AI automated radiation planning for breast cancer treatment.

One-Click Breast Cancer Treatment: AI Automates Radiation Planning, Saving Time and Improving Care

Lena Kashyap in Health & Wellness August 2025 • 3 min read.

"New AI framework slashes breast cancer radiation treatment planning time by 50% while maintaining the quality of care."

Radiation therapy is a cornerstone of breast cancer treatment, particularly after breast-conserving surgery. Traditional methods, however, can expose the entire breast to high doses of radiation, leading to potential complications. Achieving uniform radiation dosage in the breast, given its complex shape, has always been a challenge.

To overcome these limitations, advanced techniques like 3D image-based treatment planning, conformal radiation therapy (CRT), and intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) have been developed. These approaches aim to deliver precise radiation doses to the tumor while minimizing exposure to surrounding healthy tissues. However, these methods can be time-consuming and require specialized expertise.

Now, a groundbreaking solution is emerging: an automated field-in-field (FIF) planning framework powered by artificial intelligence (AI). This innovative approach promises to streamline the radiation treatment planning process, making it faster, more efficient, and more accessible to healthcare providers.

How Does Automated FIF Planning Work?

AI automated radiation planning for breast cancer treatment.

The automated FIF framework combines the Eclipse Scripting application programming interfaces (APIs) with user-executed programming in Windows. This integration allows for a one-click option within the treatment planning system (TPS) to automate breast FIF planning.

Here’s a breakdown of the process:

Scripting APIs: Designed to automate clinical workflows in radiation oncology.
User-Executed Programming: Integrates the scripting application with user-defined programs to automate the field-in-field technique.
Eclipse Scripting Applications: Provide an interface between the treatment planning system server and client, enabling the execution of programs that create dose clouds and adjust planning parameters like multi-leaf collimator (MLC) placements and monitor unit values.
One-Click Option: Allows all tasks to be performed with a single click within the treatment planning system, including automated pushback of the proposed plan.

The framework significantly reduces the manual multi-leaf collimator/monitor unit adjustment time. The elapsed time for running the framework was less than one minute, which has decreased the total planning time by more than 50%, relative to the manual field-in-field planning.

The Future of Breast Cancer Treatment Planning

The combination of scripting applications and user-executed programming for automated breast field-in-field planning represents a significant advancement in planning efficiency without compromising plan quality. As AI and automation continue to evolve, we can expect even more sophisticated solutions that improve cancer treatment outcomes and enhance the quality of life for patients.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.1177/1533033818810391, Alternate LINK

Title: Automated Field-In-Field (Fif) Plan Framework Combining Scripting Application Programming Interface And User-Executed Program For Breast Forward Imrt

Subject: Cancer Research

Journal: Technology in Cancer Research & Treatment

Publisher: SAGE Publications

Authors: Hojin Kim, Jungwon Kwak, Jinhong Jung, Chiyoung Jeong, Kyoungjun Yoon, Sang-Wook Lee, Seung Do Ahn, Eun Kyung Choi, Su Ssan Kim, Byungchul Cho

Published: 2018-01-01

Everything You Need To Know

What is automated field-in-field (FIF) planning, and why is it used?

The automated field-in-field (FIF) planning framework is a new approach that uses artificial intelligence (AI) to make radiation treatment planning for breast cancer faster and more efficient. It combines Eclipse Scripting application programming interfaces (APIs) with user-executed programming to automate the field-in-field technique within the treatment planning system (TPS). This allows for tasks like creating dose clouds and adjusting multi-leaf collimator (MLC) placements to be performed with a single click, significantly reducing manual adjustment time. This type of planning is important because it can improve cancer treatment outcomes and enhance the quality of life for patients.

What is the main benefit of automated FIF planning?

The main benefit of using automated FIF planning is that it significantly reduces the time required for radiation treatment planning, specifically decreasing the total planning time by more than 50% compared to manual field-in-field planning. This is important because it streamlines the process, making it more efficient and accessible to healthcare providers. By automating tasks and reducing manual adjustments of multi-leaf collimator/monitor units, the automated process helps improve the workload of physicians.

What are conformal radiation therapy (CRT) and intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT), and what role do they play?

Conformal radiation therapy (CRT) and intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) are advanced techniques used in radiation therapy to deliver precise radiation doses to the tumor while minimizing exposure to surrounding healthy tissues. They aim to achieve uniform radiation dosage in the breast, given its complex shape. These methods are significant because they help reduce potential complications associated with traditional radiation therapy, which can expose the entire breast to high doses of radiation. However, these methods can be time-consuming and require specialized expertise.

What are Eclipse Scripting application programming interfaces (APIs), and what is their role in automated planning?

Eclipse Scripting application programming interfaces (APIs) are designed to automate clinical workflows in radiation oncology. They provide an interface between the treatment planning system server and client, enabling the execution of programs that create dose clouds and adjust planning parameters like multi-leaf collimator (MLC) placements and monitor unit values. Their role is to integrate with user-defined programs to automate the field-in-field technique. This integration allows for a one-click option within the treatment planning system (TPS) to automate breast FIF planning.

What is a multi-leaf collimator (MLC), and why is it important?

The multi-leaf collimator (MLC) is an important component in radiation therapy because it allows for precise shaping of the radiation beam to match the tumor's shape, minimizing exposure to surrounding healthy tissues. Adjusting the MLC placements is a critical step in radiation treatment planning, and automating this process with the field-in-field (FIF) technique significantly reduces the manual adjustment time. By adjusting and automating the MLC placements with the Eclipse Scripting application programming interfaces, the radiation doses are more precise and efficient.