Planning feasibility of extremely hypofractionated prostate radiotherapy on a 1.5 T magnetic resonance imaging guided linear accelerator

Abstract

Background and purpose: Recently, intermediate and high-risk prostate cancer patients have been treated in a multicenter phase II trial with extremely hypofractionated prostate radiotherapy (hypo-FLAME trial). The purpose of the current study was to investigate whether a 1.5 T magnetic resonance imaging guided linear accelerator (MRI-linac) could achieve complex dose distributions of a quality similar to conventional linac state-of-the-art prostate treatments. Materials and methods: The clinically delivered treatment plans of 20 hypo-FLAME patients (volumetric modulated arc therapy, 10 MV, 5 mm leaf width) were included. Prescribed dose to the prostate was 5 × 7 Gy, with a focal tumor boost up to 5 × 10 Gy. MRI-linac treatment plans (intensity modulated radiotherapy, 7 MV, 7 mm leaf width, fixed collimator angle and 1.5 T magnetic field) were calculated. Dose distributions were compared. Results: In both conventional and MRI-linac treatment plans, the V35Gy to the whole prostate was >99% in all patients. Mean dose to the gross tumor volume was 45 Gy for conventional and 44 Gy for MRI-linac plans, respectively. Organ at risk doses were met in the majority of plans, except for a rectal V35Gy constraint, which was exceeded in one patient, by 1 cc, for both modalities. The bladder V32Gy and V28Gy constraints were exceeded in two and one patient respectively, for both modalities. Conclusion: Planning of stereotactic radiotherapy with focal ablative boosting in prostate cancer on a high field MRI-linac is feasible with the current MRI-linac properties, without deterioration of plan quality compared to conventional treatments. Keywords: MRI-linac, Prostate cancer, Stereotactic body radiotherapy, Hypofractionation, Focal boost