main configuration

Global Treatments

In the globalTreatments section, therapies that can influence more than one compartment can be parametrized. It is an optional part of the main configuration section. Following treatments can be parametrized:

You will find an example for the globalTreatments section with different defined therapies at the bottom of the page.

Chemotherapy

The chemotherapy is structured as follows. Please note that all elements have to be stated in exactly the same order as listed below.

    <chemotherapy>
        <time> </time>
        <quantity> </quantity>
        <interval> </interval>
        <cyclingCellsFraction> </cyclingCellsFraction>
        <drugSensitivity> </drugSensitivity>
        <drugDecay> </drugDecay>
    </chemotherapy>
time The time when the treatment is applied (the first time). Unit: days
quantity optional Defines how often the treatment with the specified parametrization shall be applied. If the quantity is greater 1 the interval is also required.
interval optional Specifies the interval between treatments. Mandatory, if quantity is greater 1. Unit: days
cyclingCellsFraction optional The fraction of cells that are in a cell cycle phase that is affected by the chemotherapy. Has to be in the interval [0,1]. If not stated the cyclingCellsFraction will be 1, which means that all cells are affected by the chemotherapy regardless of any cell cycle phases.
drugSensitivity The drug sensitivity describes the effectivity of the chemotherapy. Has to be in the interval [0,1].
drugDecay The drug decay rate describes how fast the drug vanishes from the system. Unit: 1/day


ExternalBeamRadiation

The external beam radiation is structured as follows. Please note that all elements have to be stated in exactly the same order as listed below.

    <externalBeamRadiation>
        <time> </time>
        <quantity> </quantity>
        <interval> </interval>
        <alpha> </alpha>
        <beta> </beta>
        <dose> </dose>
    </externalBeamRadiation>
time The time when the treatment is applied (the first time). Unit: days
quantity optional Defines how often the treatment with the specified parametrization shall be applied. If the quantity is greater 1 the interval is also required.
interval optional Specifies the interval between treatments. Mandatory, if quantity is greater 1. Unit: days
alpha The radiosensitivity of the tumor cells. Describes the probability of creating a lethal double strand break and thus cell death. Unit: 1/Gy
beta The radiosensitivity of the tumor cells. Describes the probability of creating two single strand breaks that lead to a lethal double strand break and thus cell death. Unit: 1/Gy²
dose The administered dose. Unit: Gy


Radioembolization

The radioembolization is structured as follows. Please note that all elements have to be stated in exactly the same order as listed below.

    <radioembolization>
        <time> </time>
        <quantity> </quantity>
        <interval> </interval>
        <alpha> </alpha>
        <beta> </beta>
        <hostOrgan organRef="organID"/>
        <activity> </activity>
        <energy> </energy>
        <halflife> </halflife>
        <minVolume> </minVolume>
    </radioembolization>
time The time when the treatment is applied (the first time). Unit: days
quantity optional Defines how often the treatment with the specified parametrization shall be applied. If the quantity is greater 1 the interval is also required.
interval optional Specifies the interval between treatments. Mandatory, if quantity is greater 1. Unit: days
alpha The radiosensitivity of the tumor cells. Describes the probability of creating a lethal double strand break and thus cell death. Unit: 1/Gy
beta The radiosensitivity of the tumor cells. Describes the probability of creating two single strand breaks that lead to a lethal double strand break and thus cell death. Unit: 1/Gy²
hostOrgan The host organ where the radioembolization shall be performed. Refers to a beforehand defined host organ.
activity The activity administered to the patient. Unit: GBq
energy The average energy per disintegration of the radionuclide. Can be a single emission or the sum of multiple emissions. Unit: MeV/(Bq*s)
halflife The physical half life of the radionuclide. Unit: hours
minDiameter The minimum diameter of a metastasis to be treated. Smaller metastases are not detectable and therefore not treated. The tumor is assumed to be a sphere. Hence, 1 mm diameter will result in a tumor with a volume of 0.523 mm³. A tumor of 1 mm³ is assumed to contain of 1e6 cells. Hence, 1 mm diameter ==> 0.523 mm³ ==> 523599 cells.
Either minDiameter or minVolume has to be stated but not both.
Unit: mm
minVolume The minimum volume of a metastasis to be treated. Smaller metastases are not detectable and therefore not treated. A tumor of 1 mm³ is assumed to contain of 1e6 cells. Hence, 1 mm³ ==> 1e6 cells.
Either minDiameter or minVolume has to be stated but not both.
Unit: mm³


Radioimmunotherapy

The radioimmunotherapy is structured as follows. Please note that all elements have to be stated in exactly the same order as listed below.

    <radioimmunotherapy>
        <time> </time>
        <quantity> </quantity>
        <interval> </interval>
        <alpha> </alpha>
        <beta> </beta>
        <activity> </activity>
        <clearanceFraction> </clearanceFraction>
        <energy> </energy>
        <halflife> </halflife>
        <biologicalHalflife> </biologicalHalflife>
        <excludeBlood> </excludeBlood>
    </radioimmunotherapy>
time The time when the treatment is applied (the first time). Unit: days
quantity optional Defines how often the treatment with the specified parametrization shall be applied. If the quantity is greater 1 the interval is also required.
interval optional Specifies the interval between treatments. Mandatory, if quantity is greater 1. Unit: days
alpha The radiosensitivity of the tumor cells. Describes the probability of creating a lethal double strand break and thus cell death. Unit: 1/Gy
beta The radiosensitivity of the tumor cells. Describes the probability of creating two single strand breaks that lead to a lethal double strand break and thus cell death. Unit: 1/Gy²
activity The activity administered to the patient. Unit: GBq
clearanceFraction optional The fraction of activity that does not contribute to the therapy because it is not delivered into the individual tumors. If no clearance fraction is given the whole administered activity will contribute to the therapy. Values have to be in the interval [0,1].
energy The average energy per disintegration of the radionuclide. Can be a single emission or the sum of multiple emissions. Unit: MeV/(Bq*s)
halflife The physical half life of the radionuclide. Unit: hours
biologicalHalflife optional The biological half life of the radionuclide. Is used to compute the effective half life. If no biological half live is stated the physical half life is used as effective half life.
Unit: hours
excludeBlood optional Defines whether the therapy shall not influence the cells in the blood stream. Valid values are true or false. If not stated, the value of excludeBlood is set to false.


Sample configuration of the globalTreatments section

In this sample configuration of a globalTreatments section external beam radiation is applied in daily 2 Gy fractions, 5 times a week. In the last week radiation is applied only 3 times. 

    <globalTreatments>
        <!-- 36 Gy in daily 2 Gy fractions, 5 times a week -->
        <!-- Week 1 -->
        <externalBeamRadiation>
            <time>700</time>
            <quantity>5</quantity> <!-- 5 times -->
            <interval>1</interval> <!-- every day -->
            <alpha>0.35</alpha>
            <beta>0.023</beta>
            <dose>2</dose>
        </externalBeamRadiation>
        <!-- Week 2 -->
        <externalBeamRadiation>
            <time>707</time>
            <quantity>5</quantity> <!-- 5 times -->
            <interval>1</interval> <!-- every day -->
            <alpha>0.35</alpha>
            <beta>0.023</beta>
            <dose>2</dose>
        </externalBeamRadiation>
        <!-- Week 3 -->
        <externalBeamRadiation>
            <time>714</time>
            <quantity>5</quantity> <!-- 5 times -->
            <interval>1</interval> <!-- every day -->
            <alpha>0.35</alpha>
            <beta>0.023</beta>
            <dose>2</dose>
        </externalBeamRadiation>
        <!-- Week 4 -->
        <externalBeamRadiation>
            <time>721</time>
            <quantity>3</quantity> <!-- 3 times -->
            <interval>1</interval> <!-- every day -->
            <alpha>0.35</alpha>
            <beta>0.023</beta>
            <dose>2</dose>
        </externalBeamRadiation>
    </globalTreatments>

In the second example 7 cycles of chemotherapy are applied in an interval of 14 days starting at day 1500 after a radioembolization at day 700. 

    <globalTreatments>
        <radioembolization>
            <time>700</time>
            <alpha>0.35</alpha>
            <beta>0.023</beta>
            <hostOrgan organRef="liver"/>
            <activity>0.5</activity>
            <energy>0.9337</energy>
            <halflife>64.2</halflife>
            <minVolume>65.45</minVolume>
        </radioembolization>
        <chemotherapy>
            <time>1500</time>
            <quantity>7</quantity> <!-- 7 cycles -->
            <interval>14</interval><!-- every 2 weeks -->
            <drugSensitivity>0.9</drugSensitivity>
            <drugDecay>0.92</drugDecay>
        </chemotherapy>
    </globalTreatments>