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Objective:To design and evaluate the application value of intracavitary-interstitial brachytherapy (IC-ISBT) applicator template for locally advanced cervical cancer.Methods:MRI data of 100 patients with ⅡB-ⅣA stage cervical cancer (International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics 2018 staging system) before and after external beam radiation therapy (EBRT) admitted to Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center from March 2019 to September 2020 were collected. The range of primary cervical lesions was retrospectively analyzed and compared. Based on the residual mass of patients, the corresponding high-risk clinical target volume (HR-CTV) was delineated, and the IC-ISBT applicator template was designed and initially applied to cervical cancer patients. Dosimetry analysis and efficacy evaluation were compared between the applicator template-guided ( n=37) and free-hand implantation groups ( n=63). Chi-square test or Fisher exact test was performed for categorical variables, and t-test or U-test for continuous variables. Results:The median distance between the residual tumor margin (clockwise 3, 6, 9, 12 o'clock) and the center of 100 patients with ⅡB-ⅣA stage cervical cancer after EBRT was 16.5, 14.0, 17.0 and 13.0 mm, respectively. The corresponding HR-CTV was superimposed to reconstruct the three-dimensional diagram, and the cylindrical IC-ISBT applicator template with mushroom-like head was designed and manufactured: the longest and shortest diameter of the head was 35 and 20 mm, respectively; the central channel was adapted to the uterine tube, the C1-C12 channels was arranged in inner circle, and the peripheral B1-B5 and A1-A4 pin channels were expanded bilaterally. In terms of dose coverage, there was no significant difference between the HR-CTV D 90% [(635.12±22.65) vs. (635.80±25.84) cGy], bladder D 2 cm3 [(473.79±44.78) vs. (463.55±66.43) cGy)], rectum D 2 cm3 [(396.99±73.54) vs. (408.00±73.94) cGy] and sigmoid colon D 2 cm3 [(293.07±152.72) vs. (311.31±135.77) cGy] between the template-guided and free-hand implantation groups (all P>0.05), but the HR-CTV D 98% was significantly higher [(544.78±32.07) vs. (536.78±32.04) cGy, P=0.007] and the rectum D 1 cm3 and D 0.1 cm3 were significantly lower [(438.62±69.65) vs. (453.97±67.89) cGy, P=0.016; (519.46±70.67) vs. (543.82±81.24) cGy, P=0.001] in the template-guided implantation group. In addition, there was no significant difference in the complete response rate between two groups (86% vs. 83%, P>0.05). Conclusions:This IC-ISBT applicator template is reasonably designed, and the therapeutic efficacy of the template-guided implantation is equivalent to that of free-hand implantation. The dose coverage of the target area meets the clinical demand with a better protection of the organs at risk. The applicator template has the potential to be widely used as a conventional template in clinical practice as the applicator-guided implantation is convenient to operate and repeat.
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Objective:To provide a basis for selecting the optimization method for intracavitary/interstitial brachytherapy (IC/ISBT) of cervical cancer by comparing graphical optimization (GO), inverse planning simulated annealing (IPSA), and hybrid inverse planning optimization (HIPO) using dosimetric and radiobiological models.Methods:This study selected 65 patients with cervical cancer who were treated with image-guided IC/ISBT. The afterloading therapy plans for these patients were optimized using GO, IPSA, and HIPO individually, with a prescription dose high-risk clinical target volume (HRCTV) D90 of 6 Gy. The non-parametric Friedman test and the non-parametric Wilcoxon rank test were employed to analyze the differences in duration, dose-volume parameters, and radiobiology between the three types of optimized plans. Results:Inverse planning optimization (IPSA: 46.53 s; HIPO: 98.36 s) took less time than GO (135.03 s). In terms of gross target volume (GTV) dose, the high-dose irradiation V150% (53.66%) was slightly higher in the HIPO-optimized plans, while the V200% (30.29%) was higher in the GO-optimized plans. The GO-optimized plans had a higher conformity index (CI; 0.91) than other plans, showing statistically significant differences. Compared with other plans, the HIPO-optimized plans showed the lowest doses of D1 cm 3 and D2 cm 3 at bladders and rectums and non-statistically significant doses at small intestines ( P > 0.05). In terms of the equivalent uniform biologically effective dose (EUBED) for HRCTV, the HIPO-optimized plans showed a higher value (12.35 Gy) than the GO-optimized plans (12.23 Gy) and the IPSA-optimized plans (12.13 Gy). Moreover, the EUBED at bladders was the lowest (2.38 Gy) in the GO-optimized plans, the EUBED at rectums was the lowest (3.74 Gy) in the HIPO-optimized plans, and the EUBED at small intestines was non-significantly different among the three types of optimized plans ( P = 0.055). There was no significant difference in the tumor control probability (TCP) predicted using the three types of optimized plans ( P > 0.05). The normal tissue complication probabilities (NTCPs) of bladders and rectums predicted using the HIPO-optimized plans were lower than those predicted using the GO- and IPSA-optimized plans( χ2 = 12.95-38.43, P < 0.01), and the NTCP of small intestines did not show significant differences ( P > 0.05). Conclusions:Among the three types of optimization algorithms, inverse optimization takes less time than GO. GO-optimized plans are more conformal than IPSA- and HIPO-optimized plans. HIPO-optimized plans can increase the biological coverage dose of the target volume and reduce the maximum physical/biological exposure and NTCP at bladders and rectums. Therefore, HIPO is recommended preferentially as an optimization algorithm for IC/ISBT for cervical cancer.
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Objective:To compare the dosimetry and efficacy of intracavitary brachytherapy (ICBT) and intracavitary/interstitial brachytherapy (IC+ ISBT) based on CT image guidance in the treatment of stage Ⅲ B cervical cancer. Methods:Clinical data of 93 patients with stage Ⅲ B cervical cancer treated in Department of Radiotherapy of Jilin Cancer Hospital from June 2014 to February 2017 were analyzed retrospectively. According to the results of Gynecological examination and pelvic MRI before brachytherapy, confirming the size of residual tumor and the degree of parauterine infiltration, all patients were divided into the ICBT and IC+ ISBT groups. The D 90%, D 100%, V 100% and D 2cm 3 of bladder and rectum were compared, and the short-term and long-term efficacy was observed between two groups. Results:The median follow-up time was 60 months. The 5-year local control rate, distant metastasis-free survival rate and overall survival rate of all patients were 83%, 71% and 68%, respectively. Compared with the ICBT group, HR-CTV D 90% in the IC+ ISBT group was all more than 85 Gy, while there was no significant difference between two groups ( P=0.188). The D 2cm 3 of bladder and rectum in the IC+ ISBT group was significantly decreased by 7 Gy and 8 Gy (both P<0.01), and the distant metastasis-free survival rate was significantly improved ( P=0.009). The 5-year local control rate in the HR-CTV volume>60 cm 3 in the IC+ ISBT group was significantly higher than that in the IC group ( P=0.029). Conclusion:For patients with Ⅲ B cervical cancer, IC+ ISBT can not only ensure target coverage, but also significantly reduce the incidence of distant metastasis and the dose of organs at risk, and significantly improve the local control rate of large tumors.
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Objectives: The aim of this study is to address the limitation of combined intracavitary-interstitial (IC/IS) brachytherapy (BT) in locally advanced cervical cancer using standardized applicators and to determine the optimal dose distribution in patients with challenging tumors, innovative methods of customizing and optimizing the IS needle configuration for combined IC/IS BT are proposed and investigated. Materials and Methods: A software module that could customize the IS needle configuration and subsequently generate the digital model of guiding template for three-dimensional printing was developed and integrated into our in-house treatment planning system for BT. The inverse optimization method based on the technique of mixed-integer linear programming was introduced to determine the needle tracks out of a candidate pool and dwell times at corresponding locations to best meet dose objectives. A treatment planning study was conducted to evaluate the feasibility and performance of the proposed methods. Results: The workflow for combined IC/IS BT with customized and inverse optimized IS needle configuration was presented. Dosimetric results of the treatment planning study showed that sufficient target coverage could be obtained with the customized IS needle configuration for challenging cases. The proposed dose-based optimization method for IS needle configuration was feasible and effective. Improved target coverage and organ-at-risk sparing were achieved using the inverse planning method. Conclusions: Using the proposed methods of customizing and optimizing the IS needle configuration, the limitation in the standardized design of combined IC/IS applicators can be addressed, and sufficient target coverage is obtained in cervical cancer patients with unfavorable tumor topography and/or extra lateral expansion.
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Objective To compare and analyze the dosimetric discrepancy of combind intracavitary/interstitial brachytherapy using three different kinds of optimization method in locally advanced cervical cancer.Methods Totally 20 cases of locally advanced cervical cancer were selected and divided into three groups according to different optimization method which include manual optimization group (MO) based on graphical optimization,inverse planning simulated annealing (IPSA 1)based on simulated annealing optimization algorithm,IPSA 2 based on IPSA 1 with limitation on maximum dose of target.The dose volume histogram parameters of the targets (V200,V150,V100,D100,D90,HI) and the OARs(D0.1 cm3,D1 cm3 and D2 cm3) were analyzed.Results For CTV,compared with MO,there was no significantly statistical difference in D100between IPSA 1 and IPSA 2(P ＞ 0.05).However,V200,V150,V100 and HI for ISPA1 were better than for ISPA2 (t =-3.422-9.910,P ＜ 0.05).In addition,V100 and D100 in ISPA1 were better than in ISPA2 (t =7.238,5.032,P ＜0.05).For OARs,D0.1 cm3,D1 cm3 and D2 cm3 in rectum,bladder,sigmoid colon of both ISPA 1 and ISPA 2 were dramatically lower than those of MO (t =2.235 5.819,P ＜ 0.05),without significantly statistical difference found between ISPA1 and ISPA2.Conclusions For combined intracavitary/interstitial brachytherapy in locally advanced cervical cancer,all treatment plans based on three different kinds of optimization methods can meet the clinical need.Moreover,inverse optimization can ensure dose coverage over target and reduce maximum dose of rectum,bladder and sigmoid colon.
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Objective To compare the difference of dose distribution between inverse planning simulated annealing (IPSA) and hybrid inverse treatment planning and optimization (HIPO) in 3D brachytherapy plan of cervical cancer,and to provide evidence for selection of reverse planning optimization method for cervical cancer brachytherapy.Methods From Dec 2016 to May 2017,totally 43 cases of patients with cervical cancer radical surgery were selected.Original IPSA brachytherapy treatment plan optimization was applied to all cases.Based on the information of original image,IPSA and HIPO plans were established according to the same initial conditions.Parameters of Dg0,D100,V100％,Homogeneity Index (HI),and conformal index (CI) of the bladder,rectum and sigmoid D2 cm3 data for High-Risk Clinical Target Volume (HR-CTV) were assessed.Results There was no statistically significant difference in D90,D100 and CI for HR-CTV between the two groups.But the V100％ of HR-CTV in HIPO group was significantly higher than that in IPSA group [(87.72 ±0.49)％ vs.(85.01 ± 0.55)％,t =2.54,P ＜0.05].Furthermore,HI in HIPO group was (0.51 ±0.08),which was higher than that in IPSA group (0.42 ± 0.06),and the difference was statistically significant (t =3.02,P ＜ 0.05).Compared with IPSA,bladder D2 cm3 and rectum D2 cm3 [(3.04 ± 0.37) Gy] for HIPO plan were lower [(3.42 ± 0.17) Gy vs.(3.57 ± 0.28) Gy,(3.04 ± 0.37) Gy vs.(3.57 ± 0.28) Gy],which had reached statistical significance (t =0.27,0.19,P ＜ 0.05).There was no statistical significance in the D2 cm3 dose of sigmoid.Conclusions In the treatment of cervical cancer,better target area HI and less irradiated dose of bladder and rectum can be obtained by HIPO optimization than IPSA optimization.
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To illustrate the kinds of applicator, indication, side effects, long term follow?up results, clinical experience and the latest developments of intracavitary/interstitial brachytherapy (IC/IS?BT),more than 50 research articles concerning IC/IS?BT about cervical cancer were reviewed.