| 1. |
- Grzanka, Leszek, et al.
(författare)
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MONTE CARLO SIMULATIONS OF SPATIAL LET DISTRIBUTIONS IN CLINICAL PROTON BEAMS
- 2018
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Ingår i: Radiation Protection Dosimetry. - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 0144-8420 .- 1742-3406. ; 180:1-4, s. 296-299
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The linear energy transfer (LET) is commonly used as a parameter which describes the quality of the radiation applied in radiation therapy with fast ions. In particular in proton therapy, most models which predict the radiobiological properties of the applied beam, are fitted to the dose-averaged LET, LETd. The related parameter called the fluence-or track-averaged LET, LETt, is less frequently used. Both LETt and in particular LETd depends profoundly on the encountered secondary particle spectrum. For proton beams including all secondary particles, LETd may reach more than 3 keV/um in the entry channel of the proton field. However, typically the charged particle spectrum is only averaged over the primary and secondary protons, which is in the order of 0.5 keV/um for the same region. This is equal to assuming that the secondary particle spectrum from heavier ions is irrelevant for the resulting radiobiology, which is an assertion in the need of closer investigation. Models which rely on LETd should also be clear on what type of LETd is used, which is not always the case. Within this work, we have extended the Monte Carlo particle transport code SHIELD-HIT12A to provide dose-and track-average LET-maps for ion radiation therapy treatment plans.
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| 2. |
- Grzanka, Leszek, et al.
(författare)
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THE ROLE OF PARTICLE SPECTRA IN MODELING THE RELATIVE BIOLOGICAL EFFECTIVENESS OF PROTON RADIOTHERAPY BEAMS
- 2019
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Ingår i: Radiation Protection Dosimetry. - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 0144-8420 .- 1742-3406. ; 183:1-2, s. 251-254
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Radiotherapy beams of protons or heavier ions generate secondary particles through nuclear interactions over different patient tissues. The resulting particle spectra depend on the tissue composition and on charge and energy of the primary beam ions. In proton radiotherapy, predictive radiobiological models usually apply dose-averaged linear energy transfer (LET). Microdosimetry-based models for proton or heavier ion primary beams also rely on dose-averaged quantities, the values of which depend on whether the produced secondaries are included or excluded in the calculation. In turn, this will affect the results of calculations of the relative biological effectiveness (RBE) of these beams. In this brief note, we study quantitatively the influence of the secondary radiation spectra on the averaged expectation values of LET and their impact on predictions of RBE. It is noted that for microdosimetry-based quantities and for corresponding LET-based parameters the trends are similar and that fluence-averaged quantities should be studied more closely.
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| 3. |
- Hahn, Christian, et al.
(författare)
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Towards harmonizing clinical linear energy transfer (LET) reporting in proton radiotherapy : A European multi-centric study
- 2022
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Ingår i: Acta Oncologica. - : Informa UK Limited. - 0284-186X .- 1651-226X. ; 61:2, s. 206-214
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background Clinical data suggest that the relative biological effectiveness (RBE) in proton therapy (PT) varies with linear energy transfer (LET). However, LET calculations are neither standardized nor available in clinical routine. Here, the status of LET calculations among European PT institutions and their comparability are assessed.Materials and methods Eight European PT institutions used suitable treatment planning systems with their center-specific beam model to create treatment plans in a water phantom covering different field arrangements and fulfilling commonly agreed dose objectives. They employed their locally established LET simulation environments and procedures to determine the corresponding LET distributions. Dose distributions D1.1 and DRBE assuming constant and variable RBE, respectively, and LET were compared among the institutions. Inter-center variability was assessed based on dose- and LET-volume-histogram parameters.Results Treatment plans from six institutions fulfilled all clinical goals and were eligible for common analysis. D1.1 distributions in the target volume were comparable among PT institutions. However, corresponding LET values varied substantially between institutions for all field arrangements, primarily due to differences in LET averaging technique and considered secondary particle spectra. Consequently, DRBE using non-harmonized LET calculations increased inter-center dose variations substantially compared to D1.1 and significantly in mean dose to the target volume of perpendicular and opposing field arrangements (p < 0.05). Harmonizing LET reporting (dose-averaging, all protons, LET to water or to unit density tissue) reduced the inter-center variability in LET to the order of 10–15% within and outside the target volume for all beam arrangements. Consequentially, inter-institutional variability in DRBE decreased to that observed for D1.1.Conclusion Harmonizing the reported LET among PT centers is feasible and allows for consistent multi-centric analysis and reporting of tumor control and toxicity in view of a variable RBE. It may serve as basis for harmonized variable RBE dose prescription in PT.
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| 4. |
- Kalholm, Fredrik, et al.
(författare)
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A systematic review on the usage of averaged LET in radiation biology for particle therapy
- 2021
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Ingår i: Radiotherapy and Oncology. - : Elsevier BV. - 0167-8140 .- 1879-0887. ; 161, s. 211-221
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- Linear Energy Transfer (LET) is widely used to express the radiation quality of ion beams, when characterizing the biological effectiveness. However, averaged LET may be defined in multiple ways, and the chosen definition may impact the resulting reported value. We review averaged LET definitions found in the literature, and quantify which impact using these various definitions have for different reference setups. We recorded the averaged LET definitions used in 354 publications quantifying the relative biological effectiveness (RBE) of hadronic beams, and investigated how these various definitions impact the reported averaged LET using a Monte Carlo particle transport code. We find that the kind of averaged LET being applied is, generally, poorly defined. Some definitions of averaged LET may influence the reported averaged LET values up to an order of magnitude. For publications involving protons, most applied dose averaged LET when reporting RBE. The absence of what target medium is used and what secondary particles are included further contributes to an ill-defined averaged LET. We also found evidence of inconsistent usage of averaged LET definitions when deriving LET-based RBE models. To conclude, due to commonly ill-defined averaged LET and to the inherent problems of LET-based RBE models, averaged LET may only be used as a coarse indicator of radiation quality. We propose a more rigorous way of reporting LET values, and suggest that ideally the entire particle fluence spectra should be recorded and provided for future RBE studies, from which any type of averaged LET (or other quantities) may be inferred.
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| 5. |
- Kalholm, Fredrik, et al.
(författare)
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Modeling RBE with other quantities than LET significantly improves prediction of in vitro cell survival for proton therapy
- 2023
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Ingår i: Medical physics (Lancaster). - : Wiley. - 0094-2405 .- 2473-4209. ; 50:1, s. 651-659
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: For proton therapy, a relative biological effectiveness (RBE) of 1.1 has broadly been applied clinically. However, as unexpected toxicities have been observed by the end of the proton tracks, variable RBE models have been proposed. Typically, the dose-averaged linear energy transfer (LETd) has been used as an input variable for these models but the way the LETd was defined, calculated, or determined was not always consistent, potentially impacting the corresponding RBE value.Purpose: This study compares consistently calculated LETd with other quantities as input variables for a phenomenological RBE model and attempts to determine which quantity that can best predicts proton RBE. The comparison was performed within the frame of introducing a new model for the proton RBE.Methods: High-throughput experimental setups of in vitro cell survival studies for proton RBE determination are simulated using the SHIELD-HIT12A Monte Carlo particle transport code. Together with LET, z∗2∕?2, here called effective Q (Qeff), and Q are scored. Each quantity is calculated using the dose and track averaging methods, because the scoring includes all hadronic particles, all protons or only primaries. A phenomenological linear-quadratic-based RBE model is subsequently applied to the in vitro data with the various beam quality descriptors used as input variables and the goodness of fit is determined and compared using a bootstrapping approach. Both linear and nonlinear fit functions were tested.Results: Versions of Qeff and Q outperform LET with a statistically significant margin, with the best nonlinear and linear fit having a relative root mean square error (RMSE) for RBE2Gy ± one standard error of 1.55 ± 0.04 (Qeff, t, primary) and 2.84 ± 0.07 (Qeff, d, primary), respectively. For comparison, the corresponding best nonlinear and linear fits for LETd, all protons had a relative RMSE of 2.07 ± 0.06 and 3.39 ± 0.08, respectively. Applying Welch's t-test for comparing the calculated RMSE of RBE2Gy resulted in two-tailed p-values of <0.002 for all Q and Qeff quantities compared to LETd, all protons.Conclusions: The study shows that Q or Qeff could be better RBE descriptors that dose averaged LET.
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| 6. |
- Nielsen, Steffen, et al.
(författare)
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Comparison of Coding Transcriptomes in Fibroblasts Irradiated With Low and High LET Proton Beams and Cobalt-60 Photons
- 2019
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Ingår i: International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology, Physics. - : Elsevier BV. - 0360-3016 .- 1879-355X. ; 103:5, s. 1203-1211
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Purpose: To identify differential cellular responses after proton and photon irradiation by comparing transcriptomes of primary fibroblasts irradiated with either radiation type. Methods and Materials: A panel of primary dermal fibroblast cultures was irradiated with low and higher linear energy transfer (LET) proton beams. Cobalt-60 photon irradiation was used as reference. Dose was delivered in 3 fractions of 3.5 Gy (relative biological effectiveness) using a relative biological effectiveness of 1.1 for proton doses. Cells were harvested 2 hours after the final fraction was delivered, and RNA was purified. RNA sequencing was performed using Illumina NextSeq 500 with high-output kit. The edgeR package in R was used for differential gene expression analysis. Results: Pairwise comparisons of the transcriptomes in the 3 treatment groups showed that there were 84 and 56 differentially expressed genes in the low LET group compared with the Cobalt-60 group and the higher LET group, respectively. The higher LET proton group and the Cobalt-60 group had the most distinct transcriptome profiles, with 725 differentially regulated genes. Differentially regulated canonical pathways and various regulatory factors involved in regulation of biological mechanisms such as inflammation, carcinogenesis, and cell cycle control were identified. Conclusions: Inflammatory regulators associated with the development of normal tissue complications and malignant transformation factors seem to be differentially regulated by higher LET proton and Cobalt-60 photon irradiation. The reported transcriptome differences could therefore influence the progression of adverse effects and the risk of developing secondary cancers.
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| 7. |
- Nielsen, Steffen, et al.
(författare)
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Differential gene expression in primary fibroblasts induced by proton and cobalt-60 beam irradiation
- 2017
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Ingår i: Acta Oncologica. - 0284-186X .- 1651-226X. ; 56:11, s. 1406-1412
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Introduction: Proton beam therapy delivers a more conformal dose distribution than conventional radiotherapy, thus improving normal tissue sparring. Increasing linear energy transfer (LET) along the proton track increases the relative biological effectiveness (RBE) near the distal edge of the Spread-out Bragg peak (SOBP). The severity of normal tissue side effects following photon beam radiotherapy vary considerably between patients.Aim: The dual study aim was to identify gene expression patterns specific to radiation type and proton beam position, and to assess whether individual radiation sensitivity influences gene expression levels in fibroblast cultures irradiated in vitro.Methods: The study includes 30 primary fibroblast cell cultures from patients previously classified as either radiosensitive or radioresistant. Cells were irradiated at three different positions in the proton beam profile: entrance, mid-SOBP and at the SOBP distal edge. Dose was delivered in three fractions × 3.5 Gy(RBE) (RBE 1.1). Cobalt-60 (Co-60) irradiation was used as reference. Real-time qPCR was performed to determine gene expression levels for 17 genes associated with inflammation response, fibrosis and angiogenesis.Results: Differences in median gene expression levels were observed for multiple genes such as IL6, IL8 and CXCL12. Median IL6 expression was 30%, 24% and 47% lower in entrance, mid-SOBP and SOBP distal edge groups than in Co-60 irradiated cells. No genes were found to be oppositely regulated by different radiation qualities. Radiosensitive patient samples had the strongest regulation of gene expression; irrespective of radiation type.Conclusions: Our findings indicate that the increased LET at the SOBP distal edge position did not generally lead to increased transcriptive response in primary fibroblast cultures. Inflammatory factors were generally less extensively upregulated by proton irradiation compared with Co-60 photon irradiation. These effects may possibly influence the development of normal tissue damage in patients treated with proton beam therapy.
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| 8. |
- Nielsen, Steffen, et al.
(författare)
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Optimal reference genes for normalization of qPCR gene expression data from proton and photon irradiated dermal fibroblasts
- 2018
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Ingår i: Scientific Reports. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 2045-2322. ; 8
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The transcriptional response of cells exposed to proton radiation is not equivalent to the response induced by traditional photon beams. Changes in cellular signalling is most commonly studied using the method Quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Stable reference genes must be used to accurately quantify target transcript expression. The study aim was to identify suitable reference genes for normalisation of gene expression levels in normal dermal fibroblasts irradiated with either proton or photon beams. The online tool RefFinder was used to analyse and identify the most stably expressed genes from a panel of 22 gene candidates. To assess the reliability of the identified reference genes, a selection of the most and least stable reference genes was used to normalise target transcripts of interest. Fold change levels varied considerably depending on the used reference gene. The top ranked genes IPO8, PUM1, MRPL19 and PSMC4 produced highly similar target gene expression, while expression using the worst ranked genes, TFRC and HPRT1, was clearly modified due to reference gene instability.
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| 9. |
- Nielsen, Steffen, et al.
(författare)
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Proton scanning and X-ray beam irradiation induce distinct regulation of inflammatory cytokines in a preclinical mouse model
- 2020
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Ingår i: International Journal of Radiation Biology. - : Informa UK Limited. - 0955-3002 .- 1362-3095. ; 96:10, s. 1238-1244
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Purpose: Conventional X-ray radiotherapy induces a pro-inflammatory response mediated by altered expression of inflammation-regulating cytokines. Proton scanning and X-ray irradiation produce distinct changes to cytokine gene expression in vitro suggesting that proton beam therapy may induce an inflammatory response dissimilar to that of X-ray radiation. The purpose of the present study was to determine whether proton scanning beam radiation and conventional X-ray photon radiation would induce differential regulation of circulating cytokines in vivo.Materials and methods: Female CDF1 mice were irradiated locally at the right hind leg using proton pencil beam scanning or X-ray photons. Blood samples were obtained from two separate mice groups. Samples from one group were drawn by retro-orbital puncture 16 months post irradiation, while samples from the other group were drawn 5 and 30 days post irradiation. Concentration of the cytokines IL-6, IL-1 beta, IL-10, IL-17A, IFN-gamma, and TNF alpha was measured in plasma using bead-based immunoassays.Results: The cytokines IL-6, IL-1 beta, IL-10, IFN-gamma, and TNF alpha were expressed at lower levels in plasma samples from proton-irradiated mice compared with X-ray-irradiated mice 16 months post irradiation. The same cytokines were downregulated in proton-irradiated mice 5 days post irradiation when compared to controls, while at day 30 expression had increased to the same level or higher. X-ray radiation did not markedly change expression levels at days 5 and 30.Conclusions: The inflammatory response to proton and X-ray irradiation seem to be distinct as the principal pro-inflammatory cytokines are differentially regulated short- and long-term following irradiation. Both the development of normal tissue damage and efficacy of immunotherapy could be influenced by an altered inflammatory response to irradiation.
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| 10. |
- Printz Ringbaek, Toke, et al.
(författare)
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Calculation of the Beam-Modulation Effect of the Lung in Carbon Ion and Proton Therapy With Deterministic Pencil Beam Algorithms
- 2020
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Ingår i: Frontiers in Physics. - : Frontiers Media SA. - 2296-424X. ; 8
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Ion beams passing through lung tissue show more pronounced energy straggling than expected for solid materials of the same thickness. Energy straggling in active scanning particle therapy can enlarge the pencil beam Bragg peaks in-depth as well as displace them, deteriorating the dose coverage of a target within the lung. While this is not yet considered in any known treatment planning system, we implement a mathematical model to be used for treatment planning, using TRiP98, which relies on a deterministic pencil beam algorithm. Through a randomization process based on a continuous Poisson probability distribution, the HU values of lung voxels are replaced with a modified value in successive iterations. The beam-modulation effect of the lung can thus be taken into account in treatment planning by recalculating the dose n times for n randomized CTs using the raster scan file of a plan that was optimized on the nonmodulated CT. The evaluation follows by averaging the resulting n dose distributions and comparing to the corresponding nonmodulated dose distribution, attending at dosimetric indices and dose-volume histograms. In this work, the functionality of these routines was tested for proton and carbon ion plans for two selected lung cancer patient cases with deep-seated tumors, showing that, with existing standard tools, it is possible to calculate the beam-modulation effect of the lung in TRiP98 in a transparent way. Variable model parameters, such as modulation power, voxel size and density voxel selection range, were evaluated. Furthermore, a systematic study for spherical geometries in a lung tissue CT cube is presented to investigate general trends.
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