Optimal planning strategy among various arc arrangements for prostate stereotactic body radiotherapy with volumetric modulated arc therapy technique

Sang-Won Kang; Jin-Beom Chung; Jae-Sung Kim; In-Ah Kim; Keun-Yong Eom; Changhoon Song; Jeong-Woo Lee; Jin-Young Kim; Tae Suk Suh

Authors

Sang-Won Kang The Catholic University of Korea
Jin-Beom Chung Seoul National University Bundang Hospital
Jae-Sung Kim Seoul National University Bundang Hospital
In-Ah Kim Seoul National University Bundang Hospital
Keun-Yong Eom Seoul National University Bundang Hospital
Changhoon Song Seoul National University Bundang Hospital
Jeong-Woo Lee Konkuk University Medical center
Jin-Young Kim Haeundae Paik Hospital
Tae Suk Suh The Catholic University of Korea

Abstract

Backgorund. The aim of this study was to determine the optimal strategy among various arc arrangements in prostate plans of stereotactic body radiotherapy with volumetric modulated arc therapy (SBRT-VMAT).

Materials and Methods. To investigate how arc arrangements affect dosimetric and biological metrics, SBRT-VMAT plans for eighteen patients were generated with arrangements of single-full arc (1FA), single-partial arc (1PA), double-full arc (2FA), and double-partial arc (2PA). All plans were calculated by the Acuros XB calculation algorithm. Dosimetric and radiobiogical metrics for target volumes and organs at risk (OARs) were evaluated from dose-volume histograms.

Results. All plans were highly conformal (CI<1.05, CN=0.91) and homogeneous (HI=0.09-0.12) for target volumes. For OARs, there was no difference in the bladder dose, while there was a significant difference in the rectum and both femoral head doses. Plans using 1PA and 2PA showed a strong reduction to the mean rectum dose compared to plans using 1FA and 2FA. Contrastively, the D_2% and mean dose in both femoral heads were always lower in plans using 1FA and 2FA. The average tumor control probability and normal tissue complication probability were comparable in plans using all arc arrangements.

Conclusions. The use of 1PA had a more effective delivery time and produced equivalent target coverage with better rectal sparing, although all plans using four arc arrangements showed generally similar for dosimetric and biological metrics. However, the D_2% and mean dose in femoral heads increased slightly and remained within the tolerance. Therefore, this study suggests that the use of 1PA is an attractive choice for delivering prostate SBRT-VMAT.

Key words: stereotactic body radiotherapy; volumetric modulated arc therapy; prostate cancer; arc arrangement; dosimetric and biological metrics