Stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) with MRI-Linac in oligometastatic gynaecological cancer patients: a systematic review.
Donato Pezzulla, Alessia Re, Francesco Catucci et al.
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In 30 seconds
This PRISMA-guided systematic review assessed clinical outcomes and toxicity of MRI-guided stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) for oligometastatic gynaecological cancers. Three studies, including 45 patients—predominantly with ovarian cancer—met the inclusion criteria. Patients received 30 to 50 Gy in five fractions using MRI-Linacs operating at 0.35-1.5 T. All patients were alive and had maintained local control at 3 months after SBRT. Across the studies, one Grade 3 gastrointestinal toxicity event was reported. The authors describe MRI-guided SBRT as promising but note that larger studies are needed.
Key findings
- Three eligible studies included 45 patients with oligometastatic gynaecological cancers, predominantly ovarian.
- All patients were alive and maintained local control at 3 months from SBRT.
- The studies reported one Grade 3 gastrointestinal toxicity event.
Why it matters
The review summarises early clinical evidence for MRI-guided SBRT in a population with limited treatment data. The reported short-term local control and low number of severe toxicity events suggest potential for focused treatment, while the small evidence base means outcomes and safety remain uncertain. The findings may inform further evaluation of this approach, including its possible role in delaying systemic therapy.
What to keep in mind
Only three studies and 45 patients were included, and reported local control and survival were limited to 3 months. The authors call for larger studies.