Total radiation dose is not a reliable measure of biological effect when dose-per-fraction or dose-rate is changed. Large differences in biological effectiveness (per gray) are seen between the 2 Gy ...doses of external beam radiotherapy and the large boost doses given at high dose-rate from afterloading sources. The effects are profoundly different in rapidly or slowly proliferating tissues, that is for most tumors versus late complications. These differences work the opposite way round for prostate tumors versus late complications compared with most other types of tumor. Using the Linear-Quadratic formula it is aimed to explain these differences, especially for treatments of prostate cancer. The unusually slow growth rate of prostate cancers is associated with their high sensitivity to increased fraction size, so a large number of small fractions, such as 35 or 40 "daily" doses of 2 Gy, is not an optimum treatment. Theoretical modeling shows a stronger enhancement of tumor effect than of late complications for larger (and fewer) fractions, in prostate tumors uniquely. Biologically Effective Doses and Normalized Total Doses (in 2 Gy fraction equivalents) are given for prostate tumor, late rectal reactions, and-a new development-acute rectal mucosa. Tables showing the change of fraction-size sensitivity (the alpha/beta ratio) with proliferation rates of tissues lead to the association of slow cell doubling times in prostate tumors with small α/β ratios. Clinical evidence to confirm this biological expectation is reviewed. The α/β ratios of prostate tumors appear to be as low as 1.5 Gy (95% confidence interval 1.3-1.8 Gy), in contrast with the value of about 10 Gy for most other types of tumor. The important point is that α/β=1.5 Gy appears to be significantly less than the α/β=3 Gy for late complications in rectal tissues. Such differences are also emerging from recent clinical results. From this important difference stems the superior schedules of, for example, 20 fractions of 3 Gy, or 10 fractions of 4.7 Gy, or 5 fractions of 7 Gy, which can all give tumor results equivalent to 80-90 Gy in 2 Gy fractions, while keeping late complications equivalent to only 72 Gy in 2 Gy fractions. Combination treatments of external beam (EBRT) and brachytherapy boost doses (25F×2 Gy plus 2×10 Gy) can give higher biological tumor effects than any EBRT using daily 2 Gy doses, and with acceptable late complications. Monotherapy by brachytherapy for low-risk cancer prostate using two to four fractions in a few days can give even higher biological effects on the tumors.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
To evaluate the feasibility and toxicity of stereotactic hypofractionated accurate radiotherapy (SHARP) for localized prostate cancer.
A Phase I/II trial of SHARP performed for localized prostate ...cancer using 33.5 Gy in 5 fractions, calculated to be biologically equivalent to 78 Gy in 2 Gy fractions (alpha/beta ratio of 1.5 Gy). Noncoplanar conformal fields and daily stereotactic localization of implanted fiducials were used for treatment. Genitourinary (GU) and gastrointestinal (GI) toxicity were evaluated by American Urologic Association (AUA) score and Common Toxicity Criteria (CTC). Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) values and self-reported sexual function were recorded at specified follow-up intervals.
The study includes 40 patients. The median follow-up is 41 months (range, 21-60 months). Acute toxicity Grade 1-2 was 48.5% (GU) and 39% (GI); 1 acute Grade 3 GU toxicity. Late Grade 1-2 toxicity was 45% (GU) and 37% (GI). No late Grade 3 or higher toxicity was reported. Twenty-six patients reported potency before therapy; 6 (23%) have developed impotence. Median time to PSA nadir was 18 months with the majority of nadirs less than 1.0 ng/mL. The actuarial 48-month biochemical freedom from relapse is 70% for the American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology definition and 90% by the alternative nadir + 2 ng/mL failure definition.
SHARP for localized prostate cancer is feasible with minimal acute or late toxicity. Dose escalation should be possible.
To evaluate the long-term efficacy and toxicity of a hypofractionated (55 Gy in 20 fractions within 4 weeks) vs. a conventionally fractionated (64 Gy in 32 fractions within 6.5 weeks) dose schedule ...for radiotherapy (RT) for localized carcinoma of the prostate.
A total of 217 patients were randomized to either the hypofractionated (n=108) or the conventional (n=109) dose schedule. Most patients (n=156) underwent RT planning and RT using a two-dimensional computed tomography method. Efficacy using the clinical, radiologic, and prostate-specific antigen data in each patient was evaluated before RT and at predetermined intervals after RT until death. Gastrointestinal and genitourinary toxicity using the modified Late Effect in Normal Tissue-Subjective Objective Management Analytic (LENT-SOMA) scales was also evaluated before and at intervals after RT to 60 months.
The whole group has now been followed for a median of 90 months (range, 3-138). Of the 217 patients, 85 developed biochemical relapse (nadir prostate-specific antigen level+2 μg/L), 36 in the hypofractionated and 49 in the conventional group. The biochemical relapse-free, but not overall, survival at 90 months was significantly better with the hypofractionated (53%) than with the conventional (34%) schedule. Gastrointestinal and genitourinary toxicity persisted 60 months after RT and did not differ between the two dose schedules. Multivariate analyses revealed that the conventional schedule was of independent prognostic significance, not only for biochemical failure, but also for an increased risk of worse genitourinary symptoms at 4 years.
A therapeutic advantage of the hypofractionated compared with the conventional dose schedule for RT of prostate cancer was evident at 90 months in the present study.
Radiobiologic modeling is increasingly used to estimate the effects of altered treatment plans, especially for dose escalation. The present article shows how much the linear-quadratic (LQ) ...(calculated biologically equivalent dose BED varies when individual parameters of the LQ formula are varied by +/-20% and by 1%.
Equivalent total doses (EQD2 = normalized total doses (NTD) in 2-Gy fractions for tumor control, acute mucosal reactions, and late complications were calculated using the linear- quadratic formula with overall time: BED = nd (1 + d/ alpha/beta) - log(e)2 (T - Tk) / alphaTp, where BED is BED = total dose x relative effectiveness (RE = nd (1 + d/ alpha/beta). Each of the five biologic parameters in turn was altered by +/-10%, and the altered EQD2s tabulated; the difference was finally divided by 20. EQD2 or NTD is obtained by dividing BED by the RE for 2-Gy fractions, using the appropriate alpha/beta ratio.
Variations in tumor and acute mucosal EQD ranged from 0.1% to 0.45% per 1% change in each parameter for conventional schedules, the largest variation being caused by overall time. Variations in "late" EQD were 0.4% to 0.6% per 1% change in the only biologic parameter, the alpha/beta ratio. For stereotactic body radiotherapy schedules, variations were larger, up to 0.6 to 0.9 for tumor and 1.6% to 1.9% for late, per 1% change in parameter.
Robustness occurs similar to that of equivalent uniform dose (EUD), for the same reasons. Total dose, dose per fraction, and dose-rate cause their major effects, as well known.
We reviewed the treatment for patients with spine metastases who initially received conventional external beam radiation (EBRT) and were reirradiated with 1-5 fractions of stereotactic body ...radiotherapy (SBRT) who did or did not subsequently develop radiation myelopathy (RM).
Spinal cord dose-volume histograms (DVHs) for 5 RM patients (5 spinal segments) and 14 no-RM patients (16 spine segments) were based on thecal sac contours at retreatment. Dose to a point within the thecal sac that receives the maximum dose (P(max)), and doses to 0.1-, 1.0-, and 2.0-cc volumes within the thecal sac were reviewed. The biologically effective doses (BED) using α/β = 2 Gy for late spinal cord toxicity were calculated and normalized to a 2-Gy equivalent dose (nBED = Gy(2/2)).
The initial conventional radiotherapy nBED ranged from ~30 to 50 Gy(2/2) (median ~40 Gy(2/2)). The SBRT reirradiation thecal sac mean P(max) nBED in the no-RM group was 20.0 Gy(2/2) (95% confidence interval CI, 10.8-29.2), which was significantly lower than the corresponding 67.4 Gy(2/2) (95% CI, 51.0-83.9) in the RM group. The mean total P(max) nBED in the no-RM group was 62.3 Gy(2/2) (95% CI, 50.3-74.3), which was significantly lower than the corresponding 105.8 Gy(2/2) (95% CI, 84.3-127.4) in the RM group. The fraction of the total P(max) nBED accounted for by the SBRT P(max) nBED for the RM patients ranged from 0.54 to 0.78 and that for the no-RM patients ranged from 0.04 to 0.53.
SBRT given at least 5 months after conventional palliative radiotherapy with a reirradiation thecal sac P(max) nBED of 20-25 Gy(2/2) appears to be safe provided the total P(max) nBED does not exceed approximately 70 Gy(2/2), and the SBRT thecal sac P(max) nBED comprises no more than approximately 50% of the total nBED.
Dosimetric data are reported for five cases of radiation-induced myelopathy after stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) to spinal tumors. Analysis per the biologically effective dose (BED) model was ...performed.
Five patients with radiation myelopathy were compared to a subset of 19 patients with no radiation myelopathy post-SBRT. In all patients, the thecal sac was contoured to represent the spinal cord, and doses to the maximum point, 0.1-, 1-, 2-, and 5-cc volumes, were analyzed. The mean normalized 2-Gy-equivalent BEDs (nBEDs), calculated using an alpha/beta value of 2 for late toxicity with units Gy 2/2, were compared using the t test and analysis of variance test.
Radiation myelopathy was observed at the maximum point with doses of 25.6 Gy in two fractions, 30.9 Gy in three fractions, and 14.8, 13.1, and 10.6 Gy in one fraction. Overall, there was a significant interaction between patient subsets and volume based on the nBED (p = 0.0003). Given individual volumes, a significant difference was observed for the mean maximum point nBED (p = 0.01).
The maximum point dose should be respected for spine SBRT. For single-fraction SBRT 10 Gy to a maximum point is safe, and up to five fractions an nBED of 30 to 35 Gy 2/2 to the thecal sac also poses a low risk of radiation myelopathy.
To answer the questions: Is the α/β ratio (radiosensitivity to size of dose-per-fraction) really low enough to justify using a few large dose fractions instead of the traditional many small doses? ...Does this parameter vary with prognostic risk factors?
Three large statistical overviews are critiqued, with results for 5,000, 6,000 and 14,000 patients with prostate carcinoma, respectively.
These major analyses agree in finding the average α/β ratio to be less than 2 Gy: 1.55, (95% confidence interval=0.46-4.52), 1.4 (0.9-2.2), and the third analysis 1.7 (1.4-2.2) by the ASTRO and 1.6 (1.2-2.2) by Phoenix criteria. All agree that α/β values do not vary significantly with the low, intermediate, high and "all-included" risk factors.
The high sensitivity to dose-per-fraction is an intrinsic property of prostate carcinomas and this supports the use of hypo-fractionation to increase the therapeutic gain for these tumours with dose-volume modelling to reduce the risk of late complications in rectum and bladder.
To compare the toxicity and efficacy of hypofractionated (62 Gy/20 fractions/5 weeks, 4 fractions per week) vs. conventional fractionation radiotherapy (80 Gy/40 fractions/8 weeks) in patients with ...high-risk prostate cancer.
From January 2003 to December 2007, 168 patients were randomized to receive either hypofractionated or conventional fractionated schedules of three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy to the prostate and seminal vesicles. All patients received a 9-month course of total androgen deprivation (TAD), and radiotherapy started 2 months thereafter.
The median (range) follow-up was 32 (8-66) and 35 (7-64) months in the hypofractionation and conventional fractionation arms, respectively. No difference was found for late toxicity between the two treatment groups, with 3-year Grade 2 rates of 17% and 16% for gastrointestinal and 14% and 11% for genitourinary in the hypofractionation and conventional fractionation groups, respectively. The 3-year freedom from biochemical failure (FFBF) rates were 87% and 79% in the hypofractionation and conventional fractionation groups, respectively (p = 0.035). The 3-year FFBF rates in patients at a very high risk (i.e., pretreatment prostate-specific antigen (iPSA) >20 ng/mL, Gleason score >or=8, or T >or=2c), were 88% and 76% (p = 0.014) in the former and latter arm, respectively. The multivariate Cox analysis confirmed fractionation, iPSA, and Gleason score as significant prognostic factors.
Our findings suggest that late toxicity is equivalent between the two treatment groups and that the hypofractionated schedule used in this trial is superior to the conventional fractionation in terms of FFBF.
A challenge to traditional radiation oncology Fowler, Jack F.; Tomé, Wolfgang A.; Fenwick, John D. ...
International journal of radiation oncology, biology, physics,
11/2004, Letnik:
60, Številka:
4
Journal Article
Recenzirano
To investigate and compare the biologically effective doses, equivalent doses in 2-Gy fractions, log tumor cells killed, and late effects that can be estimated for the large fractions in short ...overall times that are now being delivered in various clinically used schedules in several countries for the treatment of cancer in human lungs, liver, and kidney.
Linear quadratic (LQ) modeling is employed with only the standard assumptions that tumor α/β ratio is 10 Gy, pneumonitis and late complication α/β ratios are 3 Gy, that intrinsic radiosensitivity of tumor cells is 0.35 ln/Gy, that no tumor repopulation occurs within 2 weeks, and that LQmodeling is valid up to 23 Gy per fraction. As well as the planning target volume (PTV), we propose a practical term called the prescription isodose volume (PIV) to be used in this discussion. In the ideal case of 100% conformity, PIV equals PTV, but usually PIV is larger than the PTV. Biologically effective doses (BED) in Gy
10 for tumors or Gy
3 for normal lung are calculated and converted to equivalent doses in 2 Gy fractions (= normalized total doses NTD), and to estimated log cell kill. How such large biologic doses might be delivered to tissues is discussed.
Tumor cell kill varies between 16 and 27 logs to base 10 for schedules from 4F × 12 Gy to 3F × 23 Gy. The rationale for the high end of this scale is the possible presence of hypoxic or otherwise extraordinarily resistant cells, but how many tumors and which ones require such doses is not known. How can such large doses be tolerated? In “parallel type organs,” it is shown to be theoretically possible, provided that suitably small volumes are irradiated, with rapid fall-off of dose outside the PTV, and a mean dose (excluding PTV and allowing for local fraction size) to both lungs of less than 19 Gy NTD. If suitably small PTVs were used, local late BEDs have been given which were as large as 600 Gy
3, equivalent to 2 Gy × 180F = 360 Gy in 2-Gy fractions, with remarkably few complications reported clinically. Questions of concurrent chemotherapy and microscopic extension of lung tumor cells are discussed briefly.
Such large doses can apparently be given, with suitable precautions and experience. Ongoing clinical trials from an increasing number of centers will be reporting the results of tumor control and complications from this new modality of biologically higher doses.
