Antiproton induced DNA damage: proton like in flight, carbon-ion like near rest

Sci Rep. 2013:3:1770. doi: 10.1038/srep01770.

Abstract

Biological validation of new radiotherapy modalities is essential to understand their therapeutic potential. Antiprotons have been proposed for cancer therapy due to enhanced dose deposition provided by antiproton-nucleon annihilation. We assessed cellular DNA damage and relative biological effectiveness (RBE) of a clinically relevant antiproton beam. Despite a modest LET (~19 keV/μm), antiproton spread out Bragg peak (SOBP) irradiation caused significant residual γ-H2AX foci compared to X-ray, proton and antiproton plateau irradiation. RBE of ~1.48 in the SOBP and ~1 in the plateau were measured and used for a qualitative effective dose curve comparison with proton and carbon-ions. Foci in the antiproton SOBP were larger and more structured compared to X-rays, protons and carbon-ions. This is likely due to overlapping particle tracks near the annihilation vertex, creating spatially correlated DNA lesions. No biological effects were observed at 28-42 mm away from the primary beam suggesting minimal risk from long-range secondary particles.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Carbon / chemistry*
  • Carbon / pharmacology
  • Cell Survival / radiation effects
  • Cells, Cultured
  • DNA Damage*
  • Humans
  • Ions / pharmacology
  • Protons*
  • Radiotherapy / methods
  • Radiotherapy Dosage
  • Relative Biological Effectiveness
  • X-Rays

Substances

  • Ions
  • Protons
  • Carbon