RecruitingOBSERVATIONAL

Online Adaptive Radiotherapy Using a Novel Linear Accelerator (ETHOS)

This study is exploring a new and more accurate way to deliver radiotherapy, which is a common treatment for many cancers. It uses a special machine called ETHOS that can adjust the radiation treatment every day. This daily adjustment helps make sure the radiation hits the cancer cells more precisely, even if the tumour or nearby organs move slightly. This is important for cancers like prostate, head and neck, lung, and bowel cancers. The study wants to see how practical and helpful this daily adjustment is for different types of cancer. It also looks at collecting feedback from patients and doctors about how they are feeling during treatment, hoping to make radiotherapy even better and more comfortable.

At a glance

Status

Recruiting

Sponsor

Charite University, Berlin, Germany

Enrolment target

649

Start

11 Oct 2023

Estimated completion

09 Oct 2027

Prostate Cancer Head and Neck Cancer NSCLC SCLC Esophageal Cancer Bladder Cancer Rectum Cancer Cervix Cancer Other Carcinoma

What is this study about?

Imagine you're getting radiotherapy for cancer. The plan is made to target your tumour very carefully. However, sometimes your tumour or nearby organs can shift slightly between treatments. This means the radiation might not hit exactly the right spot, or it might affect healthy tissue more than intended.

This study is looking at a new way to make radiotherapy much more precise. It uses a clever machine called ETHOS. With ETHOS, doctors can actually adjust your treatment plan every single day, right before you have your radiotherapy. This daily tweak helps make sure the radiation is perfectly aimed at your cancer, even if things have moved a little since your last session. This could make the treatment more effective and potentially reduce side effects on healthy parts of your body. Think of it like taking a new photo every day and adjusting the aiming point based on that, rather than using an old map.

The main goal of this study is to see how well this daily adjustment works and how easy it is to do for people with different types of cancer, such as prostate, head and neck, lung, or bowel cancer. They also want to gather information from both patients and doctors about how the treatment is going and any side effects experienced. This feedback will help them understand how beneficial this new approach is in the real world.

Key takeaways

Uses a new machine called ETHOS for highly accurate radiotherapy.
Treatment plan is adjusted daily to target the cancer precisely.
Aims to improve treatment effectiveness and reduce side effects.
Open to adults with many types of cancer (e.g., prostate, lung, head and neck).
Patients and doctors provide feedback on how treatment is going.

Who may be eligible?

To join this study, you need to be an adult, aged 18 or older. You must also have a type of cancer that your doctor thinks could benefit from radiotherapy or radiotherapy combined with chemotherapy. Before you can join, you'll need to understand what the study involves and agree to take part by signing a consent form.

There are a few reasons why you might not be able to join. If you are pregnant, this study is not suitable for you. Also, if for any reason you're unable to understand or give permission to take part in a study like this, then you wouldn't be able to participate.

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?
Has your doctor said you need radiotherapy or chemoradiotherapy for your cancer?
Are you able to understand and sign a consent form?
Are you certain you are not pregnant?

Answer every question to see your result.

What does participation involve?

If you join this study, you would receive your radiotherapy treatment using the new ETHOS machine. This means your doctors would adjust your treatment plan daily based on scans taken right before each session. You would attend regular radiotherapy appointments, typically over several weeks, similar to standard radiotherapy. The study involves your medical team closely monitoring your treatment and progress. You would also be asked to provide feedback on how you're feeling and any side effects, possibly through electronic forms, and your doctors would also provide their observations. The total duration of your involvement would be for your course of radiotherapy and any follow-up appointments your doctor usually recommends.

Potential risks and benefits

Participating in this study might offer the benefit of receiving a highly precise and potentially more effective radiotherapy treatment, which could lead to better outcomes or fewer side effects compared to standard approaches. However, as with any medical treatment, there are potential risks, and some side effects could still occur, though the goal of this new method is to reduce them. The study is designed to closely monitor your wellbeing. Remember, you can choose to leave the study at any time, for any reason, without it affecting your usual medical care.

Locations (1)

Charité - Universitätsmedizin
Verified postcode
Berlin, Germany· Recruiting

Common questions

What kind of cancers can participate?

This study is open to adults with various cancers, including prostate, head and neck, lung, bladder, bowel, and cervical cancers, as long as your doctor thinks radiotherapy is a suitable treatment for you.

What is 'online adaptive radiotherapy'?

It means your radiotherapy plan is specifically adjusted and fine-tuned each day you have treatment, based on new scans, to make sure it's as accurate as possible for where your tumour is that day.

Will I get different medication?

No, this study focuses on the radiotherapy method. Any medication you receive, like chemotherapy, would be decided by your doctor based on what's best for your cancer, separate from the study's radiotherapy technique.

How long will my treatment take each day?

While the plan is adjusted daily, the aim is to do this efficiently. The actual time spent in the treatment room might be similar to standard radiotherapy, possibly with a little extra time for the daily adjustments.

Is this a new machine?

Yes, it uses a specific new type of radiotherapy machine called ETHOS, which has advanced capabilities to make these daily adjustments to your treatment plan.

How to find out more

Goda Kalinauskaite, MD

goda.kalinauskaite@charite.de +49 30 450 527318 Official trial record

Always speak to your GP or specialist before deciding to take part in a study.