Quality assurance (QA) of treatment plans in clinical trials improves protocol compliance and patient outcomes. Retrospective use of knowledge-based-planning (KBP) in clinical trials has demonstrated improved treatment plan quality and consistency. We report the results of prospective use of KBP for real-time QA of treatment plan quality in the TROG 15.03 FASTRACK II trial, which evaluates efficacy of stereotactic ablative body radiotherapy (SABR) for kidney cancer.
A KBP model was generated based on single institution data. For each patient in the KBP phase (open to the last 31 patients in the trial), the treating centre submitted treatment plans 7 days prior to treatment. A treatment plan was created by using the KBP model, which was compared with the submitted plan for each organ-at-risk (OAR) dose constraint. A report comparing each plan for each OAR constraint was provided to the submitting centre within 24 h of receiving the plan. The centre could then modify the plan based on the KBP report, or continue with the existing plan.
Real-time feedback using KBP was provided in 24/31 cases. Consistent plan quality was in general achieved between KBP and the submitted plan. KBP review resulted in replan and improvement of OAR dosimetry in two patients. All centres indicated that the feedback was a useful QA check of their treatment plan.
KBP for real-time treatment plan review was feasible for 24/31 cases, and demonstrated ability to improve treatment plan quality in two cases. Challenges include integration of KBP feedback into clinical timelines, interpretation of KBP results with respect to clinical trade-offs, and determination of appropriate plan quality improvement criteria.
Radiation oncology (London, England). 2021 Aug 03*** epublish ***
Nicholas Hardcastle, Olivia Cook, Xenia Ray, Alisha Moore, Kevin L Moore, David Pryor, Alana Rossi, Farshad Foroudi, Tomas Kron, Shankar Siva
Physical Sciences, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, 305 Grattan St, Melbourne, VIC, 3000, Australia. ., Trans Tasman Radiation Oncology Group, Newcastle, Australia., Department of Radiation Medicine and Applied Sciences, University of California San Diego, San Diego, USA., Department of Radiation Oncology, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Brisbane, Australia., Olivia Newton, John Cancer Centre at Austin Health, Heidelberg, Australia., Physical Sciences, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, 305 Grattan St, Melbourne, VIC, 3000, Australia., Department of Oncology, Sir Peter MacCallum, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia.