Local control and patient reported outcomes after online MR guided stereotactic body radiotherapy of liver metastases

IntroductionStereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) is used to treat liver metastases with the intention of ablation. High local control rates were shown. Magnetic resonance imaging guided radiotherapy (MRgRT) provides the opportunity of a marker-less liver SBRT treatment due to the high soft tissue contrast. We report herein on one of the largest cohorts of patients treated with online MRgRT of liver metastases focusing on oncological outcome, toxicity, patient reported outcome measures (PROMs), quality of life. Material and methodsPatients treated for liver metastases with online MR-guided SBRT at a 1,5 T MR-Linac (Unity, Elekta, Crawley, UK) between March 2019 and December 2021 were included in this prospective study. UK SABR guidelines were used for organs at risk constraints. Oncological endpoints such as survival parameters (overall survival, progression-free survival) and local control as well as patient reported acceptance and quality of life data (EORTC QLQ-C30 questionnaire) were assessed. For toxicity scoring the Common Toxicity Criteria Version 5 were used. ResultsA total of 51 patients with 74 metastases were treated with a median of five fractions. The median applied BED GTV D98 was 84,1 Gy. Median follow-up was 15 months. Local control of the irradiated liver metastasis after 12 months was 89,6%, local control of the liver was 40,3%. Overall survival (OS) after 12 months was 85.1%. Progression free survival (PFS) after 12 months was 22,4%. Local control of the irradiated liver lesion was 100% after three years when a BED >= 100 Gy was reached. The number of treated lesions did not impact local control neither of the treated or of the hepatic control. Patient acceptance of online MRgSBRT was high. There were no acute grade >= 3 toxicities. Quality of life data showed no significant difference comparing baseline and follow-up data. ConclusionOnline MR guided radiotherapy is a noninvasive, well-tolerated and effective treatment for liver metastases. Further prospective trials with the goal to define patients who actually benefit most from an online adaptive workflow are currently ongoing.

Automated summary

This study reported on the use of online magnetic resonance guided radiotherapy for liver metastases. The results showed high local control rates and improvements in patient reported outcome measures and quality of life. Further prospective trials are ongoing to define the patient population that will benefit most from this online adaptive workflow.