past radiotherapy treatments, MR takes an innovative approach by providing physicians with increased soft-tissue visualization and functional imaging capabilities to help improve treatment plans," added Lizette Warner, Ph.D., manager of clinical science MR therapy, North America, Philips, in the press release. "MR-only simulation makes MR more accessible for hospitals and physicians, transforming the way care is delivered and supporting our customers in improving care for oncology patients who require radiotherapy."

According to the American Cancer Society, prostate cancer is the most common type of cancer among American men, and claims about 27,540 lives each year. Approximately one million undergo radiotherapy annually, counting on critical imaging-based treatment planning.

"Prostate has seen growing interest in using MRI to improve anatomical accuracy of the prostate and surrounding organs, with the aim to improve accuracy of planning delineations. Furthermore, intraprostatic lesions can be identified on MRI, suggesting that focal therapy or boosting could benefit from using MR images for planning. These were the motivating factors behind the choice for prostate as the first application for the commercial MR-only simulation product release," states a Philips white paper.

The company is a leader in prostate MR imaging solutions in the fast growing interventional oncology space. Last year, it announced a partnership with Canadian device maker Profound Medical to support Profound's proprietary TULSA (Transurethral Ultrasound Ablation) technology designed to treat patients with prostate cancer on Philips' Ingenia and Achieva 3T MRI systems.