OBJECTIVETo discuss the influence of setup errors on the accuracy of pelvic cancer in IGRT, analysis setup errors and determine the CTV-to-PTV margins.

METHODS60 pelvic cancer patients treated with Varian 23IX, all of them were performed by CBCT before and after-correction three times in the first week and after that once a week. Then, to measure the setup errors at X(left-right), Y(superior-inferior), Z(anterior-posterior) axis and E(coronal), F(sagittal), G(axial) rotation directions.

RESULTS530 scans obtained in all, the setup errors in X, Y, Z, E, F, G were (-0.52 ± 4.18) mm, (0.73 ± 4.86) mm, (-0.36 ± 3.62) mm, (0.14 ± 1.20)degrees, (0.13 ± 1.34)degrees, (0.21 ± 1.73)degrees respectively and were much lower after correction at X, Y, Z axis, besides, CTV-to-PTV margins decrease a lot.

CONCLUSIONThe accuracy of radiotherapy can be highly increased with the use of IGRT in pelvic cancer.

Objective To compare the differences and characteristics of the dose distribution of the two optimization methods in the three dimensional brachytherapy,and provide the basis for clinieal treatment.Methods Excel 2007 was used to generate random number.And a total of 21 patients of cervical cancer were selected from those who have completed the treatment.Inverse simulated annealing optimization (IPSA) plans were designed for graphical optimization (GO) plans.The dose volume histogram (DVH) parameters of the targets (V100％,V150％) and the organs (D1 cm3,D2cm3) of the two methods were analyzed.Results The targets dose of both plans could meet the prescription requirements.There was no statistically significant difference in the dose parameters of all targets (P ＞ 0.05).The closes of D1 cm3 and D2cm3 in the bladder of IPSA plan were significantly lower than that of the GO plan (t =3.596,3.490,P ＜ 0.05).There was no statistically significant difference in the dose parameters of rectum (P ＞ 0.05).Conclusions For cervix brachytherapy,the GO and IPSA have no effect on targets dose,but IPSA optimization can reduce the maximum dose of bladder.

Objective To investigate the dosimetric influence of dwell weight standard deviation (DWSD) and applicator displacement in cervical cancer patients treated with three-dimensional brachytherapy.Methods A total of 20 cervical cancer patients who had completed radical treatment were selected in this study.The Fletcher applicator (Nucletron#189.730) was used for these patients.A new plan,based on the former CT images and structures,was designed for each patient.In former and new plans,dwell weight was recorded,and DWSD was calculated.Two groups,low-DWSD (LDWSD,0.141-0.299) and high-DWSD (HDWSD,0.211-0.337),were set according to the DWSD size for the two plans.Dosimetric effects from ± 1 mm displacement of tandem applicator or ovoid applicator were simulated with Oncentra (R) Brachy V4.3 treatment planning system.D100,D90,and V150 for clinical target volume (CTV)and D0.1cc,D1cc,and D2cc for the bladder,rectum,and sigmoid were evaluated.Dosimetric comparisons were made between the LDWSD group and HDWSD group to study the dosimetric effects of DWSD and applicator displacement in cervical cancer patients.Results The dosimetric effects from applicator displacement increased with increasing DWSD.If there was a 1 mm displacement of tandem applicator or ovoid applicator,D100,D90,and V150 of CTV were 3.0％,23.8％,and 4.8％ higher or 0.5％,1.2％,and 5.2％ higher in the HDWSD group than in the LDWSD group;D0.1cc,D1cc,and D2cc of the bladder and rectum were significantly higher in the HDWSD group than in the LDWSD group,particularly for the sigmoid (up 44.0％,22.8％,and 16.8％) and (up 10.3％,14.4％,and 12.4％).Conclusions DWSD should be considered in plan evaluation for cervical cancer patients treated with three-dimensional brachytherapy.The dosimetric influence from applicator displacement can be decreased by reducing DWSD properly.

Objective To study the inhibitory effect of curcumin on the proliferation,migration and invasion of non-small cell lung cancer cell A549,and to discuss further if it is closely related to the expression of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) and relative protein p38.Methods A549 cells were cultured by conventional method,and then treated with different concentration of curcumin (10,20,40,80 μmol · L-1).The proliferation,migration and invasion of A549 cells were measured by real-time cellular analysis (RTCA).The expression levels of JNK,p-JNK,p38 and P-p38 were detected by real-time PCR and Western blotting.Results Curcumin showed an antiproliferation effect against A549 cells with IC50 =40 μmol · L-1,and curcumin exhibited obviously inhibitory effect on the migration and invasion of A549 cells.Additionally,compared with control group,curcumin suppressed the expression of JNK and p38 at the gene level,and significantly inhibited the expression of JNK,P-JNK,p38 and p38 (P＜0.05) at the protein level.Conclusion These results demonstrated that curcumin can inhibit the proliferation,migration and invasion of A549 cells via reducing the level of JNK,p38 phosphorylation,and blocking JNK signal transduction pathway.

Objective To discuss the influence of setup errors on the accuracy of pelvic cancer in IGRT, analysis setup errors and determine the CTV-to-PTV margins. Methods 60 pelvic cancer patients treated with Varian 23IX, al of them were performed by CBCT before and after-correction three times in the first week and after that once a week. Then, to measure the setup errors at X(left-right), Y(superior-inferior), Z(anterior-posterior) axis and E(coronal), F(sagittal), G(axial) rotation directions. Results 530 scans obtained in al , the setup errors in X, Y, Z, E, F, G were (-0.52±4.18) mm, (0.73±4.86) mm, (-0.36±3.62)mm, (0.14±1.20)o, (0.13±1.34)o, (0.21±1.73)o respectively and were much lower after correction at X, Y, Z axis, besides, CTV-to-PTV margins decrease a lot. Conclusion The accuracy of radiotherapy can be highly increased with the use of IGRT in pelvic cancer.

Objective To compare dosimetric parameters between automated and manualvolumetric modulated arc therapy(VMAT) plans in the treatment of postoperative cervical cancer patients,and to investigatethe feasibility and dosimetric advantage of the automated VMAT planning.Methods Automated and manual VMAT plans were generated with Pinnacle3 treatment planning system (TPS) for twenty-three postoperative cervical cancer patients,including eight patients in stage Ⅱ A and fifteen in stage Ⅱ B,respectively.The differences in D D95,conformity index (CI) and homogeneity index (HI) of target,as well as dose volume histogram (DVH) of organs at risk (OAR),planning time,average optimization time and monitor unit (MU) were compared between automated and manual VMAT plans.Results The average D CI and HI of automated VMAT plans were better than those of manual VMAT plans (t=4.65-14.92,P ＜0.05).There was no significant difference in D95 (P ＞0.05).The automated VMAT plans achieved better average dosimetric parameters on OARs compared with the manual VMAT plans (t =3.30-14.42,P ＜ 0.05).Automated VMAT plans had a significantly shorter planning time (72 min,t =3.85,P ＜ 0.05) and interruption frequency (twice,t =5.41,P ＜ 0.05) than manual VMAT plans.However,automated VMAT plans had a higher average MU than manual VMAT plans with an average MU of 819 ± 53 and 638 ± 41 for automated and manual VMAT plans,respectively.Conclusions It is feasible to generate automated VMAT plans with Pinnacle3 TPS for postoperative cervical cancer patients.The automated VMAT plans increase the plan quality and reduce the optimization time compare with manual VMAT plans.Automated technique also eliminates the influence of human factors on the plan quality.

Objective To investigate the potential dosimetric advantages of half jaw volumetric modulated arc therapy ( H-VMAT) applied to the Oropharyngeal Cancer, comparing with full jaw VMAT (F-VMAT) and intensity modulated radiotherapy ( IMRT ). Methods Planning CT images of 10 oropharyngeal cancer patients were retrospectively chosen and transferred to Eclipse treatment planning system v. 11. 0 (Varian Medical Systems, Pala Alto, USA), based on which H-VMAT, W-VMAT, and IMRT plans were created. Two full arcs (360°) were adopted for VMAT planning, and the 7 beams were equally distributed for IMRT planning. The optimization constraints remained the same for the three kinds of plans. The dosimetric parameters such as D2 , D98 , D50 , HI, and CI were evaluated for PGTV, PCTV1, PCTV2, PGTVln, and PCTVln. In addition, the maximum dose (Dmax) and D1 cc(minimum dose received by 1cc) of the brainstem and spinal cord were analyzed respectively. The mean dose ( Dmean ) to the parotids, oral cave, larynx, and cervical normal tissues were also reviewed. The monitor units ( MU) for all treatment plans were recorded. Results Comparisons of the three planning techniques showed that H-VAMT improved the HI and CI of the targets (except PCTV2) significantly (HI: F =3. 959, 6. 764, 10. 581, 6. 770, 13. 040, P<0. 05;CI:F=6. 594, 4. 138, 0. 842, 4. 031, 5. 388, P<0. 05);reduced Dmax(F=4. 509, 20. 331, P<0. 05) and D1 cc for brainstem and spinal cord (F=27. 432, 26. 314, P<0. 05) significantly;reduced Dmean(F=4. 279, 29. 498, 19. 295, P<0. 05) to the normal tissues of the mouth, throat and neck significantly. The V50 of the mouth and throat were slightly lower in IMRT plans (F=8. 140, P<0. 05). IMRT was slightly better than W-VMAT in sparing oral cavity and larynx, but the dose distribution was the worst. The H-VMAT plans showed the best dose distribution in the cervical normal tissues, especially for the lower and posterior parts, where IMRT plans displayed high dose curves. Conclusions H-VMAT is dosimetrically superior than W-VMAT and IMRT for oropharyngeal cancer, which could be considered for clinical applications.

Objective The distribution of the photon energy spectrum in isocenter plane of the medical linear accelerator and the influence of secondary collimator on the photon energy spectrum are studied.Methods Use the BEAMnrc program to simulate the transmission of the 6 MeV electrons and photons in 5 cm×5 cm,10 cm×10 cm,15 cm×15 cm and 20 cm×20 cm fields in treatment head of the medical linear accelerator,where a phase space file was set up at the isocenter plane to record the particle information passing through this plane.The BEAMdp program is used to analyze the phase space file,in order to obtain the distribution of the photon energy spectrum in isocenter plane and the influence of secondary collimator on the photon energy spectrum.Results By analyzing the photon energy spectrum of a medical linear accelerator with a nominal energy of 6 MV,it is found that the secondary collimator has little effect on the photon energy spectrum;different fields have different photon energy spectrum distributions;the photon energy spectrum in different central regions of the same field have the same normalized distribution.Conclusion In the dose calculation of radiation therapy,the influence of photon energy spectrum should be carefully considered.

Objective: To compare the dosimetric differences of volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) plans optimized with 3 different fluence smoothing parameters using Monaco treatment planning system. Methods: A total of 15 patients with middle and upper esophageal carcinoma were planned with Low fluence smoothing (Low), Medium fluence smoothing (Medium) and High fluence smoothing(High) during VMAT optimization. The dosimetric differences in D₉₅, D_mean, conformity index (CI), homogeneity index (HI) of targets, dose volume histogram (DVH) of organs at risk (OARs), and monitor unit (MU) were compared. Results: There were no significant differences in D₉₅, D_mean, CI and HI of targets, as well as in V₄₀ and D_mean of the heart, V₁₀, V₂₀ and D_mean of the lung , and segment number among plans optimized with different fluence smoothing techniques (P>0.05). Plans with high fluence smoothing achieved less V₃₀ of heart, D_max of cord PRV(t=-2.167, -0.999, P<0.05), lower MU (t=-3.148, -6.692, P<0.05), but increased V₅ of both lungs (t=1.306, -2.027, P<0.05) compared with plans with Medium and Low fluence smoothing. Plans with low fluence smoothing irradiated higher dose to the V₃₀ and D_mean to heart (t=0.411, 0.589, 0.013, P<0.05), but less V₅ of the lungs (t=0.423, P<0.05) compared with plans with medium fluence smoothing. Conclusions All VMAT plans with 3 different fluence smoothing can meet the clinical requirements. VMAT plans optimized with high fluence smoothing are recommended in the treatment of patients middle and upper thoracic esophageal carcinoma.