The PRISM study
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Prostate Radiotherapy Integrated with Simultaneous MRI (The PRISM study)
IRAS ID
241485
Contact name
Alison Tree
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
6 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
Currently radiotherapy for prostate cancer is directed using scans or X-Rays, which ensures the radiotherapy treatment 'hits the target' and avoids the healthy tissues around the prostate. There are two current methods of radiotherapy image guidance- either placing small gold seeds into the prostate and taking XRays or doing a small CT scan of the prostate region each day. Neither of these methods are perfect and have drawbacks and small inaccuracies.
The best way to see the prostate is with an MRI scan - this shows the edge of the prostate much more clearly and can even show the area of most aggressive cancer within the prostate. Shortly we will have the ability to use a new machine - an MR-Linac - which combines an MR scanner and a radiotherapy machine.
As well as giving us a clearer picture, and enabling us to keep watching the prostate while we treat (not currently possible with standard machines) this new machine will also allow us to change the radiotherapy plan if we can see that the internal anatomy has shifted day to day. Currently we have to give the same radiotherapy plan each day, which means we have to treat a 'safety margin' around to prostate to allow for these day to day anatomy changes (e.g. rectal filling).
The aim of this study is to assess the technical feasibility of delivering radical radiotherapy for prostate cancer using the MR-Linac, including the feasibility of changing the radiotherapy plan on a daily basis to mirror internal anatomy changes. We will recruit 30 patients with localised prostate cancer who need radiotherapy. We will deliver the same dose in the same number of days i.e. the same as standard radiotherapy. Side effects will also be assessed by physicians and using patient questionnaires.REC name
London - Fulham Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
18/LO/1068
Date of REC Opinion
2 Jul 2018
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion