MR Imaging Study Using the Northern Alberta Linac-MR (Northern LIGHTs - 1)

Condition(s) studied

Investigational drug(s) / intervention(s)

MR scan with the Alberta linac-MR P3 system: Single MR imaging session to develop and optimize the necessary MR sequences on the Alberta linac-MR P3 system to allow for MR-guided radiotherapy.

Study summary

Cancers are often treated with external beam radiotherapy. Current radiotherapy treatments are performed using computed tomography (also known as CT) scans which may not always clearly identify the cancer. In some instances, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) may be able to better identify cancers. Therefore, efforts are currently underway to use the MRI scans to improve radiotherapy treatments or eventually even use radiotherapy equipment that only uses MRI scans to guide treatments. This new technology that will only use MRI scans to guide treatments is called the Linac-MR (linear accelerator with an MRI). The purpose of this pilot phase of the study is to test whether the Alberta linac-MR P3 system at the Cross Cancer Institute can acquire high quality MR images safely. It will allow the researchers to develop the best collection of MR images possible with this new machine, in order to allow them to visualize tumors for future patients that are treated on this machine.

Eligibility

Primary outcome measure(s)

• Number of high-quality MR image data sets acquired for each major tumour site (prostate, liver, lung, CNS, breast, gynecological, pancreas, and head and neck) — Through study completion, approximately 7 years
  Clinical radiologists, medical physicists, and radiation oncologists will work together to develop MR sequences that can delineate tumour target volumes on the Alberta linac-MR P3 system. Over the course of the trial, the clinical radiologists will work with medical physicists to optimize these sequences to allow for the development of optimal MR images, with the goal to develop of series of protocols that can be utilized to provide clear MR image guidance for each tumour group.

Trial sites (1)

More AHS Cancer Control Alberta trials in Canada

Other trials for the same condition