Pencil Beam Scanning Carbon Ion Radiotherapy for Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Abstract

Purpose: Carbon ion radiotherapy (CIRT) has emerged as a promising treatment modality for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, evidence of using the pencil beam scanning (PBS) technique to treat moving liver tumors remains lacking. The present study investigated the efficacy and toxicity of PBS CIRT in patients with HCC.

Methods: Between January 2016 and October 2021, 90 consecutive HCC patients treated with definitive CIRT in our center were retrospectively analyzed. Fifty-eight patients received relative biological effectiveness-weighted doses of 50-70 Gy in 10 fractions, and 32 received 60-67.5 Gy in 15 fractions, which were determined by the tumor location and normal tissue constraints. Active motion-management techniques and necessary strategies were adopted to mitigate interplay effects efficiently. Oncologic outcomes and toxicities were evaluated.

Results: The median follow-up time was 28.6 months (range 5.7-74.6 months). The objective response rate was 75.0% for all 90 patients with 100 treated lesions. The overall survival rates at 1-, 2- and 3-years were 97.8%, 83.3% and 75.4%, respectively. The local control rates at 1-, 2- and 3-years were 96.4%, 96.4% and 93.1%, respectively. Radiation-induced liver disease was not documented, and 4 patients (4.4%) had their Child-Pugh score elevated by 1 point after CIRT. No grade 3 or higher acute non-hematological toxicities were observed. Six patients (6.7%) experienced grade 3 or higher late toxicities.

Conclusion: The active scanning technique was clinically feasible to treat HCC by applying necessary mitigation measures for interplay effects. The desirable oncologic outcomes as well as favorable toxicity profiles presented in this study will be a valuable reference for other carbon-ion centers using the PBS technique and local effect model-based system, and add to a growing body of evidence about the role of CIRT in the management of HCC.

Keywords: carbon ion radiotherapy; hepatocellular carcinoma; local effect model; pencil beam scanning.

Figure 1

Two representative cases of hepatocellular carcinoma treated with CIRT using different fractionation regimens. The first case: (A) T2-weighted and hepatic arterial phase T1-weighted MRI before CIRT. (B) Dose distribution of the CIRT plan with a prescription relative biological effectiveness-weighted dose of 67.5 Gy in 15 fractions. (C) Follow-up MRI at 45 months after CIRT demonstrated disappearance of the intrahepatic mass. The second case: (D) Baseline MRI before CIRT. (E) Dose distribution with a prescription of 55 Gy in 10 fractions. (F) The MRI taken 51 months after CIRT showing a clinically complete response.

Figure 2

Kaplan–Meier curves for overall survival (OS), local control (LC), elsewhere liver recurrences-free survival (ELRFS), distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS) and progression-free survival (PFS).