Contents

page

Chapter 1. lui1ial ph�·skal f'fff'<'IS of irudiatioo: do'iimelry- mirrodosimf'11,·

I.I Slowing down of charged particles

1.2 Absorbed dose
1.3 Dose distributions from beams of radiation
1.4 Distribution of dose on a microscopic scale
Chapter}. Rndlatlon <'hf'mhtrr 15

2.1 Initial physical eveou 15

2.2 Rndiolysis ofwater 15

2.3 Action ofradiation on aqucou'i solutions 17

2.4 Mechanism of action of chemical modifiers of radiosensitivity 20

Chapter 3. Efft-rl'i of r11diatiou 011 D:XA molecules and ehrcmoscmes 24

3.1 DNA molecules and their relationship with chromosomes 24

3.2 Lesions produced by radiation in DNA molecules 31

3.3 Repair of DNA lcsiom,

3.4 Effects of radiation on chromosomes 45

3.S D:s'A lesions and cell death 56

Chapter 4. Cellular f'fftNs or loniziuz radiatiou. Cr-II 5111'\;,·al curves 62

4.1 Cell death 62

4.2 Methods of measuring the proportion of surviving cells 63

4.3 Cell survival curves 69

4.4 Intrinsic cellular radicsensitiviry 78

4.5 Cell survival and repair: fractionated irradiation and low dose rare 80

Chapter 5. Effects on normal tissues 90

5.1 From cellular effects to tissue damage 90

5.2 Lare effects 97

5.3 Examples furnished by certain tissues 99

Chapter 6. The dfet'ts or rndiatiou ou tumours. The biological bases or radletberapy 122
6.1 Theoretical considerations on the local control of tumour., 123

6.2 Proliferation kiuerics ofhwnan rumours: response to irradiation 128

6.3 Factors affecting: the radioseusitiviry of human nuuours 135

6.4 Combin.a1ions of radiotherapy and chemotherapy 140

Cliaprer 7. Hn>oxk eetts and rbeil' Importance in radiotherapy 146
7. l The oxygen effect 146
7.2 The hypoxic cells 146
7.3 Tmnour reoxygeneuon 148
7.4 Methods of selectively attacking hypoxic cells 152
CliaprerS. Thn, and frarlionation in radio!l1,ra1,y 158
8.1 Standard fractionation and its variations in practice 158
8.2 Effects of fractionation and time: historical development 159
8.3 Experimental data and radiobiological interpretation of the differential effects 161
of fractionation
8.4 The effect of overall trearmeut rime 167
8.5 Hyperfractionation 170
8.6 Treenneut at low dose rate 171
8.7 Re-irradiation 174
Chapter 9. Hy1)tl'thermla 177
9.1 Lethal effects of lrypertbeouia on cells 177
9.2 Radiosensitiz:uion by hyperthermie 179
9.3 Chemosensitization by hypenhenuia 181
9.4 Therapeutic applications 181
Chapter JO. Cbemlral modlfins of radiosf'n�irh'ity 183
10.1 Radioscnsitizcrs orher than oxygen 183
10.2 Radioprotcctors 185
10.3 Hypoxic cell sensitizers 186
Cliapter 11. Xeutrous and orber bu,�· particles 191
11.1 Radiobiological properties of high-LET radiation 191
11.2 R.,diobiological rationale for the use offast neutrons in radiotherapy 196
11.3 Or her charged particles used in radiotherapy 206
11.4 Specific problems raised in radiation protection by high-LET radiations 212
Chapter 12. Effetl$ or h-rndlatiou on tbe humrm bod�·: radiopalholoi._,. 221
12.l Somntic effects 221
12.2 Effects on the embryo and foetus: terarogenevis 228
12.3 Carcinogenesis 231
12.4 Genetic risk 248
12.5 The biological basis of radiation prctecricu: a comparison of risks 251

Index 261