Clinical and dosimetric experience with MammoSite-based brachytherapy under the RTOG 0413 protocol

Modelling a new approach for radio-ablation after resection of breast ductal carcinoma in-situ based on the BAT-90 medical device

The majority of local recurrences, after conservative surgery of breast cancer, occurs in the same anatomical area where the tumour was originally located. For the treatment of ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), a new medical device, named BAT-90, (BetaGlue Technologies SpA) has been proposed. BAT-90 is based on the administration of ⁹⁰Y β-emitting microspheres, embedded in a bio-compatible matrix. In this work, the Geant4 simulation toolkit is used to simulate BAT-90 as a homogenous cylindrical ⁹⁰Y layer placed in the middle of a bulk material. The activity needed to deliver a 20 Gy isodose at a given distance z from the BAT-90 layer is calculated for different device thicknesses, tumour bed sizes and for water and adipose bulk materials. A radiobiological analysis has been performed using both the Poisson and logistic Tumour Control Probability (TCP) models. A range of radiobiological parameters (α and β), target sizes, and densities of tumour cells were considered. Increasing α values, TCP increases too, while, for a fixed α value, TCP decreases as a function of clonogenic cell density. The models predict very solid results in case of limited tumour burden while the activity/dose ratio could be further optimized in case of larger tumour beds.

The Globalization of Cooperative Groups

The National Cancer Institute (NCI)-supported adult cooperative oncology research groups (now officially Network groups) have a longstanding history of participating in international collaborations throughout the world. Most frequently, the US-based cooperative groups work reciprocally with the Canadian national adult cancer clinical trial group, NCIC CTG (previously the National Cancer Institute of Canada Clinical Trials Group). Thus, Canada is the largest contributor to cooperative groups based in the United States, and vice versa. Although international collaborations have many benefits, they are most frequently utilized to enhance patient accrual to large phase III trials originating in the United States or Canada. Within the cooperative group setting, adequate attention has not been given to the study of cancers that are unique to countries outside the United States and Canada, such as those frequently associated with infections in Latin America, Asia, and Africa. Global collaborations are limited by a number of barriers, some of which are unique to the countries involved, while others are related to financial support and to US policies that restrict drug distribution outside the United States. This article serves to detail the cooperative group experience in international research and describe how international collaboration in cancer clinical trials is a promising and important area that requires greater consideration in the future.

A Contura catheter offers dosimetric advantages over a MammoSite catheter that increase the applicability of accelerated partial breast irradiation

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to determine whether a Contura catheter (SenoRx, Inc, Aliso Viejo, CA) can increase the applicability of accelerated partial breast irradiation.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

One hundred eighty-two women with early stage breast carcinomas were treated with postlumpectomy brachytherapy using a Contura multilumen catheter (n=45) or a MammoSite single-lumen catheter (Cytyc Corp, Marlborough, MA) (n=137). Hypothetical MammoSite catheter treatment plans were created for the Contura patients. Treatment planning goals were to (1) avoid a radiation "hot spot" in the skin and (2) have only a small air/fluid pocket next to the balloon.

RESULTS

The median followup was 16 months. Eighty-nine percent (40 of 45) of Contura plans satisfied both treatment planning goals vs. only 36% (16 of 45) of MammoSite plans (p<0.0001). A Contura catheter did not require explantation in 16% (7 of 45) of patients where balloon-to-skin spacing was only 3-6mm and 11% (5 of 45) of patients where there was an air/fluid pocket >10% of the planning target volume for plan evaluation (PTV_EVAL). A MammoSite catheter was explanted in 10% of cases where the minimum balloon-to-skin distance was <7mm and in 13% of cases where there was a large air/fluid pocket next to the balloon. Our incidence rates of acute toxicity with a Contura catheter were similar to those with a MammoSite catheter.

CONCLUSIONS

A Contura catheter provides important dosimetric advantages over a MammoSite catheter and does not require explantation in cases where balloon-to-skin spacing is only 3-6mm or an air/fluid pocket next to the balloon is >10% of PTV_EVAL.

Monte Carlo-derived TLD cross-calibration factors for treatment verification and measurement of skin dose in accelerated partial breast irradiation

Monte Carlo simulation was employed to calculate the response of TLD-100 chips under irradiation conditions such as those found during accelerated partial breast irradiation with the MammoSite radiation therapy system. The absorbed dose versus radius in the last 0.5 cm of the treated volume was also calculated, employing a resolution of 20 microm, and a function that fits the observed data was determined. Several clinically relevant irradiation conditions were simulated for different combinations of balloon size, balloon-to-surface distance and contents of the contrast solution used to fill the balloon. The thermoluminescent dosemeter (TLD) cross-calibration factors were derived assuming that the calibration of the dosemeters was carried out using a Cobalt 60 beam, and in such a way that they provide a set of parameters that reproduce the function that describes the behavior of the absorbed dose versus radius curve. Such factors may also prove to be useful for those standardized laboratories that provide postal dosimetry services.