ArticleArXiv2025
A quantum computing approach to beam angle optimization.
Article in ArXiv, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
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4 authors.
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Abstract
Background: Beam angle optimization (BAO) is a critical component of radiation therapy (RT) treatment planning, where small changes in beam configuration can significantly impact treatment quality, especially for proton RT. Mathematically, BAO is a mixed integer programming (MIP) problem, which is NP-hard due to its exponential growing search space. Traditional optimization techniques often struggle with computational efficiency, necessitating the development of novel approaches. Purpose: This study introduces QC-BAO, a hybrid quantum-classical approach that leverages quantum computing to solve the MIP formulation of BAO. Methods: The proposed approach, QC-BAO, models BAO as an MIP problem, incorporating binary variables for beam angle selection and continuous variables for optimizing spot intensities for proton therapy. The proposed approach employs a hybrid quantum-classical framework, utilizing quantum computing to solve the binary decision component while integrating classical optimization techniques, including iterative convex relaxation and the alternating direction method of multipliers. Results: Computational experiments were conducted on clinical test cases to evaluate QC-BAO's performance against clinically verified angles and a heuristic approaches, GS-BAO and AG-BAO. QC-BAO demonstrated improved treatment plan quality over clinical, GS-BAO and AG-BAO-selected angles. QC-BAO consistently increased the conformity index (CI) for target coverage while reducing mean and maximum doses to organs-at-risk (OAR). For instance, in the lung case, QC-BAO achieved a CI of 0.89, compared to 0.89 (clinical), 0.76 (GS-BAO) and 0.86 (AG-BAO), while lowering the mean lung dose to 2.78 Gy from 3.36 Gy (clinical), 4.80 Gy (GS-BAO) and 3.03 Gy (AG-BAO). Additionally, QC-BAO produced the lowest objective function values, confirming its superior optimization capability. Conclusions: The findings highlight the potential of quantum-inspired algorithm to enhance the solution to BAO problem by demonstrated improvement in plan quality using the proposed method, QC-BAO. This study paves the way for future clinical implementation of quantum-accelerated optimization in RT.
Indexed as
Identifiers
40297232PMC12036446What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
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