TY - JOUR T1 - Efficacy of Spacers in Radiation Therapy for Locally Advanced Pancreatic Cancer: A Planning Study JF - Anticancer Research JO - Anticancer Res SP - 503 LP - 508 DO - 10.21873/anticanres.14801 VL - 41 IS - 1 AU - HIROKI KAWAGUCHI AU - YUSUKE DEMIZU AU - NARITOSHI MUKUMOTO AU - TAKEAKI ISHIHARA AU - DAISUKE MIYAWAKI AU - SHOHEI KOMATSU AU - HIROAKI AKASAKA AU - MAKOTO SHINOTO AU - YOSHIYUKI SHIOYAMA AU - KATSUMASA NAKAMURA AU - TAKUMI FUKUMOTO AU - RYOHEI SASAKI Y1 - 2021/01/01 UR - http://ar.iiarjournals.org/content/41/1/503.abstract N2 - Background/Aim: We aimed to investigate the dosimetric effects of a spacer placed between the pancreas and surrounding gastrointestinal structures in intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) planning to provide more effective radiation therapy for locally advanced pancreatic cancer (LAPC). Patients and Methods: Treatment planning was performed for six patients with LAPC based on computed tomography images without spacers and with 5-mm or 10-mm spacers virtually inserted under the supervision of a hepatobiliary pancreatic surgeon. The prescription dose was 63 Gy in 28 fractions. Results: With the exception of one case of pancreatic head cancer, planning target volume receiving ≥95% of the prescribed dose (PTV V95) was achieved by 90% or more by inserting a spacer, and by 95% or more in all 3 cases of pancreatic body and tail cancer by inserting a 10-mm spacer. Conclusion: IMRT with appropriate spacer placement may help provide high-dose treatment for LAPC and improve associated patient outcomes. ER -