Photon Intensity-modulated Radiotherapy Research Articles

SU-E-T-602: Comparison of Treatment Techniques for Pelvic Node Irradiation: Intensity-Modulated Photons versus Protons.

Radiotherapy planning for iliac pelvic nodes can be challenging due to the close proximity of sensitive healthy tissues such as the bowel and rectum. Modern treatment techniques like photon intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) and intensity-modulated proton therapy (IMPT) offer improved healthy tissue sparing for similar target coverage. In this study we compare IMRT and IMPT plans for six post-cystectomy patients. A dose of 50.4 Gy was prescribed to the planning target volume (PTV), which for IMRT is the clinical target volume (CTV) plus a 5 mm expansion for geometric uncertainties due to CTV and patient positioning errors, and for proton beams is the CTV plus the lateral 5 mm margin plus an additional longitudinal margin to allow for the proton range uncertainty. The optimization objectives are: 98% of the PTV receive at least 95% of the prescription, target maximum dose = 107% of prescription, rectum V[40Gy] < 30% and max = 105%, and bowel V[45Gy] < 125 cc and max = 107%. All IMRT and IMPT plans are made to achieve the target coverage objective. Using IMPT, the rectum would receive a mean dose of 9.0 Gy with an average (over the six patients) maximum dose of 38.1 Gy. Using IMRT, the rectum would receive a mean dose of 13.0 Gy and an average maximum dose of 37.6 Gy. The IMPT plans give a mean dose of 17.9 Gy and a maximum dose of 53.4 Gy for the bowel, whereas the IMRT plans give a mean dose of 23.8 Gy and a maximum dose of 53.2 Gy. Both the rectum and bowel show slightly lower mean doses for IMPT. Our results indicate that IMPT plans improve normal tissue sparing as compared to IMRT plans and provide adequate dose coverage of the target volume.

SU-E-T-601: Dosimetric Evaluation of the Parameter Variation with Varying Calculation Grid Size in the IMRT Cases.

The aim of this study is to compare the plan results that are obtained by using different calculation grid sizes ranging from 0.15 to 0.50 cm, and the same dose calculation algorithm (Superposition), in Intensity Modulated Radiotherapy (IMRT) for different treatment sites. Results are then used to study the suitability of dose grid size with respect to site. For each of the calculation grid sizes, three different sites; namely, Lung, Prostate, and Head and Neck were analyzed. Treatment plans were created using 6MV photon beam quality and IMRT technique on the CMS XiO (Computerized Medical System, St.Louis, MO) treatment planning system. Dose volume histograms were generated for each of the cases and statistical analysis performed included mean relative difference and Homogeneity Index for target structures. Comparison was done first by using 0.30 cm calculation grid as a golden standard and keeping the same number of monitor units (MUs) per beam for each grid size, then the second part involved renormalizing plans to have the same target coverage (100% of the prescription dose covering at least 95% of the target volume) for each grid size used. Future study plans include treatment plans delivery on Varian 21 EX linear accelerator with Millennium (120) MLC and their verification with the Sun Nuclear Mapcheck 2D array. To increase the diode array resolution, 2D array will be shifted in 1 mm increments in x and y direction. Measured fields will be merged using Sun Nuclear Files Combined function and compared with intensity maps exported from the CMS XiO treatment planning system calculated with minimum segment size of 1 cm. The maximum percentage of variation recorded between calculation grid sizes used was in the case of the Head and Neck treatments. For the lung and prostate cases there was little variation in the results based on the calculation grid size chosen, specifically between 0.30, 0.20 and 0.15 cm. However head and neck and prostate cases with nodal involvement showed significant variation in the dosimetric results based on the grid size chosen. Overall results vary from case to case and also depend on the plan complexity. For larger treatment areas calculating with the grid size smaller than 0.30 cm may be impossible as time needed for calculation rises exponentially with the field size involved. IMRT places a higher requirement on dose grid resolution than conventional radiation therapy. While 0.30-0.40 cm grid was assumed adequate for conformal treatment planning, smaller dose grid is required at least in the areas of high dose. In the cases where steep dose gradients exist smaller grid size should be used while calculating and evaluating treatment plans, as the choice of the calculation grid size may in certain cases even influence clinical results.

Five-year Local Control in a Phase II Study of Hypofractionated Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy With an Incorporated Boost for Early Stage Breast Cancer

Conventional radiation fractionation of 1.8-2 Gy per day for early stage breast cancer requires daily treatment for 6-7 weeks. We report the 5-year results of a phase II study of intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT), hypofractionation, and incorporated boost that shortened treatment time to 4 weeks. The study design was phase II with a planned accrual of 75 patients. Eligibility included patients aged≥18 years, Tis-T2, stage 0-II, and breast conservation. Photon IMRT and an incorporated boost was used, and the whole breast received 2.25 Gy per fraction for a total of 45 Gy, and the tumor bed received 2.8 Gy per fraction for a total of 56 Gy in 20 treatments over 4 weeks. Patients were followed every 6 months for 5 years. Seventy-five patients were treated from December 2003 to November 2005. The median follow-up was 69 months. Median age was 52 years (range, 31-81). Median tumor size was 1.4 cm (range, 0.1-3.5). Eighty percent of tumors were node negative; 93% of patients had negative margins, and 7% of patients had close (>0 and <2 mm) margins; 76% of cancers were invasive ductal type: 15% were ductal carcinoma in situ, 5% were lobular, and 4% were other histology types. Twenty-nine percent of patients 29% had grade 3 carcinoma, and 20% of patients had extensive in situ carcinoma; 11% of patients received chemotherapy, 36% received endocrine therapy, 33% received both, and 20% received neither. There were 3 instances of local recurrence for a 5-year actuarial rate of 2.7%. This 4-week course of hypofractionated radiation with incorporated boost was associated with excellent local control, comparable to historical results of 6-7 weeks of conventional whole-breast fractionation with sequential boost.

Comparison of intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) with intensity modulated particle therapy (IMPT) using fixed beams or an ion gantry for the treatment of patients with skull base meningiomas

BackgroundTo examine the potential improvement in treatment planning for patients with skull base meningioma using IMRT compared to carbon ion or proton beams with and without a gantry.MethodsFive patients originally treated with photon IMRT were selected for the study. Ion beams were chosen using a horizontal beam or an ion gantry. Intensity controlled raster scanning and the intensity modulated particle therapy mode were used for plan optimization. The evaluation included analysis of dose-volume histograms of the target volumes and organs at risk.ResultsIn comparison with carbon and proton beams only with horizontal beams, carbon ion treatment plans could spare the OARs more and concentrated on the target volumes more than proton and photon IMRT treatment plans. Using only a horizontal fixed beam, satisfactory plans could be achieved for skull base tumors.ConclusionThe results of the case studies showed that using IMPT has the potential to overcome the lack of a gantry for skull base tumors. Carbon ion plans offered slightly better dose distributions than proton plans, but the differences were not clinically significant with established dose prescription concepts.

Comparison of Three-Dimensional (3D) Conformal Proton Radiotherapy (RT), 3D Conformal Photon RT, and Intensity-Modulated RT for Retroperitoneal and Intra-Abdominal Sarcomas

To compare three-dimensional conformal proton radiotherapy (3DCPT), intensity-modulated photon radiotherapy (IMRT), and 3D conformal photon radiotherapy (3DCRT) to predict the optimal RT technique for retroperitoneal sarcomas. 3DCRT, IMRT, and 3DCPT plans were created for treating eight patients with retroperitoneal or intra-abdominal sarcomas. The clinical target volume (CTV) included the gross tumor plus a 2-cm margin, limited by bone and intact fascial planes. For photon plans, the planning target volume (PTV) included a uniform expansion of 5 mm. For the proton plans, the PTV was nonuniform and beam-specific. The prescription dose was 50.4 Gy/Cobalt gray equivalent CGE. Plans were normalized so that >95% of the CTV received 100% of the dose. The CTV was covered adequately by all techniques. The median conformity index was 0.69 for 3DCPT, 0.75 for IMRT, and 0.51 for 3DCRT. The median inhomogeneity coefficient was 0.062 for 3DCPT, 0.066 for IMRT, and 0.073 for 3DCRT. The bowel median volume receiving 15 Gy (V15) was 16.4% for 3DCPT, 52.2% for IMRT, and 66.1% for 3DCRT. The bowel median V45 was 6.3% for 3DCPT, 4.7% for IMRT, and 15.6% for 3DCRT. The median ipsilateral mean kidney dose was 22.5 CGE for 3DCPT, 34.1 Gy for IMRT, and 37.8 Gy for 3DCRT. The median contralateral mean kidney dose was 0 CGE for 3DCPT, 6.4 Gy for IMRT, and 11 Gy for 3DCRT. The median contralateral kidney V5 was 0% for 3DCPT, 49.9% for IMRT, and 99.7% for 3DCRT. Regardless of technique, the median mean liver dose was <30 Gy, and the median cord V50 was 0%. The median integral dose was 126 J for 3DCPT, 400 J for IMRT, and 432 J for 3DCRT. IMRT and 3DCPT result in plans that are more conformal and homogenous than 3DCRT. Based on Quantitative Analysis of Normal Tissue Effects in Clinic benchmarks, the dosimetric advantage of proton therapy may be less gastrointestinal and genitourinary toxicity.

Proton Radiotherapy for High-Risk Pediatric Neuroblastoma: Early Outcomes and Dose Comparison

To report the early outcomes for children with high-risk neuroblastoma treated with proton radiotherapy (RT) and to compare the dose distributions for intensity-modulated photon RT (IMRT), three-dimensional conformal proton RT (3D-CPT), and intensity-modulated proton RT to the postoperative tumor bed. All patients with high-risk (International Neuroblastoma Staging System Stage III or IV) neuroblastoma treated between 2005 and 2010 at our institution were included. All patients received induction chemotherapy, surgical resection of residual disease, high-dose chemotherapy with stem cell rescue, and adjuvant 3D-CPT to the primary tumor sites. The patients were followed with clinical examinations, imaging, and laboratory testing every 6 months to monitor disease control and side effects. IMRT, 3D-CPT, and intensity-modulated proton RT plans were generated and compared for a representative case of adjuvant RT to the primary tumor bed followed by a boost. Nine patients were treated with 3D-CPT. The median age at diagnosis was 2 years (range 10 months to 4 years), and all patients had Stage IV disease. All patients had unfavorable histologic characteristics (poorly differentiated histologic features in 8, N-Myc amplification in 6, and 1p/11q chromosomal abnormalities in 4). The median tumor size at diagnosis was 11.4 cm (range 7-16) in maximal dimension. At a median follow-up of 38 months (range 11-70), there were no local failures. Four patients developed distant failure, and, of these, two died of disease. Acute side effects included Grade 1 skin erythema in 5 patients and Grade 2 anorexia in 2 patients. Although comparable target coverage was achieved with all three modalities, proton therapy achieved substantial normal tissue sparing compared with IMRT. Intensity-modulated proton RT allowed additional sparing of the kidneys, lungs, and heart. Preliminary outcomes reveal excellent local control with proton therapy for high-risk neuroblastoma, although distant failures continu to occur. Dosimetric comparisons demonstrate the advantage of proton RT compared with IMRT in this setting, allowing more conformal treatment and better normal tissue sparing.

Study of intensity-modulated photon–electron radiation therapy using digital phantoms

Intensity-modulated photon–electron radiation therapy (IMPERT) takes advantage of the high conformity of photon intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) and low distal dose of electrons to reduce the total energy delivered to healthy tissue, potentially reducing serious side effects including secondary malignancies. This theoretical study was undertaken to elucidate basic principles of IMPERT planning and to help quantify the advantage of IMPERT over photon IMRT. Plans using 6 MV x-rays alone (IMRT) or in combination with 6–21 MeV electron beams (IMPERT) were developed for digital cylindrical water phantoms that included an organ at risk (OAR) situated 0.25 cm below a 5 cm thick planning target volume (PTV), with the top of the PTV positioned up to 4 cm below the surface. Electron beam energy and percentage dose contribution of the electron beam to the total dose were investigated with a flat-bottom PTV. The effect of target shape was investigated with a concave- or convex-bottom PTV positioned at the surface. Air or bone cavities were embedded in the PTV to investigate the effect of tissue inhomogeneity. Dose variations in the electron dose distribution due to tissue inhomogeneity were accurately calculated with Monte Carlo simulation. The preferred electron dose contribution was approximately 50% of the total dose. For all the PTV–OAR scenarios, IMPERT was able to achieve comparable PTV coverage and OAR sparing as IMRT while reducing the energy deposited to the healthy tissue by 6–25%. The IMPERT technique is a clinically viable approach for reducing serious side effects in radiotherapy.

The use of intensity-modulated radiation therapy photon beams for improving the dose uniformity of electron beams shaped with MLC

Electrons are ideal for treating shallow tumors and sparing adjacent normal tissue. Conventionally, electron beams are collimated by cut-outs that are time-consuming to make and difficult to adapt to tumor shape throughout the course of treatment. We propose that electron cut-outs can be replaced using photon multileaf collimator (MLC). Two major problems of this approach are that the scattering of electrons causes penumbra widening because of a large air gap, and available commercial treatment planning systems (TPSs) do not support MLC-collimated electron beams. In this study, these difficulties were overcome by (1) modeling electron beams collimated by photon MLC for a commercial TPS, and (2) developing a technique to reduce electron beam penumbra by adding low-energy intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) photons (4 MV). We used blocks to simulate MLC shielding in the TPS. Inverse planning was used to optimize boost photon beams. This technique was applied to a parotid and a central nervous system (CNS) clinical case. Combined photon and electron plans were compared with conventional plans and verified using ion chamber, film, and a 2D diode array. Our studies showed that the beam penumbra for mixed beams with 90 cm source to surface distance (SSD) is comparable with electron applicators and cut-outs at 100 cm SSD. Our mixed-beam technique yielded more uniform dose to the planning target volume and lower doses to various organs at risk for both parotid and CNS clinical cases. The plans were verified with measurements, with more than 95% points passing the gamma criteria of 5% in dose difference and 5 mm for distance to agreement. In conclusion, the study has demonstrated the feasibility and potential advantage of using photon MLC to collimate electron beams with boost photon IMRT fields.

Iterative prescription refinement in fully discretized inverse problems of radiation therapy planning

We formulate the method of iterative prescription refinement for inverse planning in any fully discretized model of radiation therapy. The method starts out from an ideal dose prescription and repeatedly refines it into a refined dose prescription. This is done computationally without human interaction until a prespecified stopping rule is met, at which point the refined dose vector and the accompanying beamlet intensities vector are evaluated and presented to the planner. The algorithmic regime is general enough to encompass various physical models that may use different particles (photons, protons, etc.) It is formulated for a general inversion operator thus different objective functions or approaches to the optimization problem (such as DVH, gEUD, or TCP and NTCP cost functions) may all be applied. Although not limited to this model, we demonstrate that the approach at all works on two exemplary cases from photon intensity-modulated radiation therapy.

Fast IMRT with narrow high energy scanned photon beams

Since the first publications on intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) in the early 1980s almost all efforts have been focused on fairly time consuming dynamic or segmental multileaf collimation. With narrow fast scanned photon beams, the flexibility and accuracy in beam shaping increases, not least in combination with fast penumbra trimming multileaf collimators. Previously, experiments have been performed with full range targets, generating a broad bremsstrahlung beam, in combination with multileaf collimators or material compensators. In the present publication, the first measurements with fast narrow high energy (50 MV) scanned photon beams are presented indicating an interesting performance increase even though some of the hardware used were suboptimal. Inverse therapy planning was used to calculate optimal scanning patterns to generate dose distributions with interesting properties for fast IMRT. To fully utilize the dose distributional advantages with scanned beams, it is necessary to use narrow high energy beams from a thin bremsstrahlung target and a powerful purging magnet capable of deflecting the transmitted electron beam away from the generated photons onto a dedicated electron collector. During the present measurements the scanning system, purging magnet, and electron collimator in the treatment head of the MM50 racetrack accelerator was used with 3-6 mm thick bremsstrahlung targets of beryllium. The dose distributions were measured with diodes in water and with EDR2 film in PMMA. Monte Carlo simulations with GEANT4 were used to study the influence of the electrons transmitted through the target on the photon pencil beam kernel. The full width at half-maximum (FWHM) of the scanned photon beam was 34 mm measured at isocenter, below 9.5 cm of water, 1 m from the 3 mm Be bremsstrahlung target. To generate a homogeneous dose distribution in a 10 x 10 cm2 field, the authors used a spot matrix of 100 equal intensity beam spots resulting in a uniformity of collimated 80%-20% penumbra of 9 mm at a primary electron energy of 50 MeV. For the more complex cardioid shaped dose distribution, they used 270 spots, which at a pulse repetition frequency of 200 Hz is completed every 1.36 s. The present measurements indicate that the use of narrow scanned photon beams is a flexible and fast method to deliver advanced intensity modulated beams. Fast scanned photon IMRT should, therefore, be a very interesting modality in the delivery of biologically optimized radiation therapy with the possibility for in vivo treatment verification with PET-CT imaging.

Photon and proton therapy planning comparison for malignant glioma based on CT, FDG-PET, DTI-MRI and fiber tracking

Purpose. The purpose of this study was to compare treatment plans generated using fixed beam Intensity Modulated photon Radiation Therapy (IMRT), inversely optimized arc therapy (RapidArc(R), RA) with spot-scanned Intensity Modulated Proton Therapy (IMPT) for high-grade glioma patients. Plans were compared with respect to target coverage and sparing of organs at risk (OARs), with special attention to the possibility of hippocampus sparing. Method. Fifteen consecutive patients diagnosed with grade III and IV glioma were selected for this study. The target and OARs were delineated based on computed tomography (CT), FDG-positron emission tomography (PET) and T1-, T2-weigted, and Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and fiber-tracking. In this study, a 6 MV photon beam on a linear accelerator with a multileaf collimator (MLC) with 2.5 mm leaves and a spot-scanning proton therapy machine were used. Two RA fields, using both a coplanar (clinical standard) and a non-coplanar, setup was compared to the IMRT and IMPT techniques. Three and three to four non-coplanar fields where used in the spot-scanned IMPT and IMRT plans, respectively. The same set of planning dose-volume optimizer objective values were used for the four techniques. The highest planning priority was given to the brainstem (maximum 54 Gy) followed by the PTV (prescription 60 Gy); the hippocampi, eyes, inner ears, brain and chiasm were given lower priority. Doses were recorded for the plans to targets and OARs and compared to our clinical standard technique using the Wilcoxon signed rank test. Result. The PTV coverage was significantly more conform for IMPT than the coplanar RA technique, while RA plans tended to be more conform than the IMRT plans, as measured by the standard deviation of the PTV dose. In the cases where the tumor was confined in one cerebral hemisphere (eight patients), the non-coplanar RA and IMPT techniques yielded borderline significantly lower doses to the contralateral hippocampus compared to the standard (22% and 97% average reduction for non-coplanar RA and IMPT, respectively). The IMPT technique allowed for the largest healthy tissue sparing of the techniques in terms of whole brain doses and to the fiber tracts. The maximum doses to the chiasm and brainstem were comparable for all techniques. Conclusion. The IMPT technique produced the most conform plans. For tumors located in the one of the cerebral hemispheres, the non-coplanar RA and the IMPT techniques were able to reduce doses to the contralateral hippocampus. The IMPT technique offered the largest sparing of the brain and fiber tracts. RA techniques tended to produce more conform target doses than IMRT.

Acute toxicity of combined photon IMRT and carbon ion boost for intermediate-risk prostate cancer – Acute toxicity of 12C for PC

Background. Carbon ion (12C) therapy in the treatment of prostate cancer (PC) might result in an improved outcome as compared to low linear energy transfer irradiation techniques. In this study, we present the first interim report of acute side effects of the first intermediate-risk PC patients treated at the GSI (Gesellschaft für Schwerionenforschung) and the University of Heidelberg in an ongoing clinical phase I/II trial using combined photon intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) and 12C carbon ion boost. Material and methods. Fourteen patients (planned accrual: 31 pts) have been treated within this trial so far. IMRT is prescribed to the median PTV at a dose of 30 × 2 Gy; 12C boost is applied to the prostate (GTV) at a dose of 6 × 3 GyE using raster scan technique. Safety margins added to the clinical target volume were determined individually for each patient based on five independent planning computed tomography (CT)-scans. Acute gastrointestinal (GI) and genitourinary (GU) toxicity was assessed and documented according to the CTCAE Version 3.0. Results. Radiotherapy was very well tolerated without any grade 3 or higher toxicity. Acute anal bleeding grade 2 was observed in 2/14 patients. Rectal tenesmus grade 1 was reported by three other patients. No further GI symptoms have been observed. Most common acute symptoms during radiotherapy were nocturia and dysuria CTC grade 1 and 2 (12/14). There was no severe acute GU toxicity. Conclusion. The combination of photon IMRT and carbon ion boost is feasible in patients with intermediate-risk PC. So far, the treatment has been well tolerated. Acute toxicity rates were in good accordance with data reported for high dose IMRT alone.

Modeling Intracranial Second Tumor Risk and Estimates of Clinical Toxicity with Various Radiation Therapy Techniques for Patients with Pituitary Adenoma

This study was designed to estimate the risk of radiation-associated tumors and clinical toxicity in the brain following fractionated radiation treatment of pituitary adenoma. A standard case of a patient with a pituitary adenoma was planned using 8 different dosimetric techniques. Total dose was 50.4 Gy (GyE) at daily fractionation of 1.8 Gy (GyE). All methods utilized the same CT simulation scan with designated target and normal tissue volumes. The excess risk of radiation-associated second tumors in the brain was calculated using the corresponding dose-volume histograms for the whole brain and based on the data published by the United Nation Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR) and a risk model proposed by Schneider. The excess number of second tumor cases per 10,000 patients per year following radiation is 9.8 for 2-field photons, 18.4 with 3-field photons, 20.4 with photon intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT), and 25 with photon stereotactic radiotherapy (SRT). Proton radiation resulted in the following excess second tumor risks: 2-field 5 5.1, 3-field 5 12, 4-field 5 15, 5-field 5 16. Temporal lobe toxicity was highest for the 2-field photon plan. Proton radiation therapy achieves the best therapeutic ratio when evaluating plans for the treatment of pituitary adenoma. Temporal lobe toxicity can be reduced through the use of multiple fields but is achieved at the expense of exposing a larger volume of normal brain to radiation. Limiting the irradiated volume of normal brain by reducing the number of treatment fields is desirable to minimize excess risk of radiation-associated second tumors.

On the Benefits and Risks of Proton Therapy in Pediatric Craniopharyngioma

Craniopharyngioma is a pediatric brain tumor whose volume is prone to change during radiation therapy. We compared photon- and proton-based irradiation methods to determine the effect of tumor volume change on target coverage and normal tissue irradiation in these patients. For this retrospective study, we acquired imaging and treatment-planning data from 14 children with craniopharyngioma (mean age, 5.1 years) irradiated with photons (54 Gy) and monitored by weekly magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examinations during radiation therapy. Photon intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT), double-scatter proton (DSP) therapy, and intensity-modulated proton therapy (IMPT) plans were created for each patient based on his or her pre-irradiation MRI. Target volumes were contoured on each weekly MRI scan for adaptive modeling. The measured differences in conformity index (CI) and normal tissue doses, including functional sub-volumes of the brain, were compared across the planning methods, as was target coverage based on changes in target volumes during treatment. CI and normal tissue dose values of IMPT plans were significantly better than those of the IMRT and DSP plans (p < 0.01). Although IMRT plans had a higher CI and lower optic nerve doses (p < 0.01) than did DSP plans, DSP plans had lower cochlear, optic chiasm, brain, and scanned body doses (p < 0.01). The mean planning target volume (PTV) at baseline was 54.8 cm(3), and the mean increase in PTV was 11.3% over the course of treatment. The dose to 95% of the PTV was correlated with a change in the PTV; the R(2) values for all models, 0.73 (IMRT), 0.38 (DSP), and 0.62 (IMPT), were significant (p < 0.01). Compared with photon IMRT, proton therapy has the potential to significantly reduce whole-brain and -body irradiation in pediatric patients with craniopharyngioma. IMPT is the most conformal method and spares the most normal tissue; however, it is highly sensitive to target volume changes, whereas the DSP method is not.

Intensity-Modulated Proton Therapy Further Reduces Normal Tissue Exposure During Definitive Therapy for Locally Advanced Distal Esophageal Tumors: A Dosimetric Study

We have previously found that ≤ 75% of treatment failures after chemoradiotherapy for unresectable esophageal cancer appear within the gross tumor volume and that intensity-modulated (photon) radiotherapy (IMRT) might allow dose escalation to the tumor without increasing normal tissue toxicity. Proton therapy might allow additional dose escalation, with even lower normal tissue toxicity. In the present study, we compared the dosimetric parameters for photon IMRT with that for intensity-modulated proton therapy (IMPT) for unresectable, locally advanced, distal esophageal cancer. Four plans were created for each of 10 patients. IMPT was delivered using anteroposterior (AP)/posteroanterior beams, left posterior oblique/right posterior oblique (LPO/RPO) beams, or AP/LPO/RPO beams. IMRT was delivered with a concomitant boost to the gross tumor volume. The dose was 65.8 Gy to the gross tumor volume and 50.4 Gy to the planning target volume in 28 fractions. Relative to IMRT, the IMPT (AP/posteroanterior) plan led to considerable reductions in the mean lung dose (3.18 vs. 8.27 Gy, p<.0001) and the percentage of lung volume receiving 5, 10, and 20 Gy (p≤.0006) but did not reduce the cardiac dose. The IMPT LPO/RPO plan also reduced the mean lung dose (4.9 Gy vs. 8.2 Gy, p<.001), the heart dose (mean cardiac dose and percentage of the cardiac volume receiving 10, 20, and 30 Gy, p≤.02), and the liver dose (mean hepatic dose 5 Gy vs. 14.9 Gy, p<.0001). The IMPT AP/LPO/RPO plan led to considerable reductions in the dose to the lung (p≤.005), heart (p≤.003), and liver (p≤.04). Compared with IMRT, IMPT for distal esophageal cancer lowered the dose to the heart, lung, and liver. The AP/LPO/RPO beam arrangement was optimal for sparing all three organs. The dosimetric benefits of protons will need to be tailored to each patient according to their specific cardiac and pulmonary risks. IMPT for esophageal cancer will soon be investigated further in a prospective trial at our institution.

Assessment of Early Toxicity and Response in Patients Treated With Proton and Carbon Ion Therapy at the Heidelberg Ion Therapy Center Using the Raster Scanning Technique

PUROPOSE: To asses early toxicity and response in 118 patients treated with scanned ion beams to validate the safety of intensity-controlled raster scanning at the Heidelberg Ion Therapy Center. Between November 2009 and June 2010, we treated 118 patients with proton and carbon ion radiotherapy (RT) using active beam delivery. The main indications included skull base chordomas and chondrosarcomas, salivary gland tumors, and gliomas. We evaluated early toxicity within 6 weeks after RT and the initial clinical and radiologic response for quality assurance in our new facility. In all 118 patients, few side effects were observed, in particular, no high numbers of severe acute toxicity were found. In general, the patients treated with particle therapy alone showed only a few single side effects, mainly Radiation Therapy Oncology Group/Common Terminology Criteria grade 1. The most frequent side effects and cumulative incidence of single side effects were observed in the head-and-neck patients treated with particle therapy as a boost and photon intensity-modulated RT. The toxicities included common radiation-attributed reactions known from photon RT, including mucositis, dysphagia, and skin erythema. The most predominant imaging responses were observed in patients with high-grade gliomas and those with salivary gland tumors. For skull base tumors, imaging showed a stable tumor outline in most patients. Thirteen patients showed improvement of pre-existing clinical symptoms. Side effects related to particle treatment were rare, and the overall tolerability of the treatment was shown. The initial response was promising. The data have confirmed the safe delivery of carbon ions and protons at the newly opened Heidelberg facility.

Zero-bias operation of polycrystalline chemically vapour deposited diamond films for Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy

A detailed investigation of the performance as a dosimeter of state-of-art polycrystalline CVD (pCVD) diamond detectors operated in photovoltaic regime for applications in clinical radiotherapy has been carried out with conventional 6–10–18 MV X-photons, as well as with a 10 MV photon Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT) beam from a linear accelerator. Our results show that the performances of a pCVD diamond dosimeter improves dramatically when operated in null-bias conditions. Main improvements with respect to operation with an external voltage applied are: a reduced pre-irradiation dose; an excellent time stability, characterised by standard deviations less than 0.5%; a rise-time comparable to that of commercial reference dosimeters; a linearity with dose proven over three decades; a reduced deviation from linearity of the current vs. dose–rate curve, output factors comparable to that of commercial reference dosimeters. These results represent a significant step towards clinical applications as IMRT with synthetic polycrystalline CVD diamond films.

Long-Term Outcomes of Patients With Spinal Cord Gliomas Treated by Modern Conformal Radiation Techniques

This study retrospectively examines the long-term therapeutic outcomes of 32 patients with primary spinal cord gliomas at Massachusetts General Hospital between 1991 and 2005 treated by either photon intensity-modulated radiotherapy or conformal proton radiotherapy. Individual patient tumor types included 14 ependymomas, 17 astrocytomas, and one oligodendroglioma. Twenty-two patients were treated with photon beam radiation therapy, and 10 patients were treated with proton beam therapy. The overall survival and time to progression were analyzed. Average radiation dose for patients was 51 Gy in 1.8 median daily fractions over 29 treatments. For all 32 patients, the overall 5-year survival was 65% and the progression-free survival was 61%, respectively. Overall survival was significantly worse for patients more than 55 years of age (p=0.02). Ependymoma patients had significantly longer survival times than astrocytoma patients (p=0.05). Patients who had undergone a biopsy developed worse outcomes then those with a resection (p=0.05). With the caveat of a limited number of patients, the multivariate model seems to suggest improved overall survival for younger patients (<54 years of age), ependymoma histology, and photon vs. proton treatment. For patients with spinal cord gliomas, significant factors associated with patient outcome include tumor pathology, age, extent of surgery, and treatment.

Second Tumor Risk and Projected Late Effects after Proton vs. Intensity Modulated Photon Radiotherapy for Benign Meningioma: A Dosimetric Comparison

Materials/Methods: Eight patients with benign intracranial meningioma treated at Massachusetts General Hospital from 20062008 with PRT (3-field) were re-planned with IMRT (5 to 7-field), with optimization of dose to the tumor while sparing OARs. The same simulation CT scan with contoured target and normal tissue volumes were used for PRT and IMRT planning for each patient. Total dose was 54 Gy (RBE) in 1.8 Gy (RBE)/fraction for all treatment plans. Equivalent uniform doses (EUDs) were calculated. Excess risk of radiation-induced intracranial second tumors was calculated using dose-volume histograms for the whole brain and based on United Nation Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR) data and a risk model proposed by Schneider. Other projected late effects were calculated based on validated normal tissue complication probability (NTCP) models for relevant OARs.

SU‐GG‐T‐389: Mixed Electron and Photon Beams Modulated by the XMLC for Partial Breast Irradiation

Purpose: To present a modulated radiation therapy technique as a more accurate alternative to current approaches for the planning of partial breast irradiation (PBI). This technique is based on the use of modulated electron beams alone or in combination with intensity modulated photon radiation therapy (MERT+IMRT), delivered with the same collimation device (xMLC). Method and Materials: A Monte Carlo treatment planning system based on BEAMnrc/DOSXYZnrc code, named CARMEN, was developed by our group. A Linear Programming (LP) optimization procedure calculates the weight for each beamlet generated from phase space data below the jaws. An algorithm to reduce beamlets and voxels was developed to make possible the LP formulation and to solve the problem in operative times. A specific sequencer capable to consider electron and photon beams was also developed by taking into account previous full MC simulations of the xMLC. Four PBI cases were planned with CARMEN following the recommendations from the RTOG‐0413/ NSABP‐B39 trial protocol for 3D‐CRT PBI. Two cases were planned by MERT alone and the other two by MERT+IMRT as a function of PTV position in depth. Results: More than 90% of PTV volume received 90% of prescribed dose with a maximum dose ≤ 110%. A reduced dose to ipsilateral breast, lung and heart, was also achieved, especially in the low‐dose range. The addition of IMRT to MERT improved PTV coverage in depth diminishing overdosed superficial areas. MERT and MERT+IMRT solutions improved PTV homogeneity compared with the other techniques evaluated and in most of the cases reduced dose to normal tissues. Conclusions: An improved PBI plan was obtained with MERT+IMRT solution compared with 3D‐CRT and brachytherapy techniques. The accuracy of this technique by means of the xMLC opens the chance to implement the accelerated partial breast irradiation in the clinical practice.