Comparing different NTCP models that predict the incidence of radiation pneumonitis. Normal tissue complication probability

High dose-per-fraction irradiation of limited lung volumes using an image-guided, highly focused irradiator: simulating stereotactic body radiotherapy regimens in a small-animal model

PURPOSE

To investigate the underlying biology associated with stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT), both in vivo models and image-guided, highly focal irradiation systems are necessary. Here, we describe such an irradiation system and use it to examine normal tissue toxicity in a small-animal model at lung volumes similar to those associated with human therapy.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

High-dose radiation was delivered to a small volume of the left lung of C3H/HeJCr mice using a small-animal stereotactic irradiator. The irradiator has a collimation mechanism to produce focal radiation beams, an imaging subsystem consisting of a fluorescent screen coupled to a charge-coupled device camera, and a manual positioning stage. Histopathologic examination and micro-CT were used to evaluate the radiation response.

RESULTS

Focal obliteration of the alveoli by fibrous connective tissue, hyperplasia of the bronchiolar epithelium, and presence of a small number of inflammatory cells are the main reactions to low-volume/high-dose irradiation of the mouse lung. The tissue response suggested a radiation dose threshold for early phase fibrosis lying between 40 and 100 Gy. The irradiation system satisfied our requirements of high-dose-rate, small beam diameter, and precise localization and verification.

CONCLUSIONS

We have established an experimental model and image-guided animal irradiation system for the study of high dose per fraction irradiations such as those used with SBRT at volumes analogous to those used in human beings. It will also allow the targeting of specific anatomical structures of the thorax or ultimately, orthotopic tumors of the lung.

Dose-response relationship for radiation-induced pneumonitis after pulmonary stereotactic body radiotherapy

PURPOSE

To evaluate dosimetric factors predictive for radiation-induced pneumonitis (RP) after pulmonary stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A retrospective analysis was performed based on 59 consecutive patients treated with cone-beam CT-based image-guided SBRT for primary NSCLC (n=21) or pulmonary metastases (n=54). The majority of patients were treated with radiosurgery of 26 Gy to 80% (n=29) or three fractions of 12.5 Gy to 65% (n=40). To correct for different single fraction doses, local doses were converted to 2 Gy equivalent normalized total doses (NTDs) using α/β ratio of 3 Gy for RP. Dose-volume parameters and incidences of RP ≥ grade II SWOG were fitted using NTCP models.

RESULTS

Eleven patients developed RP grade II. With an average MLD of 10.3±5.6 Gy to the ipsilateral lung, a significant dose-response relationship was observed: the MLD was 12.5±4.3 Gy and 9.9±5.8 Gy for patients with and without development of RP, respectively. Additionally, volumes of the lung exposed to minimum doses between 2.5 and 50 Gy (V(2.5)-V(50)) were correlated with incidences of RP with a continuous decrease of the goodness of fit for higher doses.

CONCLUSIONS

The MLD and V(2.5)-V(50) of the ipsilateral lung were correlated with incidences of RP after pulmonary SBRT.

Spanish radiobiological pattern of care in lung cancer: a GOECP/SEOR study

INTRODUCTION

A survey regarding radiobiological questions in the treatment of lung cancer (LC) was done to study the clinical aspects of radiotherapy in Spain, in order to standardise treatment decisions.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

From November 2007 to March 2008, a survey was performed among radiation oncologists in Spain specialising in LC treatment via e-mail, which included questions regarding different radiobiological aspects of radiotherapy LC treatment. The extent of the resulting material made it necessary to divide it into two parts; the first is presented in this article. The second, which includes items about alpha/beta-NTCP/TCP values and reirradiation criteria, will be reported elsewhere.

RESULTS

Thirty-one radiation therapists from 29 radiation oncology departments answered the survey. 77.4-93.5% of responders used the basic formula from the linear-quadratic model and/or computer software for radiobiological calculations; 100% used lung (mostly V20, median <30%) and spinal cord constraints (mostly a median of physical maximum dose <45.5 Gy); and 90.3% used heart and oesophagus constraints (very heterogeneous parameters in both organs).

CONCLUSIONS

Radiobiological considerations are clearly present in the planning process of radiotherapy of LC in Spain, with a high coincidence with the literature regarding lung and spinal cord constraints. The heterogeneity shown for oesophagus and heart results demonstrates the need for continuing investigation into the standardisation of clinical, dosimetric and radiobiologic aspects of the treatment of this cancer.

Respiratory organ motion and dosimetric impact on breast and nodal irradiation

PURPOSE

To examine the respiratory motion for target and normal structures during whole breast and nodal irradiation and the resulting dosimetric impact.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

Four-dimensional CT data sets of 18 patients with early-stage breast cancer were analyzed retrospectively. A three-dimensional conformal dosimetric plan designed to irradiate the breast was generated on the basis of CT images at 20% respiratory phase (reference phase). The reference plans were copied to other respiratory phases at 0% (end of inspiration) and 50% (end of expiration) to simulate the effects of breathing motion on whole breast irradiation. Dose-volume histograms, equivalent uniform dose, and normal tissue complication probability were evaluated and compared.

RESULTS

Organ motion of up to 8.8mm was observed during free breathing. A large lung centroid movement was typically associated with a large shift of other organs. The variation of planning target volume coverage during a free breathing cycle is generally within 1%-5% (17 of 18 patients) compared with the reference plan. However, up to 28% of V(45) variation for the internal mammary nodes was observed. Interphase mean dose variations of 2.2%, 1.2%, and 1.4% were observed for planning target volume, ipsilateral lung, and heart, respectively. Dose variations for the axillary nodes and brachial plexus were minimal.

CONCLUSIONS

The doses delivered to the target and normal structures are different from the planned dose based on the reference phase. During normal breathing, the dosimetric impact of respiratory motion is clinically insignificant with the exception of internal mammary nodes. However, noticeable degradation in dosimetric plan quality may be expected for the patients with large respiratory motion.

4DCT-based measurement of changes in pulmonary function following a course of radiation therapy

PURPOSE

Radiation therapy (RT) for lung cancer is commonly limited to subtherapeutic doses due to unintended toxicity to normal lung tissue. Reducing the frequency of occurrence and magnitude of normal lung function loss may benefit from treatment plans that incorporate the regional lung and radiation dose information. In this article, the authors propose a method that quantitatively measures the regional changes in lung tissue function following a course of radiation therapy by using 4DCT and image registration techniques.

METHODS

4DCT data sets before and after RT from two subjects are used in this study. Nonlinear 3D image registration is applied to register an image acquired near end inspiration to an image acquired near end expiration to estimate the pulmonary function. The Jacobian of the image registration transformation, indicating local lung expansion or contraction, serves as an index of regional pulmonary function. Approximately 120 annotated vascular bifurcation points are used as landmarks to evaluate registration accuracy. The authors compare regional pulmonary function before and after RT to the planned radiation dose at different locations of the lung.

RESULTS

In all registration pairs, the average landmark distances after registration are on the order of 1 mm. The pulmonary function change as indicated by the Jacobian change ranges from -0.15 to 0.1 in the contralateral lung and -0.22 to 0.23 in the ipsilateral lung for subject A, and ranges from -0.4 to 0.39 in the contralateral lung and -0.25 to 0.5 in the ipsilateral lung for subject B. Both of the subjects show larger range of the increase in the pulmonary function in the ipsilateral lung than the contralateral lung. For lung tissue regions receiving a radiation dose larger than 24 Gy, a decrease in pulmonary function was observed. For regions receiving a radiation dose smaller than 24 Gy, either an increase or a decrease in pulmonary function was observed. The relationship between the pulmonary function change and the radiation dose varies at different locations.

CONCLUSIONS

With the use of 4DCT and image registration techniques, the pulmonary function prior to and following a course of radiation therapy can be measured. In the preliminary application of this approach for two subjects, changes in pulmonary function were observed with a weak correlation between the dose and pulmonary function change. In certain sections of the lung, detected locally compromised pulmonary function may have resulted from radiation injury.

Active Breathing Coordinator in Adjuvant Three-Dimensional Conformal Radiotherapy of Early Stage Breast Cancer: A Feasibility Study

Aims

To investigate the technical feasibility of utilizing the Active Breathing Coordinator for planning of postoperative three-dimensional conformal radiation therapy in patients with early stage breast cancer undergoing breast conservation therapy.

Methods

Patients with early stage breast cancer for whom adjuvant radiotherapy after breast-conserving surgery was planned were consecutively enrolled. Five sessions of simulation with the Active Breathing Coordinator were planned for each patient. Computed tomography for simulation was not acquired until a good level of compliance with the procedure was achieved by the patient. Patients who did not show a satisfactory level of compliance after the planned fifth session were defined as noncom-pliant. Two simulation computed tomography scans were acquired: the first without the Active Breathing Coordinator during free breathing, the second with the Active Breathing Coordinator. Forward intensity-modulated treatment plans were calculated. Mean lung dose (MLDipsilateral) and V30 (V30lung) for the ipsilateral lung and V30 for the heart (V30heart), were evaluated.

Results

Twenty consecutive patients were enrolled (6 with left-sided breast cancer and 14 with right-sided breast cancer). Eighteen of the patients completed the simulation computed tomography with the Active Breathing Coordinator after 1–5 sessions (median, 3). In 16 of the 18 patients, a reduction of V30lung was observed with the Active Breathing Coordinator. In 15 of the 18 patients, a reduction of MLDipsilateral was also observed. In 5 of the 6 patients with left-sided breast cancer, a reduction of V30heart was noted.

Conclusions

Routine application of the Active Breathing Coordinator in clinical practice is feasible, even though it requires an increased workload. Dosimetric results are encouraging in terms of a better sparing of the ipsilateral lung and the heart.

Continuous hyperfractionated accelerated radiotherapy (CHART) and non-conventionally fractionated radiotherapy in the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer: a review and consideration of future directions

There is a well-established role for radiation treatment in the management of non-small cell lung cancer. As a single modality, it is indicated as a radical treatment option for patients deemed unsuitable for chemotherapy with inoperable locoregional disease or who decline surgery. In this patient group, the evidence shows advantages for accelerated treatment regimes, e.g. continuous hyperfractionated accelerated radiotherapy (CHART). Research efforts should be directed towards dose escalation with the application of the new technologies available. The multi-modality approach of chemoradiotherapy is established in the radical treatment of non-small cell lung cancer in those who are inoperable, radically treatable and fit enough to receive chemotherapy. How best these two modalities are combined remains unclear, and the combination of CHART and other non-conventionally fractionated radiotherapy schedules with chemotherapy and targeted agents is another potentially productive research area.

Radiation dose-volume effects in the lung

The three-dimensional dose, volume, and outcome data for lung are reviewed in detail. The rate of symptomatic pneumonitis is related to many dosimetric parameters, and there are no evident threshold "tolerance dose-volume" levels. There are strong volume and fractionation effects.

Conformal locoregional breast irradiation with an oblique parasternal photon field technique

We evaluated an isocentric technique for conformal irradiation of the breast, internal mammary, and medial supra-clavicular lymph nodes (IM-MS LN) using the oblique parasternal photon (OPP) technique. For 20 breast cancer patients, the OPP technique was compared with a conventional mixed-beam technique (2D) and a conformal partly wide tangential (PWT) technique, using dose-volume histogram analysis and normal tissue complication probabilities (NTCPs). The 3D techniques resulted in a better target coverage and homogeneity than did the 2D technique. The homogeneity index for the IM-MS PTV increased from 0.57 for 2D to 0.90 for PWT and 0.91 for OPP (both p < 0.001). The OPP technique was able to reduce the volume of heart receiving more than 30 Gy (V(30)), the cardiac NTCP, and the volume of contralateral breast receiving 5 Gy (V(5)) compared with the PWT plans (all p < 0.05). There is no significant difference in mean lung dose or lung NTCP between both 3D techniques. Compared with the PWT technique, the volume of lung receiving more than 20 Gy (V(20)) was increased with the OPP technique, whereas the volume of lung receiving more than 40 Gy (V(40)) was decreased (both p < 0.05). Compared with the PWT technique, the OPP technique can reduce doses to the contralateral breast and heart at the expense of an increased lung V(20).

Incidence and correlates of radiation pneumonitis in pediatric patients with partial lung irradiation

PURPOSE

To provide a radiation pneumonitis risk estimate and investigate the correlation of clinical and dosimetric factors in pediatric patients receiving chest irradiation.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

A total of 122 patients diagnosed with sarcoma or Hodgkin lymphoma who received radiotherapy to the chest were evaluated for symptomatic radiation pneumonitis (Common Toxicity Criteria Grade 1 with respiratory symptom or higher grade). Pneumonitis data were collected from either prospective toxicity screenings as part of a clinical trial or through chart review. Dosimetric parameters including V(10)-V(25), mean lung dose, binned lung dose, and tissue complication probability models were used, as well as clinical features to correlate with the development of pneumonitis.

RESULTS

The 1- and 2-year cumulative incidence of symptomatic radiation pneumonitis for all patients was 8.2% and 9.1%, respectively. Nine patients experienced symptomatic Grade 1 toxicity, and 2 experienced Grade 2. From univariate analysis, chemotherapy containing bleomycin (chi(2) test, p = 0.027) and V(24) (logistic regression, p = 0.019) were the clinical and dosimetric factors that resulted in statistically significant differences in the occurrence of pneumonitis. The probability of pneumonitis increased more dramatically with increasing V(24) in patients receiving bleomycin than in those who did not. Adult tissue complication models did not differentiate pediatric patients with radiation pneumonitis from those without.

CONCLUSIONS

The incidence of symptomatic radiation pneumonitis in pediatric patients is low and its severity mild. Parameters frequently used in adult radiation oncology provide some guidance as to risk, but pediatric patients warrant their own specific models for risk assessment, incorporating dosimetry and clinical factors.

A methodology for selecting the beam arrangement to reduce the intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) dose to the SPECT-defined functioning lung

Macroaggregated albumin single-photon emission computed tomography (MAA-SPECT) provides a map of the spatial distribution of lung perfusion. Our previous work developed a methodology to use SPECT guidance to reduce the dose to the functional lung in IMRT planning. This study aims to investigate the role of beam arrangement on both low and high doses in the functional lung. In our previous work, nine-beam IMRT plans were generated with and without SPECT guidance and compared for five patients. For the current study, the dose-function histogram (DFH) contribution for each of the nine beams for each patient was calculated. Four beams were chosen based on orientation and DFH contributions to create a SPECT-guided plan that spared the functional lung and maintained target coverage. Four-beam SPECT-guided IMRT plans reduced the F(20) and F(30) values by (16.5 +/- 6.8)% and (6.1 +/- 9.2)%, respectively, when compared to nine-beam conventional IMRT plans. Moreover, the SPECT-4F Plan reduces F(5) and F(13) for all patients by (11.0 +/- 8.2)% and (6.1 +/- 3.6)%, respectively, compared to the SPECT Plan. Using fewer beams in IMRT planning may reduce the amount of functional lung that receives 5 and 13 Gy, a factor that has recently been associated with radiation pneumonitis.

A comparison of dose-response models for the parotid gland in a large group of head-and-neck cancer patients

PURPOSE

The dose-response relationship of the parotid gland has been described most frequently using the Lyman-Kutcher-Burman model. However, various other normal tissue complication probability (NTCP) models exist. We evaluated in a large group of patients the value of six NTCP models that describe the parotid gland dose response 1 year after radiotherapy.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

A total of 347 patients with head-and-neck tumors were included in this prospective parotid gland dose-response study. The patients were treated with either conventional radiotherapy or intensity-modulated radiotherapy. Dose-volume histograms for the parotid glands were derived from three-dimensional dose calculations using computed tomography scans. Stimulated salivary flow rates were measured before and 1 year after radiotherapy. A threshold of 25% of the pretreatment flow rate was used to define a complication. The evaluated models included the Lyman-Kutcher-Burman model, the mean dose model, the relative seriality model, the critical volume model, the parallel functional subunit model, and the dose-threshold model. The goodness of fit (GOF) was determined by the deviance and a Monte Carlo hypothesis test. Ranking of the models was based on Akaike's information criterion (AIC).

RESULTS

None of the models was rejected based on the evaluation of the GOF. The mean dose model was ranked as the best model based on the AIC. The TD(50) in these models was approximately 39 Gy.

CONCLUSIONS

The mean dose model was preferred for describing the dose-response relationship of the parotid gland.

The significance of the choice of radiobiological (NTCP) models in treatment plan objective functions

A Clinician's discrimination between radiation therapy treatment plans is traditionally a subjective process, based on experience and existing protocols. A more objective and quantitative approach to distinguish between treatment plans is to use radiobiological or dosimetric objective functions, based on radiobiological or dosimetric models. The efficacy of models is not well understood, nor is the correlation of the rank of plans resulting from the use of models compared to the traditional subjective approach. One such radiobiological model is the Normal Tissue Complication Probability (NTCP). Dosimetric models or indicators are more accepted in clinical practice. In this study, three radiobiological models, Lyman NTCP, critical volume NTCP and relative seriality NTCP, and three dosimetric models, Mean Lung Dose (MLD) and the Lung volumes irradiated at 10Gy (V10) and 20Gy (V20), were used to rank a series of treatment plans using, harm to normal (Lung) tissue as the objective criterion. None of the models considered in this study showed consistent correlation with the Radiation Oncologists plan ranking. If radiobiological or dosimetric models are to be used in objective functions for lung treatments, based on this study it is recommended that the Lyman NTCP model be used because it will provide most consistency with traditional clinician ranking.

Analysis of outcomes in radiation oncology: an integrated computational platform

Radiotherapy research and outcome analyses are essential for evaluating new methods of radiation delivery and for assessing the benefits of a given technology on locoregional control and overall survival. In this article, a computational platform is presented to facilitate radiotherapy research and outcome studies in radiation oncology. This computational platform consists of (1) an infrastructural database that stores patient diagnosis, IMRT treatment details, and follow-up information, (2) an interface tool that is used to import and export IMRT plans in DICOM RT and AAPM/RTOG formats from a wide range of planning systems to facilitate reproducible research, (3) a graphical data analysis and programming tool that visualizes all aspects of an IMRT plan including dose, contour, and image data to aid the analysis of treatment plans, and (4) a software package that calculates radiobiological models to evaluate IMRT treatment plans. Given the limited number of general-purpose computational environments for radiotherapy research and outcome studies, this computational platform represents a powerful and convenient tool that is well suited for analyzing dose distributions biologically and correlating them with the delivered radiation dose distributions and other patient-related clinical factors. In addition the database is web-based and accessible by multiple users, facilitating its convenient application and use.

Impact of fraction size on lung radiation toxicity: hypofractionation may be beneficial in dose escalation of radiotherapy for lung cancers

PURPOSE

To assess how fraction size impacts lung radiation toxicity and therapeutic ratio in treatment of lung cancers.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

The relative damaged volume (RDV) of lung was used as the endpoint in the comparison of various fractionation schemes with the same normalized total dose (NTD) to the tumor. The RDV was computed from the biologically corrected lung dose-volume histogram (DVH), with an alpha/beta ratio of 3 and 10 for lung and tumor, respectively. Two different (linear and S-shaped) local dose-effect models that incorporated the concept of a threshold dose effect with a single parameter D(L50) (dose at 50% local dose effect) were used to convert the DVH into the RDV. The comparison was conducted using four representative DVHs at different NTD and D(L50) values.

RESULTS

The RDV decreased with increasing dose/fraction when the NTD was larger than a critical dose (D(CR)) and increased when the NTD was less than D(CR). The D(CR) was 32-50 Gy and 58-87 Gy for a small tumor (11 cm(3)) for the linear and S-shaped local dose-effect models, respectively, when D(L50) was 20-30 Gy. The D(CR) was 66-97 Gy and 66-99 Gy, respectively, for a large tumor (266 cm(3)). Hypofractionation was preferred for small tumors and higher NTDs, and conventional fractionation was better for large tumors and lower NTDs. Hypofractionation might be beneficial for intermediate-sized tumors when NTD = 80-90 Gy, especially if the D(L50) is small (20 Gy).

CONCLUSION

This computational study demonstrated that hypofractionated stereotactic body radiotherapy is a better regimen than conventional fractionation in lung cancer patients with small tumors and high doses, because it generates lower RDV when the tumor NTD is kept unchanged.

A comparison of volumetric modulated arc therapy and conventional intensity-modulated radiotherapy for frontal and temporal high-grade gliomas

PURPOSE

Volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT), the predecessor to Varian's RapidArc, is a novel extension of intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) wherein the dose is delivered in a single gantry rotation while the multileaf collimator leaves are in motion. Leaf positions and the weights of field samples along the arc are directly optimized, and a variable dose rate is used. This planning study compared seven-field coplanar IMRT (cIMRT) with VMAT for high-grade gliomas that had planning target volumes (PTVs) overlapping organs at risk (OARs).

METHODS AND MATERIALS

10 previously treated patients were replanned to 60 Gy in 30 fractions with cIMRT and VMAT using the following planning objectives: 98% of PTV covered by 95% isodose without violating OAR and hotspot dose constraints. Mean OAR doses were maximally decreased without reducing PTV coverage or violating hotspot constraints. We compared dose-volume histogram data, monitor units, and treatment times.

RESULTS

There was equivalent PTV coverage, homogeneity, and conformality. VMAT significantly reduced maximum and mean retinal, lens, and contralateral optic nerve doses compared with IMRT (p < 0.05). Brainstem, chiasm, and ipsilateral optic nerve doses were similar. For 2-Gy fractions, mean monitor units were as follows: cIMRT = 789 +/- 112 and VMAT = 363 +/- 45 (relative reduction 54%, p = 0.002), and mean treatment times (min) were as follows: cIMRT = 5.1 +/- 0.4 and VMAT = 1.8 +/- 0.1 (relative reduction 65%, p = 0.002).

CONCLUSIONS

Compared with cIMRT, VMAT achieved equal or better PTV coverage and OAR sparing while using fewer monitor units and less time to treat high-grade gliomas.

Influence of technologic advances on outcomes in patients with unresectable, locally advanced non-small-cell lung cancer receiving concomitant chemoradiotherapy

PURPOSE

In 2004, our institution began using four-dimensional computed tomography (4DCT) simulation and then intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) (4DCT/IMRT) instead of three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3DCRT) for the standard treatment of non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). This retrospective study compares disease outcomes and toxicity in patients treated with concomitant chemotherapy and either 4DCT/IMRT or 3DCRT.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

A total of 496 NSCLC patients have been treated at M. D. Anderson Cancer Center between 1999 and 2006 with concomitant chemoradiotherapy. Among these, 318 were treated with CT/3DCRT and 91 with 4DCT/IMRT. Both groups received a median dose of 63 Gy. Disease end points were locoregional progression (LRP), distant metastasis (DM), and overall survival (OS). Disease covariates were gross tumor volume (GTV), nodal status, and histology. The toxicity end point was Grade >or=3 radiation pneumonitis; toxicity covariates were GTV, smoking status, and dosimetric factors. Data were analyzed using Cox proportional hazards models.

RESULTS

Mean follow-up times in the 4DCT/IMRT and CT/3DCRT groups were 1.3 (range, 0.1-3.2) and 2.1 (range, 0.1-7.9) years, respectively. The hazard ratios for 4DCT/IMRT were <1 for all disease end points; the difference was significant only for OS. The toxicity rate was significantly lower in the IMRT/4DCT group than in the CT/3DCRT group. V20 was significantly higher in the 3DCRT group and was a significant factor in determining toxicity. Freedom from DM was nearly identical in both groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Treatment with 4DCT/IMRT was at least as good as that with 3DCRT in terms of the rates of freedom from LRP and DM. There was a significant reduction in toxicity and a significant improvement in OS.

Dose distribution analysis in stereotactic body radiotherapy using dynamic conformal multiple arc therapy

PURPOSE

We have used dynamic conformal multiple arc therapy (DCMAT) for stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) since 2001. We investigated the consistency of DCMAT for SBRT using dose-volume histogram analysis.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

A total of 50 patients with peripheral lung tumors underwent SBRT. The median tumor diameter was 2.4 cm (range, 0.9-5.9). Treatment planning was performed using a superposition algorithm. The prescribed 50 Gy dose was divided into five fractions. The prescribed dose was defined as 80% of the maximal dose in the planning target volume (PTV), and the leaf margins were modified to ensure the PTV was included in the 80% isodose surface. The dose-volume histogram analysis was used to assess the PTV and normal lung volume.

RESULTS

The median dose covering 95% of the PTV was 50.27 Gy (range, 46.14-52.67), essentially consistent with the prescribed dose. The median homogeneity and conformity index was 1.41 (range, 1.31-1.53) and 1.73 (range, 1.41-2.21), respectively. The median volume of lung receiving > or =20 Gy (V(20)) was 4.2% (range, 1.4-10.2%). A linear correlation was found between the tumor diameter and V(20), and an even stronger correlation was found between the PTV/(normal lung volume) and V(20). The estimated V(20) was 7.1% (range, 3.9-10.4%) for a 5-cm-diameter tumor, assumed to be the maximal size limitation for SBRT.

CONCLUSION

SBRT with DCMAT achieved high conformity and delivered adequate doses within the PTV. The median dose covering 95% of the PTV was consistent with the prescribed dose. V(20) can be estimated using the tumor diameter and normal lung volume. DCMAT was thus both a feasible and a reproducible method of SBRT delivery.

Pulmonary toxicity following IMRT after extrapleural pneumonectomy for malignant pleural mesothelioma

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The combination of chemotherapy, surgery, and radiotherapy has improved the prognosis for patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM). Intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) has allowed for an increase in dose to the pleural cavity and a reduction in radiation doses to organs at risk. The present study reports and analyses the incidence of fatal pulmonary toxicity in patients treated at Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Twenty-six patients were treated with induction chemotherapy followed by extrapleural pneumonectomy and IMRT between April 2003 and April 2006. The entire preoperative pleural surface area was treated to 50 Gy and areas with residual disease or close surgical margins were treated to 60 Gy in 30 fractions.

RESULTS

The main toxicities were nausea, vomiting, esophagitis, dyspnea, and thrombocytopenia. One patient died from an intracranial hemorrhage during severe thrombocytopenia. Four patients (15%) experienced grade 5 lung toxicity, i.e. pneumonitis 19-40 days after the completion of radiotherapy. Patients with pneumonitis had a significantly larger lung volume fraction receiving 10 Gy or more (V10) (median: 60.3%, range 56.4-83.2%) compared to patients without pneumonitis (median: 52.6%, range: 25.6-80.3%) (p=0.02). Mean lung dose (MLD) was also significantly higher in patients who developed pneumonitis (median 13.9 Gy, range: 13.6-14.2 Gy) than in patients who did not (median=12.4 Gy, range: 8.4-15.4 Gy) (p=0.04).

CONCLUSIONS

Significant differences in MLD and V10 for patients with fatal pulmonary toxicity compared to patients without fatal lung toxicity have been demonstrated. Based on the presented data local lung dose constraints have been modified in order to avoid unacceptable toxicity.

Using fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography to assess tumor volume during radiotherapy for non-small-cell lung cancer and its potential impact on adaptive dose escalation and normal tissue sparing

PURPOSE

To quantify changes in fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG)-avid tumor volume on positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) during the course of radiation therapy and examine its potential use in adaptive radiotherapy for tumor dose escalation or normal tissue sparing in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

METHODS AND MATERIALS

As part of a pilot study, patients with Stage I-III NSCLC underwent FDG-PET/CT before radiotherapy (RT) and in mid-RT (after 40-50 Gy). Gross tumor volumes were contoured on CT and PET scans obtained before and during RT. Three-dimensional conformal RT plans were generated for each patient, first using only pretreatment CT scans. Mid-RT PET volumes were then used to design boost fields.

RESULTS

Fourteen patients with FDG-avid tumors were assessed. Two patients had a complete metabolic response, and 2 patients had slightly increased FDG uptake in the adjacent lung tissue. Mid-RT PET scans were useful in the 10 remaining patients. Mean decreases in CT and PET tumor volumes were 26% (range, +15% to -75%) and 44% (range, +10% to -100%), respectively. Designing boosts based on mid-RT PET allowed for a meaningful dose escalation of 30-102 Gy (mean, 58 Gy) or a reduction in normal tissue complication probability (NTCP) of 0.4-3% (mean, 2%) in 5 of 6 patients with smaller yet residual tumor volumes.

CONCLUSIONS

Tumor metabolic activity and volume can change significantly after 40-50 Gy of RT. Using mid-RT PET volumes, tumor dose can be significantly escalated or NTCP reduced. Clinical studies evaluating patient outcome after PET-based adaptive RT are ongoing.

Helical tomotherapy planning for left-sided breast cancer patients with positive lymph nodes: comparison to conventional multiport breast technique

PURPOSE

To evaluate the feasibility of using helical tomotherapy for locally advanced left-sided breast cancer.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

Treatment plans were generated for 10 left-sided breast cancer patients with positive lymph nodes comparing a multiport breast (three-dimensional) technique with the tomotherapy treatment planning system. The planning target volumes, including the chest wall/breast, supraclavicular, axillary, and internal mammary lymph nodes, were contoured. The treatment plans were generated on the tomotherapy treatment planning system to deliver 50.4 Gy to the planning target volume. To spare the contralateral tissues, directional blocking was applied to the right breast and right lung. The optimization goals were to protect the lungs, heart, and right breast.

RESULTS

The tomotherapy plans increased the minimal dose to the planning target volume (minimal dose received by 99% of target volume = 46.2 +/- 1.3 Gy vs. 27.9 +/- 17.1 Gy) while improving the dose homogeneity (dose difference between the minimal dose received by 5% and 95% of the planning target volume = 7.5 +/- 1.8 Gy vs. 37.5 +/- 26.9 Gy). The mean percentage of the left lung volume receiving >or=20 Gy in the tomotherapy plans decreased from 32.6% +/- 4.1% to 17.6% +/- 3.5%, while restricting the right-lung mean dose to <5 Gy. However, the mean percentage of volume receiving >or=5 Gy for the total lung increased from 25.2% +/- 4.2% for the three-dimensional technique to 46.9% +/- 8.4% for the tomotherapy plan. The mean volume receiving >or=35 Gy for the heart decreased from 5.6% +/- 4.8% to 2.2% +/- 1.5% in the tomotherapy plans. However, the mean heart dose for tomotherapy delivery increased from 7.5 +/- 3.4 Gy to 12.2 +/- 1.8 Gy.

CONCLUSION

The tomotherapy plans provided better dose conformity and homogeneity than did the three-dimensional plans for treatment of left-sided breast tumors with regional lymph node involvement, while allowing greater sparing of the heart and left lung from doses associated with increased complications.

Radiation therapy in the elderly: more side effects and complications?

Aging is associated with physiological changes and comorbid illnesses, which may affect an individual's tolerance to radiation. There is the belief that a relationship exists between age and radiation toxicity and therefore non-curative schemes are offered to older patients. Preclinical studies show that normal tissue radiation-induced toxicity differs little with age. In the clinical setting, retrospective and some prospective studies have reported that elderly patients treated with radical radiotherapy alone or in combination with chemotherapy, who do not have comorbidities and retain a good performance status, show a benefit in treatment outcomes. However, an increase in acute effects or a lowered functional tolerance has also been reported. To select candidates for radical treatments, a specific geriatric assessment should be used to stratify elderly patients as a function of the physiological status. Only specifically designed prospective studies can define the role of radiation treatment in elderly patients with different physiological status.

Combining multiple models to generate consensus: application to radiation-induced pneumonitis prediction

The fusion of predictions from disparate models has been used in several fields to obtain a more realistic and robust estimate of the "ground truth" by allowing the models to reinforce each other when consensus exists, or, conversely, negate each other when there is no consensus. Fusion has been shown to be most effective when the models have some complementary strengths arising from different approaches. In this work, we fuse the results from four common but methodologically different nonlinear multivariate models (Decision Trees, Neural Networks, Support Vector Machines, Self-Organizing Maps) that were trained to predict radiation-induced pneumonitis risk on a database of 219 lung cancer patients treated with radiotherapy (34 with Grade 2+ postradiotherapy pneumonitis). Each model independently incorporated a small number of features from the available set of dose and nondose patient variables to predict pneumonitis; no two models had all features in common. Fusion was achieved by simple averaging of the predictions for each patient from all four models. Since a model's prediction for a patient can be dependent on the patient training set used to build the model, the average of several different predictions from each model was used in the fusion (predictions were made by repeatedly testing each patient with a model built from different cross-validation training sets that excluded the patient being tested). The area under the receiver operating characteristics curve for the fused cross-validated results was 0.79, with lower variance than the individual component models. From the fusion, five features were extracted as the consensus among all four models in predicting radiation pneumonitis. Arranged in order of importance, the features are (1) chemotherapy; (2) equivalent uniform dose (EUD) for exponent a=1.2 to 3; (3) EUD for a=0.5 to 1.2, lung volume receiving >20-30 Gy; (4) female sex; and (5) squamous cell histology. To facilitate ease of interpretation and prospective use, the fused outcome results for the patients were fitted to a logistic probability function.

Incidence of radiation pneumonitis after hepatic intra-arterial radiotherapy with yttrium-90 microspheres assuming uniform lung distribution

OBJECTIVE

To assess the incidence of clinical and imaging radiation pneumonitis (RP) in a cohort of patients treated with >30 Gy cumulative lung dose (CLD) using Y90 microspheres.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Four hundred three patients were treated with Y90 microspheres during a 4-year period. Of these, 58 patients received >30 Gy CLD. Patients were followed for toxicities suggestive of imaging or clinical RP. Toxicities were graded using the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group/European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Late Radiation Morbidity Scoring Schema. Patients were also followed for survival from time of first treatment.

RESULTS

There were 44 men and 14 women. Forty-three patients had hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), whereas 15 had liver metastases. Mean and median follow-up were 7.3 and 6.0 months, respectively. Mean lung shunt fraction was slightly greater in the patients with HCC versus metastases (20% vs. 16.7%, P = 0.2308). The lifetime CLD for metastases and HCC groups were not statistically different (54.04 Gy vs. 48.44 Gy, P = 0.4303). Forty-three of 53 patients demonstrated no lung imaging findings suggestive of pneumonitis. Imaging findings in 10 patients included pleural effusions, atelectasis, and ground glass attenuation. There were no cases of clinical or imaging RP. Survival varied depending on stage as well as single and CLD. None of the patient deaths were attributed to respiratory compromise.

CONCLUSION

RP was not predicted using the currently used Y90 dosimetry models that assume uniform distribution in the lungs. Further investigation and dose escalation studies are required to more precisely define the radiation tolerance of lung parenchyma using this mode of therapy.

Analysis of radiation pneumonitis risk using a generalized Lyman model

PURPOSE

To introduce a version of the Lyman normal-tissue complication probability (NTCP) model adapted to incorporate censored time-to-toxicity data and clinical risk factors and to apply the generalized model to analysis of radiation pneumonitis (RP) risk.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

Medical records and radiation treatment plans were reviewed retrospectively for 576 patients with non-small cell lung cancer treated with radiotherapy. The time to severe (Grade >/=3) RP was computed, with event times censored at last follow-up for patients not experiencing this endpoint. The censored time-to-toxicity data were analyzed using the standard and generalized Lyman models with patient smoking status taken into account.

RESULTS

The generalized Lyman model with patient smoking status taken into account produced NTCP estimates up to 27 percentage points different from the model based on dose-volume factors alone. The generalized model also predicted that 8% of the expected cases of severe RP were unobserved because of censoring. The estimated volume parameter for lung was not significantly different from n = 1, corresponding to mean lung dose.

CONCLUSIONS

NTCP models historically have been based solely on dose-volume effects and binary (yes/no) toxicity data. Our results demonstrate that inclusion of nondosimetric risk factors and censored time-to-event data can markedly affect outcome predictions made using NTCP models.

Evaluation of multiple breathing states using a multiple instance geometry approximation (MIGA) in inverse-planned optimization for locoregional breast treatment

PURPOSE

Although previous work demonstrated superior dose distributions for left-sided breast cancer patients planned for intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) at deep inspiration breath hold compared with conventional techniques with free-breathing, such techniques are not always feasible to limit the impact of respiration on treatment delivery. This study assessed whether optimization based on multiple instance geometry approximation (MIGA) could derive an IMRT plan that is less sensitive to known respiratory motions.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

CT scans were acquired with an active breathing control device at multiple breath-hold states. Three inverse optimized plans were generated for eight left-sided breast cancer patients: one static IMRT plan optimized at end exhale, two (MIGA) plans based on a MIGA representation of normal breathing, and a MIGA representation of deep breathing, respectively. Breast and nodal targets were prescribed 52.2 Gy, and a simultaneous tumor bed boost was prescribed 60 Gy.

RESULTS

With normal breathing, doses to the targets, heart, and left anterior descending (LAD) artery were equivalent whether optimizing with MIGA or on a static data set. When simulating motion due to deep breathing, optimization with MIGA appears to yield superior tumor-bed coverage, decreased LAD mean dose, and maximum heart and LAD dose compared with optimization on a static representation.

CONCLUSIONS

For left-sided breast-cancer patients, inverse-based optimization accounting for motion due to normal breathing may be similar to optimization on a static data set. However, some patients may benefit from accounting for deep breathing with MIGA with improvements in tumor-bed coverage and dose to critical structures.

Intra and interfraction mediastinal nodal region motion: implications for internal target volume expansions

The purpose of this study was to determine the intra and interfraction motion of mediastinal lymph node regions. Ten patients with nonsmall-cell lung cancer underwent controlled inhale and exhale computed tomography (CT) scans during two sessions (40 total datasets) and mediastinal nodal stations 1-8 were outlined. Corresponding CT scans from different sessions were registered to remove setup error and, in this reference frame, the centroid of each nodal station was compared for right-left (RL), anterior-posterior (AP), and superior-inferior (SI) displacement. In addition, an anisotropic volume expansion encompassing the change of the nodal region margins in all directions was used. Intrafraction displacement was determined by comparing same session inhale-exhale scans. Interfraction reproducibility of nodal regions was determined by comparing the same respiratory phase scans between two sessions. Intrafraction displacement of centroid varied between nodal stations. All nodal regions moved posteriorly and superiorly with exhalation, and inferior nodal stations showed the most motion. Based on anisotropic expansion, nodal regions expanded mostly in the RL direction from inhale to exhale. The interpatient variations in intrafraction displacement were large compared with the displacements themselves. Moreover, there was substantial interfractional displacement ( approximately 5 mm). Mediastinal lymph node regions clearly move during breathing. In addition, deformation of nodal regions between inhale and exhale occurs. The degree of motion and deformation varies by station and by individual. This study indicates the potential advantage of characterizing individualized nodal region motion to safely maximize conformality of mediastinal nodal targets.

Treatment planning comparison between conformal radiotherapy and helical tomotherapy in the case of locally advanced-stage NSCLC

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

To investigate the impact of Helical Tomotherapy (HT) upon the dose distribution when compared to our routinely delivered 3D conformal radiotherapy (CRT) in the case of patients affected by stage III non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Thirteen stage III inoperable NSCLC patients were scheduled to receive 61.2-70.2Gy, 1.8Gy/fraction. Two treatment techniques (HT and CRT) were considered, and in the case of CRT the dose calculation was performed using both the pencil beam (PB) and Anisotropic Analytical Algorithm (AAA) available on the Varian Eclipse planning system. Dose volume constraints for PTV coverage and OAR sparing were assessed for the HT inverse planning with the highest priority upon PTV coverage and spinal cord sparing. The three plans were compared in terms of dose-volume histograms (DVHs) and normal tissue complication probability (NTCP). A statistical analysis was performed using non-parametric Wilcoxon matched pairs tests.

RESULTS

In CRT the use of a less accurate algorithm (PB) decreased the monitor unit number by 2.4%. HT significantly improved dose homogeneity within PTV compared with CRT_AAA. For lung parenchyma V20-V40 were lower with HT, corresponding to a decrease of 7% in the risk of radiation pneumonitis. The volume of the heart and esophagus irradiated to >45-60Gy were reduced using HT plans. For eight PTs with an esophagus-PTV overlap >5%, HT significantly reduced both late and acute esophageal complication probability.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings obtained in stage III NSCLC patients underline that HT guarantees an important sparing of lungs and esophagus, thus HT has the potential to improve therapeutic ratio, when compared with CRT, by means of dose escalation and/or combined treatment strategy. In CRT of locally advanced lung cancers, the use of a more advanced algorithm would give significantly better modeling of target dose and coverage.

Preoperative versus postoperative radiotherapy for locally advanced gastroesophageal junction and proximal gastric cancers: a comparison of normal tissue radiation doses

Locoregional relapse occurs in over half of gastric cancer patients who undergo potentially curative resection. Adjuvant chemoradiation reduces locoregional relapse, but often requires irradiating large fields and is limited by poor patient tolerance. This study explores the potential dosimetric benefit in reducing the radiation dose to normal structures by treating gastroesophageal (GE) junction/proximal gastric cancers with preoperative rather than adjuvant radiotherapy. Five cases of GE junction/proximal gastric cancer patients treated postoperatively with curative intent were selected. The actual target contours were then modified to reflect hypothetical target volumes which would have been used had the patients been treated preoperatively. Hypothetical preoperative treatment plans were generated for each patient based on these modified contours. The hypothetical preoperative treatment plans were then compared to the actual postoperative plans with respect to dose-volume parameters including lung mean dose, lung V20, heart V20 and V30, and mean doses to abdominal structures. Target volumes were smaller with preoperative treatment, with an average reduction of 23%. Comparative dose-volume histogram (DVH) analysis showed the resultant composite lung doses were reduced in the preoperative plans by 50-79%. In all patients, the proportion of lungs receiving at least 20 Gy (V20) was substantially reduced using preoperative treatment (1.9% vs. 9.7% in the 3-D conformal patient; mean of 3.1% vs. 17.6% in the intensity modulated radiation therapy patients). Likewise, the volume of heart receiving at least 30 Gy was dramatically reduced in all preoperative plans (15.8% vs. 35.4%). Doses to the kidneys, liver and spinal cord were comparable in both approaches. Preoperative treatment of GE junction and proximal gastric cancer patients offers the potential to decrease the radiation dose received by normal thoracic structures.

Comparison of different strategies to use four-dimensional computed tomography in treatment planning for lung cancer patients

PURPOSE

To discuss planning target volumes (PTVs) based on internal target volume (PTVITV), exhale-gated radiotherapy (PTVGating), and a new proposed midposition (PTVMidP; time-weighted mean tumor position) and compare them with the conventional free-breathing CT scan PTV (PTVConv).

METHODS AND MATERIALS

Respiratory motion induces systematic and random geometric uncertainties. Their contribution to the clinical target volume (CTV)-to-PTV margins differs for each PTV approach. The uncertainty margins were calculated using a dose-probability-based margin recipe (based on patient statistics). Tumor motion in four-dimensional CT scans was determined using a local rigid registration of the tumor. Geometric uncertainties for interfractional setup errors and tumor baseline variation were included. For PTVGating, the residual motion within a 30% gating (time) window was determined. The concepts were evaluated in terms of required CTV-to-PTV margin and PTV volume for 45 patients.

RESULTS

Over the patient group, the PTVITV was on average larger (+6%) and the PTVGating and PTVMidP smaller (-10%) than the PTVConv using an off-line (bony anatomy) setup correction protocol. With an on-line (soft tissue) protocol the differences in PTV compared with PTVConv were +33%, -4%, and 0, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

The internal target volume method resulted in a significantly larger PTV than conventional CT scanning. The exhale-gated and mid-position approaches were comparable in terms of PTV. However, mid-position (or mid-ventilation) is easier to use in the clinic because it only affects the planning part of treatment and not the delivery.

Volumetric modulated arc therapy for delivery of prostate radiotherapy: comparison with intensity-modulated radiotherapy and three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy

PURPOSE

Volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) is a novel form of intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) optimization that allows the radiation dose to be delivered in a single gantry rotation of up to 360 degrees , using either a constant dose rate (cdr-VMAT) or variable dose rate (vdr-VMAT) during rotation. The goal of this study was to compare VMAT prostate RT plans with three-dimensional conformal RT (3D-CRT) and IMRT plans.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The 3D-CRT, five-field IMRT, cdr-VMAT, and vdr-VMAT RT plans were created for 10 computed tomography data sets from patients undergoing RT for prostate cancer. The parameters evaluated included the doses to organs at risk, equivalent uniform doses, dose homogeneity and conformality, and monitor units required for delivery of a 2-Gy fraction.

RESULTS

The IMRT and both VMAT techniques resulted in lower doses to normal critical structures than 3D-CRT plans for nearly all dosimetric endpoints analyzed. The lowest doses to organs at risk and most favorable equivalent uniform doses were achieved with vdr-VMAT, which was significantly better than IMRT for the rectal and femoral head dosimetric endpoints (p < 0.05) and significantly better than cdr-VMAT for most bladder and rectal endpoints (p < 0.05). The vdr-VMAT and cdr-VMAT plans required fewer monitor units than did the IMRT plans (relative reduction of 42% and 38%, respectively; p = 0.005) but more than for the 3D-CRT plans (p = 0.005).

CONCLUSION

The IMRT and VMAT techniques achieved highly conformal treatment plans. The vdr-VMAT technique resulted in more favorable dose distributions than the IMRT or cdr-VMAT techniques, and reduced the monitor units required compared with IMRT.

Irradiation of varying volumes of rat lung to same mean lung dose: a little to a lot or a lot to a little?

PURPOSE

To investigate whether irradiating small lung volumes with a large dose or irradiating large lung volumes with a small dose, given the same mean lung dose (MLD), has a different effect on pulmonary function in laboratory animals.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

WAG/Rij/MCW male rats were exposed to single fractions of 300 kVp X-rays. Four treatments, in decreasing order of irradiated lung volume, were administered: (1) whole lung irradiation, (2) right lung irradiation, (3) left lung irradiation, and (4) irradiation of a small lung volume with four narrow beams. The irradiation times were chosen to accumulate the same MLD of 10, 12.5, or 15 Gy with each irradiated lung volume. The development of radiation-induced lung injury for < or =20 weeks was evaluated as increased breathing frequency, mortality, and histopathologic changes in the irradiated and control rats.

RESULTS

A significant elevation of respiratory rate, which correlated with the lung volume exposed to single small doses (> or =5 Gy), but not with the MLD, was observed. The survival of the rats in the whole-lung-irradiated group was MLD dependent, with all events occurring between 4.5 and 9 weeks after irradiation. No mortality was observed in the partial-volume irradiated rats.

CONCLUSIONS

The lung volume irradiated to small doses might be the dominant factor influencing the loss of pulmonary function in the rat model of radiation-induced lung injury. Caution should be used when new radiotherapy techniques that result in irradiation of large volumes of normal tissue are used for the treatment of lung cancer and other tumors in the thorax.