Stereotactic Magnetic Resonance-guided Adaptive Radiation Therapy for Localized Kidney Cancer: Early Outcomes from a...

Stereotactic magnetic resonance (MR)-guided adaptive radiotherapy (SMART) for renal cell carcinoma may result in more precise treatment delivery through the capabilities for improved image quality, daily adaptive planning, and accounting for respiratory motion during treatment with real-time MR tracking. In this study, we aimed to characterize the safety and feasibility of SMART for localized kidney cancer. Twenty patients with localized kidney cancer (ten treated in a prospective phase 1 trial and ten in the supplemental cohort) were treated to 40 Gy in five fractions on a 0.35 T MR-guided linear accelerator with daily adaptive planning and a cine MR-guided inspiratory breath hold technique. The median follow-up time was 17 mo (interquartile range: 13-20 months). A single patient developed local failure at 30 mo. No grade ≥3 adverse events were reported. The mean decrease in estimated glomerular filtration rate was -1.8 ml/min/1.73 m² (95% confidence interval or CI [-6.6 to 3.1 ml/min/1.73 m²]), and the mean decrease in tumor diameter was -0.20 cm (95% CI [-0.6 to 0.2 cm]) at the last follow-up. Anterior location and overlap of the 25 or 28 Gy isodose line with gastrointestinal organs at risk were predictive of the benefit from online adaptive planning. Kidney SMART is feasible and, at the early time point evaluated in this study, was well tolerated with minimal decline in renal function. More studies are warranted to further evaluate the safety and efficacy of this technique. PATIENT SUMMARY: For patients with localized renal cell carcinoma who are not surgical candidates, stereotactic magnetic resonance--guided adaptive radiotherapy is a feasible and safe noninvasive treatment option that results in minimal impact on kidney function.