The impact of the radiotherapy technique in sparing the heart substructures in central tumor irradiation in lung cancer

Abstract Introduction: In thoracic radiotherapy (RT), heart sparing is very essential, as the high cardiac dose is associated with poor survival in patients with locally advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The study aims to determine the doses exposed to heart substructures and coronary arteries by different RT techniques in central tumor irradiation in lung cancer. Methods: Twenty patients with NSCLC, irradiated between January 2018 and December 2020 in our department, were included in this study. Patients whose primary tumor was centrally located in the left lung were selected. The heart substructures [left atrium, right atrium (RA), left ventricle, and right ventricle] and coronary arteries (left main, left anterior descending, circumflex, and right coronary arteries) were delineated by the same physician. The doses of 60 Gy external RT were prescribed in 30 fractions using three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3D-CRT), static intensity-modulated radiotherapy (s-IMRT), and dynamic intensity-modulated radiotherapy (d-IMRT) techniques in all patients. The obtaining plans using three different techniques were compared. Results: The d-IMRT plans were statistically the best optimal plan for planning target volume (PTV) [Dmean (p = 0 04), Dmax (p < 0 0001), V95 (p < 0 0001), V107 (p < 0 0001), CI (p < 0 0001) and HI (p < 0 0001)]. The s-IMRT plans were significantly superior to 3D-CRT plans for PTV. RA Dmax and V45 were not different between the three techniques [Dmax (p = 0 148) and V45 (p = 0 12)]. The d-IMRT technique was significantly better in other heart substructures and coronary arteries. Conclusions: Compared to 3D-CRT and s-IMRT techniques, the d-IMRT technique provided the best protection in all heart substructures except for a few parameters (RA Dmax and V45 doses).

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Comparison of Toxicity Between Intensity-Modulated Radiotherapy and 3-Dimensional Conformal Radiotherapy for Locally Advanced Non–small-cell Lung Cancer

Clinical Lung Cancer ◽

10.1016/j.cllc.2015.07.006 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 17 (1) ◽

pp. 18-23 ◽

Cited By ~ 15

Author(s):

Diane C. Ling ◽

Clayton B. Hess ◽

Allen M. Chen ◽

Megan E. Daly

Keyword(s):

Lung Cancer ◽

Small Cell Lung Cancer ◽

Cell Lung Cancer ◽

Locally Advanced ◽

Intensity Modulated Radiotherapy ◽

Conformal Radiotherapy ◽

Small Cell ◽

Small Cell Lung ◽

3 Dimensional ◽

Intensity Modulated

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Comparison between Intensity-Modulated Radiotherapy and Three-Dimensional Conformal Radiotherapy for Their Effectiveness in Esophageal Cancer Treatment: A Retrospective Single Institution Study

Journal of Oncology ◽

10.1155/2020/6582341 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 2020 ◽

pp. 1-8 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Xing-hua Bai ◽

Jun Dang ◽

Zhi-qin Chen ◽

Zheng He ◽

Guang Li

Keyword(s):

Esophageal Cancer ◽

Radiation Therapy ◽

Locally Advanced ◽

Three Dimensional ◽

Intensity Modulated Radiotherapy ◽

Conformal Radiotherapy ◽

Intensity Modulated ◽

Three Dimensional Conformal Radiotherapy ◽

3D Crt

Although a large number of influential studies that have been conducted worldwide on locally advanced esophageal cancer (EC) have employed the treatment modality of three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3D-CRT), an advanced as well as highly conformal technology known as intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) has attracted increasing attention from the radiotherapy research community. This is because of the clear advantages of IMRT, including decrease in radiation dose that reaches critical cardiopulmonary organs. These two treatment modalities need to be investigated with regard to their effect on local control rate and patient survival. In addition, related clinical factors also need to be explored. Data from a total of 431 patients with locally advanced EC, who underwent radiation therapy between January 1, 2010 and December 31, 2013, were included in the present study. Two hundred and ninety-three patients received 3D-CRT, while 138 patients received IMRT. We constructed propensity score matches to make the two groups be comparable (136 patients in 3D-CRT group and 138 patients in IMRT group. Kaplan–Meier analysis was conducted to evaluate the endpoint of overall survival (OS). A Cox proportional hazards model was employed to analyze the relationship between the associated factors and the outcomes via univariate and multivariate approaches. The mean follow-up period was 36.2 months, and the median follow-up period was 23 months. For the IMRT group, the median OS was 31 months, and the 1-, 3-, and 5-year OS rates were 70.3%, 50.0%, and 42.8%, respectively, while for the 3D-CRT group, the median OS was 22 months, and the 1-, 3-, and 5-year OS rates were 63.2%, 41.0%, and 35.4%, respectively (p<0.05). The univariate analysis revealed that quit drinking, chemotherapy, and concurrent chemotherapy were significant risk factors for the prognosis of EC (p<0.05), as well as the radiation therapy technique used (p=0.052). The multivariate analysis indicated that chemotherapy and quit drinking were independent predictive factors for OS. OS is found to be significantly better in the IMRT group, compared with that of the 3D-CRT group. Even though these outcomes need further validation, IMRT should be considered preferentially as a therapeutic option for EC, in combination with chemotherapy and persuading patients to quit drinking.

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