scispace - formally typeset
Search or ask a question

Why are carbon ions used for radiation therapy with ions, not other ions? 


Best insight from top research papers

Carbon ions are preferred for radiation therapy over other ions due to their advantageous radiobiological properties and physical characteristics. Carbon ions offer improved dose distribution, high biological efficacy, and minimal damage to surrounding tissues. They exhibit a higher relative biological effectiveness (RBE) compared to X-rays, making them more potent in treating tumors. Additionally, carbon ions induce complex DNA damage, activate specific pathways like β-catenin signaling, and enhance cell cycle re-entry in quiescent cancer cells, overcoming radioresistance effectively. The unique features of carbon ions, such as their high linear energy transfer (LET) and precise energy deposition, contribute to their effectiveness in treating various cancers, including radioresistant tumors like prostate cancer and sarcomas. Overall, the combination of radiobiological benefits and physical properties makes carbon ions a superior choice for ion-based radiation therapy.

Answers from top 5 papers

More filters
Papers (5)Insight
Carbon ions are preferred in radiation therapy due to their precise energy deposition, high linear energy transfer inducing effective cell death, and promising results in treating various cancers, including cancer stem cells.
Carbon ions are preferred in radiotherapy due to their high linear energy transfer, superior dose distribution, and enhanced biological effects, making them more effective for urological cancers compared to other ions.
Carbon ions are preferred in radiation therapy due to their superior physical properties and radiobiological effects, offering improved dose distribution with higher biological efficiency compared to other ions like photons.
Carbon ions are utilized in radiation therapy due to their ability to activate β-catenin signaling, overcoming radioresistance in quiescent cancer cells, enhancing DNA damage repair, and inducing apoptosis effectively.
Carbon ions are preferred in radiation therapy due to their increased biological efficacy and more conformal dosimetry compared to X-ray and proton radiotherapy, as demonstrated in the study.

Related Questions

Why are carbon ions used for radiation therapy with ions?4 answersCarbon ions are utilized in radiation therapy due to their advantageous properties over traditional photon-based irradiation. Carbon ions offer enhanced dose distribution, concentrating the dose effectively in tumors while minimizing damage to surrounding normal tissues. They exhibit increased biological efficiency, making them more potent in treating cancers compared to X-rays. Additionally, carbon ions activate specific pathways in quiescent cancer cells, overcoming radioresistance and improving therapeutic outcomes in cervical cancer. The development of carbon ion radiotherapy systems, like the one in Wuwei, China, further highlights the growing application and success of carbon ions in cancer treatment. Overall, the unique physical and radiobiological effects of carbon ions make them a promising choice for effective and targeted radiation therapy in various types of cancers.
Cancer therapy with accelerated charged particles4 answersCancer therapy with accelerated charged particles, such as proton beam therapy (PBT) and carbon-ion radiotherapy (CIRT), has shown significant advantages over conventional photon radiotherapy. These therapies localize doses in the tumor volume while minimizing doses to normal tissue, making them beneficial for pediatric cancer and radioresistant tumors in eloquent areas. The technology has evolved over the years, with advancements in superconductive magnets for compact accelerators, gantryless beam delivery, online image-guidance, and adaptive therapy with machine learning algorithms. PBT and CIRT have been widely used, with a large number of patients treated globally. Combining radiotherapy with immunotherapy has shown potential in enhancing tumor immunogenicity and therapeutic efficacy. Charged particle radiotherapy (PRT) has gained interest due to its unique biological and physical properties, which may enhance tumor immunogenicity compared to conventional radiotherapy. The use of radioisotope-based ion beam treatment methods has also shown promise in delivering high doses to tumors non-invasively.
What is the rationale for Online Monitoring in carbon ions therapy ?5 answersOnline monitoring in carbon ion therapy is important for several reasons. Firstly, it allows for the simultaneous use of a carbon ion beam for treatment and a helium ion beam for imaging, as both ion species can be accelerated to the same energy per nucleon. Additionally, real-time monitoring and imaging of the dose delivered to the patient is crucial for quality control in ion therapy. Prompt gamma-ray measurements have shown a good correlation between the emission profile and the primary beam range, making it feasible to control the longitudinal dose during ion therapy treatments. Furthermore, the use of single-crystal diamond detectors has demonstrated the feasibility of on-line beam dose and profile monitoring with high precision. Finally, in vivo range monitoring techniques, such as positron emission tomography (PET) scanners, can be used to measure the range of carbon ion beams and monitor beam-induced activation in tissues.
What are the differences of electron and photon beam use in radiation therapy?3 answersElectron and photon beams have different characteristics and uses in radiation therapy. Electron beams have a high surface dose and a sharp drop-off in dose beyond the tumor, making them suitable for treating superficial tumors. They are commonly used for treating skin and lip cancers, chest wall irradiation in breast cancer, boost dose to nodes, and some head and neck cancers. On the other hand, photon beams, which include X-ray and gamma ray beams, have a larger range and do not have a definite end. They are attenuated as they interact with matter, leading to dose deposition. Photon beams are used for external beam radiation therapy and can be employed in the treatment of various diseases. The choice of beam type depends on the specific disease being treated and the desired treatment outcomes.
What are the potential advantages of heavy ion radiotherapy over conventional radiotherapy?5 answersHeavy ion radiotherapy, specifically carbon-ion radiotherapy (CIRT), offers unique physical and biological advantages over conventional radiotherapy. CIRT allows for substantial dose delivery to tumors while minimizing damage to surrounding tissues. It induces increased double-strand breaks in DNA structures, causing irreversible cell damage independently of cell cycle or oxygenation, making it effective against radioresistant cancers. The ability to paint linear energy transfer (LET) in a tumor allows for better focusing of damage delivery within the most resistant areas. Heavy ion radiotherapy has been shown to have reduced damage to immune cells and increased release of immune-stimulating cytokines, which can enhance the effectiveness of immunotherapy. The technique of Intensity Modulated composite PArtiCle Therapy (IMPACT) enables the optimization of dose and LET distributions in a patient, maximizing the potential of charged-particle therapy.
Is proton beam radiation therapy more effective than carbon ion radiation therapy ?5 answersProton beam therapy (PBT) and carbon-ion beam therapy (CIBT) are both types of particle therapy used for cancer treatment. PBT and CIBT have shown excellent therapeutic results due to the physical characteristics of their Bragg peaks. Both therapies offer advantages over conventional photon radiotherapy, such as reduced radiation to normal organs and higher local control of tumors. However, there is no direct comparison between the effectiveness of PBT and CIBT in the abstracts provided. The abstracts discuss the technical development, machine parameters, and future prospects of ion therapy, but do not specifically compare the effectiveness of PBT and CIBT. Further research and clinical studies are needed to determine the relative effectiveness of these two therapies.