Quality assurance for the EORTC 22071-26071 study: dummy run prospective analysis.

Abstract

PURPOSE:

The phase III 22071-26071 trial was designed to evaluate the addition of panitumumab to adjuvant chemotherapy plus intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) in locally advanced resected squamous cell head and neck cancer. We report the results of the dummy run (DR) performed to detect deviations from protocol guidelines.

METHODS AND MATERIALS:

DR datasets consisting of target volumes, organs at risk (OAR) and treatment plans were digitally uploaded, then compared with reference contours and protocol guidelines by six central reviewers. Summary statistics and analyses of potential correlations between delineations and plan characteristics were performed.

RESULTS:

Of 23 datasets, 20 (87.0%) GTVs were evaluated as acceptable/borderline, along with 13 (56.5%) CTVs and 10 (43.5%) PTVs. All PTV dose requirements were met by 73.9% of cases. Dose constraints were met for 65.2-100% of mandatory OARs. Statistically significant correlations were observed between the subjective acceptability of contours and the ability to meet dose constraints for all OARs (p ≤ 0.01) except for the parotids and spinal cord. Ipsilateral parotid doses correlated significantly with CTV and PTV volumes (p ≤ 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS:

The observed wide variations in treatment planning, despite strict guidelines, confirms the complexity of development and quality assurance of IMRT-based multicentre studies for head and neck cancer.

• Authors: Alysa Fairchild, Johannes A Langendijk, Sandra Nuyts, Christopher Scrase, Milan Tomsej, Danny Schuring, Akos Gulyban, Sunita Ghosh, Damien C Weber, Wilfried Budach
• Journal: Radiation oncology (London, England) (Radiat Oncol) Vol. 9 Pg. 248 (Nov 26 2014) ISSN: 1748-717X [Electronic] England
• PMID: 25424399 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Phase II, Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Antibodies, Monoclonal
• Panitumumab

Topics

• Antibodies, Monoclonal (administration & dosage)
• Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols (administration & dosage)
• Carcinoma, Squamous Cell (therapy)
• Chemoradiotherapy (methods)
• Guideline Adherence
• Head and Neck Neoplasms (therapy)
• Humans
• Organs at Risk
• Panitumumab
• Practice Guidelines as Topic (standards)
• Prospective Studies
• Quality Assurance, Health Care (standards)
• Radiotherapy Dosage
• Radiotherapy Planning, Computer-Assisted (methods)
• Radiotherapy, Intensity-Modulated (methods)
• Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck