Steven J. Frank, MD, FACR, FABS, FASTRO, presented “MRI-Assisted Salvage Radiosurgery (MARS) Planning and Treatment” during the 26th Annual Southwest Prostate Cancer Symposium conference on April 14, 2023, in Scottsdale, Arizona.
How to cite: Frank, Steven J. “MRI-Assisted Salvage Radiosurgery (MARS) Planning and Treatment.” April 14, 2023. Accessed Aug 2024. https://grandroundsinurology.com/mri-assisted-salvage-radiosurgery-mars-planning-and-treatment/
MRI-Assisted Salvage Radiosurgery (MARS) Planning and Treatment – Summary
Steven J. Frank, MD, FACR, FABS, FASTRO, begins by outlining the fundamental principles of MARS. Starting with patient preparation and MRI acquisition allows for meticulous mapping of the prostate and adjacent structures, ensuring maximal tumor coverage while sparing healthy tissue. This precision minimizes the side effects of traditional radiotherapy.
He discusses multiparametric MRI (mpMRI), which provides detailed information on tumor biology and aids in distinguishing between cancerous and benign tissues. Dr. Frank illustrates how these advancements contribute to more effective treatment planning and improved patient outcomes. Furthermore, Dr. Frank addresses the challenges and limitations of MARS, including the need for specialized equipment and expertise, as well as the potential for variability in imaging quality.
About the 26th Annual Southwest Prostate Cancer Symposium:
This conference educated attendees about advances in the management of localized and advanced prostate cancer, with a focus on imaging, technology, and training in the related devices. It included a scientific session, as well as live demonstrations of surgical techniques. You can learn more about the conference here.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Steven J. Frank, MD, is an endowed tenured professor of Radiation Oncology and holds the Bessie McGoldrick Professorship in Clinical Research at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. Dr. Frank is the Executive Director of the Particle Therapy Institute and Deputy Head of Strategy for the Division of Radiation Oncology.
Dr. Frank was instrumental in facilitating the restructuring of MD Anderson’s Proton Therapy Center through an asset acquisition and a subsequent expansion of a second Proton Therapy Center to advance Intensity Modulated Proton Therapy (IMPT). Dr. Frank is amongst the first, if not the first, to use IMPT to treat head and neck tumors, and he is the Principal Investigator of an NIH/NCI -sponsored multi-institutional Phase II/III randomized trial in advanced-stage oropharyngeal cancer that compares outcomes after chemoradiation given by IMRT versus IMPT.
Dr. Frank has approximately 300 peer-reviewed publications, has authored many book chapters, and has recently published the first textbook on Proton Therapy, based on the MD Anderson experience. Dr. Frank’s lab is studying the biologic enhancement factor of proton therapy and FLASH radiotherapy for head and neck cancer, as well as MRI-Assisted Radiosurgery (MARS) as the next generation of prostate brachytherapy. Dr. Frank’s expertise in MRI radiotherapy has led to the development and FDA approval of multiple novel positive-contrast implantable markers for use in MRI-guided LDR and HDR prostate brachytherapy and external beam radiation therapy.
As founder of the company, C4 Imaging, Dr. Frank has developed the MRI marker technology at MD Anderson, has been granted 31 national and international patents, developed three FDA-approved products, and has established MRI-Assisted Radiosurgery (MARS) at MD Anderson for the treatment of prostate cancer. He has funding from the NIH, the Prostate Cancer Foundation, the Texas Ignition Fund, Hitachi, and MD Anderson, and he has also raised multiple rounds of private equity financing to advance C4 technology.
Dr. Frank has served as the past President and Chairman of the Board of the American Brachytherapy Society and is the 2023 recipient of the Ulrich Henschke Award, the highest honor awarded by the ABS to a practitioner of brachytherapy. Dr. Frank has served as the chair for the head and neck oral boards for the American Board of Radiology over the last six years and will join the Board of Trustees in October 2023. Dr. Frank is a fellow of the ABS, ACR, and ASTRO.
Prior to entering medicine, Dr. Frank served in the military as a U.S. Navy Diver and submarine officer on the fast attack nuclear submarine USS Batfish (SSN-681). He is married to Dr. Ivy Frank, a veterinarian, and his hobbies include golf, flying, and coaching softball for his four daughters.
