Estimation of the relative biological effectiveness for double strand break induction of clinical kilovoltage beams using Monte Carlo simulations. 2024

Oran McElligott, and Mihails Nikandrovs, and Patrick McCavana, and Brendan McClean, and Luis León Vintró
School of Physics, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.

BACKGROUND The Relative Biological Effectiveness (RBE) of kilovoltage photon beams has been previously investigated in vitro and in silico using analytical methods. The estimated values range from 1.03 to 1.82 depending on the methodology and beam energies examined. OBJECTIVE The focus of this work was to independently estimate RBE values for a range of clinically used kilovoltage beams (70-200 kVp) while investigating the suitability of using TOPAS-nBio for this task. METHODS Previously validated spectra of clinical beams were used to generate secondary electron spectra at several depths in a water tank phantom via TOPAS Monte Carlo (MC) simulations. Cell geometry was irradiated with the secondary electrons in TOPAS-nBio MC simulations. The deposited dose and the calculated number of DNA strand breaks were used to estimate RBE values. RESULTS Monoenergetic secondary electron simulations revealed the highest direct and indirect double strand break yield at approximately 20 keV. The average RBE value for the kilovoltage beams was calculated to be 1.14. CONCLUSIONS TOPAS-nBio was successfully used to estimate the RBE values for a range of clinical radiotherapy beams. The calculated value was in agreement with previous estimates, providing confidence in its clinical use in the future.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D009010 Monte Carlo Method In statistics, a technique for numerically approximating the solution of a mathematical problem by studying the distribution of some random variable, often generated by a computer. The name alludes to the randomness characteristic of the games of chance played at the gambling casinos in Monte Carlo. (From Random House Unabridged Dictionary, 2d ed, 1993) Method, Monte Carlo
D011879 Radiotherapy Dosage The total amount of radiation absorbed by tissues as a result of radiotherapy. Dosage, Radiotherapy,Dosages, Radiotherapy,Radiotherapy Dosages
D012062 Relative Biological Effectiveness The ratio of radiation dosages required to produce identical change based on a formula comparing other types of radiation with that of gamma or roentgen rays. Biological Effectiveness, Relative,Effectiveness, Biologic Relative,Effectiveness, Biological Relative,Relative Biologic Effectiveness,Biologic Effectiveness, Relative,Biologic Relative Effectiveness,Biological Relative Effectiveness,Effectiveness, Relative Biologic,Effectiveness, Relative Biological,Relative Effectiveness, Biologic
D003198 Computer Simulation Computer-based representation of physical systems and phenomena such as chemical processes. Computational Modeling,Computational Modelling,Computer Models,In silico Modeling,In silico Models,In silico Simulation,Models, Computer,Computerized Models,Computer Model,Computer Simulations,Computerized Model,In silico Model,Model, Computer,Model, Computerized,Model, In silico,Modeling, Computational,Modeling, In silico,Modelling, Computational,Simulation, Computer,Simulation, In silico,Simulations, Computer
D004583 Electrons Stable elementary particles having the smallest known negative charge, present in all elements; also called negatrons. Positively charged electrons are called positrons. The numbers, energies and arrangement of electrons around atomic nuclei determine the chemical identities of elements. Beams of electrons are called CATHODE RAYS. Fast Electrons,Negatrons,Positrons,Electron,Electron, Fast,Electrons, Fast,Fast Electron,Negatron,Positron
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D017785 Photons Discrete concentrations of energy, apparently massless elementary particles, that move at the speed of light. They are the unit or quantum of electromagnetic radiation. Photons are emitted when electrons move from one energy state to another. (From Hawley's Condensed Chemical Dictionary, 11th ed)
D053903 DNA Breaks, Double-Stranded Interruptions in the sugar-phosphate backbone of DNA, across both strands adjacently. Double-Stranded DNA Breaks,Double-Strand DNA Breaks,Double-Stranded DNA Break,Break, Double-Strand DNA,Break, Double-Stranded DNA,Breaks, Double-Strand DNA,Breaks, Double-Stranded DNA,DNA Break, Double-Strand,DNA Break, Double-Stranded,DNA Breaks, Double Stranded,DNA Breaks, Double-Strand,Double Strand DNA Breaks,Double Stranded DNA Break,Double Stranded DNA Breaks,Double-Strand DNA Break
D019047 Phantoms, Imaging Devices or objects in various imaging techniques used to visualize or enhance visualization by simulating conditions encountered in the procedure. Phantoms are used very often in procedures employing or measuring x-irradiation or radioactive material to evaluate performance. Phantoms often have properties similar to human tissue. Water demonstrates absorbing properties similar to normal tissue, hence water-filled phantoms are used to map radiation levels. Phantoms are used also as teaching aids to simulate real conditions with x-ray or ultrasonic machines. (From Iturralde, Dictionary and Handbook of Nuclear Medicine and Clinical Imaging, 1990) Phantoms, Radiographic,Phantoms, Radiologic,Radiographic Phantoms,Radiologic Phantoms,Phantom, Radiographic,Phantom, Radiologic,Radiographic Phantom,Radiologic Phantom,Imaging Phantom,Imaging Phantoms,Phantom, Imaging

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