title: Treatment planning comparison of IMPT, VMAT and 4π radiotherapy for prostate cases.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Intensity-modulated proton therapy (IMPT), non-coplanar 4π intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT), and volumetric-modulated arc therapy (VMAT) represent the most advanced treatment methods based on heavy ion and X-rays, respectively. Here we compare their performance for prostate cancer treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ten prostate patients were planned using IMPT with robustness optimization, VMAT, and 4π to an initial dose of 54 Gy to a clinical target volume (CTV) that encompassed the prostate and seminal vesicles, then a boost prescription dose of 25.2 Gy to the prostate for a total dose of 79.2 Gy. The IMPT plans utilized two coplanar, oblique scanning beams 10° posterior of the lateral beam positions. Range uncertainties were taken into consideration in the IMPT plans. VMAT plans used two full, coplanar arcs to ensure sufficient PTV coverage. 4π plans were created by inversely selecting and optimizing 30 beams from 1162 candidate non-coplanar beams using a greedy column generation algorithm. CTV doses, bladder and rectum dose volumes (V40, V45, V60, V65, V70, V75, and V80), R100, R50, R10, and CTV homogeneity index (D95/D5) were evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared to IMPT, 4π resulted in lower anterior rectal wall mean dose as well as lower rectum V40, V45, V60, V65, V70, and V75. Due to the opposing beam arrangement, IMPT resulted in significantly (p < 0.05) greater femoral head doses. However, IMPT plans had significantly lower bladder, rectum, and anterior rectal wall max dose. IMPT doses were also significantly more homogeneous than 4π and VMAT doses.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Compared to the VMAT and 4π plans, IMPT treatment plans are superior in CTV homogeneity and maximum point organ-at-risk (OAR) doses with the exception of femur heads. IMPT is inferior in rectum and bladder volumes receiving intermediate to high doses, particularly to the 4π plans, but significantly reduced low dose spillage and integral dose, which are correlated to secondary cancer for patients with expected long survival. The dosimetric benefits of 4π plans over VMAT are consistent with the previous publication.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, University of California, Los Angeles, 200 Medical Plaza Way, Suite B265, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA.
authors.forename: Angelia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tran
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, Beaumont Health System, Royal Oak, USA.
authors.forename: Jingjing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, University of California, Los Angeles, 200 Medical Plaza Way, Suite B265, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA.
authors.forename: Kaley
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Woods
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, University of California, Los Angeles, 200 Medical Plaza Way, Suite B265, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA.
authors.forename: Victoria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, University of California, Los Angeles, 200 Medical Plaza Way, Suite B265, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA.
authors.forename: Dan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Nguyen
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, Beaumont Health System, Royal Oak, USA.
authors.forename: Gary
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gustafson
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, Willis-Knighton Cancer Center, Shreveport, USA.
authors.forename: Lane
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rosen
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, University of California, Los Angeles, 200 Medical Plaza Way, Suite B265, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA. ksheng@mednet.ucla.edu.
authors.forename: Ke
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sheng
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D058958:Organs at Risk / Q000528:radiation effects*; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D061766:Proton Therapy; D011874:Radiometry; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D011880:Radiotherapy Planning, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D050397:Radiotherapy, Intensity-Modulated / Q000379:methods*; D012007:Rectum / Q000528:radiation effects; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D001743:Urinary Bladder / Q000528:radiation effects
keywords: 4π radiotherapy; Intensity modulated proton therapy; Prostate cancer; Volumetric modulated arc therapy