Database infrastructure for multi-institutional clinical trials in 3D conformal radiotherapy and prostate brachytherapy

The practice of three-dimensional conformai radiation therapy (3DCRT) is heavily dependent on the use of image, geometric, and dosimetric data for treatment planning and verification. Several Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG) multi-institutional clinical protocols involving relationships of radiation dose and response in 3DCRT have been designed to acquire and collect both these treatment planning and verification (TPV) data as well as clinical endpoints. These TPV data have been evaluated by the 3DQA Center at Washington University in an effort (a) to evaluate the consistency of data and (b) to establish a database which can be linked to clinical outcomes for evaluating response statistics and developing dose-response models. To address these aims, two databases have been developed in the 3DQA Center. The first is a quality-assurance process-tracking database, the second a repository for evaluated TPV data for protocol cases.