The Radiobiological Effects of Proton Beam Therapy: Impact on DNA Damage and Repair

Vitti, Eirini Terpsi and Parsons, Jason L ORCID: 0000-0002-5052-1125 (2019) The Radiobiological Effects of Proton Beam Therapy: Impact on DNA Damage and Repair. Cancers, 11 (7). E946-.

Access the full-text of this item by clicking on the Open Access link.

Text
cancers-11-00946.pdf - Published version
Download (824kB) | Preview

Official URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6694/11/7/946

Abstract

Proton beam therapy (PBT) offers significant benefit over conventional (photon) radiotherapy for the treatment of a number of different human cancers, largely due to the physical characteristics. In particular, the low entrance dose and maximum energy deposition in depth at a well-defined region, the Bragg peak, can spare irradiation of proximal healthy tissues and organs at risk when compared to conventional radiotherapy using high-energy photons. However, there are still biological uncertainties reflected in the relative biological effectiveness that varies along the track of the proton beam as a consequence of the increases in linear energy transfer (LET). Furthermore, the spectrum of DNA damage induced by protons, particularly the generation of complex DNA damage (CDD) at high-LET regions of the distal edge of the Bragg peak, and the specific DNA repair pathways dependent on their repair are not entirely understood. This knowledge is essential in understanding the biological impact of protons on tumor cells, and ultimately in devising optimal therapeutic strategies employing PBT for greater clinical impact and patient benefit. Here, we provide an up-to-date review on the radiobiological effects of PBT versus photon radiotherapy in cells, particularly in the context of DNA damage. We also review the DNA repair pathways that are essential in the cellular response to PBT, with a specific focus on the signaling and processing of CDD induced by high-LET protons.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	DNA damage, DNA repair, proton beam therapy, radiobiology
Depositing User:	Symplectic Admin
Date Deposited:	08 Aug 2019 09:50
Last Modified:	25 Jan 2024 01:10
DOI:	10.3390/cancers11070946
Open Access URL:	https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers11070946
Related URLs:	Author Publisher
URI:	https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/3051264