Objective To analyze the normal lung dose-volume histogram(DVH) varieties in the former and later period(P1 and P2)of three dimensional conformal radiation therapy(3DCRT) plans and the compound (Pc) plan in non-small cell lung cancer(NSCLC),and to access the feasibility to modify the target volume during the treatment course.Methods Twenty-one NSCLC patients who had received accelerated hyper-frationation 3DCRT in P2 were included in the study.Both of the P1 and P2 plans were redesigned to a total dose of 70 Gy with V20 smaller than 35%.When the target volume was modified and P2 plan was rede signed using accelerated hyper-frationation 3DCRT of 30 Gy after P1 plan of 40 Gy,the Pc plan was compoun ded by transmitting the parameters(such as target volume,irradiation field and dose) of P1 plan into P2 plan. Total lung volume and target volumes(GTV,PTV) of P1 and P2 were evaluated.MLD,V5,V10,V20 and V30 of P1,P2 and Pc were calculated.Results The total lung volume in P1 and P2 plans was not significantly dif ferent(t = 0.19,P = 0.850).The volumes of GTV,PTV in P2 were obviously smaller than P1 (t = 2.88,P = 0.009 ; t = 4.01 ,P = 0.001) .When comparing P2 with P1 ,MLD were 16.5 Gy Vs 17.8 Gy (t = 2.60, DOI:10.3760/cma.j.issn.1004-4221.2009.01.057 P = 0.017),V30 was significantly decreased (t = 2.19,P = 0.041),but V5,V10 and V20 had no significant difference.Similar differences were found in MLD,V5 ,V10 ,V20 and V30 when comparing Po to P1.P2 plans had significantly smaller MLD,Vs,V10,V20 and V30 than Pc plans.Fourteen patients with decreased PTV were further analyzed.The V30 and MLD decreased significantly (t = 3.00,P = 0.0 I 0;t = 2.38,P = 0.033), but V5 ,V10,V20 had no difference when comparing P1 and P2 plans.Among these 14 patients,the V10 and V30 decreased significantly(t = 2.76,P = 0.033 ; t = 3.60,P = 0.011) when P2 plans were generated using the same field number and beam angles in P1 plans in 7 patients.The parameters were similar in P1and Pc plans,but increased significantly when comparing to P2.Various parameters were the same among P1,P2 and Pc plans when P2 plans were designed using 1-2 different fields and angles in the other 7 patients.The differ ences were not significant between P1 and P2 plans in 7 patients with the same or increased PTV.Expansion or contraction of PTV significantly influenced MLD and V2o (r =-0.62,P = 0.03 ; r = O.48,P = 0.029). Conclusions When the tumor regresses,the high dose volume of the lung decreases with modifying the tar get volume and replanning in the later period using accelerated hyper-frationation 3DCRT.The low dose vol ume of the lung may decrease if the field orientations are same throughout the treatment.It is rational to eval uate the normal lung DVH of the whole plan when the physical parameters of the later period plan are the same as the former one.

Objective To evaluate the importance of three-dimensional radiotherapy for elderly patients of stage Ⅳ non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).Methods Comparing with treatment outcome of ≥65 years 67 patients and ＜ 65 years 134 patients using concurrent chemotherapy and thoracic threedimensional radiotherapy during 2003 to 2010 years.Survival analysis was taken by Kaplan-Meier method.The multivariate prognosis was analyzed by Cox model.Results The follow-up was 97.8％.The percentage of ≥65 years and ＜ 65 years patients accepted with concurrent 4-5 cycles chemotherapy were 30％ and 55％,and with 42％ and 49％ patients with radiotherapy ≥63 Gy.The median survival time (MST) were 17 months and 14 months (x2 =0.76,P =0.384) for ≥65 years and ＜ 65 years patients accepted with concurrent 4-5 cycles chemotherapy concurrent ≥63 Gy radiotherapy respectively.The MST and 1-,2-,3year overall survival rate were 17 months and 8 months,65％ and 23％,30％ and 13％,24％ and 9％(x2 =7.90,P =0.005) for whole groups patients treated with chemotherapy concurrent ≥63 Gy and ＜ 63 Gy radiotherapy.And the MST of patients ≥ 63 Gy was significantly longer than those with ＜ 63 Gy either concurrent chemotherapy any cycles (x2 =9.54,P =0.023).The MST were 14 months and 8 months (x2 =1.82,P=0.178),17 months and 17 months (x2 =0.47,P=0.492) for ≥ 65 years and ≥ 63 Gy radiotherapy patients accepted with concurrent 4-5 cycles and 2-3 cycles chemotherapy concurrent respectively.Multivariate analysis showed local response (β =0.600,P =0.003) and numbers of tumor metastasis (β =0.670,P =0.040) were independent factors for survival.Conclusions For a part of elderly patients of stage Ⅳ NSCLC,concurrent chemotherapy and thoracic three-dimensional radiotherapy can prolong survival time with acceptable toxicity.Perhaps radiotherapy is more important.

Objective To investigate the dosimetric influence of pure carbon fiber treatment tabletop of Elekta Precise new linear accelerator in radiotherapy.Methods Surface-axis distance (SAD) technology was employed for the measurement.Two groups of fields were set and both of them were SAD opposed portals ( one of them went through the tabletop,while the other did not).A PTW electrometer and a 0.6 cm3 Farmer ionization chamber were utilized for comparison measurement.Then dose attenuation of the main table board,extended body board,the extended board for head,neck and shoulders,and the joints of these boards were calculated.Results Under the energy of 6 MV,the dose attenuations of the following locations were:1.4％ - 7.2％ at the main treatment table board; 2.8％ - 38.7％,1.4％ -30.1％,1.5％ -20.8％ and 1.4％ - 11.2％,respectively at distances of 1,4,7 and 8 cm from the joint of the main table board ;0.5％ - 5.0％ at the extended body board; 4.7％ - 15.4％ at distance of 1cm from the joint of the extended body board; 0.5％ -3.3％ at the neck position of the extended board for head,neck and shoulders; 5.3％ - 16.7％ at the shoulder positions; and 6.8％ -30.4％ at the joint between the extended boards and the main table board.Conclusions The dose attenuations of the new linear accelerator pure carbon fiber treatment tabletop vary at different locations. Considerable higher attenuations are observed at the table board joints than other locations.

Objective To investigate the role of three-dimensional (3D) radiotherapy to the thoracic primary tumor in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with bone metastases during chemotherapy with concurrent 3D radiotherapy.Methods From 2003 to 2010,the clinical data of 95 stage Ⅳ NSCLC patients with bone metastases were collected.All patients received 3D radiotherapy to the thoracic primary tumor and at least 2 cycles of chemotherapy.Of the 95 patients,47 had only bone metastases,and 48 had metastases to bones and other organs.The Kaplan-Meier method was used to calculate overall survival (OS) rates.The log-rank test was used for survival difference analysis and univariate prognostic analysis.The Cox regression model was used for multivariate prognostic analysis.Results The follow-up rate was 95％.The 1-,2-,and 3-year OS rates were 44％,17％,and 9％,respectively.The univariate analysis showed that radiation dose to the planning target volume (PTV) of primary tumor of ≥ 63 Gy,response to treatment of primary tumor,and at least 4 cycles of chemotherapy were favorable prognostic factors for OS in all patients (P =0.001,0.037,and 0.009).Radiation dose to the PTV of primary tumor of ≥ 63 Gy remained the favorable prognostic factor for OS in patients with only bone metastases and those with metastases to bones and other organs (P =0.045 and 0.012).Among patients with only bone metastases,those with T1 + T2 primary tumors had longer OS than those with T3 + T4 primary tumors (P =0.048).The multivariate analysis showed that radiation dose to the PTV of primary tumor of ≥ 63 Gy and metastases to bones only were independent favorable prognostic factors for OS in all patients (P =0.036 and 0.035).Conclusions For NSCLC patients with bone metastases,3D radiotherapy to the thoracic primary tumor and its dose play an important role in improving OS during chemotherapy with concurrent 3D radiotherapy.

Objective To prospectively evaluate the survival of different metastasis organs with concurrent chemotherapy and thoracic three-dimensional radiotherapy (CCTTRT) for stage Ⅳ non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).Methods Two hundred and one patients of stage Ⅳ NSCLC were enrolled from January,2003 to July,2010.Of the 182 patients eligible for analysis,The number of patients with single-organ metastasis or multiple-organ metastasis was 107 and 75,respectively.Patients were treated by platinum-based chemotherapy,the median number of cycle was 4.The median dose to planning target volume of primary tumor (DTPTv) was 63 Gy.Survival was calculated by Kaplan-Meier method and compared using the Logrank.Results The follow-up rate of 201 patients was 97.5％.with 201,170 and 134 patients finished ＜ 1,1 -2 and ≥3 years'follow up.Of 182 patients,the 1-,2-,and 3-year overall survival (OS) rate and median survival time (MST) was 41.0％,17.0％,10.0％ and 10.5 months,respectively ;with single-organ metastasis and multi-organ metastasis were 50％,20％,14％ and 13 months and 29％,12％,0％ and 8.5 months ( x2 =10.10,P =0.001 ),respectively; compared with multi-organ metastasis,the 1-,2-,and 3-year OS arte and MST of patients with bone,lung metastasis only was 58％,25％,16％ and 14 months (x2 =10.42,P=0.001 ) and 49％,21％,21％ and 11 months (x2 =6.39,P=0.011 ) respectively;patients with brain metastasis only did not show advantage of survival comparing with patients with multi-organ metastasis (49％,8％,0％ and 12 months and 29％,12％,0％ and 8 months,respectively;x2 =0.71,P =0.401 ) ;the 1-,2-,and 3-year OS rate and MST was 63％,23％,19％ and 15 months and 42％,15％,0％ and 10 months,respectively for patients with single-organ metastasis and multi-organ metastasis patients who accepted 4 - 5 cycles of chemotherapy ( x2 =6.47,P =0.011 ) ; for patients under the same metastasis and 4 - 5 cycles of chemotherapy,no matter whether single-organ or multiple-organ metastases,the 1 -,2-,3-year OS rate and MST of patients with enough radiotherapy on DTPTV ≥63 Gy were better than patients without enough radiotherapy ( DTPTV ＜ 63 Gy ) ( 71％,25 ％,25％ and 16.8 months and 33％,17％,0％ and 10.5 months,respectively;x2 ＝4.73,P =0.030 ;54％,21％,0％ and 14.3 months and 29％,10％,0％ and 7.6 months,respectively,x2 =8.16,P =0.004).The MST of liver metastases was 6 months,there was significantly difference when comparing with non liver matastasis ( x2 =17.21,P =0.000).Conclusions It is very important to treat stage Ⅳ NSCLC with CCTTRT,especially patients with single-organ metastasis.Liver metastases is a unfavorable prognostic factor.

Objective To evaluate the overall survival and safety among patients for stage Ⅳ non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treated with concurrent chemotherapy and thoracic three-dimensional radiotherapy (CCTTRT).Methods From Jan.2003 to July 2010,201 patients with stage Ⅳ NSCLC were included.All patients were treated with CCTTRT.Those patients who received only one cycle chemotherapy were not included in survival analysis,but analysis of toxicity.One hundred and eighty-two patients were eligible for survival analysis.All patients received platinum-based two-drug chemotherapy.The median number of cycles was 4.The median dose to planning target volume of primary tumor ( DTPTV ) was 63 Gy.Treatment-related gastrointestinal and hematological toxicity were scored according to WHO criteria.Radiation-related pneumonitis and esophagitis were evaluated according to the National Cancer Institute's Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTC) version 3.0.Survival was calculated by Kaplan-Meier method and compared using the Logrank.Cox regression model was used to examine the effect of CCTTRT on overall survival.Results The follow-up rate of 201 patients was 97.5％.with 201,170 and 134 patients finished ＜ 1,1 -2 and ≥3 years' follow-up,respectively.Of the 182 patients eligible for survival analysis,further stratified analysis showed that the 1-,2-and 3-year overall survival rate and median survival time (MST) was 54％,20％,13％ and 14.3 months,respectively for patients treated with concurrent 4 -5 cycles chemotherapy and CCTTRT,and 66％,23％,19％ and 16.1 months,respectively for those treated with 4 -5 cycles chemotherapy and DTPTV ≥ 63 Gy.Under similar chemoradiotherapy intensity,the MST of patients with single organ metastasis was significantly longer than that with multiple organ metastases ( 13.0 months versus 8.5 months,x2 =10.10,P =0.001 ).For patients eligible for survival analysis and received 4 - 5 cycles of systemic chemotherapy,MST of patients treated with DTPTV≥63 Gy was significantly longer than those treated with DTPTV ＜63 Gy[14.9 months vs.8.4 months (x2 ＝20.48,P =0.000) and 16.1 months vs.8.8 months ( x2 =11.75,P =0.001 )].For patients with single organ metastasis,MST was 16 months for those treated with DTPTV ≥63 Gy and 9 months for those with DTPTV ＜63 Gy (x2 =10.51,P=0.000) ;for patients with multiple organ metastasis,it was 11 months and 7 months,respectively ( x2 =7.90,P =0.005 ).Multivariate analysis showed that concurrent 4 - 5 cycles chemotherapy and DTPTV ≥63 Gy (β =0.243,P=0.019) and improved KPS (β =1.268,P=0.000) were independent factors for survival.For the whole group,45％ patients had Grade 2 -3 gastrointestinal toxicity,35.0％ grade 3- 4 leukopenia,18％ grade 3- 4 thrombocytopenia.15.0％ grade 3- 4 anemia,9.5％ Grade 2 - 3 radiation pneumonia and 13.4％ radiation esophagitis,respectively.Conclusions For stage Ⅳ NSCLC,CCTTRT can prolong survival time with acceptable toxicity.Radiotherapy to thoracic primary tumor should be under consideration.

Objective To identify the best technique of postmastectomy radiation therapy (PMRT).Methods Twenty-eight patients with stage Ⅱ or Ⅲ invasive breast cancer were treated with modified radical mastectomy and radiotherapy sequaciously involving the supraclavicular region and the chest wall.Three different techniques were developed for each patient:two tangential conformal fields ( half field) in the chest wall plus supraclavicular intensity modulated radiotherapy (3D-CRT + IMRT),integrated chest wall and supraclavicular IMRT(IMRT),and two tangential conformal fields (half field) in the chest wall plus single field electron beam radiotherapy in the supraclavicular region( 3D-CRT + E).The dose distributions of the target areas and the irradiated volumes of the ipsilateral lung ( V5,V10,V20,and V45)were estimated with the dosage volume histogram (DVH).The dosage prescription was 50.4 Gy (1.8 Gy × 28 f).Results The conformity index (CI) of the 3D-CRT + IMRT group was (0.61 ± 0.03),not different from that of the IMRT [ (0.62 ±0.03),q =2.16,P ＞0.05],and the CI levels of these 2 groups were both higher than that of the 3D-CRT + E group [ (0.44 ± 0.02 ),q =20.50,22.66,P ＜0.01 ].The heterogeneity index (HI) of the 3D-CRT + IMRT group was ( 1.17 ±0.02),not different from that of the IMRT [ (1.15 ±0.02),q =1.66,P ＞0.05],and the HI levels of these 2 groups were both lower than that of the 3D-CRT + E group[ ( 1.24 ±0.04),q =3.91,5.58,P ＜0.01 ].The levels of V5 and V10 of the ipsilateral lungs of the 3D-CRT + E group(48.70％ ±3.24％,38％.56％ ±3.70％ ) and 3D-CRT + IMRT group (49.12％ ±3.03％,38.38％ ± 3.56％ ) were all significantly lower than those of the IMRTgroup [(77.18％ ±8.01％,53.07％ ±6.85％),V5,q =20.35,20.05,P＜0.01; V10,q=12.10,12.24,P ＜0.01 ] and there were not significant differences in the V5 and V10 levels between the 3D-CRT + E and 3D-CRT + IMRT groups ( q =0.30,0.14,P ＞ 0.05 ).The levels of V20 of the ipsilateral lungs of the 3D-CRT + IMRT group (26.57％ ±2.51％ )and IMRT group (25.22％ ±2.77％) were all significantly lower that those of the 3D-CRT + E group [ (31.79％ ± 3.00％ ),q =5.27,8.21,P ＜ 0.01 ]and there were not significant differences in the V20 level between the 3D-CRT + IMRT and IMRT groups (q=2.76,P ＞ 0.05 ).There were not significant differences in the V45 levels among these 3 groups (F =0.69,P ＞ 0.05).Conclusions The 3D-CRT + IMRT technique in PMRT effectively reduces the radiated dose on the ipsilateral lung.

ObjectiveTo prospectively investigate the impact of short-time response on survival of concurrent chemotherapy and thoracic three-dimensional radiotherapy (CCTTRT) for stage Ⅳ non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Methods From Jan.2003 to Oct.2010,201 patients with pathologically or cytologically proven stage Ⅳ NSCLC were included.All patients received platinum-based chemotherapy.Of the 167 patients eligible for analysis,the median number of chemotherapy were 4 cycles.The median dose for planning target volume (PTV) of thoracic primary tumor was 63 Gy.Response was scored according to WHO criteria. Survival was calculated by Kaplan-Meier method and compared using the Logrank. Cox regression model were used to examine the effect of response on overall survival.ResultsThe follow-up rate of 201 patients was 97.5％.with 201,170 and 134 patients finished ＜ 1,1 -2 and ≥3 years' follow-up.For the 167 patients eligible for analysis,the CR,PR,NC and PD rate of primary tumor was 5.4％,65.9％,21.0％ and 7.7％,respectively.The effective group ( CR + PR) and ineffective group ( NC + PD) was 71.3％ and 28.7％,respectively.The median survival time (MST) for patients with CR,PR,NC and PD was 22.6,13.4,8.8 and 4.8 months,respectively ( χ2 =44.79,P =0.000).The MST for effective and ineffective group was 13.9 and 7.6 months,respectively in the whole group ( χ2 =8.3 0,P =0.004 ),12.1months and 7.3 months in those treated with 2 - 3 cycles chemotherapy ( χ2 =7.71,P =0.007 ),and 13.9months and 7.9 months in those treated with 2 -5 cycles chemotherapy and radiation dose to PTV ≥36 Gy ( χ2 =4.00,P =0.045 ).No significant MST difference was detected between patients of effective group and ineffective group treated with 4 -5 cycles chemotherapy ( χ2 =0.67,P =0.413),or those treated with 4 -5 cycles of chemotherapy and radiation dose to primary lesion ≥36 Gy (χ2 =0.00,P =0.956).Multivariate analysis showed that 4-5 cycles of chemotherapy and CR and PR achieved in primary tumor (β =0.182,P=0.041 ) were independent favorable factors for survival. Conclusion CCTTRT can improve local control,and prolong the survival time for Stage Ⅳ NSCLC.

Objective To evaluate clinical factors as predictors of radiation pneumonitis(RP)in advanced stage non-small cell lung cancer(NSCLC)patients treated with concurrent radiochemotherapy when gross tumor volume is 70 Gy. Methods Data of 84 patients with histologically proved NSCLC treated with 3DCRT or IMRT were collected. To evaluate the correlation between clinical parameters and radiation pneumonitis(RP). The clinical parameters were considered: pathological type, therapy agents, age,gender, stage, karnofsky performance status(KPS), smoking status, diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD). Results The occurrence of grade 1,2 RP was 63%, 33%, respectively. In univariate analysis, diabetes was significantly associated with RP of ≥ grade 1(x2 =4.03, P = 0.045)and ≥grade 2(x2 = 15.59 ,P =0.000). KPS was significantly associated with RP of ≥grade 1(x2 =3.98 ,P = 0.046)and ≥grade 2(x2 = 5.21, P = 0.023). In logistic multivariate analysis, diabetes was significantly associated with RP of ≥grade 1(x2 =5.50,P =0.019)and ≥grade 2(x2 = 12.92,P =0.000). KPS was significantly associated with RP of ≥ grade 1(x2 = 6.29, P = 0.012)and ≥ grade 2(x2 = 6.61, P =0.010). Conclusion The definite statistical significant risk factors of RP are diabetes and KPS.

ObjectiveThis study evaluates the feasibility of intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) to treat patients with 1 -5 brain metastases from non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).Methods 30 IMRT patients with brain metastases for NSCLC studied retrospectively.Whole brain radiotherapy plus three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (WBRT + 3DCRT) and WBRT plus stereotactic radiotherapy ( WBRT + SRT) plans were generated.Planning target volume ( PTV ) and organs at risk dose were measured and compared by dose volume histogram.Differences were analyzed in the three techniques by Wilcoxon Z -test.Results D99％ of the shoulder ( D99％-D90％ ) from IMRT were higher than from WBRT +3DCRT and WBRT+SRT in all cases.From D15％ of slope (D90％-D10％) to D5％ of tail (D10％ -D1％ ),IMRT were lower than WBRT + 3DCRT and WBRT + SRT ( Z =- 4.72,P =0.000 and Z =- 4.72,P =0.000).D10％ and D5％ of IMRT were (35.1 ±1.42) Gy and (37.7 ±2.91) Gy,WBRT +3DCRT were (36.5±2.86) Gy and ( 39.1 ± 3.56) Gy ;WBRT + SRT were (36.2 ± 2.57) Gy and ( 38.7 ± 3.67) Gy.IMRT vs WBRT+ 3DCRT and WBRT + SRT were significant ( Z=-3.18,-3.18,P=0.001,0.001 and Z=- 4.11,- 3.02,P =0.000,0.002) in 13 patients with 3 - 5 brain metastases.The total mean monitor units were 14756.3,9614.8 and 9043.2 for IMRT,WBRT +3DCRT and WBRT + SRT plans,respectively,with a 38.7％ reduction from IMRT to WBRT + SRT (Z =-4.78,-4.78,P =0.000,0.000).The brain doses around metastases were similar in the three techniques with 1 -2 metastases,but IMRT was the best with 3 -5 metastases.ConclusionsIMRT can advance brain metastases dose and improve the planning target minimum dose and spare the dose around brain metastases.Only IMRT is the best choice for just sparing the dose around brain metastases among 3 -5 brain metastases.