Study of the interaction of heavy charged particles with DNA using computational methods

Abstract

The interaction of ionizing particles with DNA leads to the damage of this molecule. This damage is closely related to both the origin and treatment of cancer. In re- cent years, the used of heavy charged particles, such as protons, has increased very fast. Unlike photons and electrons, which have been used in radiation therapy for more than a century, the radiobiology associated to heavy charged particles is not well understood yet. We are proposing here a project for studying the early dam- age induced by these particles in DNA using Monte Carlo simulation and quantum and classical dynamics calculations. This way, we expect to better understand the physico-chemical stage of the DNA damage induced by protons and ±-particles. These calculations should also provide quantitative and qualitative information for improv- ing biophysical models we have developed along the last 15 years, based on the Monte Carlo simulation of the radiation-DNA interaction process. These models allow the estimation of the relative biological effectiveness of different radiation qualities, from photons up to heavy charged particles. Our models can be applied in cancer photon- and ion-based radiation therapy, radiological protection, and targeted radionuclide therapy. (AU)