PTV margin for dose‐escalated radiation therapy of prostate cancer with daily online realignment using internal fiducial markers: Monte Carlo approach and dose population histogram (DPH) analysis

Using internal fiducial markers and electronic portal imaging (EPI) to realign patients has been shown to significantly reduce positioning uncertainties in prostate radiation treatment. This creates the possibility of decreasing the planning target volume (PTV) margin added on the clinical target volume (CTV), which in turn may allow for dose escalation. We compared the outcome of two plans: 70 Gy/35 fx, 10‐mm PTV margin without patient realignment (Reference Plan) and 78 Gy/39 fx, 5‐mm PTV margin with patient realignment (Escalated Plan). Four‐field‐oblique (gantry angles 35°, 90°, 270°, 325°) beam arrangement was used. Monte Carlo code was used to simulate the daily organ motion. Dose to each organ was calculated. Tumor control probability (TCP) and the effective dose to critical organs [Formula: see text] were calculated using the biologically normalized dose‐volume histograms. By comparing the biological factors, we found that the prescription dose can be escalated to 78 Gy/39 fx with a 5‐mm PTV margin when using internal fiducial markers and EPI. Based on the available dose‐response data for intermediate risk prostate patients, this will result in a 20% increase of local control and significantly reduced rectal complications provided that less serial dose‐volume behavior of rectum is proven. PACS number: 87.50.‐a