Software simulation of tumour motion dose effects during flattened and unflattened ITV-based VMAT lung SBRT

PurposeRestricted studies comparing different dose rate parameters are available while ITV-based VMAT lung SBRT planning leads to perform the analysis of the most suitable parameters of the external beams used. The special emphasis was placed on the impact of dose rate on dose distribution variations in target volumes due to interplay effects.MethodsFour VMAT plans were calculated for 15 lung tumours using 6 MV photon beam quality (flattening filter FF vs. flattening filter free FFF beams) and maximum dose rate of 600 MU/min, 1000 MU/min and 1400 MU/min. Three kinds of motion simulations were performed finally giving 180 plans with perturbed dose distributions.Results6FFF-1400 MUs/min plans were characterized by the shortest beam on time (1.8 ± 0.2 min). Analysing the performed motion simulation results, the mean dose (Dmean) is not a sensitive parameter to related interplay effects. Looking for local maximum and local minimum doses, some discrepancies were found, but their significance was presented for individual patients, not for the whole cohort. The same was observed for other verified dose metrics.ConclusionsGenerally, the evaluation of VMAT robustness between FF and FFF concepts against interplay effect showed a negligible effect of simulated motion influence on tumour coverage among different photon beam quality parameters. Due to the lack of FFF beams, smaller radiotherapy centres are able to perform ITV-based VMAT lung SBRT treatment in a safe way. Radiotherapy department having FFF beams could perform safe, fast and efficient ITV-based VMAT lung SBRT without a concern about significance of interplay effects.     

食管癌三维适形放疗前后肺功能、生活质量的变化及放射性肺炎的影响因素分析

目的:探讨食管癌三维适形放疗前后肺功能、生活质量的变化及放射性肺炎的影响因素。方法:收集2017年11月~2019年11月在我院进行三维适形放疗的食管癌患者102例,对患者放疗前后的肺功能进行检测对比,并采用生活质量评价简表(QLQ-C30)对患者放疗前后的生活质量进行评估对比。统计患者放疗后放射性肺炎的发生率,根据患者放疗后是否发生放射性肺炎将患者分为放射性肺炎组和非放射性肺炎组,对两组患者的临床资料进行对比分析,采用单因素和多因素Logistic回归分析影响食管癌三维适形放疗后放射性肺炎发生的影响因素。结果:放疗前后患者肺活量(VC)占预计值的百分比、用力肺活量(FVC)占预计值的百分比、第一秒用力呼气容积(FEV1)占预计值的百分比、最大通气量(MVV)占预计值的百分比对比无统计学差异(P>0.05),放疗后患者一氧化碳弥散量(DLCO)占预计值的百分比低于放疗前(P<0.05)。放疗后患者的QLQ-C30各项评分均低于放疗前(P<0.05)。102例患者中放疗后出现放射性肺炎33例,发生率为32.35%。经单因素分析显示,两组患者在性别、体质量指数(BMI)、吸烟史、饮酒史、肿瘤大小、病理类型、肿瘤位置、合并化疗方面比较差异无统计学意义(P>0.05),而在年龄、合并肺基础疾病、全肺接受20Gy的体积(V20)、全肺照射平均剂量(MLD)方面比较差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。经多因素Logistic回归分析显示,年龄≥60岁、合并肺基础疾病、V20≥30%、MLD≥1200cGy是食管癌三维适形放疗后出现放射性肺炎的危险因素(OR=1.309、1.193、1.416、1.309,P<0.05)。结论:食管癌三维适形放疗会对患者的肺部弥散功能、生活质量产生负面影响。部分患者放疗后会出现放射性肺炎,其主要受年龄、肺基础疾病、V20、MLD的影响。     

Prediction of multi-criteria optimization (MCO) parameter efficiency in volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) treatment planning using machine learning (ML)

PurposeTo predict the impact of optimization parameter changes on dosimetric plan quality criteria in multi-criteria optimized volumetric-modulated-arc therapy (VMAT) planning prior to optimization using machine learning (ML).MethodsA data base comprising a total of 21,266 VMAT treatment plans for 44 cranial and 18 spinal patient geometries was generated. The underlying optimization algorithm is governed by three highly composite parameters which model a combination of important aspects of the solution. Patient geometries were parametrized via volume- and shape properties of the voxel objects and overlap-volume histograms (OVH) of the planning-target-volume (PTV) and a relevant organ-at-risk (OAR). The impact of changes in one of the three optimization parameters on the maximally achievable value range of five dosimetric properties of the resulting dose distributions was studied. To predict the extent of this impact based on patient geometry, treatment site, and current parameter settings prior to optimization, three different ML-models were trained and tested. Precision-recall curves, as well as the area-under-curve (AUC) of the resulting receiver-operator-characteristic (ROC) curves were analyzed for model assessment.ResultsSuccessful identification of parameter regions resulting in a high variability of dosimetric plan properties depended on the choice of geometry features, the treatment indication and the plan property under investigation. AUC values between 0.82 and 0.99 could be achieved. The best average-precision (AP) values obtained from the corresponding precision/recall curves ranged from 0.71 to 0.99.ConclusionsMachine learning models trained on a database of pre-optimized treatment plans can help finding relevant optimization parameter ranges prior to optimization.     

血管内皮抑制素联合调强放疗对老年中晚期非小细胞肺癌的临床应用价值研究

目的探讨血管内皮抑制素联合调强放疗在老年中晚期非小细胞肺癌(NSCLC)中的放疗增敏作用及对T细胞、NK细胞的影响。方法选取2015年3月至2016年8月新疆维吾尔自治区人民医院NSCLC患者106例,依据简单随机数字表法分为对照组(采取调强放疗)与研究组(在对照组基础上使用血管内皮抑制素),每组53例。分析两组临床疗效、治疗前后NK细胞、T细胞水平、血清肿瘤标志物水平、EPO mRNA、EPO-R mRNA水平、毒副反应,随访3年后统计两组生存情况[中位总生存期(OS)、中位无进展生存期(PFS)]。两组比较采用独立样本t检验,组内治疗前后比较采用配对t检验,临床疗效、毒副反应发生率等采用c2检验。结果对照组肿瘤控制率低于研究组(69.81%比86.79%)(P<0.05);与治疗前比较,两组治疗后NK细胞、CD3±、CD4^+、CD4^+/CD8^+水平,血清CA199、CA125、CEA、CY211水平,EPO mRNA,EPO-R mRNA水平均降低,CD8^+水平增高,差异有统计学意义(P均<0.05);与对照组治疗后比较,研究组治疗后NK细胞[(8.01±1.64)%比(10.44±2.13)%]、CD3±[(53.51±6.02)%比(59.33±5.15)%],CD4^+[(32.31±4.01)%比(36.40±3.86)%]、CD4^+/CD8^+[(0.94±0.28)%比(1.23±0.30)%],中位PFS(5个月比8个月)、中位OS(18个月比23个月)升高,CD8^+[(34.22±3.08)%比(29.56±2.50)%],CA199[(35.20±4.46)kU/L比(30.15±4.14)kU/L]、CA125[(34.91±6.03)kU/L比(29.77±5.30)kU/L]、CEA[(22.50±3.97)μg/L比(17.97±4.10)μg/L]、CY211[(7.19±2.01)μg/L比(4.56±1.34)μg/L],EPO mRNA水平(0.85±0.08比0.80±0.06)、EPO-RmRNA水平(0.88±0.09比0.81±0.08)降低,差异具有统计学意义(P均<0.05);与对照组比较,研究组血红蛋白减少、肝肾功能损伤、恶心呕吐、中性粒细胞减少发生率之间比较差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。结论联合采取调强放疗及血管内皮抑制素治疗老年中晚期NSCLC,可有效提高肿瘤控制率,改善患者生存状况,可能是因其能降低血清肿瘤标志物水平,减轻对免疫功能的影响,调节EPO mRNA、EPO-R mRNA,且具有安全性。     

Exhaled pentane as a possible marker for survival and lipid peroxidation during radiotherapy for lung cancer—a pilot study

To examine lipid peroxidation during radiotherapy (RT), exhaled pentane samples were collected from 11 lung cancer patients before RT and 30 and 120 min after the start of RT on days 1, 4 and 5 and at 30 and 40 Grays, if possible. Exhaled pentane samples were collected once from 30 healthy controls. Serum thiobarbituric-acid-reactive substances (TBARS) and conjugated dienes (CD) were obtained from patients on each exhaled air collection day. Lung cancer patients had higher exhaled pentane levels than controls (1.73 ng/L vs 0.83 ng/L, p=0.017). Exhaled pentane levels tended to decrease during the first RT day (p=0.075) and levels of CD decreased during the first week of RT (p=0.014). Higher pre-treatment pentane levels predicted better survival (p=0.003). Elevated exhaled pentane levels before RT may be due to the lipid peroxidation burden associated with cancer. The decrease of lipid peroxidation markers during RT may be attributable to enhanced antioxidant defense mechanisms.     

Cell-free DNA as a prognostic marker in stage I non-small-cell lung cancer patients undergoing stereotactic body radiotherapy

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate whether plasma cell-free DNA (cfDNA) was related to clinical outcome in inoperable stage I non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients undergoing stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT).

Materials and methods: Plasma cfDNA was assessed at baseline, before the last day and 45 days after the end of SBRT, in 22 NSCLC patients. Twenty-two healthy controls were also evaluated.

Results: Plasma cfDNA was higher in patients than in controls. An association with unfavourable disease-free survival was found for continuous baseline cfDNA increments (HR?=?5.9, 95%CI: 1.7–19.8, p?=?0.04).

Conclusion: Plasma cfDNA may be a promising prognostic biomarker in high-risk NSCLC patients.     

Overcoming resistance to rapalogs in gliomas by combinatory therapies

Glioblastoma is the most common and aggressive brain tumor type, with a mean patient survival of approximately 1 year. Many previous analyses of the glioma kinome have identified key deregulated pathways that converge and activate mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR). Following the identification and characterization of mTOR-promoting activity in gliomagenesis, data from preclinical studies suggested the targeting of mTOR by rapamycin or its analogs (rapalogs) as a promising therapeutic approach. However, clinical trials with rapalogs have shown very limited efficacy on glioma due to the development of resistance mechanisms. Analysis of rapalog-insensitive glioma cells has revealed increased activity of growth and survival pathways compensating for mTOR inhibition by rapalogs that are suitable for therapeutic intervention. In addition, recently developed mTOR inhibitors show high anti-glioma activity. In this review, we recapitulate the regulation of mTOR signaling and its involvement in gliomagenesis, discuss mechanisms resulting in resistance to rapalogs, and speculate on strategies to overcome resistance. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Inhibitors of Protein Kinases (2012).