Monte Carlo treatment planning for molecular targeted radiotherapy within the MINERVA system

Abstract

The aim of this project is to extend accurate and patient-specific treatment planning to new treatment modalities, such as molecular targeted radiation therapy, incorporating previously crafted and proven Monte Carlo and deterministic computation methods. A flexible software environment is being created that allows planning radiation treatment for these new modalities and combining different forms of radiation treatment with consideration of biological effects. The system uses common input interfaces, medical image sets for definition of patient geometry and dose reporting protocols. Previously, the Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory (INEEL), Montana State University (MSU) and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) had accrued experience in the development and application of Monte Carlo based, three-dimensional, computational dosimetry and treatment planning tools for radiotherapy in several specialized areas. In particular, INEEL and MSU have developed computational dosimetry systems for neutron radiotherapy and neutron capture therapy, while LLNL has developed the PEREGRINE computational system for external beam photon-electron therapy. Building on that experience, the INEEL and MSU are developing the MINERVA (modality inclusive environment for radiotherapeutic variable analysis) software system as a general framework for computational dosimetry and treatment planning for a variety of emerging forms of radiotherapy. In collaboration with this development, LLNL has extended its PEREGRINE code to accommodate internal sources for molecular targeted radiotherapy (MTR), and has interfaced it with the plugin architecture of MINERVA. Results from the extended PEREGRINE code have been compared to published data from other codes, and found to be in general agreement (EGS4-2%, MCNP-10%) (Descalle et al 2003 Cancer Biother. Radiopharm. 18 71-9). The code is currently being benchmarked against experimental data. The interpatient variability of the drug pharmacokinetics in MTR can only be properly accounted for by image-based, patient-specific treatment planning, as has been common in external beam radiation therapy for many years. MINERVA offers 3D Monte Carlo-based MTR treatment planning as its first integrated operational capability. The new MINERVA system will ultimately incorporate capabilities for a comprehensive list of radiation therapies. In progress are modules for external beam photon-electron therapy and boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT). Brachytherapy and proton therapy are planned. Through the open application programming interface (API), other groups can add their own modules and share them with the community.

Recommendations of the American Association of Physicists in Medicine on dosimetry, imaging, and quality assurance procedures for 90Y microsphere brachytherapy in the treatment of hepatic malignancies

“…35 The PERE-GRINE Monte Carlo code 36 has also been proposed for three-dimensional, computational dosimetry, and treatment planning in radioimmunotherapy. As an alternative to Monte Carlo calculations, the Attila code has been developed at MD Anderson Center using a deterministic radiation transport code.…”

“…Several efforts to use image data to perform high quality detailed dose calculations include the 3D-ID code from the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, 31 the SIMDOS code from the University of Lund, 32 the RTDS code from the City of Hope Medical Center, 33 the RMDP code from Royal Marsden, 34 and the DOSE3D code. 35 The PERE-GRINE Monte Carlo code 36 has also been proposed for three-dimensional, computational dosimetry, and treatment planning in radioimmunotherapy. As an alternative to Monte Carlo calculations, the Attila code has been developed at MD Anderson Center using a deterministic radiation transport code.…”

Impact of SPECT corrections on 3D‐dosimetry for liver transarterial radioembolization using the patient relative calibration methodology

“…16 An optimal treatment planning should include 3D voxelbased dosimetry, accounting for nonuniform absorbed dose distributions when studying dose-effect correlations. 9,[17][18][19][20][21][22][23] Image-based 3D dosimetry can be performed in several ways: direct Monte Carlo (MC) simulation, which is considered the gold standard; 9,[24][25][26][27][28][29][30] convolution calculations by voxel S-values, reliable in nearly uniform density tissue; 19,[31][32][33][34][35][36] local energy deposition method. 18,20,[36][37][38][39] Activity distribution quantification by SPECT is the major concern, due to physical and clinical degrading factors of the images.…”

Analysis of outcomes in radiation oncology: An integrated computational platform

“…[17][18][19][20][21][22][23] Examples include CERR, 17 DICOMគRT Toolbox, 18 MMCTP, 19 MINERVA, 20 EUCLID, 21 BIOPLAN, 22 TCP NTCP CALC, 23 etc. While these applications have several useful features for outcome analysis, they are limited in that many of them require access to third-party software packages, use interpreted and slow language tools, [17][18][19]21 or lack advanced dose calculation capabilities ͑e.g., Monte Carlo͒.…”