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Cell population kinetics in radiation therapy: Optimization of tumor dosage
Author(s) -
Cohen Lionel
Publication year - 1973
Publication title -
cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.052
H-Index - 304
eISSN - 1097-0142
pISSN - 0008-543X
DOI - 10.1002/1097-0142(197307)32:1<236::aid-cncr2820320135>3.0.co;2-v
Subject(s) - medicine , radiation therapy , population , kinetics , oncology , pharmacology , environmental health , physics , quantum mechanics
A cell population kinetic model and computer program was designed to simulate the effects of fractionated radiation therapy. The probability of tumor control or of an adverse tissue reaction was shown to be directly related to the computed cellular surviving fractions. Collected clinical data were used to estimate median values and standard deviations of the log‐surviving fractions corresponding to the tolerance of normal tissues and the response of specific tumors. A cellular‐surviving fraction subsequently computed for any given treatment scheme could then be compared with the corresponding median and assigned an associated “probit” value. These probits permit the radiotherapist to estimate the probability of cure or reaction in specific cases and to compute optimal fractionation schemes, that is those giving lowest probit levels in normal tissue and highest in tumor. An optimization program was used to generate tables of modal doses and probit differences (tumor minus normal), from which optimal values for total dosage, number of fractions, and overall time are derived and presented in the form of a clinical prescription.