Double planning study of VMAT vs. Proton beam therapy in bone sarcoma
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Double planning study of Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy (VMAT) vs. Proton beam radiotherapy in patients with primary bone sarcoma of the pelvis or spine
IRAS ID
154700
Contact name
Beatrice Seddon
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University College London
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
Z6364106/2014/04/24, UCL Data Protection Registration
Research summary
Double planning study of Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy (VMAT) vs. Proton beam radiotherapy in patients with primary bone sarcoma of the pelvis or spine
VMAT and proton beam radiotherapy are advanced techniques with the potential to improve the distribution of radiotherapy dose, targeting the tumour more specifically and avoiding radiation to the surrounding normal body tissues. The purpose of this study is to compare these 2 techniques in primary bone sarcomas of the pelvis and spine, sites that are extremely challenging to treat with current 3-dimensional standard conformal radiotherapy. There is currently no objective evidence to guide the choice of technique in this setting, and a poor understanding of the potential benefits and limitations.
A double planning study will be performed. Anonymised radiotherapy planning scan datasets previously collected in the course of normal care will be used. VMAT and proton beam plans will be produced for each case. Plans will then be compared objectively using established dose parameters to describe what can be achieved with each technique in this setting, to establish potential limitations, and to define the best technique for each case in terms of target coverage and normal tissue sparing.
All radiotherapy planning activity and plan and data analysis will take place at UCLH over a period of 6 months. This study forms part of an MD(Res) fellowship funded by the Bone Cancer Research Trust.
REC name
London - Bloomsbury Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
14/LO/1441
Date of REC Opinion
6 Aug 2014
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion