On the Sensitivity of alpha/beta Prediction to Dose Calculation Methodology in Prostate Brachytherapy

Hossein Afsharpour, Sean Walsh, Charles-Antoine Collins Fekete, Eric Vigneault, Frank Verhaegen, Luc Beaulieu*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

Purpose: To study the relationship between the accuracy of the dose calculation in brachytherapy and the estimations of the radiosensitivity parameter, alpha/beta, for prostate cancer. Methods and Materials: In this study, Monte Carlo methods and more specifically the code ALGEBRA was used to produce accurate dose calculations in the case of prostate brachytherapy. Equivalent uniform biologically effective dose was calculated for these dose distributions and was used in an iso-effectiveness relationship with external beam radiation therapy. Results: By considering different levels of detail in the calculations, the estimation for the alpha/beta parameter varied from 1.9 to 6.3 Gy, compared with a value of 3.0 Gy suggested by the American Association of Physicists in Medicine Task Group 137. Conclusions: Large variations of the alpha/beta show the sensitivity of this parameter to dose calculation modality. The use of accurate dose calculation engines is critical for better evaluating the biological outcomes of treatments.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)345-350
JournalInternational Journal of Radiation Oncology Biology Physics
Volume88
Issue number2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Feb 2014

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