Pelvic Cancer Registry for Online Adapted Radiotherapy
This study is a registry, which means it collects information about people already having radiotherapy for pelvic or chest cancers. It compares two types of treatment: standard Image-Guided Radiotherapy (IGRT) and a newer method called online Adaptive Radiotherapy (oART). The main goal is to find out if oART can reduce the number of immediate side effects patients experience by at least 10%. The study will also look at how effective the treatments are at controlling the cancer, what long-term side effects might occur, and how they affect a patient's quality of life. For technical details, it will also compare oART's approach with what would happen if standard planning was used instead.
At a glance
What is this study about?
When you have radiotherapy, the aim is to target cancer cells while protecting healthy ones. Standard radiotherapy (called Image-Guided Radiotherapy or IGRT) uses a scan before treatment begins to plan exactly where the radiation should go. However, your body can change a little bit each day; for example, your bladder or bowel might be fuller or emptier, or organs might shift slightly. To make sure the cancer is always hit, doctors sometimes add a small 'safety margin' around the tumour, which can mean a slightly larger area receives radiation. This can lead to more side effects.
This study is looking at a newer way of giving radiotherapy called online Adaptive Radiotherapy (oART). The 'online' part means that doctors take a fresh scan every day, just before your treatment. Then, with the help of clever computer programs (artificial intelligence), they quickly adjust your treatment plan to match your body's exact shape that day. This approach can be really helpful, especially for areas like the pelvis where organs can move around a lot, or for chest tumours.
The main idea behind oART is to be more precise, potentially reducing the amount of healthy tissue that gets radiated. This study hopes to show that oART can lead to fewer immediate side effects compared to the more traditional IGRT. It also wants to understand more about cancer control, long-term side effects, and how these treatments affect patients' daily lives and well-being.
Key takeaways
- This study compares two types of radiotherapy for pelvic or chest cancers.
- It collects information from treatments patients are already receiving.
- The goal is to see if a personalised daily treatment (oART) reduces side effects.
- It also looks at cancer control and patient quality of life.
- Participation means your medical data helps improve future cancer care.
Who may be eligible?
To be part of this study, you need to be an adult (18 years old or older) and currently have a tumour in your pelvis or chest area that your doctors have decided needs radiotherapy treatment. Both men and women can join.
You cannot be included in this study if you have already had radiotherapy in the area where your new tumour is located. This helps the researchers focus on the effects of the current treatment without confusion from past treatments.
Could this study suit you?
Answer these quick questions to see if you may be eligible. This is a guide only — the research team makes the final call.
- Are you 18 years old or older?
- Do you have a tumour in your pelvis or chest?
- Has your doctor recommended radiotherapy for this tumour?
- Have you never had radiotherapy in this specific body area before?
What does participation involve?
If you participate in this study, it's essentially about collecting information from your existing radiotherapy treatment journey for a pelvic or chest tumour. You won't be given any new or experimental treatments; you'll receive either standard Image-Guided Radiotherapy (IGRT) or online Adaptive Radiotherapy (oART), as already decided by your medical team and what's available.
Your involvement means the study will collect details about your treatment, side effects you experience, and how your quality of life changes over time. This information would typically be gathered during your regular hospital visits and follow-up appointments. There shouldn't be any extra visits specifically for the study. The overall duration of your participation would align with your radiotherapy treatment and follow-up care.
Potential risks and benefits
Locations (1)
- University Medical Center, Departement of Radiation OncologyVerified postcodeGöttingen, Germany· Recruiting
Common questions
What is the main purpose of this study?
The study aims to see if a newer, more personalised radiotherapy (oART) causes fewer immediate side effects than standard radiotherapy (IGRT) for pelvic or chest cancers.
Will I receive a different treatment if I join?
No, you will receive either the standard radiotherapy (IGRT) or the personalised radiotherapy (oART) that your doctors have already decided is best for you. These are established treatments.
What kind of information will the study collect?
It will gather details about your treatment, any side effects you might have, how your cancer responds, and how your quality of life is affected, all as part of your normal care.
Who can take part in this study?
Adults (18 or older) with pelvic or chest tumours needing radiotherapy can join, as long as they haven't had radiotherapy in that specific area before.
What is 'online Adaptive Radiotherapy' (oART)?
It's a clever way of giving radiotherapy where a new scan is done every day to adjust the treatment plan precisely to your body's exact shape that day, aiming to protect healthy tissue better.
How to find out more
Laura Anna Fischer
Always speak to your GP or specialist before deciding to take part in a study.
Interested in taking part?
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