Radiotherapy Quality Assurance for the CHHiP Trial: Conventional Versus Hypofractionated High-Dose Intensity-Modulated Radiotherapy in Prostate Cancer.
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Date
2019-09Author
Naismith, O
Mayles, H
Bidmead, M
Clark, CH
Gulliford, S
Hassan, S
Khoo, V
Roberts, K
South, C
Hall, E
Dearnaley, D
CHHiP Investigators,
Type
Journal Article
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
AIMS: The CHHiP trial investigated the use of moderate hypofractionation for the treatment of localised prostate cancer using intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT). A radiotherapy quality assurance programme was developed to assess compliance with treatment protocol and to audit treatment planning and dosimetry of IMRT. This paper considers the outcome and effectiveness of the programme. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Quality assurance exercises included a pre-trial process document and planning benchmark cases, prospective case reviews and a dosimetry site visit on-trial and a post-trial feedback questionnaire. RESULTS: In total, 41 centres completed the quality assurance programme (37 UK, four international) between 2005 and 2010. Centres used either forward-planned (field-in-field single phase) or inverse-planned IMRT (25 versus 17). For pre-trial quality assurance exercises, 7/41 (17%) centres had minor deviations in their radiotherapy processes; 45/82 (55%) benchmark plans had minor variations and 17/82 (21%) had major variations. One hundred prospective case reviews were completed for 38 centres. Seventy-one per cent required changes to clinical outlining pre-treatment (primarily prostate apex and base, seminal vesicles and penile bulb). Errors in treatment planning were reduced relative to pre-trial quality assurance results (49% minor and 6% major variations). Dosimetry audits were conducted for 32 centres. Ion chamber dose point measurements were within ±2.5% in the planning target volume and ±8% in the rectum. 28/36 films for combined fields passed gamma criterion 3%/3 mm and 11/15 of IMRT fluence film sets passed gamma criterion 4%/4 mm using a 98% tolerance. Post-trial feedback showed that trial participation was beneficial in evolving clinical practice and that the quality assurance programme helped some centres to implement and audit prostate IMRT. CONCLUSION: Overall, quality assurance results were satisfactory and the CHHiP quality assurance programme contributed to the success of the trial by auditing radiotherapy treatment planning and protocol compliance. Quality assurance supported the introduction of IMRT in UK centres, giving additional confidence and external review of IMRT where it was a newly adopted technique.
Subject
CHHiP Investigators
Humans
Prostatic Neoplasms
Radiotherapy Dosage
Prospective Studies
Quality Assurance, Health Care
Male
Radiotherapy, Intensity-Modulated
Radiation Dose Hypofractionation
Research team
ICR-CTSU Urology and Head and Neck Trials Team
Clinical Academic Radiotherapy (Dearnaley)
Radiotherapy Physics Modelling
Language
eng
Date accepted
2019-04-12
License start date
2019-09
Citation
Clinical oncology (Royal College of Radiologists (Great Britain)), 2019, 31 (9), pp. 611 - 620
Publisher
ELSEVIER SCIENCE LONDON