Course program, A.Y. 2016-17
| Lesson | Date | Topics | Linked slides and useful links |
| 1 | February 27th, 2017 | Basics of radiation damage. Stopping power and LET. Radiolysis of water and radiolytical species. Dynamics of water radiolysis. Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS). G values. |
|
| 2 | February 28th, 2017 | Radiosensitivity
of different animal cells; the radiosensitivity of
extremophiles. Broad classification of human cells. The main
parts of a human cells. The sizes of biological objects from
single molecules to the largest cells. Basic information on the
structure of DNA. |
|
| 3 | March 6th, 2017 | The molecular
structure of DNA. DNA replication. Coding and non-coding DNA.
The genetic code. The meaning of the code: protein synthesis.
The shape of proteins. Ribosomes. Radiation damage to the constituents of cells. Direct and indirect damage. The role of ROS; endogenous and exogenous ROS-related damage. The first line of defense: superoxide dismutase, catalase, etc. |
|
| 4 | March 7th, 2017 | The second line
of defense: DNA repair mechanisms. Cell death in case of
unrepaired damage. Mutations. Gene modifications linked to
cancer; oncogens, tumor-suppressor genes, repair genes. The
hallmarks of cancer. The tumor microenvironment. Mathematical
models of carcinogenesis. A simple model of colorectal cancer.
Peto's paradox. |
|
| 5 | March 13th, 2017 | Cell death and
cell survival curves. Biological endpoints. The linear-quadratic
(LQ) model. Target theory. Multitarget model. Conditions that
influence the shape of the cell survival curve: RBE, OER, etc.
Dose-response curves. Use of the LQ model in radiation therapy. Tumor control probability. Normal tissue complication probability. Radiosensitizers. Low-level radiation and radiation protection issues. |
|
| 6 | March 14th, 2017 | Fractionation.
The Biologically Effective Dose (BED) and its modifications. The
4 R's of radiotherapy (... 5 R's). Simple examples of treatment
schedules. Isoeffect and equivalent dose at 2 Gy. Dose-volume
histograms and isodose curves. Equivalent Uniform Dose (EUD).
Optimization, basic concepts of treatment plans. |