Skip to main content
U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Malignant transformation of mouse C3H/10T 1/2 cells in vitro by x rays, fission-spectrum and d(80) + (Be + Ta)neutrons

Thesis/Dissertation ·
OSTI ID:5448791
Lethality and malignant transformation of mammalian cells exposed to neutrons and X rays were measured. Dose-response curves were obtained at doses relevant to raidation therapy, ranging from 0.5 to 12 Gy (1Gy = 100 rads). Cultured mouse embryo cells (C3H/10T 1/2) were used as a model system. Response of C3H/10T 1/2 cells to 100 kVp x rays TRIGA reactor fission neutrons and d(80) + (Be + Ta) cyclotron-produced neutrons were investigated. Results indicated that the number of transformants per survivor increased with increasing dose, and then leveled off at a dose that kills about 90% of the irradiated cells, regardless of the type of radiation used. The summary results were given in terms of the relative biological effectiveness (RBE) using 100 kVp as a reference radiation. The RBE values for cell killing as judged by survival curve slopes were 2.75 +- 0.2 for fission neutrons and 1.71 +- 0.1 for cyclotron neutrons and varied slightly at high survival levels. The RBE values for transformation ranged from 6 to 2.6 for fission neutrons when calculated at different transformation frequency levels. In the case of cyclotron-produced neutrons, the RBE for cell lethality was significantly higher than the RBE for cell transformation, which was 1 or less.
Research Organization:
Maryland Univ., College Park (USA)
OSTI ID:
5448791
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English