Comparison of PDR brachytherapy and external beam radiation therapy in the case of breast cancer.

Pulsed dose rate brachytherapy (PDR) was compared to external beam radiation therapy (EBRT) in the case of breast cancer. The benefits were figured out by evaluation of dosimetric parameters and calculating the normal tissue complication probability (NTCP). PDR plans were set up for five randomly chosen left-sided breast cancer patients delivering a total dose of 50.4 Gy to the target (dose rate 0.8 Gy h(-1)). For EBRT five left-sided breast cancer patients were planned using 3D-conformal tangential photon beams with a prescribed total dose of 50 Gy (2 Gy/fraction) to the total breast volume. For plan ranking and NTCP calculation the physical dose was first converted into the biologically effective dose (BED) and then into the normalized total dose (NTD) using the linear quadratic model with an alpha/beta ratio of 3 Gy. In PDR the relative effectiveness (RE) was calculated for each dose bin of the differential dose volume histogram to get the BED. NTCPs were calculated for the ipsilateral lung and the heart as contoured on CT slices based on the Lyman model and the Kutcher reduction scheme. Dosimetric parameters as V(th) (percentage of the total volume exceeding a threshold dose) and Jackson's f(dam) (fraction of the organ damaged) were also used to figure out the benefits. The comparison of calculated NTCPs in PDR and EBRT showed no difference between these two modalities. All values were below 0.01%. f(dam) derived from EBRT was always higher (mean value 8.95% versus 1.21% for the lung). The mean V(10) and V(20) of the lung related to BED were 6.32% and 1.72% for PDR versus 11.72% and 9.59% for EBRT. When using dosimetric parameters as V(th) and f(dam), PDR was mostly superior to EBRT in respect of sparing normal tissues. NTCP calculation as a single method of modality ranking showed a lack of information, especially when normal tissue was exposed to low radiation doses.

Targeted radionuclide therapy: theoretical study of the relationship between tumour control probability and tumour radius for a 32P/33P radionuclide cocktail.

As revealed by previous theoretical studies, targeted radionuclide therapy (TRT) that relies on a single beta-emitting radioisotope is likely to be inappropriate for clinical scenarios such as disseminated malignancy. For a patient with a vast number of tumours and metastases of largely differing sizes a high level of therapeutical efficiency might be achieved only for a restricted range of tumour sizes. This is due to the limited range of beta-electrons in human tissue, essentially causing the therapeutical impact to vary tremendously with tumour size. The dependence of curability on the tumour dimension is expected to be significantly altered if a radionuclide cocktail, consisting of a long-range and a short-range beta-emitter, such as (32)P and (33)P, is involved in the treatment. In this study, a radiation transport simulation was performed, using the MCNP4c2 Monte Carlo code, in order to investigate the relationship between tumour control probability (TCP) and tumour size, associated with concurrent use of (32)P and (33)P. Two different models of intratumoural distribution of cumulated activity were taken into account. One simulated an ideal radionuclide uptake in tumour tissue and the other referred to a limited radiotracer penetration. The results were examined in comparison to tumours targeted with pure (32)P, (33)P and (131)I. For both uptake scenarios a considerable reduction of the overall variation of TCP and thus an increasing chance of achieving tumour cure was observed for tumour sizes ranging from microscopic dimensions up to macroscopic diameters, if the targeted radionuclide treatment relies on a (32)P/(33)P cocktail. It was revealed that particular attention has to be given to the ratio of the (32)P and (33)P specific cumulated activities (SCA) in the tumour, since this is a significant determinant of the resulting behaviour of tumour control probability as the tumour diameter varies. This study suggests that a 32P/33P approach is more applicable to diseases that involve a variety of tumours and metastases differing in size.

Full Scale IQ (FSIQ) changes in children treated with whole brain and partial brain irradiation. A review and analysis.

PURPOSE: Neuropsychological impairment has been reported following whole brain and partial brain irradiation in children. The purpose of this analysis was to assess current knowledge, with focus on correlation with radiation dose, irradiated volume and age. METHOD: Full Scale IQ (FSIQ) data, representing 1,938 children, were derived from 36 publications and analyzed as to radiation dose, irradiated volume, and age. RESULTS: FSIQ after whole brain irradiation showed a non-linear decline as dosage increased. The dose-effect relationship was age-related, with more pronounced FSIQ decline at younger age. FSIQ test results below the normal level (< 85) were found at doses higher than 24 and 36 Gy in children under age 3, and older than age 6, respectively. Mean FSIQ test result after 18 Gy was 100, thus at the mean standard value; a minor decline was detectable only when compared to test results of a control group. Young children scored at this dose in the low normal range. Partial brain irradiation caused minor FSIQ decline, with measurable effects at dose levels > 50 Gy. CONCLUSION: The collected data suggest that whole brain irradiation doses of 18 and 24 Gy have no major impact on intellectual outcome in children older than age 6, but may cause impairment in younger children. Doses > 24 Gy comprise a substantial risk for FSIQ decline, even in older children. At equal dose levels, partial brain irradiation is less damaging than whole brain irradiation. The authors are well aware of limitations in the interpretation of data collected for the current review. Thus, further research is required to evaluate the effect of low-dose whole brain irradiation as well as partial brain irradiation on FSIQ development.

Normal tissue complication probability (NTCP) calculations as a means to compare proton and photon plans and evaluation of clinical appropriateness of calculated values.

Calculation of normal tissue complication probabilities (NTCP) for proton radiation therapy (PRT) and two photon radiation therapy techniques for cranial irradiation of childhood optic nerve gliomas was made. Evaluation of usefulness of calculated NTCP values for comparison of treatment plans and clinical appropriateness of computed data was used. Three radiation plans were calculated on datasets of children treated previously for optic nerve gliomas with PRT. Dose-volume histograms (DVH) were computed and used to calculate NTCP. Evaluated complication endpoints were necrosis, blindness, and cognitive impairment. Calculated NTCP depended strongly on tumor volume and the normal tissue volume exposed to high radiation doses. Dose conformity and steeper dose-gradient correlated with reduced NTCP. Regarding the chosen complication endpoints, PRT was superior to 3D photons; conventional photons were calculated to have the highest NTCPs. Differences might reach clinical significance for cognitive impairment, a frequently observed toxicity. Calculated NTCP values were highly dependent on implemented clinical data. Calculation of NTCP can be used for ranking of treatment plans and modalities. Highly dependent on implemented clinical data, the calculated percentage of NTCP might be more of a figure of merit than a real predictive value and requires comparison to clinical experience. Int. J. Cancer (Radiat. Oncol. Invest.) 90, 351-358 (2000).