Intrafractional stability of MR-guided online adaptive SBRT for prostate cancer

Abstract

Background MR-guided online adaptive stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) for prostate cancer aims to reduce toxicity by full compensation of interfractional uncertainties. However, the process of online adaptation currently takes approximately 45 min during which intrafractional movements remain unaccounted for. This study aims to analyze the dosimetric benefit of online adaptation and to evaluate its robustness over the duration of one treatment fraction. Methods Baseline MR-scans at a MR-linear accelerator were acquired for ten healthy male volunteers for generation of mock-prostate SBRT plans with a dose prescription of 5 × 7.25 Gy. On a separate day, online MR-guided adaptation (ViewRay® MRIdian) was performed, and thereafter MR images were acquired every 15 min for 1 h to assess the stability of the adapted plan. Results A dosimetric benefit of online MR-guided adaptive re-planning was observed in 90% of volunteers. The median D95CTV- and D95PTV-coverage was improved from 34.8 to 35.5 Gy and from 30.7 to 34.6 Gy, respectively. Improved target coverage was not associated with higher dose to the organs at risk, most importantly the rectum (median D1ccrectum baseline plan vs. adapted plan 33.3 Gy vs. 32.3 Gy). The benefit of online adaptation remained stable over 45 min for all volunteers. However, at 60 min, CTV-coverage was below a threshold of 32.5 Gy in 30% of volunteers (30.6 Gy, 32.0 Gy, 32.3 Gy). Conclusion The dosimetric benefit of MR-guided online adaptation for prostate SBRT was robust over 45 min in all volunteers. However, intrafractional uncertainties became dosimetrically relevant at 60 min and we therefore recommend verification imaging before delivery of MR-guided online adapted SBRT.

Proposal and Evaluation of a Physician-Free, Real-Time On-Table Adaptive Radiotherapy (PF-ROAR) Workflow for the MRIdian MR-Guided LINAC

“…To date, the inefficient nature of MRI-guided online adaptive radiation therapy has been limited in our department to cases where the benefits of daily replanning are expected to be high (i.e., stereotactic body radiation therapy, hypofractionated radiation therapy, and reirradiation). The benefits online adaptive therapy can provide for short-course therapy have been well described, particularly for SBRT of the prostate [ 14 , 15 , 16 ]. This study provides the blueprint for a physician-free, real-time on-table adaptive radiotherapy (PF-ROAR) through the expansion of roles of certain members of the clinical team while maintaining daily adaptive plan quality for carefully selected patients.…”

Dosimetric Accuracy of MR-Guided Online Adaptive Planning for Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Radiotherapy on 1.5 T MR-Linac

“…Schaule et al. described intrafractional stability of MR-guided online adaptive SBRT for prostate cancer on ViewRay 0.35 T MR-Linac, and reported that the dosimetric benefit of MR-guided online adaptation for prostate SBRT was robust over 45 min ( 46 ).…”

Impact of intrafraction changes in delivered dose of the day for prostate cancer patients treated with stereotactic body radiotherapy via MR-Linac

“…This contributes to the change in target coverage. Thus, the ability to image and define these inter- and intra-fractional changes and adapt is necessary when a reproducible method to mitigate rectal deformation has yet to be established [29] .…”