Tracking of Respiratory-Induced Tumor Motion Using Implanted Fiducials

If you are eligible to take part in this study, you will have pulmonary (lung) function testing. This testing will involve your breathing through a mouthpiece and measuring the amount of air you breathe. This will provide information on how well your lungs work, and how your chest wall moves when you breathe.

You will then begin the normal treatment planning process. A bean-bag "cast" will be made for you to lie in during planning and treatment. This is done to lower day-to-day changes in your position. A CT scan will be taken with you breathing quietly, and possibly several X-rays will be performed as well. You will be marked with magic marker, and possibly have several permanent tattoos placed to help with daily positioning. These procedures normally take 1-2 hours.

Small metal markers (up to 5) will then be placed near your tumor. A thin, flexible tube with a camera, called a bronchoscope, will be used to place these markers in your lungs. You will be given a sedative through one of your veins and a local anesthetic will be sprayed in your nose and mouth before introducing the bronchoscope. The bronchoscope is introduced through one of your nostrils and then passed into your windpipe and bronchial tubes. This will allow the doctor to examine your lungs and place the small metal markers. These markers will be used to track the tumor during treatment. In this way the radiation treatment can be given to the tumor even if it moves while you breathe.

You will also have studies to measure how much the tumor moves. This will be done with several additional CT scans, typically taken on a weekly basis. Additional pulmonary function measurements will be taken during the CT scans. These measurements will allow researchers to monitor the movement of your tumor when you breathe. These procedures will normally take between 1 and 2 hours.

You will be on this study for the duration of your radiation treatments. You will be followed up an for an additional 4 - 6 weeks to make sure there are no complications from the study.

THIS IS AN INVESTIGATIONAL STUDY. A total of up to 30 patients will take part in this study. All will be enrolled at M. D. Anderson.

Inclusion criteria

• Patient must be undergoing radiation treatment.
• Planned course of radiation treatment must be greater than or equal to 6 weeks.
• The patient is able to tolerate bronchoscopy: a. Able to maintain oxygen saturation >95% on room air nasal cannula supplementation <5L/min, b. Can tolerate supine position without respiratory difficulties, c. Has normal hemodynamic parameters, d. Has normal coagulation profile
• The patient is a candidate for bronchogenic placement of seeds.
• The patient has an identifiable tumor on a CT scan.
• The patient has signed the consent form.

Exclusion criteria

• The patient has had previous thoracic surgery (e.g., lobectomy, pneumonectomy, tumor excision). Biopsy, mediastinoscopy, mastectomy are not exclusions.
• The patient has had previous radiation to the thorax.