Hodgkin's lymphoma emerging radiation treatment techniques: trade-offs between late radio-induced toxicities and secondary malignant neoplasms.
BACKGROUND
Purpose of this study is to explore the trade-offs between radio-induced toxicities and second malignant neoplasm (SMN) induction risk of different emerging radiotherapy techniques for Hodgkin's lymphoma (HL) through a comprehensive dosimetric analysis on a representative clinical model.


METHODS
Three different planning target volume (PTVi) scenarios of a female patient with supradiaphragmatic HL were used as models for the purpose of this study. Five treatment radiation techniques were simulated: an anterior-posterior parallel-opposed (AP-PA), a forward intensity modulated (FIMRT), an inverse intensity modulated (IMRT), a Tomotherapy (TOMO), a proton (PRO) technique. A radiation dose of 30 Gy or CGE was prescribed. Dose-volume histograms of PTVs and organs-at-risk (OARs) were calculated and related to available dose-volume constraints. SMN risk for breasts, thyroid, and lungs was estimated through the Organ Equivalent Dose model considering cell repopulation and inhomogeneous organ doses.


RESULTS
With similar level of PTVi coverage, IMRT, TOMO and PRO plans generally reduced the OARs' dose and accordingly the related radio-induced toxicities. However, only TOMO and PRO plans were compliant with all constraints in all scenarios. For the IMRT and TOMO plans an increased risk of development of breast, and lung SMN compared with AP-PA and FIMRT techniques was estimated. Only PRO plans seemed to reduce the risk of predicted SMN compared with AP-PA technique.


CONCLUSIONS
Our model-based study supports the use of advanced RT techniques to successfully spare OARs and to reduce the risk of radio-induced toxicities in HL patients. However, the estimated increase of SMNs' risk inherent to TOMO and IMRT techniques should be carefully considered in the evaluation of a risk-adapted therapeutic strategy.
Institute of Biostructures and Bioimaging, National Council of Research, Napoli, Italy.
Laura
L
Cella
Manuel
M
Conson
Maria Cristina
MC
Pressello
Silvia
S
Molinelli
Uwe
U
Schneider
Vittorio
V
Donato
Roberto
R
Orecchia
Marco
M
Salvatore
Roberto
R
Pacelli
D005260:Female; D006689:Hodgkin Disease / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D006801:Humans; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D009381:Neoplasms, Radiation-Induced / Q000209:etiology*; D011878:Radiotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D011880:Radiotherapy Planning, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*