Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39434803›Full record

ArticleClinical and translational radiation oncology2024

The impact of rectal spacers in MR-guided adaptive radiotherapy.

Vikneswary Batumalai, David Crawford, Maddison Picton, Charles Tran, Urszula Jelen, Madeline Carr, Michael Jameson, Jeremy de Leon

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Clinical and translational radiation oncology, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Magnetic resonance-guided adaptive stereotactic radiotherapy in prostate cancer patients: a systematic literature review.Reports of practical oncology and radiotherapy : journal of Greatpoland Cancer Center in Poznan and Polish Society of Radiation Oncology · 2025
    Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Vikneswary BatumalaiGenesisCare, St Vincent's Hospital, Sydney, Australia.
David CrawfordGenesisCare, St Vincent's Hospital, Sydney, Australia.
Maddison PictonGenesisCare, St Vincent's Hospital, Sydney, Australia.
Charles TranGenesisCare, St Vincent's Hospital, Sydney, Australia.
Urszula JelenGenesisCare, St Vincent's Hospital, Sydney, Australia.
Madeline CarrGenesisCare, St Vincent's Hospital, Sydney, Australia.
Michael JamesonGenesisCare, St Vincent's Hospital, Sydney, Australia.
Jeremy de LeonGenesisCare, St Vincent's Hospital, Sydney, Australia.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background and purpose: The use of stereotactic ablative radiotherapy (SABR) for prostate cancer has increased significantly. However, SABR can elevate the risk of moderate gastrointestinal (GI) side effects. Rectal spacers mitigate this risk by reducing the rectal dose. This study evaluates the impact of rectal spacers in MR-guided adaptive radiotherapy (MRgART) for prostate SABR. Materials and methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on twenty patients with localised prostate cancer treated on the Unity MR-Linac at a single centre. Half of the cohort (n = 10) had rectal spacers placed before treatment. The adapt-to-shape strategy was used for online MRgART, and non-adapted plans were later generated offline for comparison. Dosimetric assessments were made between spacer and no-spacer cohorts, and between online adapted and non-adapted plans. Clinician-reported outcomes for genitourinary (GU) and GI toxicity were assessed at 3-, 6-, and 12-months post-treatment using Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events v.5.0. Results: No grade 2 or higher toxicity was observed in either cohort. Overall, the dosimetric analysis showed comparable results between the cohorts for target volumes, with D95% of 36.3 Gy in the spacer cohort and 36.0 Gy in the no-spacer cohort (p = 0.08). The spacer cohort demonstrated significant benefits in all rectal dose objectives (p < 0.0001) and in some bladder objectives (V40, p = 0.03; V36, p = 0.03). Failure rates for achieving planning objectives were similar between spacer and no-spacer groups for online adapted plans, with most rates ranging from 0 % to 4 % in both groups. Conclusion: The findings from this cohort suggest that MRgART is safe and effective for prostate SABR, with comparable toxicity rates in both spacer and no-spacer cohorts. While rectal spacers offer dosimetric advantages, the adaptive nature of MRgART can mitigate some dosimetric disparities, potentially reducing the need for invasive spacer placement. However, further studies with larger patient populations are needed to confirm these results.

Indexed as

MR-LinacProstate cancerRectal spacersStereotactic ablative body radiotherapy

Identifiers

PMID39434803
PMCPMC11491716

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.