Characterization of relative biological effectiveness for conventional radiation therapy: a comparison of clinical 6 MV X-rays and 137Cs

Michelle Howard; Chris Beltran; Jann Sarkaria; Michael G Herman

doi:10.1093/jrr/rrx018

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Characterization of relative biological effectiveness for conventional radiation therapy: a comparison of clinical 6 MV X-rays and 137Cs

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Characterization of relative biological effectiveness for conventional radiation therapy: a comparison of clinical 6 MV X-rays and 137Cs

Michelle Howard, Chris Beltran, Jann Sarkaria and Michael G Herman

Journal of radiation research, Vol.58(5), pp.608-613

09/01/2017

DOI: 10.1093/jrr/rrx018

PMCID: PMC5737853

PMID: 28444207

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Abstract

ABSTRACT Various types of radiation are utilized in the treatment of cancer. Equal physical doses of different radiation types do not always result in the same amount of biological damage. In order to account for these differences, a scaling factor known as the relative biological effectiveness (RBE) can be used. 137Cesium (137Cs) has been used as a source of radiation in a significant body of radiation therapy research. However, high-energy X-rays, such as 6 MV X-rays, are currently used clinically to treat patients. To date, there is a gap in the literature regarding the RBE comparison of these two types of radiation. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the RBE of 137Cs relative to that of 6 MV X-rays. To determine the RBE, five cell lines were irradiated [Chinese hamster ovary (CHO); human lung adenocarcinoma (A549); human glioma (U251); human glioma (T98); and human osteosarcoma (U2OS)] by both types of radiation and assessed for cell survival using a clonogenic assay. Three of the five cell lines resulted in RBE values of ~1.00 to within 11% for all survival fractions, showing the physical and biological dose for these two types of radiation were equivalent. The other two cell lines gave RBE values differing from 1.00 by up to 36%. In conclusion, the results show the range in biological effect seen between cell lines, and therefore cell type must be considered when characterizing RBE.

radiotherapy

relative biological effectiveness

Cesium

6 MV X-rays

Details

Title: Subtitle: Characterization of relative biological effectiveness for conventional radiation therapy: a comparison of clinical 6 MV X-rays and 137Cs
Creators: Michelle Howard
Chris Beltran - 1 Department of Radiation Oncology, Mayo Clinic, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN 55905, USA
Jann Sarkaria - 1 Department of Radiation Oncology, Mayo Clinic, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN 55905, USA
Michael G Herman - 1 Department of Radiation Oncology, Mayo Clinic, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN 55905, USA
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Journal of radiation research, Vol.58(5), pp.608-613
DOI: 10.1093/jrr/rrx018
PMID: 28444207
PMCID: PMC5737853
NLM abbreviation: J Radiat Res
ISSN: 0449-3060
eISSN: 1349-9157
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Grant note: T32 HL105355 / National Institues of Health Mayo Graduate School
Language: English
Date published: 09/01/2017
Academic Unit: Iowa Neuroscience Institute; Radiation Oncology
Record Identifier: 9984047877802771

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