TY - JOUR
T1 - Intertrack interaction at ultra-high dose rates and its role in the FLASH effect
AU - Baikalov, Alexander
AU - Abolfath, Ramin
AU - Schüler, Emil
AU - Mohan, Radhe
AU - Wilkens, Jan J.
AU - Bartzsch, Stefan
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
Copyright © 2023 Baikalov, Abolfath, Schüler, Mohan, Wilkens and Bartzsch.
PY - 2023
Y1 - 2023
N2 - Background: The mechanism responsible for the FLASH effect remains undetermined yet critical to the clinical translation of FLASH radiotherapy. The potential role of intertrack interactions in the FLASH effect, arising from the high spatio-temporal concentrations of particle tracks at UHDRs, has been widely discussed but its influence is unknown. Methods: We construct an analytical model of the distribution, diffusive evolution, and chemical interaction of particle tracks in an irradiated target. We fit parameters of the model to Monte Carlo (MC) simulations of electron tracks, and include the effects of scavenging capacities of different target media. We compare the model’s predictions to MC simulations of many interacting electron tracks, and use the comparison to predict the prevalence of intertrack interactions in the parameter space where the FLASH effect is observed in vivo, and where differential reactive species (RS) yields have been observed in aqua. Results: MC simulations of interacting electron tracks demonstrate negligible changes in RS yields at 12 Gy both in oxygenated water and in cellular scavenging conditions, but significant changes at 58 Gy in oxygenated water. The model fits well to the simulation data, and predicts that pulse doses (Formula presented.) delivered in 0.5 μs would be necessary for intertrack interactions to affect RS yields in cellular scavenging conditions, and (Formula presented.) in 0.5 μs for water at 4% O2. The model defines optimal beam parameters (e.g., dose, pulse width, LET) to maximize intertrack interactions, and indicates that decreasing the pulse width of electron pulses further below ≈0.5 μs has no effect on intertrack interactions. Conclusion: The results of the MC simulations indicate that intertrack interactions do not play a role in the parameters space where the FLASH effect is observed. However, potentially critical limitations in the simulations performed provide the possibility that intertrack interactions occur much more readily than predicted. More accurate simulations, as well as experimental characterization of RS yields across the pulse parameter space, are necessary to more confidently confirm or deny the role of intertrack interactions in the FLASH effect.
AB - Background: The mechanism responsible for the FLASH effect remains undetermined yet critical to the clinical translation of FLASH radiotherapy. The potential role of intertrack interactions in the FLASH effect, arising from the high spatio-temporal concentrations of particle tracks at UHDRs, has been widely discussed but its influence is unknown. Methods: We construct an analytical model of the distribution, diffusive evolution, and chemical interaction of particle tracks in an irradiated target. We fit parameters of the model to Monte Carlo (MC) simulations of electron tracks, and include the effects of scavenging capacities of different target media. We compare the model’s predictions to MC simulations of many interacting electron tracks, and use the comparison to predict the prevalence of intertrack interactions in the parameter space where the FLASH effect is observed in vivo, and where differential reactive species (RS) yields have been observed in aqua. Results: MC simulations of interacting electron tracks demonstrate negligible changes in RS yields at 12 Gy both in oxygenated water and in cellular scavenging conditions, but significant changes at 58 Gy in oxygenated water. The model fits well to the simulation data, and predicts that pulse doses (Formula presented.) delivered in 0.5 μs would be necessary for intertrack interactions to affect RS yields in cellular scavenging conditions, and (Formula presented.) in 0.5 μs for water at 4% O2. The model defines optimal beam parameters (e.g., dose, pulse width, LET) to maximize intertrack interactions, and indicates that decreasing the pulse width of electron pulses further below ≈0.5 μs has no effect on intertrack interactions. Conclusion: The results of the MC simulations indicate that intertrack interactions do not play a role in the parameters space where the FLASH effect is observed. However, potentially critical limitations in the simulations performed provide the possibility that intertrack interactions occur much more readily than predicted. More accurate simulations, as well as experimental characterization of RS yields across the pulse parameter space, are necessary to more confidently confirm or deny the role of intertrack interactions in the FLASH effect.
KW - FLASH radiotherapy
KW - intertrack interaction
KW - mechanism
KW - model
KW - normal tissue sparing
KW - oxygen
KW - simulation
KW - ultra-high dose rate
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U2 - 10.3389/fphy.2023.1215422
DO - 10.3389/fphy.2023.1215422
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85168413247
SN - 2296-424X
VL - 11
JO - Frontiers in Physics
JF - Frontiers in Physics
M1 - 1215422
ER -