Failla Memorial Lecture: the future of heavy-ion science in biology and medicine

Conference · Mon Jul 01 00:00:00 EDT 1985 · Radiat. Res.; (United States)

OSTI ID:5437861

Tobias, C A

An extensive review, with over 100 references, of the use of accelerator techniques in radiobiology is presented. Currently, beams of any stable isotope species up to uranium are available at kinetic energies of several hundred MeV/nucleon at the Berkeley Bevalac. The heavy ions hold interest for a broad spectrum of research because of their effectiveness in producing a series of major lesions in DNA along single particle tracks and because of the Bragg depth ionization properties that allow the precise deposition of highly localized doses deep in the human body. Heavy ions, when compared to low-LET radiation, have increased effectiveness for mammalian cell lethality, chromosome mutations, and cell transformation. The molecular mechanisms are not completely understood but appear to involve fragmentation and reintegration of DNA. Heavy ions do not require the presence of oxygen for producing their effects. Heavy ions are effective in delaying or blocking the cell division process. These radiobiological properties, combined with the ability to deliver highly localized internal doses, make accelerated heavy ions potentially important radiotherapeutic tools. Other novel approaches include the utilization of radioactive heavy beams as instant tracers. Heavy-ion radiography and microscopy respond to delicate changes in tissue electron density. The authors laboratory is in the process of proposing a research biomedical heavy-ion accelerator; the availability of such machines would greatly accelerate cancer and brain research with particle beams.

• Research Organization: Univ. of California, Berkeley
• DOE Contract Number: AC03-76SF00098
• OSTI ID: 5437861
• Report Number(s): CONF-860423-
• Journal Information: Radiat. Res.; (United States), Journal Name: Radiat. Res.; (United States) Vol. 103:1; ISSN RAREA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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61 RADIATION PROTECTION AND DOSIMETRY
62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
655003 -- Medical Physics-- Dosimetry
ACCELERATORS
ARGON
BEAMS
BEVALAC
BIOLOGICAL RECOVERY
BIOLOGICAL REPAIR
BIOLOGY
BODY
BODY AREAS
BRAGG CURVE
CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM
CHARGED PARTICLES
CYCLIC ACCELERATORS
DIAGNOSTIC USES
DIAGRAMS
DISEASES
DNA
DNA REPAIR
DOSIMETRY
ELEMENTS
ENDOCRINE GLANDS
EYES
FACE
FLUIDS
GASES
GLANDS
HEAD
HEAVY IONS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
ION BEAMS
ION DOSIMETRY
ION MICROSCOPY
IONS
MEDICINE
MELANOMAS
MICROSCOPY
NEON 20 BEAMS
NEOPLASMS
NERVOUS SYSTEM
NONMETALS
NUCLEAR MEDICINE
NUCLEIC ACIDS
ONCOGENIC TRANSFORMATIONS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PITUITARY GLAND
RADIOBIOLOGY
RADIOLOGY
RADIOTHERAPY
RARE GASES
RBE
RECOVERY
REPAIR
SENSE ORGANS
SILICON 28 BEAMS
SPINAL CORD
SURVIVAL CURVES
THERAPY
USES
WATER