Abstract

Magnetic resonance guided radiotherapy (MRgRT) is the newest face of technology within a field long-characterized by continual technologic advance. MRgRT may offer improvement in the therapeutic index of radiation by offering novel planning types, like online adaptation, and improved image guidance, but there is a paucity of randomized data or ongoing randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to demonstrate clinical gains. Strong clinical evidence is needed to confirm the theoretical advantages of MRgRT and for the rapid dissemination of (and reimbursement for) appropriate use. Although some future evidence for MRgRT may come from large registries and non-randomized studies, RCTs should make up the core of this future data, and should be undertaken with thoughtful preconception, endpoints that incorporate patient-reported outcomes, and warm collaboration across existing MRgRT platforms. The advance and future success of MRgRT hinges on collaborative pursuit of the RCT.

Highlights

  • Frontiers in OncologyMagnetic resonance guided radiotherapy (MRgRT) is the newest face of technology within a field long-characterized by continual technologic advance

  • Over the past several decades, the field of radiation oncology has witnessed a range of technical innovations

  • We argue that patients and societies can only truly benefit from this exciting new technology when the Magnetic resonance guided radiotherapy (MRgRT) community collaborates to generate solid clinical evidence, which, in large part, will require large, comparative randomized studies

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Summary

Frontiers in Oncology

Magnetic resonance guided radiotherapy (MRgRT) is the newest face of technology within a field long-characterized by continual technologic advance. MRgRT may offer improvement in the therapeutic index of radiation by offering novel planning types, like online adaptation, and improved image guidance, but there is a paucity of randomized data or ongoing randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to demonstrate clinical gains. Strong clinical evidence is needed to confirm the theoretical advantages of MRgRT and for the rapid dissemination of (and reimbursement for) appropriate use. Some future evidence for MRgRT may come from large registries and non-randomized studies, RCTs should make up the core of this future data, and should be undertaken with thoughtful preconception, endpoints that incorporate patient-reported outcomes, and warm collaboration across existing MRgRT platforms. The advance and future success of MRgRT hinges on collaborative pursuit of the RCT

INTRODUCTION
ABSENCE OF STRONG CLINICAL EVIDENCE IS BAD FOR PATIENTS
WHAT ENDPOINTS DO WE NEED TO CHOOSE?
DO WE ALWAYS NEED TO DO AN RCT?
CAN VARYING MRGRT TREATMENT PLATFORMS BE USED FOR A COMMON GOAL?
CONCLUSION

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