Single-arc volumetric-modulated arc therapy can provide dose distributions equivalent to fixed-beam intensity-modulated radiation therapy for prostatic irradiation with seminal vesicle and/or lymph node involvement

Abstract

Volumetric-modulated arc therapy (VMAT) is becoming an increasingly utilised modality for treating a variety of anatomical sites. However, the efficacy of single-arc VMAT to treat prostate cancer suspicious for extraprostatic extension was heretofore unknown. In this work, we report our institutional experience with single-arc VMAT and fixed-beam intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) for prostate cancer patients treated for seminal vesicle and/or lymph node involvement. Single-arc VMAT and 7- or 9-field IMRT treatment plans were compared for 10 prostate cancer patients treated for seminal vesicle involvement and/or lymph node involvement. All treatment plans were constructed using the Philips Pinnacle treatment planning system (v.9.0, Fitchburg, WI) and delivered on an Elekta Infinity radiotherapy accelerator (Crawley, UK). Resulting plans were compared using metrics that characterised dosimetry and delivery efficiency. No statistically significant differences in target coverage, target homogeneity or normal tissue doses were noted between the plans (p>0.05). For prostate patients treated for seminal vesicle involvement, VMAT plans were delivered in 1.4±0.1 min (vs 9.5±2.4 min for fixed-beam IMRT) (p<0.01) and required approximately 20% fewer monitor units (p=0.01). For prostate patients treated for lymph node involvement, VMAT plans were delivered in 1.4±0.1 min (vs 11.7±1.3 min for fixed-beam IMRT) (p<0.01) and required approximately 45% fewer monitor units (p<0.01). Single-arc VMAT plans were dosimetrically equivalent to fixed-beam IMRT plans with significantly improved delivery efficiency.