NTCP inhibitors (CD3)

Healthy and neoplastic tissues are generally exposed nonuniformly to ionizing radiation. It is thus useful to develop algorithms that predict the probability of tumor control or normal tissue complication probability (NTCP) for any given spatial pattern of dose delivery. The questions addressed here concern: (a) the sensitivity of the NTCP predictions to the actual model used for extrapolation from uniform irradiation (where some clinical data exist) to nonuniform exposures, (b) its dependence on tissue type, and (c) consequences for treatment-plan optimization.

Two (of several possible) NTCP formulations are used here: the Lyman model and a binomial equation. The effective volume-reduction scheme of Kutcher and Burman is used to obtain the NTCP for an arbitrary distribution of dose. NTCP was calculated for seven organs by postulating a dose distribution of maximum nonuniformity.

Both models fit available NTCP data well, but have very different extrapolations for exposures of small tissue volumes and very low values of NTCP (e.g., < 5%) where no data exist. Organs with pronounced volume effects (lung, kidneys) show substantial NTCP differences between the two models. Even in organs where the volume effect is small (e.g., spinal cord, brain), differences in NTCP due to the model selected may still have serious clinical consequences, as an actual example (for the spinal cord) indicates.

NTCP calculations based on extrapolations to volume fractions and/or NTCP levels for which reliable data do not exist depend on the model used to fit the data and the degree of dose nonuniformity. If NTCP is to be used in treatment-plan optimization, the prudent approach is to design plans that reproduce the conditions under which available dose-volume data were taken (e. g., uniform dose distributions).

In this study, we evaluated the postischemic myocardial tissue blood flow, specific enzymes, and functional recovery infused with a Nicorandil vasodilator-magnesium solution (Nico.: 8 mg/L, Mg: 20 mEq/L) given just prior to reperfusion (Terminal Cardioplegia, TCP). 27 patients undergoing valve replacement were divided into two groups; the hearts of group non-TCP (nTCP) (n = 15) were reperfused after ischemia without TCP, and in the other hearts of group TCP (n = 12), TCP was given for 2 min prior to reperfusion. During the reperfusion period, myocardial tissue blood flow (TBF) on the anterior wall of left ventricle were monitored by a laser blood flow-meter. Thereafter, serum CK-MB levels, MM3/MM1 values by CK-MM subbands (MM1, MM2, MM3) levels and LVSWI were measured until 24 hours after surgery. At 5 and 10 min of reperfusion, Group TCP had a significantly greater TBF than Group nTCP (5 min; G-TCP: 69.9 +/- 19.0 ml/100 g.min, G-nTCP: 47.5 +/- 20.9, p less than 0.05, 10 min; G-TCP: 74.9 +/- 22.8, G-nTCP: 56.1 +/- 23.4, p less than 0.05). At 3 hrs after surgery, an increase of MM3/MM1 values was significantly suppressed in Group TCP compared to Group nTCP (G-TCP: 2.6 +/- 0.6, G-nTCP: 3.4 +/- 1.0, p less than 0.05). Also, Group TCP had better recovery of LVSWI. These results indicate that the TCP might reduce the postischemic reperfusion injury by the improvement of myocardial TBF and metabolism.