167 Background: Recent studies indicate that radiation exposure to heart may have a greater impact on perioperative cardiac morbidities than do other clinical factors. The purpose of this study is to investigate dose distributions of proton and photon treatment plans in patients (pts) with distal and esophagogastric junction (GEJ) carcinoma, focusing specifically on dose reduction to cardiac structures. Methods: Ten pts between 2010 and 2013 were included in this study. Three separate plans were generated for each patient: 3D proton plan, 3D photon plan, and Intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) photon plan. The clinical target volume (CTV) consisted of the pre-operative extent of tumor plus a 10mm manual expansion in all directions. The planning target volume (PTV) was generated by a further expansion on the CTV ranging from 10-15mm. A dose of 50.4Gy given in 28 fractions was delivered to the PTV. All plans were optimized to allow 90% isodose coverage of at least 95% of the PTV. Dose-volume histograms were calculated and analyzed in order to compare plans between the three modalities. ANOVA and two-tailed paired t-tests were performed for all data parameters. Results: The 3D proton plans showed decreased dose to partial volumes of the entire heart, arteries, valves, atria, and ventricles in comparison to both the IMRT and 3D photon plans (see Table). The IMRT plans showed decreased dose delivered to the LAD artery, pericardium, and atria in comparison to the 3D photon plans (see Table). Conclusions: For pts receiving radiation therapy for distal esophageal and GEJ cancer, proton plans are technically feasible with adequate coverage while resulting in lower dose to cardiac structures. This may result in decreased cardiac toxicity and less complications in a multimodality setting. [Table: see text]
Abstract Purpose: Pancreatic cancer is a highly aggressive malignancy. Chemoradiation therapy (CRT) is used in many cases to improve local-regional control; however, toxicities associated with radiation can be significant given the location of the pancreas. The purpose of this study is to quantify the dosimetric changes seen when using photons or protons in patients receiving CRT for cancer of the pancreas. Patients and Methods: Ten patients with pancreatic head adenocarcinoma treated between 2010 and 2013 were evaluated in this study. All patients underwent simulation with contrast-enhanced computed tomography imaging. Separate treatment plans using proton radiation therapy, intensity-modulated radiation therapy, and 3-dimensional photon radiation therapy modalities were created for each patient. Dose-volume histograms were calculated and analyzed to compare plans between the 3 modalities. The organs at risk evaluated in this study are the kidneys, liver, small bowel, and spinal cord. To determine statis...
Background. While neoadjuvant concurrent chemoradiotherapy has improved outcomes for esophageal cancer patients, surgical complication rates remain high. The most frequent perioperative complications after trimodality therapy were cardiopulmonary in nature. The radiation modality utilized can be a strong mitigating factor of perioperative complications given the location of the esophagus and its proximity to the heart and lungs. The purpose of this study is to make a dosimetric comparison of Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT), proton and 3D conformal radiotherapy (3D-CRT) with regard to reducing perioperative cardiopulmonary complications in esophageal cancer patients. Materials. Ten patients with esophageal cancer treated between 2010 and 2013 were evaluated in this study. All patients were simulated with contrast-enhanced CT imaging. Separate treatment plans using proton radiotherapy, IMRT, and 3D-CRT modalities were created for each patient. Dose-volume histograms were calculated and analyzed to compare plans between the three modalities. The organs at risk (OAR) being evaluated in this study are the heart, lungs, and spinal cord. To determine statistical significance, ANOVA and two-tailed paired t-tests were performed for all data parameters. Results. The proton plans showed decreased dose to various volumes of the heart and lungs in comparison to both the IMRT and 3D-CRT plans. There was no difference between the IMRT and 3D-CRT plans in dose delivered to the lung or heart. This finding was seen consistently across the parameters analyzed in this study. Conclusions. In patients receiving radiation therapy for esophageal cancer, proton plans are technically feasible while achieving adequate coverage with lower doses delivered to the lungs and cardiac structures. This may result in decreased cardiopulmonary toxicity and less morbidity to esophageal cancer patients.
369 Background: The purpose of this study is to investigate dose distributions of proton and intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) photon treatment plans in patients with resected pancreatic adenocarcinoma, focusing specifically on dose reduction to the kidney, liver, and small bowel as organs at risk. Methods: Ten patients with pancreatic head adenocarcinoma underwent Whipple procedure between 2010 and 2013 were included in this study. Most of the patients had locally advanced disease (T3-4N1). All patients were simulated with contrast-enhanced CT imaging. The clinical target volume (CTV) consisted of the pre-operative extent of tumor plus a 10 mm manual expansion in all directions. The planning target volume (PTV) was generated by a further expansion on the CTV ranging from 10-15 mm. A dose of 50.4 Gy given in 28 fractions was delivered to the PTV. All plans were optimized to allow 95% isodose coverage of at least 95% of the PTV. Dose-volume histograms, conformity index (CI), uniformity index (UI), homogeneity index (HI), were calculated and analyzed in order to compare plans between the two modalities. The OAR being evaluated in this study are the kidneys, liver, small bowel, and spinal cord. To determine statistical significance, ANOVA and two-tailed paired t-tests were performed for all data parameters. Results: The proton plans resulted in a lower mean kidney dose (3.17 Gy vs. 9.59 Gy, p=0.039), a lower dose delivered to 1/3 of the liver, D1/3, (0.25 Gy vs. 4.56 Gy, p=0.003), and a lower mean liver dose (1.83 Gy vs. 5.24 Gy, p=0.021). See table for a summary of the results. Conclusions: For patients receiving postoperative radiotherapy for pancreatic cancer, the proton plans are technically feasible and dosimetrically appealing with superior organ at risk sparing compared to IMRT photon treatment plans.[Table: see text]