Achievable Dosimetric Constraints in Stereotactic Reirradiation for Recurrent Prostate Cancer

Pract Radiat Oncol. 2023 Nov-Dec;13(6):e515-e529. doi: 10.1016/j.prro.2023.05.007. Epub 2023 Jun 8.

Abstract

Purpose: Stereotactic body radiation therapy has been proposed as a salvage treatment for recurrent prostate cancer after irradiation. One crucial issue is choosing appropriate dose-volume constraints (DVCs) during planning. The objectives of this study were to (1) quantify the proportion of patients respecting the DVCs according to the Urogenital Tumor Study Group GETUG-31 trial, testing 36 Gy in six fractions, (2) explain geometrically why the DVCs could not be respected, and (3) propose the most suitable DVCs.

Methods and materials: This retrospective dosimetric analysis included 141 patients treated for recurrent prostate cancer with Cyberknife (Accuray), according to GETUG-31 DVCs: V95% ≥ 95% for the planning target volume (PTV), V12Gy < 20% and V27Gy < 2 cc for the rectum, and V12Gy < 15% and V27Gy < 5 cc for the bladder. The percentage of patients not respecting the DVCs was quantified. Correlations between the DVCs and anatomic structures were examined. New DVCs were proposed.

Results: Only 19% of patients respected all DVCs, with a mean PTV of 18.5 cc (range, 3-48 cc), although the mean PTV was 40.5 cc (range, 3-174 cc) in the whole series. A total of 98% of the patients with a clinical target volume (CTV)/prostate ratio >0.5 could not respect the DVCs in the organs at risk. The target coverage and organ-at-risk sparing decreased significantly with increase in the values of PTV, CTV, CTV/prostate ratio, the overlapping volume between the PTV and bladder wall and between the PTV and rectal wall. Threshold values of PTV, >20 cc and 40 cc, allowed for the PTV and bladder DVCs, respectively. To improve DVC respect in case of large target volume, we proposed the following new DVCs: V12Gy < 25% and 25% and V27Gy < 2 cc and 5 cc for the rectum and bladder, respectively.

Conclusions: GETUG-31 DVCs are achievable only for small target volumes (CTV more than half of the prostate). For a larger target volume, new DVCs have been proposed.

MeSH terms

  • Humans
  • Male
  • Prostatic Neoplasms* / pathology
  • Prostatic Neoplasms* / radiotherapy
  • Radiotherapy Dosage
  • Radiotherapy Planning, Computer-Assisted / methods
  • Radiotherapy, Conformal* / methods
  • Radiotherapy, Intensity-Modulated* / methods
  • Re-Irradiation*
  • Rectum / radiation effects
  • Retrospective Studies