Course program, A.Y. 2019-20
| n | Date | Topics | Linked slides and useful links |
| 1 | February 4th, 2020 | Basics of radiation damage. Radiolysis of water and radiolytical species. Dynamics of water radiolysis. Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS). G values. |
|
| 2 | February 5th, 2020 | 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. Exercise: measurement of
the replication time of a strain of leukemia cells. |
|
| 3 | February 11th, 2020 | Basic
information on the structure of DNA. 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. |
|
| 4 | February 12th, 2020 | 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.
The second line of defense: DNA repair mechanisms. Cell death in case of unrepaired damage. Mutations. Gene modifications linked to cancer; oncogenes, 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 | February 19th, 2020 | Cell death and
cell survival curves. Biological endpoints. Simple two-phase
model of tissues to illustrate therapy optimization. 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. |
|
| 6 | February 24th, 2020 | Normal
tissue complication probability. Low-level radiation and
radiation protection issues. Radiosensitizers. 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. |
|
| 7 |
March 17th, 2020 |
Visit to FabLab (illustration of
working cloud chamber, etc.) |