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Adaptive Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy for the Treatment of Abdominal and Pelvic Metastases, ARAM Trial

Trial Status: active

This phase I trial tests the ability of adaptive stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) to treat patients with cancer that has spread from where it first started (primary site) to the abdomen or pelvis (metastases). Radiation therapy uses high energy x-rays, particles, or radioactive seeds to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors. SBRT uses special equipment to position a patient and deliver radiation to tumors with high precision. This method may kill tumor cells with fewer doses over a shorter period and cause less damage to normal tissue. Commonly, a single radiation plan based on computed tomography (CT) (X-ray type images) taken before the start of radiation treatment, is used over the entire course of treatment. It is usual for the organs in the abdomen and pelvis to shift position from day to day. In order to account for these changes, a typical radiation plan may treat a larger region of normal tissue around the abdomen and pelvis to make sure the tumor receives the intended dose. Adaptive SBRT adjusts the radiation treatment plan every day so that any changes in the position or size of the tumor and the position of healthy organs and tissues can be taken into account. Adaptive SBRT may decrease radiation to healthy tissue and reduce side effects in patients with abdominal and pelvic metastases.