Comparison of the effects of two typesof multileaf collimators on tumor control probabilityin radiotherapy for breast cancer after conservativesurgery based on the EUD model

Objective To compute and compare the tumor control probability(TCP) of volumetric modulated arc therapy(VMAT) for breast cancer after conservative surgery based on two types of multileaf collimator(MLC) through a retrospective planning study.Methods For a group of 9 patients diagnosed with left breast cancer,VMAT plan based on Agility MLC and beam modulator(BM) MLC were designed.The prescription dose was 50 Gy covering at least 95% of the planning target volume,2 Gy per fraction.TCPs were calculated according to dose-volume histogram(DVH) analysis.Results The TCP of the BM VMAT plan was slightly higher than that of the Agility VMAT plan(94.61% vs 94.23%) but was inferior with respect to delivery efficiency;the delivery time was reduced for Agility VMAT plan by 35% compared to BM VMAT plan.Conclusion For breast cancer radiation therapy after conservative surgery,BM VMAT plans provide slightly higher TCP while the delivery of Agility VMAT plans is significantly faster than the BM VMAT plans.

A dosimetric evaluation of flattening filter-free volumetric modulated arc therapy for postoperative treatment of cervical cancer

Objective The aim of the study was to compare flattening filter-free(FFF) beams and conventional flattening filter(FF) beams in volumetric modulated arc therapy(VMAT) for cervical cancer after surgery, through a retrospective planning study.Methods VMAT plans of FFF beams and normal FF beams were designed for a cohort of 15 patients. The prescribed dose was 45 Gy to 1.8 Gy per fraction, and at least 95% of the planning target volume received this dose. Doses were computed with a commercially available treatment planning system using a Monte Carlo(MC) algorithm. Plans were compared according to dose-volume histogram analysis in terms of planning target volume homogeneity and conformity indices(HI and CI), as well as organs at risk(OAR) dose and volume parameters. Results FFF-VMAT was similar to FF-VMAT in terms of CI, but inferior to FF-VMAT considering HI. No statistically differences were observed between FFF-VMAT and FF-VMAT in following organ at risks including pelvic bone marrow, small bowel, bladder, rectum, and normal tissue(NT)..Conclusion For patients with cervical cancer after hysterectomy, the FFF beam achieved target and OAR dose distribution similar to that of the FF beam. Reduction of beam-on time in cervical cancer is beneficial.

Dosimetric analysis of tomotherapy-based intensity-modulated radiotherapy with and without bone marrow sparing for the treatment of cervical cancer

Objective The aim of the study was to compare tomotherapy-based bone marrow-sparing intensity-modulated radiotherapy(BMS-IMRT) with intensity-modulated radiotherapy(IMRT) without entering the pelvic bone marrow as a planning constraint in the treatment of cervical cancer after hysterectomy. Methods BMS-IMRT and IMRT plans were designed for a cohort of nine patients. The prescribed dose was 45 Gy in 1.8 Gy daily fractions, and 95% of the planned target volume received this dose. The doses were computed using a commercially available treatment planning system with the convolution/superposition algorithm. Plans were compared according to dose-volume histogram analysis in terms of planning target volume homogeneity and conformity indices(HI and CI) as well as organ at risk dose and volume parameters. Results BMS-IMRT had advantages over IMRT in terms of CI, but was equivalent to the latter in HI. V5, V10, V20, V30, and V40 of pelvic bone marrow in BMS-IMRT decreased by 0.06%, 17.33%, 22.19%, 13.85%, and 16.46%, respectively, compared with IMRT. Except for V30 of the small bowel and V30 and V40 of the bladder, no statistically significant differences were found between BMS-IMRT and IMRT in the small bowel, bladder, and rectum. Conclusion For cervical cancer patients receiving tomotherapy-based radiotherapy after hysterectomy, BMS-IMRT reduced pelvic bone marrow volume receiving low-dose radiation, and it may be conducive to preventing acute hematologic toxicity.