title: Treatment planning and dose analysis for interstitial photodynamic therapy of prostate cancer.
abstract: With the development of new photosensitizers that are activated by light at longer wavelengths, interstitial photodynamic therapy (PDT) is emerging as a feasible alternative for the treatment of larger volumes of tissue. Described here is the application of PDT treatment planning software developed by our group to ensure complete coverage of larger, geometrically complex target volumes such as the prostate. In a phase II clinical trial of TOOKAD vascular targeted photodynamic therapy (VTP) for prostate cancer in patients who failed prior radiotherapy, the software was used to generate patient-specific treatment prescriptions for the number of treatment fibres, their lengths, their positions and the energy each delivered. The core of the software is a finite element solution to the light diffusion equation. Validation against in vivo light measurements indicated that the software could predict the location of an iso-fluence contour to within approximately +/-2 mm. The same software was used to reconstruct the treatments that were actually delivered, thereby providing an analysis of the threshold light dose required for TOOKAD-VTP of the post-irradiated prostate. The threshold light dose for VTP-induced prostate damage, as measured one week post-treatment using contrast-enhanced MRI, was found to be highly heterogeneous, both within and between patients. The minimum light dose received by 90% of the prostate, D(90), was determined from each patient's dose-volume histogram and compared to six-month sextant biopsy results. No patient with a D(90) less than 23 J cm(-2) had complete biopsy response, while 8/13 (62%) of patients with a D(90) greater than 23 J cm(-2) had negative biopsies at six months. The doses received by the urethra and the rectal wall were also investigated.
authors.affiliation: Division of Biophysics and Bioimaging, Ontario Cancer Institute, University Health Network, 610 University Avenue, Toronto, Ontario M5G 2M9, Canada.
authors.forename: Sean R H
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Davidson
authors.forename: Robert A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Weersink
authors.forename: Masoom A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Haider
authors.forename: Mark R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Gertner
authors.forename: Arjen
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bogaards
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Giewercer
authors.forename: Avigdor
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Scherz
authors.forename: Michael D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Sherar
authors.forename: Mostafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Elhilali
authors.forename: Joseph L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Chin
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Trachtenberg
authors.forename: Brian C
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Wilson
mesh_terms: D001706:Biopsy; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D006801:Humans; D008027:Light / Q000009:adverse effects; D008297:Male; D010778:Photochemotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011467:Prostate / Q000528:radiation effects; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D012007:Rectum / Q000293:injuries / Q000528:radiation effects; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012984:Software; D014521:Urethra / Q000293:injuries / Q000528:radiation effects