RapidPlan development of VMAT plans for cervical cancer patients in low- and middle-income countries
Cervical cancer has a high incidence and mortality rate in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) largely due to limited resources and insufficient staffing. Knowledge-based planning (KBP) could alleviate understaffing issues by streamlining the radiotherapy treatment planning process. Varian's KBP system (RapidPlan) was used to develop a model capable of producing volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) plans for cervical cancer patients. Plan data from 46 patients previously treated at MD Anderson Cancer Center (MDACC) were used to create and train the model which was then applied to 32 patients excluded from the training process. Dose volume histogram (DVH) values for the planning target volume (PTV_High), bladder, rectum, and bowel were evaluated for the validation plans and found to have satisfied the required PTV coverage and organ-at-risk (OAR) dose constraints. The average value for PTV_High D