Elekta MR-Linac Trial Allows More Accurate Radiotherapy For Prostate Cancer Patients
Elekta has announced that its 1.5T Elekta Unity MR-Linac system may allow physicians to minimize radiation exposure to anatomical structures essential for erectile function in men undergoing prostate cancer treatment. Preliminary findings from the ERECT (EREctile Function Preservation for Prostate Cancer Radiation Therapy) trial were presented by clinicians from University Medical Center Utrecht (UMC Utrecht, the Netherlands) at the 2025 European Society for Radiotherapy and Oncology (ESTRO) Annual Congress in Vienna, Austria.
The ERECT Trial showed reduced incidence of erectile dysfunction (ED) and preserved erectile function up to 18 months using MR-guided radiotherapy (MRgRT) compared to conventional radiotherapy in patients with localized prostate cancer.
Seventy 70 intermediate-risk prostate cancer patients participated in the study, where researchers used Elekta Unity MR-Linac to treat with a radiation dose of 36.25 Gy over five fractions. According to UMC Utrecht radiation oncologist and trial principal investor, Jochem van der Voort van Zyp, MD, PhD, Unity’s pristine MR image quality not only enabled detailed visualization of the prostate, but also that of critical structures needed to achieve and maintain an erection. This anatomy includes the neurovascular bundle, internal pudendal arteries, corpora cavernosa, and penile bulb.
"While radiation therapy for prostate cancer has been shown to confer very high cure rates, the close proximity of nerves and blood vessels that support sexual function can mean they receive a radiation dose sufficient to interfere with their function,” says Dr. van der Voort van Zyp. “However, with the enhanced precision of MR-guidance, we gain the confidence to limit – or deescalate – the dose they receive. In short, the prostate gets the therapeutic dose while the erectile tissues receive a much lower dose, thus preserving their function.”
In diagnostic radiology, MRI is considered as the gold standard for visualizing the prostate and surrounding structures. Elekta Unity MR-Linac combines a high-field MRI with a state-of-the-art linear accelerator and enables clinicians to use MRI to guide radiation delivery to tumor targets and avoid surrounding structures. The system also allows clinicians to non-invasively monitor the position of the target while treatment is ongoing.
John Christodouleas, MD, MPH, Elekta’s Senior Vice President of Medical Affairs stated, “These results from the ERECT Trial add to a growing evidence base showing that minimizing the radiation dose to the normal tissues surrounding the prostate can improve the quality of life of men with prostate cancer. An obvious way to reduce dose to normal tissues is to ‘see what you treat’ and the best way to see the prostate and surrounding tissues is using MR-guidance.”