A multi-scale approach to the physics of ion beam cancer therapy

We propose a multi-scale approach to understanding physics related to the ion/proton-beam cancer therapy and calculation of the probability of the DNA damage as a result of irradiation of patients with energetic (up to 430 MeV/u) ions. This approach is inclusive with respect to different scales starting from the long scale defined by the ion stopping followed by a smaller scale defined by secondary electrons and radicals ending with the shortest scale defined by interactions of secondaries with the DNA. We present calculations of the probabilities of single and double strand breaks of the DNA and suggest a way of further elaboration of such calculations.Comment: submitted to RADAM2008 proceedings. 8 pages,5 Figures, class files for AIP include

Ion-beam therapy: from electron production in tissue like media to DNA damage estimations

Radiation damage induced by ion beams is traditionally treated at different levels of theoretical approaches, for the different scales and mechanisms involved.We present here details of a combined approach that, from a method at a nanoscopic scale, attempts to merge with higher scales existing results, by tuning the analytical method employed when extended to larger scale and so yielding a consistent picture of the entire process. Results will show the possibility to get a good agreement with macroscale methods and, on the other hand, to produce a reliable electron energy spectra to be used for DNA damage estimations.Comment: 7 pages,5 figures, class files for AIP include