Linear energy transfer-inclusive models of brainstem necrosis following proton therapy of paediatric ependymoma.

ABSTRACT:

Background and purpose

Radiation-induced brainstem necrosis after proton therapy is a severe toxicity with potential association to uncertainties in the proton relative biological effectiveness (RBE). A constant RBE of 1.1 is assumed clinically, but the RBE is known to vary with linear energy transfer (LET). LET-inclusive predictive models of toxicity may therefore be beneficial during proton treatment planning. Hence, we aimed to construct models describing the association between brainstem necrosis and LET in the brainstem.

Materials and methods

A matched case-control cohort (n = 28, 1:3 case-control ratio) of symptomatic brainstem necrosis was selected from 954 paediatric ependymoma brain tumour patients treated with passively scattered proton therapy. Dose-averaged LET (

SUBMITTER: Handeland AH 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10345333 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature