Maximisation of the ratio of normal tissue preservation and tumour cell reduction is the main concept of radiotherapy alone or combined with chemo-, immuno- or biologically targeted therapy. The foremost parameter influencing this ratio is radiation sensitivity and its modulation towards a more efficient killing of tumour cells and a better preservation of normal tissue at the same time is the ...

To protect themselves, their patients and their coworkers, radiologic technologists should regularly refresh and reinforce their understanding of key radiation biology and protection principles. This article reviews the concepts of radiation physics, human biology and radiation protection strategies, with emphasis on how historical events and developing research affect radiation protection unde...

The biological rationale for the use of brachytherapy, which is undergoing a significant resurgence in the United States, is reviewed with emphasis on low dose rate (LDR brachytherapy). Some of the newer alternatives that have recently been developed, such as pulsed dose rate (PDR) brachytherapy, are discussed.

It is a truly great honor Jbr me to introduce Dr. H. Rodney Withers, the recipient of the Charles F. Kettering Prize on this, the 20th anniversary of the General Motors Cancer Research Foundation awards. Dr. Withers is receiving the Kettering Prize for his exceptional contributions to the field of modern radiotherapy. Dr. Withers received his medical degree from the University of Queensland Med...

The study of the biological effects of radiation began soon after the discovery of X-rays at the turn of this century. In 1946, Lee, and in 1947, TomefeeffRessovsky and Zimmer published books in which they expounded a general theory for the action of radiations, called the "target theory." It was hoped that this theory would elucidate the actions of radiations on cells and biological molecules,...

This revised and enlarged edition of the original encyclopedic work on cancer is an important treatise consisting of 28 chapters by 32 contributors. The essayists are all leading cancer investigators, including one from the Chester Beatty Research Institute, London, England. The Physiopathology of Cancer is divided into four sections: (I) Biology, with chapters on (1) experimental cutaneous car...

In deep space astronauts are usually exposed to doses of ~ 1 mSv/day of charged particles, including HZE. Due to the exposure to GCR (e.g. during a mission to Mars), each cell nucleus of an astronaut would be traversed by a proton or by a secondary electron every few days, but only by an HZE ion every few months [1]. For this reason, besides the clustered properties of the incoming radiation on...