simulation-free hippocampal-avoidance whole brain radiotherapy using diagnostic mri-based and cone beam computed tomography-guided on-table adaptive planning in a novel ring gantry radiotherapy device

Conditions: Intracranial Metastatic Disease From Any Solid Malignancy

Summary: hippocampal-avoidance whole brain radiation therapy (ha-wbrt) limits radiation dose to the hippocampal-avoidance region while still delivering therapeutic doses of radiation to the whole brain. when used in addition to prophylactic memantine, this technique has been shown to better preserve cognitive function in patients with brain metastases outside of the hippocampal-avoidance region with no difference in intracranial progression-free and overall survival. however, ha-wbrt requires considerably longer planning time when compared to conventional wbrt (5-10 business days, compared to next-day), and studies have shown that brain metastases can grow in as rapidly as one week. a proposed solution for quicker initiation of ha-wbrt is the use of simulation-free radiation treatment planning, in which pre-existing diagnostic images are used to generate the radiation treatment plan (as opposed to acquiring planning-specific image sets). this will be paired with the use of artificial intelligence (ai)-assisted semi-automated planning using the fda-approved treatment planning system called ethos therapy. the investigators have developed an institutional ha-wbrt auto-planning template, which has been retrospectively validated for the creation of plans that are compliant with the gold standard nrg oncology cc001 clinical trial and are dosimetrically comparable to traditional ha-wbrt plans. semi-automated plans will be constructed using diagnostic imaging, which will be refined as needed (adjustments for difference in gross head positioning between diagnostic imaging and radiation treatment positioning, etc.) while the patient is on the treatment table at fraction one using adaptive radiation planning. adaptive radiotherapy is standard-of-care practice for other disease sites. the purpose of this study is to demonstrate the feasibility and safety of a simulation-free workflow for ha-wbrt that is ai-assisted and semi-automated.


Eligibility criteria:
inclusion criteria: * diagnosis of intracranial metastatic disease from solid malignancy that is amenable to and recommended for treatment with ha-wbrt by the treating physician. * patients may have had prior therapy for brain metastasis, including radiosurgery, prior whole brain rt, and surgical resection. * receipt of a contrast-enhanced brain mri performed ≤21 days prior to study registration * at least 18 years of age * karnofsky performance status ≥ 50 * able to understand and willing to sign an irb approved written informed consent document (or that of legally authorized representative, if applicable) exclusion criteria: * pregnant and/or breastfeeding. women of childbearing potential must have a negative pregnancy test within 14 days of study entry. if pregnancy test is not clinically indicated as determined by treating physician or protocol principal investigator (pi), documentation of this exception is sufficient in lieu of a pregnancy test.