Development of a biophysical model for chromosome aberrations induced by ionizing radiations

Abstract

Radiation-DNA interaction can induce biological damages, including Câncer. Paradoxically, this disease can be treated with these radiations, which is known as Radiation Therapy. Along the last decade, the use of proton beams in Radiation Therapy (protontherapy) has increased very fast. However, the mechanisms involved in the DNA damage induced by these particles are not well known yet. This project aims at the development of a biophysical model for estimating the Relative Biological Effectiveness (RBE) from the capacity of ionizing radiations for inducing chromosome aberrations. Recently, our group introduced the indirect damage on the DNA, induced by chemical species coming from the water radiolysis. We are also working on the development of very realistic chromosome geometrical models. Thus, we are ready for going a step further from current models, in order to determine DSB cluster yields and chromosome aberrations. This way, we expect to estimate the RBE for diverse radiation qualities, such as photons, electrons, ions and neutrons. (AU)