Coverage of Axillary Lymph Nodes with Tangential Breast Irradiation in Korea: A Multi-Institutional Comparison Study

Introduction. To evaluate the dose distribution and coverage of axilla using only tangential field for whole breast radiotherapy (RT) at three institutions in Korea. Methods. We used computed tomography (CT) images of nine consecutive 1-2 sentinel lymph node-positive patients who underwent breast conserving surgery and whole breast RT without axillary lymph node (ALN) dissection for clinical T1-2N0 breast cancer. The CT data were transferred to three radiation oncologists in 3 institutions and each radiation oncologist created treatment plans for all nine patients; a total of 27 treatment plans were analyzed. Results. The mean doses delivered to levels I and II were 31.9 Gy (9.9–47.9 Gy) and 22.3 Gy (3.4–47.7 Gy). Ninety-five percent of levels I and II received a mean dose of 11.8 Gy (0.4–43.0 Gy) and 3.0 Gy (0.3–40.0 Gy). The percent volumes of levels I and II covered by 95% of the prescribed dose were only 29.0% (0.2–74.1%) and 11.5% (0.0–70.1%). The dose distribution and coverage of axilla were significantly different between three institutions (p=0.001). Conclusion. There were discrepancies in ALN coverage between three institutions. A standardization of whole breast RT technique through further research with a nationwide scale is needed

Feasibility of stereotactic radiotherapy for lung lesions and conventional radiotherapy for nodal areas in primary lung malignancies

Abstract Background Combined stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) for lung lesions and conventional radiotherapy (CRT) for nodal areas may be more effective than CRT alone in patients with locally advanced lung cancer. Methods This study included 21 patients with small primary lung tumors distant from the regional nodal areas. The SBRT dose was 40–60 Gy in 4 fractions. CRT doses were 66 Gy in 30 fractions for non-small cell lung cancer and 52.5 Gy in 25 fractions for small cell lung cancer. Results The median follow-up duration was 12 months, and the median survival was 13 months. The 1 year overall survival, local recurrence-free survival, and distant metastasis-free survival rates were 60.5, 84.8, and 62.1%, respectively. Two patients experienced in-field local recurrence combined with out-field regional recurrence and/or distant failure. The major recurrence pattern was distant failure (crude incidence, 43%). Three patients aged ≥79 years experienced grade ≥ 3 acute radiation pneumonitis, and one also had idiopathic interstitial pneumonia. Conclusion The combination of SBRT for the lung lesion and CRT for the nodal region seems to be effective and safe for lung malignancies. However, patients older in age and/or with underlying pulmonary disease require stricter lung dose constraints

Improving Delivery Accuracy of Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy to a Moving Tumor Using Simplified Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy.

PURPOSE:To develop a simplified volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) technique for more accurate dose delivery in thoracic stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT). METHODS AND MATERIALS:For each of the 22 lung SBRT cases treated with respiratory-gated VMAT, a dose rate modulated arc therapy (DrMAT) plan was retrospectively generated. A dynamic conformal arc therapy plan with 33 adjoining coplanar arcs was designed and their beam weights were optimized by an inverse planning process. All sub-arc beams were converted into a series of control points with varying MLC segment and dose rates and merged into an arc beam for a DrMAT plan. The plan quality of original VMAT and DrMAT was compared in terms of target coverage, compactness of dose distribution, and dose sparing of organs at risk. To assess the delivery accuracy, the VMAT and DrMAT plans were delivered to a motion phantom programmed with the corresponding patients' respiratory signal; results were compared using film dosimetry with gamma analysis. RESULTS:The plan quality of DrMAT was equivalent to that of VMAT in terms of target coverage, dose compactness, and dose sparing for the normal lung. In dose sparing for other critical organs, DrMAT was less effective than VMAT for the spinal cord, heart, and esophagus while being well within the limits specified by the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group. Delivery accuracy of DrMAT to a moving target was similar to that of VMAT using a gamma criterion of 2%/2mm but was significantly better using a 2%/1mm criterion, implying the superiority of DrMAT over VMAT in SBRT for thoracic/abdominal tumors with respiratory movement. CONCLUSION:We developed a DrMAT technique for SBRT that produces plans of a quality similar to that achieved with VMAT but with better delivery accuracy. This technique is well-suited for small tumors with motion uncertainty

Dosimetric evaluation of respiratory gated volumetric modulated arc therapy for lung stereotactic body radiation therapy using 3D printing technology.

PurposeThis study aimed to evaluate the dosimetric accuracy of respiratory gated volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) for lung stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) under simulation conditions similar to the actual clinical situation using patient-specific lung phantoms and realistic target movements.MethodsSix heterogeneous lung phantoms were fabricated using a 3D-printer (3DISON, ROKIT, Seoul, Korea) to be dosimetrically equivalent to actual target regions of lung SBRT cases treated via gated VMAT. They were designed to move realistically via a motion device (QUASAR, Modus Medical Devices, Canada). Using the lung phantoms and a homogeneous phantom (model 500-3315, Modus Medical Devices), film dosimetry was performed with and without respiratory gating for VMAT delivery (TrueBeam STx; Varian Medical Systems, Palo Alto, CA, USA). The measured results were analyzed with the gamma passing rates (GPRs) of 2%/1 mm criteria, by comparing with the calculated dose via the AXB and AAA algorithms of the Eclipse Treatment Planning System (version 10.0.28; Varian Medical Systems).ResultsGPRs were greater than the acceptance criteria 80% for all film measurements with the stationary and homogeneous phantoms in conventional QAs. Regardless of the heterogeneity of phantoms, there were no significant differences (p > 0.05) in GPRs obtained with and without target motions; the statistical significance (p = 0.031) was presented between both algorithms under the utilization of heterogeneous phantoms.ConclusionsDosimetric verification with heterogeneous patient-specific lung phantoms could be successfully implemented as the evaluation method for gated VMAT delivery. In addition, it could be dosimetrically confirmed that the AXB algorithm improved the dose calculation accuracy under patient-specific simulations using 3D printed lung phantoms

A 10-year clinical outcome of radiotherapy as an adjuvant or definitive treatment for primary tracheal adenoid cystic carcinoma

Abstract Background To evaluate the role of radiotherapy (RT) as an adjuvant or definitive treatment in primary tracheal adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) for local tumor control and survival. Methods A retrospective chart review was performed in 22 patients treated with adjuvant or definitive RT for primary tracheal ACC at a single center between November 1994 and December 2008. Results Thirteen and 9 patients received adjuvant and definitive RT, respectively. Microscopic residual disease after surgery was pathologically reported in 11 patients. The median RT dose was 59.4 Gy for adjuvant and 74.4 Gy for definitive RT. The overall response rate for definitive RT was 77.8%. Six patients in the definitive RT group exhibited local progression (LP), whereas 14 patients in both groups exhibited distant metastasis. The most common recurrence site in cases of treatment failure was the lung parenchyma. The median follow-up duration was 123 months, and the 10-year overall survival (OS) rate was 54.2%. Although LP was the most common cause of death (4 patients), two-thirds of the patients treated with definitive RT lived for >5 years. The 5-year and 10-year LP-free survival (LPFS) rates in the definitive RT group were 66.7 and 26.7%, respectively. Patients with higher RT dose by brachytherapy boost had good 5-year OS, 83.3%, and showed no local progression till 5-years. Most of the RT-induced side-effects were mild and tolerable, but 2 patients died of tracheal stenosis without any tumor recurrence. Conclusions Adjuvant RT may be suitable for controlling microscopic residual disease, whereas definitive RT may yield appropriate long-term survival in >50% patients with unresectable tracheal ACC. Dose escalation should be considered to warrant long-term survival in definitive RT

Protocol for the postoperative radiotherapy in N1 breast cancer patients (PORT-N1) trial, a prospective multicenter, randomized, controlled, non-inferiority trial of patients receiving breast-conserving surgery or mastectomy

Background Postoperative radiotherapy (PORT) could be useful for pN1 breast cancer patients who have undergone breast-conserving surgery (BCS) or mastectomy. However, the value of regional nodal irradiation (RNI) for BCS patients, and the indications for post-mastectomy radiotherapy (PMRT) for pN1 breast cancer mastectomy patients, have recently been challenged due to the absence of relevant trials in the era of modern systemic therapy. “PORT de-escalation” should be assessed in patients with pN1 breast cancer. Methods The PORT-N1 trial is a multicenter, randomized, phase 3 clinical trial for patients with pN1 breast cancer that compares the outcomes of control [whole-breast irradiation (WBI) and RNI/PMRT] and experimental (WBI alone/no PMRT) groups. PORT-N1 aims to demonstrate non-inferiority of the experimental group by comparing 7-year disease-free survival rates with the control group. Female breast cancer patients with pT1-3 N1 status after BCS or mastectomy are eligible. Participants will be randomly assigned to the two groups in a 1:1 ratio. Randomization will be stratified by surgery type (BCS vs. mastectomy) and histologic subtype (triple-negative vs. non-triple-negative). In patients who receive mastectomy, dissection of ≥5 nodes is required when there is one positive node, and axillary lymph node dissection when there are two or three positive nodes. Patients receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy are not eligible. RNI includes a “high-tangent” or wider irradiation field. This study will aim to recruit 1106 patients. Discussion The PORT-N1 trial aims to verify that PORT de-escalation after BCS or mastectomy is safe for pN1 breast cancer patients in terms of oncologic outcomes and capable of reducing toxicity rates. This trial will provide information crucial for designing PORT de-escalation strategies for patients with pN1 breast cancer. Trial registration This trial was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT05440149) on June 30, 2022.This work was supported by the National R&D Program for Cancer Control through the National Cancer Center (NCC) funded by the Ministry of Health & Welfare, Republic of Korea (HA22C0044). The funding source was not involved in design of the study and collection, analysis, and interpretation of data and writing the manuscript