Semester Award Granted

Spring 2025

Submission Date

May 2025

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Professional Science Masters (PSM)

Thesis/Dissertation Advisor [Chair]

Andreas Kyriacou

Abstract

Radiation therapy is one of the most effective and widely utilized methods for treating prostate cancer, employing high energy rays or particles to eradicate cancer cells. Among the available techniques, intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) and stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) are commonly used approaches that enable the delivery of a conformal radiation dose to the target tumor while minimizing exposure to surrounding healthy tissues. This study presents a comparative analysis of these two treatment plans for prostate cancer based on radiobiological and dosimetric parameters. IMRT treatment plans for prostate cancer patients were collected, and corresponding SBRT plans were developed using the Monaco treatment planning system following NRG GU005 dose constraints. The results demonstrated that SBRT plans yielded a higher biological effective dose (BED) and tumor control probability (TCP) for the target volume compared to IMRT, while maintaining a comparable BED for organs at risk (OARs). Additionally, normal tissue complication probabilities (NTCP) were negligible for both IMRT and SBRT plans. Dose-volume histogram (DVH) analysis indicated a uniform dose distribution in both treatment plans, with no significant difference observed in homogeneity index (HI). The maximum dose deviation from the prescribed dose remained within a 10% threshold for both plans. Although IMRT plans exhibited a higher conformity index compared to SBRT, SBRT plans with optimal conformity provided better tumor control while ensuring adequate sparing of OARs. These findings suggest that both IMRT and SBRT are effective treatment methods for prostate cancer.

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