Comparison of photon volumetric modulated arc therapy, intensity-modulated proton therapy, and intensity-modulated carbon ion therapy for delivery of hypo-fractionated thoracic radiotherapy.
PURPOSE
The aim of the present study was to compare the dose distribution generated from photon volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT), intensity modulated proton therapy (IMPT), and intensity modulated carbon ion therapy (IMCIT) in the delivery of hypo-fractionated thoracic radiotherapy.


METHODS AND MATERIALS
Ten selected patients who underwent thoracic particle therapy between 2015 and 2016 were re-planned to receive a relative biological effectiveness (RBE) weighted dose of 60 Gy (i.e., GyE) in 15 fractions delivered with VMAT, IMPT, or IMCIT with the same optimization criteria. Treatment plans were then compared.


RESULTS
There were no significant differences in target volume dose coverage or dose conformity, except improved D95 was found with IMCIT compared with VMAT (p = 0.01), and IMCIT was significantly better than IMPT in all target volume dose parameters. Particle therapy led to more prominent lung sparing at low doses, and this result was most prominent with IMCIT (p < 0.05). Improved sparing of other thoracic organs at risk (OARs) was observed with particle therapy, and IMCIT further lowered the D1cc and D5cc for major blood vessels, as compared with IMPT (p = 0.01).


CONCLUSION
Although it was comparable to VMAT, IMCIT led to significantly better tumor target dose coverage and conformity than did IMPT. Particle therapy, compared with VMAT, improved thoracic OAR sparing. IMCIT, compared with IMPT, may further improve normal lung and major blood vessel sparing under limited respiratory motion.
['Chi|Alexander|A|', 'Lin|Lien-Chun|LC|', 'Wen|Sijin|S|', 'Yan|Haijuan|H|', 'Hsi|Wen-Chien|WC|']
D000368:Aged D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung D019583:Dose Fractionation, Radiation D063193:Heavy Ion Radiotherapy D006801:Humans D008175:Lung Neoplasms D008297:Male D008875:Middle Aged D061766:Proton Therapy D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage D011880:Radiotherapy Planning, Computer-Assisted D050397:Radiotherapy, Intensity-Modulated
Proton Carbon ion VMAT IMPT IMCIT NSCLC