Key information
- CMM (Comprehensive Motion Management) technology has been implemented at the Jules Bordet Institute, making it the 12th center in the world to integrate CMM technology into its MRI-Linac.
- CMM technology detects and adapts to the movements of organs and tumors during a treatment session, which is beneficial for prostate, pancreatic and liver cancers.
- The technology minimizes exposure to healthy tissue by reducing safety margins and allows treatment plans to be adjusted in real time.
Global motion management technology
The Jules Bordet Institute has implemented a revolutionary technology in the field of radiotherapy: Comprehensive Motion Management (CMM). This is an important step since the institute becomes the 12th center in the world to integrate the CMM into its MRI-Linac, state-of-the-art equipment.
The Jules Bordet Institute is an autonomous multidisciplinary hospital entirely dedicated to the treatment of cancer and recognized as an “integrated cancer center” by the Organization of European Cancer Institutes (OECI). Located in Anderlecht, on the campus of the Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), the hospital offers both clinical care and facilities for scientific research and teaching. It is also part of the HUB (Brussels University Hospital), a partnership with other renowned Brussels hospitals such as the Erasmus Hospital and the HUDERF Children’s Hospital.
Unique in Belgium, the MRI-Linac combines a high-field MRI (1.5 Tesla) and a radiotherapy device. Operational since 2022, thanks to substantial funding from the Jules Bordet Association, this innovative machine makes it possible to visualize tumors and surrounding organs in real time, thus improving the precision of treatment while preserving healthy tissues. The addition of CMM further refines the system by detecting and adapting to organ and tumor movements during a treatment session, proving particularly beneficial for cancers affecting the prostate, pancreas and liver.
Implementation and benefits
Dr Robbe Van den Begin, Medical Director of MR-Linac, highlights the immediate benefits of CMM. He explains that the irradiation beam automatically stops if a tumor moves significantly, for example during breathing. This helps minimize the exposure of healthy tissues by reducing safety margins. Treatment plans can also be adjusted in real time if a tumor changes position, for example in cases of prostate cancer.
Akos Gulyban, head of the medical physics project, adds that the institute’s specialist team worked with Elekta, the manufacturer of the MRI-Linac, to establish a rapid deployment procedure for the CMM, successfully combining the training and clinical treatments in a remarkably short time.
Impact on patient care
With more than 200 patients already treated with MRI-guided radiotherapy, the Jules Bordet Institute is strengthening its leading position in oncology. The integration of Comprehensive Motion Management (CMM) represents a new step in treatment optimization, now accessible to all patients using the MRI-Linac. For Professor Philippe Martinive, head of the radiotherapy department, this advance represents more than a simple technical improvement: it is the initial phase of a major medical revolution to which his department fully supports.
This technology opens the way to numerous research projects aimed at extending its application to other types of cancers. It also aims to push the limits of personalized medicine by making treatments increasingly targeted and effective. The ultimate goal: to transform cancer care into truly tailored, patient-specific treatment. This progress reflects the Jules Bordet Institute’s commitment to providing cutting-edge treatments and contributing to the global fight against cancer.
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