Clinical evidence of particle beam therapy (proton)

Fiducial marker matching versus vertebral body matching: Dosimetric impact of patient positioning in carbon ion radiotherapy for primary hepatic cancer

PURPOSE

The aim of this study was to compare the dose-volume parameters of fiducial marker matching (MM) with vertebral body matching (VM) in patient positioning for carbon ion radiotherapy for primary hepatic cancer.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Twenty patients with primary hepatic cancer were retrospectively studied to assess changes in reproducibility of tumor position and dose distribution on two CT scans. One was for treatment planning and another was for dose confirmation, acquired the day before the first treatment day. The coverage of the clinical target volume (CTV) (D₉₈) and normal liver volume excluding the CTV which received 20Gy relative biological effectiveness (RBE) (V₂₀) were used as evaluation parameters. Additionally, the correlation of tumor movement and D₉₈ was calculated in VM and MM. The prescription dose was 60.0Gy (RBE) delivered in four fractions (15Gy/fx).

RESULTS

The median (range) D₉₈ for VM and MM was 57.9 (20.8-59.9) and 59.9 (57.2-60.3) Gy (RBE), respectively. The median (range) V₂₀ for VM and MM was 17.9 (4.8-44.4) and 16.2 (4.7-44.9) Gy (RBE), respectively. The D₉₈ for MM was significantly larger than that for VM (p=0.001), although V₂₀ showed no significant difference (p>0.05). Twelve patients were clinically acceptable (D₉₈>57Gy (RBE)) with VM, while all patients were clinically acceptable with MM. Marker movement correlated with a decrease of D₉₈ for VM (R=-0.814).

CONCLUSION

Compared with VM, MM was clinically acceptable in all patients. This suggests that MM is more robust than VM.

Radiation oncology: physics advances that minimize morbidity

ABSTRACT 

Radiation therapy has become an ever more successful treatment for many cancer patients. This is due in large part from advances in physics including the expanded use of imaging protocols combined with ever more precise therapy devices such as linear and particle beam accelerators, all contributing to treatments with far fewer side effects. This paper will review current state-of-the-art physics maneuvers that minimize morbidity, such as intensity-modulated radiation therapy, volummetric arc therapy, image-guided radiation, radiosurgery and particle beam treatment. We will also highlight future physics enhancements on the horizon such as MRI during treatment and intensity-modulated hadron therapy, all with the continued goal of improved clinical outcomes.

Enhanced radiobiological effects at the distal end of a clinical proton beam: in vitro study

In the clinic, the relative biological effectiveness (RBE) value of 1.1 has usually been used in relation to the whole depth of the spread-out Bragg-peak (SOBP) of proton beams. The aim of this study was to confirm the actual biological effect in the SOBP at the very distal end of clinical proton beams using an in vitro cell system. A human salivary gland tumor cell line, HSG, was irradiated with clinical proton beams (accelerated by 190 MeV/u) and examined at different depths in the distal part and the center of the SOBP. Surviving fractions were analyzed with the colony formation assay. Cell survival curves and the survival parameters were obtained by fitting with the linear-quadratic (LQ) model. The RBE at each depth of the proton SOBP compared with that for X-rays was calculated by the biological equivalent dose, and the biological dose distribution was calculated from the RBE and the absorbed dose at each position. Although the physical dose distribution was flat in the SOBP, the RBE values calculated by the equivalent dose were significantly higher (up to 1.56 times) at the distal end than at the center of the SOBP. Additionally, the range of the isoeffective dose was extended beyond the range of the SOBP (up to 4.1 mm). From a clinical point of view, this may cause unexpected side effects to normal tissues at the distal position of the beam. It is important that the beam design and treatment planning take into consideration the biological dose distribution.

Charged particle therapy--optimization, challenges and future directions

The use of charged particle therapy to control tumours non-invasively offers advantages over conventional radiotherapy. Protons and heavy ions deposit energy far more selectively than X-rays, allowing a higher local control of the tumour, a lower probability of damage to healthy tissue, low risk of complications and the chance for a rapid recovery after therapy. Charged particles are also useful for treating tumours located in areas that surround tissues that are radiosensitive and in anatomical sites where surgical access is limited. Current trial outcomes indicate that accelerated ions can potentially replace surgery for radical cancer treatments, which might be beneficial as the success of surgical cancer treatments are largely dependent on the expertise and experience of the surgeon and the location of the tumour. However, to date, only a small number of controlled randomized clinical trials have made comparisons between particle therapy and X-rays. Therefore, although the potential advantages are clear and supported by data, the cost:benefit ratio remains controversial. Research in medical physics and radiobiology is focusing on reducing the costs and increasing the benefits of this treatment.