https://doi.org/10.15255/KUI.2006.009
Published: Kem. Ind. 56 (12) (2007) 643–654
Paper reference number: KUI-09/2006
Paper type: Review
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Radiation Physics and Chemistry in Heavy-ion Cancer Therapy

I. Krajcar Bronić and M. Kimura

Abstract

Heavy ions, such as carbon and oxygen ions, are classified as high-LET radiations, and produce a characteristic dose-depth distribution different from that of low-LET radiations such as γ-rays, xrays and electrons. Heavy ions lose less energy at the entrance to an irradiated biological system up to some depth than the low-LET radiations, while they deposit a large amount of dose within a very narrow range at a certain depth, producing the characteristic sharp peak called the Bragg peak. Therefore, by controlling the Bragg peak, it becomes possible to irradiate only the tumor region in a pin-point manner, while avoiding irradiation of the normal tissue, thus making heavyion therapy ideal for deep-seated tumor treatment. Clinical results on more than 2400 patients are very encouraging. However, very little is known about what is going on in terms of physics and chemistry inside the Bragg peak. In this paper the current status of our understanding of heavy-ion interactions and remaining problems of physics and chemistry for the heavy-ion treatment are explored, particularly in the Bragg peak region. Specially, the survey of the basic physical quantity, the mean energy required to form an ion pair (Wvalue) for heavy ions of interest for radiotherapy is presented. Finally, the current clinical status of heavy-ion therapy is presented.

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Keywords

heavy ions, radiation therapy, W value, Bragg peak, oxygen enhancement ratio (OER), relative biological effectiveness (RBE), radicals, ion-bio-molecule interaction, deep-seated tumor