Risk Factors Causing Hypothyroidism in Patients With Head and Neck Cancer After Radiotherapy Using SIB-VMAT.

BACKGROUND/AIM: We evaluated the incidence of radiation-induced hypothyroidism and its risk factors in patients with head and neck cancer who underwent radiotherapy using simultaneous integrated boost-volumetric-modulated arc therapy (SIB-VMAT). PATIENTS AND METHODS: This retrospective study included 86 patients who received definitive radiotherapy using SIB-VMAT for head and neck cancer. The incidence of ≥ grade 2 hypothyroidism was evaluated. We also evaluated the relationships between hypothyroidism development and clinical factors and thyroid dose-volume parameters. RESULTS: During a median follow-up period of 17 months (range=3-65 months), 31 patients (36.0%, 31/86) developed grade 2 hypothyroidism requiring hormone replacement therapy. No patients experienced ≥ grade 3 hypothyroidism. The cumulative incidences of hypothyroidism at 1 and 2 years after radiation therapy were 24.5% and 38.7%, respectively, with a median onset time of 10.0 months (range=3.0-35.0 months). Thyroid volume (p=0.003), volume of the thyroid spared at 60 Gy (VS60; cut-off value, 5.16 ml; p=0.009), VS70 (cut-off value, 8.0 ml; p=0.007), VS60 equivalent dose in 2 Gy fraction (EQD2; cut-off value, 7.78 ml; p=0.001), and VS70EQD2 (cut-off value, 10.59 ml; p=0.008) were significantly associated with the development of radiation-induced hypothyroidism. CONCLUSION: Radiation-induced hypothyroidism is not rare in patients with head and neck cancer undergoing radiotherapy using SIB-VMAT. Radiation dose-volume parameters detected in this study may be useful indicators to prevent this complication.

Proton therapy and oral mucositis in oral & oropharyngeal cancers: outcomes, dosimetric and NTCP benefit.

INTRODUCTION: Radiation-induced oral mucositis (RIOM), is a common, debilitating, acute side effect of radiotherapy for oral cavity (OC) and oropharyngeal (OPx) cancers; technical innovations for reducing it are seldom discussed. Intensity-modulated-proton-therapy (IMPT) has been reported extensively for treating OPx cancers, and less frequently for OC cancers. We aim to quantify the reduction in the likelihood of RIOM in treating these 2 subsites with IMPT compared to Helical Tomotherapy. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We report acute toxicities and early outcomes of 22 consecutive patients with OC and OPx cancers treated with IMPT, and compare the dosimetry and normal tissue complication probability (NTCP) of ≥ grade 3 mucositis for IMPT and HT. RESULTS: Twenty two patients, 77% males, 41% elderly and 73% OC subsite, were reviewed. With comparable target coverage, IMPT significantly reduced the mean dose and D32, D39, D45, and D50, for both the oral mucosa (OM) and spared oral mucosa (sOM). With IMPT, there was a 7% absolute and 16.5% relative reduction in NTCP for grade 3 mucositis for OM, compared to HT. IMPT further reduced NTCP for sOM, and the benefit was maintained in OC, OPx subsites and elderly subgroup. Acute toxicities, grade III dermatitis and mucositis, were noted in 50% and 45.5% patients, respectively, while 22.7% patients had grade 3 dysphagia. Compared with published data, the hospital admission rate, median weight loss, feeding tube insertion, unplanned treatment gaps were lower with IMPT. At a median follow-up of 15 months, 81.8% were alive; 72.7%, alive without disease and 9%, alive with disease. CONCLUSION: The dosimetric benefit of IMPT translates into NTCP reduction for grade 3 mucositis compared to Helical Tomotherapy for OPx and OC cancers and encourages the use of IMPT in their management.

Establishment of a prediction model for severe acute radiation enteritis associated with cervical cancer radiotherapy.

BACKGROUND: Cervical cancer is one of the most common gynecological malignant tumors. Radiation enteritis (RE) leads to radiotherapy intolerance or termination of radiotherapy, which negatively impacts the therapeutic effect and seriously affects the quality of life of patients. If the incidence of RE in patients can be predicted in advance, and targeted clinical preventive treatment can be carried out, the side effects of radiotherapy in cervical cancer patients can be significantly reduced. Furthermore, accurate prediction of RE is essential for the selection of individualized radiation dose and the optimization of the radiotherapy plan. AIM: To analyze the relationships between severe acute RE (SARE) of cervical cancer radiotherapy and clinical factors and dose-volume parameters retrospectively. METHODS: We included 50 cervical cancer patients who received volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) from September 2017 to June 2018 in the Department of Radiotherapy at The First Affiliated Hospital Soochow University. Clinical and dose-volume histogram factors of patients were collected. Logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the predictive value of each factor for SARE. A nomogram to predict SARE was developed (SARE scoring system ≥ 3 points) based on the multiple regression coefficients; validity was verified by an internal verification method. RESULTS: Gastrointestinal and hematological toxicity of cervical cancer VMAT gradually increased with radiotherapy and reached the peak at the end of radiotherapy. The main adverse reactions were diarrhea, abdominal pain, colitis, anal swelling, and blood in the stool. There was no significant difference in the incidence of gastrointestinal toxicity between the radical and postoperative adjuvant radiotherapy groups (P > 0.05). There were significant differences in the small intestine V20, V30, V40, and rectal V40 between adjuvant radiotherapy and radical radiotherapy after surgery (P < 0.05). Univariate and multivariate analyses revealed anal bulge rating (OR: 14.779, 95%CI: 1.281-170.547, P = 0.031) and disease activity index (DAI) score (OR: 53.928, 95%CI: 3.822-760.948, P = 0.003) as independent predictors of SARE. CONCLUSION: Anal bulge rating (> 0.500 grade) and DAI score (> 2.165 points) can predict SARE. The nomogram shows potential value in clinical practice.

Immunotherapy and radiotherapy - a future partnership Focus on radiation induced lymphopenia (RIL) implications.

The hematological toxicity associated with radiotherapy is represented by neutropenia, anemia, thrombocytopenia, being associated with the increased risk of infection with opportunists, with fatigue and intolerance to effort, but also with the increased risk of bleeding. In the context of the preclinical and clinical results that mention the synergistic effect of the immunotherapy-radiotherapy association, radiation-induced lymphopenia (RIL) becomes an immunosuppression factor, a factor that would tip the fragile antitumor immunopotentiation-immunosuppression balance in favor of the immunosuppressive effect. Both the number of lymphocytes and the neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR) are prognostic and predictive biomarkers, providing information on the immune status of the host and on a possible response of the tumor to immunotherapy. Modern radiation techniques can increase the risk of lymphopenia by irradiating large volumes of tissue with low doses of radiation. In this context, a redefinition of the dose-volume constraints and the definition of bone marrow, lymphoid organs and lymph nodes not involved in tumors as organs at risk (OARs) is strictly necessary in the case of using irradiation through intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) techniques or volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) for solid tumors that benefit from immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy (Ref. 22). Text in PDF www.elis.sk Keywords: lymphopenia, immunotherapy, radiotherapy, toxicity, spleen, nodes irradiation.

Reproducibility of repeated breathhold and impact of breathhold failure in whole breast and regional nodal irradiation in prone crawl position.

In whole breast and regional nodal irradiation (WB + RNI), breathhold increases organ at risk (OAR) sparing. WB + RNI is usually performed in supine position, because positioning materials obstruct beam paths in prone position. Recent advancements allow prone WB + RNI (pWB + RNI) with increased sparing of OARs compared to supine WB + RNI. We evaluate positional and dosimetrical impact of repeated breathhold (RBH) and failure to breathhold (FTBH) in pWB + RNI. Twenty left-sided breast cancer patients were scanned twice in breathhold (baseline and RBH) and once free breathing (i.e. FTBH). Positional impact was evaluated using overlap index (OI) and Dice similarity coefficient (DSC). Dosimetrical impact was assessed by beam transposition from the baseline plan. Mean OI and DSC ranges were 0.01-0.98 and 0.01-0.92 for FTBH, and 0.73-1 and 0.69-1 for RBH. Dosimetric impact of RBH was negligible. FTBH significantly decreased minimal dose to CTV WBI, level II and the internal mammary nodes, with adequate mean doses. FTBH significantly increased heart, LAD, left lung and esophagus dose. OI and DSC for RBH and FTBH show reproducible large ROI positions. Small ROIs show poor overlap. FTBH maintained adequate target coverage but increased heart, LAD, ipsilateral lung and esophagus dose. RBH is a robust technique in pWB + RNI. (Clinicaltrials.gov: NCT05179161, registered 05/01/2022).

Normal tissue exposure and second malignancy risk in vertebral-body-sparing craniospinal irradiation.

The purpose of this study was to compare dose to anterior organs at risk (OARs) and quantify the risk of developing secondary malignancy (SMN) in pediatric patients treated with vertebral-body-sparing (VBS) vs vertebral body (VB) pencil beam scanning proton craniospinal irradiation (CSI). Comparative plans of VBS and VB CSI were created for 10 previously treated patients. Dose-volume histograms were used to evaluate dose to OARs. Absolute excess risk of SMN was calculated according to the organ-specific, radiation-induced cancer incidence based on the organ equivalent dose. OAR dosimetric parameters and absolute excess risk of SMN were compared for VBS and VB plans using the Kruskal-Wallis H test (α = 0.05). VBS CSI leads to significantly lower radiation dose to the heart, esophagus, kidney, liver and bowel. Excluding the vertebral body also significantly decreases the absolute excess risk of SMN for liver, esophagus and bowel. For these reasons, implementation of VBS pencil beam scanning proton CSI should be considered.

The impact of modern radiotherapy on long-term cardiac sequelae in breast cancer survivor: a focus on deep inspiration breath-hold (DIBH) technique.

INTRODUCTION: One of the most feared side effects of radiotherapy (RT) in the setting of breast cancer (BC) patients is cardiac toxicity. This side effect can jeopardize the quality of life (QoL) of long-term survivors. The impact of modern techniques of RT such as deep inspiration breath hold (DIBH) have dramatically changed this setting. We report and discuss the results of the literature overview of this paper. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Literature references were obtained with a PubMed query, hand searching, and clinicaltrials.gov. RESULTS: We reported and discussed the toxicity of RT and the improvements due to the modern techniques in the setting of BC patients. CONCLUSIONS: BC patients often have a long life expectancy, thus the RT should aim at limiting toxicities and at the same time maintaining the same high cure rates. Further studies are needed to evaluate the risk-benefit ratio to identify patients at higher risk and to tailor the treatment choices.

Treatment Volume, Dose Prescription and Delivery Techniques for Dose-intensification in Rectal Cancer: A National Survey.

BACKGROUND/AIM: The aim of the study was to investigate boost volume definition, doses, and delivery techniques for rectal cancer dose intensification. PATIENTS AND METHODS: An online survey was made on 25 items (characteristics, simulation, imaging, volumes, doses, planning and treatment). RESULTS: Thirty-eight radiation oncologists joined the study. Twenty-one delivered long-course radiotherapy with dose intensification. Boost volume was delineated on diagnostic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in 18 centres (85.7%), and computed tomography (CT) and/or positron emission tomography-CT in 9 (42.8%); 16 centres (76.2%) performed co-registration with CT-simulation. Boost dose was delivered on gross tumor volume in 10 centres (47.6%) and on clinical target volume in 11 (52.4%). The most common total dose was 54-55 Gy (71.4%), with moderate hypofractionation (85.7%). Intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) was used in all centres, with simultaneous integrated boost in 17 (80.8%) and image-guidance in 18 (85.7%). CONCLUSION: A high quality of treatment using dose escalation can be inferred by widespread multidisciplinary discussion, MRI-based treatment volume delineation, and radiation delivery relying on IMRT with accurate image-guided radiation therapy protocols.

Effect of Surgical Mask on Setup Error in Head and Neck Radiotherapy.

PURPOSE: With the widespread prevalence of Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), cancer patients are suggested to wear a surgical mask during radiation treatment. In this study, cone beam CT (CBCT) was used to investigate the effect of surgical mask on setup errors in head and neck radiotherapy. METHODS: A total of 91 patients with head and neck tumors were selected. CBCT was performed to localize target volume after patient set up. The images obtained by CBCT before treatment were automatically registered with CT images and manually fine-tuned. The setup errors of patients in 6 directions of Vrt, Lng, Lat, Pitch, Roll and Rotation were recorded. The patients were divided into groups according to whether they wore the surgical mask, the type of immobilization mask used and the location of the isocenter. The setup errors of patients were calculated. A t-test was performed to detect whether it was statistically significant. RESULTS: In the 4 groups, the standard deviation in the directions of Lng and Pitch of the with surgical mask group were all higher than that in the without surgical mask group. In the head-neck-shoulder mask group, the mean in the Lng direction of the with surgical mask group was larger than that of the without surgical mask group. In the lateral isocenter group, the mean in the Lng and Pitch directions of the with surgical mask group were larger than that of the without surgical mask group. The t-test results showed that there was significant difference in the setup error between the 2 groups (p = 0.043 and p = 0.013, respectively) only in the Lng and Pitch directions of the head-neck-shoulder mask group. In addition, the setup error of 6 patients with immobilization open masks exhibited no distinguished difference from that of the patients with regular immobilization masks. CONCLUSION: In the head and neck radiotherapy patients, the setup error was affected by wearing surgical mask. It is recommended that the immobilization open mask should be used when the patient cannot finish the whole treatment with a surgical mask.

Anchored Transponder Guided Lung Radiation Therapy.

PURPOSE: The Calypso Beacon transponder has been modified by the addition of a nitinol anchor feature to allow for positional stability when implanted bronchoscopically into the lung. The purpose of this study was to confirm the feasibility and safety of anchored transponder placement and feasibility of lung target localization and tracking. METHODS AND MATERIALS: This study enrolled patients with histologically confirmed cancer in the lung (primary or metastatic) who were scheduled to receive external beam radiation therapy. Three anchored transponders were implanted via flexible bronchoscopy into small (approximately 2- to 2.5-mm diameter) airways. Patient alignment at each radiation fraction was performed with the Calypso system, and anchored transponder position was tracked during radiation delivery. The primary endpoint was defined as the ability to localize at least 85% of the patients during the first week of treatment. Four follow-up visits were specified including a posttreatment assessment and every 3 months up to 1 year. RESULTS: A total of 69 patients underwent anchored transponder placement, and all 207 implanted anchored transponders were visible on the treatment-planning simulation computed tomography scan. Sixty-seven patients underwent radiation therapy, and localization was successful in 66 cases (98.5%). With 1 failure in 67 cases, the P value for rejecting the null hypothesis was <.001 and the primary objective of the study met. Five adverse events in 5 patients were potentially attributed to the study device or implantation procedure, consisting of pneumonia (2 cases), pleural abscess (1 case), and pneumothorax (2 cases). Two serious events (cardiac arrest and acute hypotension) were attributed to anesthesia during the implantation procedure. CONCLUSIONS: This study strongly supports that anchored transponders are safe, positionally stable, and useful for lung tumor localization and monitoring.

The influence of errors in small field dosimetry on the dosimetric accuracy of treatment plans.

Background: Dosimetric effects of inaccuracies of output factors (OFs) implemented in treatment planning systems (TPSs) were investigated.Materials and methods: Modified beam models (MBM) for which the OFs of small fields (down to 1 × 1 cm2) were increased by up to 12% compared to the original beam models (OBM) were created for two TPSs. These beam models were used to recalculate treatment plans of different complexity. Treatment plans using stereotactic 3D-conformal (s3D-CRT) for brain metastasis as well as VMAT plans for head and neck and prostate cancer patients were generated. Dose distributions calculated with the MBM and the OBM were compared to measured dose distributions acquired using film dosimetry and a 2D-detector-array. For the s3D-CRT plans the calculated and measured dose at the isocenter was evaluated. For VMAT, gamma pass rates (GPRs) were calculated using global gamma index with 3%/3 mm, 2%/3 mm, 1%/3 mm and 2%/2 mm with a 20% threshold. Contribution of small fields to the total fluence was expressed as the ratio (F) of fluence trough leaf openings smaller than 2 cm to the total fluence.Results: Using film dosimetry for the s3D-CRT plans, the average of the ratio of calculated dose to measured dose at the isocenter was 1.01 and 1.06 for the OBM and MBM model, respectively. A significantly lower GPR of the MBM compared to the OBM was only found for the localized prostate cases (F = 12.4%) measured with the 2D-detector-array and an acceptance criterion of 1%/3 mm.Conclusion: The effects of uncertainties in small field OFs implemented in TPSs are most pronounced for s3D-CRT cases and can be clearly identified using patient specific quality assurance. For VMAT these effects mainly remain undetected using standard patient specific quality assurance. Using tighter acceptance criteria combined with an analysis of the fluence generated by small fields can help identifying inaccuracies of OFs implemented in TPSs.

Multi-institutional evaluation of knowledge-based planning performance of volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) for head and neck cancer.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to investigate whether additional manual objectives are necessary for the RapidPlan (RP) with a single optimization. We conducted multi-institutional comparisons of plan quality for head and neck cancer (HNC) using the models created at each institute. METHODS: The ability of RP to produce acceptable plans for dose requirements was evaluated in two types of oropharynx cancers at five institutes in Japan. Volumetric modulated arc therapy plans created without (RP plan) and with additional manual objectives (M-RP plan) were compared in terms of planning target volume (PTV), brainstem, spinal cord and parotid glands in dosimetric parameters. RESULTS: There were no major dosimetric PTV differences between RP and M-RP plans. For the brainstem and spinal cord in the RP plans, only 40% and 30% of the plans achieved the dose requirements, while the M-RP plans with upper objective added to volume 0% at all institutes achieved them for 90% of the plans. For the L-parotid gland, there was no difference in the RP and M-RP plans (both were 40%) in achieving the acceptable criteria. For the R-parotid gland, 60% and 80% of the RP and M-RP plans achieved the constraint criteria, and in terms of the achievement rate, the RP plans were relatively high. CONCLUSIONS: M-RP plans did not require reoptimization; only an upper objective was needed for the brainstem and spinal cord, while the parotid gland dose was reduced in both RP plans with the auto generated line objectives alone.

Relationship between patient and physician-rated xerostomia and dose distribution to the oral cavity and salivary glands for head and neck cancer patients after radiotherapy.

Introduction: Xerostomia is a frequent complication after curative intended radiotherapy (RT) for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Assessment of xerostomia is commonly done by the physician. The aim of this study is to investigate the relation between patient and physician-rated xerostomia and to predict the degree of xerostomia from patients with self-reported xerostomia based on delivered doses to the oral cavity, parotid, and submandibular glands. Material and methods: During a 2-year period, consecutive HNSCC patients attending the follow-up clinic were included. All included patients had self-reported xerostomia, and completed the disease-specific EORTC QLQ-H&N35 questionnaire. The physician assessed the degree of xerostomia with the DAHANCA toxicity scale and was blinded for the EORTC score. Oral cavity, parotid, and submandibular glands (OAR) were delineated on the planning CT according to international guidelines. DVH were extracted from treatment plans. Logistic regression tested the relation between mean doses, patient characteristics, and xerostomia scores. Differences between DVH values and scoring of xerostomia were analyzed with a Kruskal-Wallis test. The relation between xerostomia and dose distributions was further investigated using principal component analysis (PCA). Results: In total, 109 patients were included in the study. A weak correlation was seen between patient and physician-rated toxicity (p = .001), however, in general patients reported more toxicity than physicians. For EORTC score ≥2, the multi-variable analysis was significant for doses to the oral cavity, tobacco status and use of xerogenic medication. Neither the DVH analysis nor the PCA found any clear distinction between xerostomia scores for EORTC or DAHANCA and investigated OARs. Conclusion: Patients tended to report higher scores of xerostomia than the physician. PCA indicated a complex relation between doses to the OAR and xerostomia scores, showing e.g., that reducing doses in one organ was on the expense of increased dose to another organ.

Modern radiotherapy in cancer treatment during pregnancy.

Breast cancer, gynecological malignancies and lymphomas are the most frequently diagnosed tumors in pregnant women. The feasibility of radiotherapy during pregnancy remains a subject of debate and clinicians continue to hesitate on this approach, trying to avoid radiotherapy in most cases. Since the 1990s, several technological advances, including intensity modulated and image guided radiation delivery, have been implemented in radiation oncology to improve the radiation treatment in terms of effectiveness and tolerability. It remains uncertain which short- and long-term health effects the radiation exposure of the fetus may have through advanced radiotherapy techniques. The present systematic literature review aims to summarize the limited current evidences of the feasibility and clinical results of "modern" radiotherapy procedures for the treatment of the most frequently diagnosed tumors in pregnant women.

Cardiac Structure Doses in Women Irradiated for Breast Cancer in the Past and Their Use in Epidemiological Studies.

PURPOSE: Incidental cardiac exposure during radiation therapy may cause heart disease. Dose-response relationships for cardiac structures (segments) may show which ones are most sensitive to radiation. Radiation-related cardiac injury can take years to develop; thus, studies need to involve women treated using 2-dimensional planning, with segment doses estimated using a typical computed tomography (CT) scan. We assessed whether such segment doses are accurate enough to use in dose-response relationships using the radiation therapy charts of women with known segment injury. We estimated interregimen and interpatient segment dose variability and segment dose correlations. METHODS AND MATERIALS: The radiation therapy charts of 470 women with cardiac segment injury after breast cancer radiation therapy were examined, and 41 regimens were identified. Regimens were reconstructed on a typical CT scan. Doses were estimated for 5 left ventricle (LV) and 10 coronary artery segments. Correlations between cardiac segments were estimated. Interpatient dose variation was assessed in 10 randomly selected CT scans for left regimens and in 5 for right regimens. RESULTS: For the typical CT scan, interregimen segment dose variation was substantial (range, LV segments <1-39 Gy; coronary artery segments <1-48 Gy). In 10 CT scans, interpatient segment dose variation was higher for segments near field borders (range, 3-47 Gy) than other segments (range, <2 Gy). Doses to different left-anterior descending coronary artery (LADCA) segments were highly correlated with each other, as were doses to different LV segments. Also, LADCA segment doses were highly correlated with doses to LV segments usually supplied by the LADCA. For individual regimens there was consistency in hotspot location and segment ranking of higher-versus-lower dose. CONCLUSIONS: The scope for developing quantitative cardiac segment dose-response relationships in patients who had 2-dimensional planning is limited because different segment doses are often highly correlated, and segment-specific dose uncertainties are not independent of each other. However, segment-specific doses may be reliably used to rank segments according to higher-versus-lower doses.

Prone Positioning on a Belly Board Decreases Rectal and Bowel Doses in Pelvic Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT) for Prostate Cancer.

The presence of normal tissues in the irradiated volume limits dose escalation during pelvic radiotherapy (RT) for prostate cancer. Supine and prone positions on a belly board were compared by analyzing the exposure of organs at risk (OARs) using intensity modulated RT (IMRT). The prospective trial included 55 high risk, localized or locally advanced prostate cancer patients, receiving definitive image-guided RT. Computed tomography scanning for irradiation planning was carried out in both positions. Gross tumor volume, clinical and planning target volumes (PTV) and OARs were delineated, defining subprostatic and periprostatic rectal subsegments. At the height of the largest antero-posterior (AP) diameter of the prostate, rectal diameters and distance from the posterior prostate wall were measured. IMRT plans were generated. Normal tissue exposure and structure volumes were compared between supine and prone plans using paired t-test. In the volumes of the prostate, PTV, colon and small bowel, no significant differences were found. In prone position, all rectal volumes, diameters, and rectum-prostate distance were significantly higher, the irradiated colon and small bowel volume was lower in dose ranges of 20-40 Gy, and the exposure to all rectal segments was more favorable in 40-75 Gy dose ranges. No significant difference was found in the exposure of other OARs. Prone positioning on a belly board is an appropriate positioning method aiming rectum and bowel protection during pelvic IMRT of prostate cancer. The relative reduction in rectal exposure might be a consequence of the slight departure between the prostate and rectal wall.

Acute toxicity of postoperative intensity-modulated radiotherapy and three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy for cervical cancer: The role of concomitant chemotherapy.

PURPOSE: The toxicity of postoperative radiotherapy for cervical cancer affects patients' quality of life. We evaluated acute toxicity in postoperative intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) and three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3DCRT) as well as the influence of dosimetric parameters and concomitant chemotherapy. METHODS: A total of 45 patients with early operable cervical cancer underwent postoperative IMRT with 40-45 Gy. The control group of 50 patients was treated with 3DCRT. Brachytherapy and concomitant cisplatin chemotherapy were performed in all patients according to pathologic and histologic findings. The patients were monitored for acute gastrointestinal, urological and hematological toxicity classified according to the RTOG acute radiation morbidity scoring criteria. We also analyzed the influence of dosimetric parameters on acute toxicity. RESULTS: Significant differences were found in overall acute toxicity (p=0.018), acute genitourinary toxicity (p=0.029), anemia (p=0.043) and neutropenia (p=0.027) but not in acute gastrointestinal toxicity between the IMRT and 3DCRT groups. In all patients, regarding chemotherapy administration, differences were found between the chemoradiotherapy and radiotherapy group as far as overall acute toxicity (CHRT vs RT; p=0.011) and hematological toxicity were concerned (p=0.001). Patients with ≥3 cycles of chemotherapy showed increased hematologic toxicity. In the IMRT group according to the administration of chemotherapy (chemoradiotherapy vs radiotherapy), statistically significant difference for leukopenia (p=0.009) was found and in the 3DCRT group for anemia (p=0.021) and neutropenia (p=0.029). According to chemotherapy administration (chemoradiotherapy vs radiotherapy), a statistically significant difference in leukopenia (p=0.009) was found in the IMRT group while in the 3DCRT group the differences were in anemia (p=0.021) and neutropenia (p=0.029). CONCLUSION: IMRT is associated with lower acute toxicity and better dosimetric parameters in organs at risk (OAR) compared to 3DCRT. Higher hematological toxicity occurred when concomitant chemotherapy was performed, regardless of RT technique. Further reduction of toxicity is expected with protocol and technical improvement and research of gene-related toxicity.

Preliminary application of 3D-printed coplanar template for iodine-125 seed implantation therapy in patients with advanced pancreatic cancer.

AIM: To evaluate a 3D-printed coplanar template for iodine-125 seed implantation therapy in patients with pancreatic cancer. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of our database was performed, and a total of 25 patients with pancreatic cancer who underwent iodine-125 seed implantation between January 2014 and November 2017 were analyzed. Of these, 12 implantations were assisted by a 3D-printed coplanar template (group A), and 13 implantations performed freehand were selected as a control group (group B). A 3D coplanar template was designed and printed according to a preoperative CT scan and treatment planning system. The iodine-125 seeds were then implanted using the template as a guide. Dosimetric verification was performed after implantation. Pre- and postoperative D90, V100, and V150 were calculated. The success rate of iodine-125 seed implantation, dosimetric parameters, and complications were analyzed and compared between the two groups. RESULTS: Iodine-125 seed implantation was successfully performed in both groups. In group A, the median pre- and postoperative D90 values were 155.32 ± 8.05 Gy and 154.82 ± 16.43 Gy, respectively; the difference between these values was minimal and not statistically significant (P > 0.05). Postoperative V100 and V150 were 91.05% ± 4.06% and 64.54% ± 13.40%, respectively, which met the treatment requirement. A better dosimetric parameter was observed in group A than in group B, and the difference was statistically significant (V100: 91.05% ± 4.06% vs 72.91% ± 13.78%, P < 0.05). No major procedure-related complications were observed in either group. For group A, mild hemorrhage was observed in 1 patient with a peritoneal local hematoma due to mesenteric vein damage from the iodine-125 seed implantation needle. The hematoma resolved spontaneously without treatment. Postoperative blood amylase levels remained within the normal range for all patients. CONCLUSION: A 3D-printed coplanar template appears to be a safe and effective iodine-125 seed implantation guidance tool to improve implantation accuracy and optimize dosimetric distribution.

The application of artificial intelligence in the IMRT planning process for head and neck cancer.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is beginning to transform IMRT treatment planning for head and neck patients. However, the complexity and novelty of AI algorithms make them susceptible to misuse by researchers and clinicians. Understanding nuances of new technologies could serve to mitigate potential clinical implementation pitfalls. This article is intended to facilitate integration of AI into the radiotherapy clinic by providing an overview of AI algorithms, including support vector machines (SVMs), random forests (RF), gradient boosting (GB), and several variations of deep learning. This document describes current AI algorithms that have been applied to head and neck IMRT planning and identifies rapidly growing branches of AI in industry that have potential applications to head and neck cancer patients receiving IMRT. AI algorithms have great clinical potential if used correctly but can also cause harm if misused, so it is important to raise the level of AI competence within radiation oncology so that the benefits can be realized in a controlled and safe manner.

Hematologic Toxicity of Conformal Radiotherapy and Intensity Modulated Radiotherapy in Prostate and Bladder Cancer Patients

Background: The purpose of this study was to compare hematologic adverse effects and hematologic toxicity (HT) of pelvic irradiation in patients treated with conformal radiotherapy (CRT) and intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) for radical treatment of prostate and bladder cancer. Methods: A group of 115 patients with prostate or bladder cancer treated with definitive radical radiotherapy was evaluated retrospectively. Blood test were taken before and after treatment comprising of following indices: white blood cells (WBC) hemoglobin (HGB), red blood cell (RBC), lymphocyte (LC), neutrophil (NC) and platelet (PLT) count. Patients were divided into several subgroups and the data was evaluated statistically using absolute and relative values. Results: There was a statistically significant difference in WBC (p=0.007), NC (p=0.031) and PLT (p=0.026) count decrease (absolute values) after treatment, between two treatment methods (CRT and IMRT), all in favor of IMRT. The relationship still proves to be significant regarding WBC (p=0,02) and (NC) (p=0,049) after presenting the data as relative percentage loss of starting value. However using Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Effects (CTCAE), PLT count toxicity was more common in IMRT group (p=0.045). Conclusion: IMRT in comparison to CRT in bladder and prostate cancer patients is associated with a lesser absolute and relative decrease of hematologic indices. The hematologic effect of radiation was observed mainly regarding LC. Patients treated with IMRT suffered from significantly lesser decrease in relative and absolute values of WBC and NC. The mean of absolute PLT decrease count was lower in IMRT group; however, toxicity according to CTCAE was slightly more prevalent in IMRT group.