Head and neck cancer patient receives first treatment on MR-Linac - Elekta Unity

Members of Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre’s radiation team recently completed the first-in-Canada treatment for head and neck cancer on the new MR-Linac — the Elekta Unity.

This technology is the first machine in the world to combine radiation and high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and lets doctors at the Odette Cancer Centre target tumours and monitor their response to radiation with unprecedented precision, thanks to the machine's real-time MRI guidance.

For patient enrolled in the latest MR-Linac MOMENTUM study, their radiation treatment will be planned following an MRI at the time of treatment. Typically, treatment is pre-planned based on CT images and performed based on that plan for the course of treatment.

In this latest treatment protocol, MRI will provide a guide for the care team to determine whether radiation should be replanned or adjusted based on the size or position of the tumour, or anatomic changes such as weight loss, allowing the radiation treatment to be even more precise.

The head and neck portion of the study is focused on head and neck cancer caused by human papillomavirus (HPV). HPV is a viral infection. Rates of HPV infections have been increasing, says Dr. Zain Husain, radiation oncologist.

“These tumours typically respond well to radiation and shrink quickly,” he added. “The MRI allows us to replan and adjust based on the latest information. We can avoid and protect nearby salivary glands, track doses to organs and adjust for any weight loss that has occurred.”

In addition, Dr. Husain says, the MRI allows the care team to provide more information and updates to patients.

“By far the most common question I hear is ‘is the treatment working? Is my tumour shrinking?’” and up until now, I really could not answer that in a timely way,” he said. “Now, I can both answer the question and adjust the treatment if needed.”

Read more about the Cancer Ablation Therapy program.