The use of nanoparticles to enhance the effect of radiation-based cancer treatments is a growing field of study and recently, even nanoparticle-induced improvement of proton therapy performance has been investigated. Aiming at a clinical implementation of this approach, it is essential to characterize the mechanisms underlying the synergistic effects of nanoparticles combined with proton irradiation. In this study, we investigated the effect of platinum- and gadolinium-based nanoparticles on the nanoscale damage induced by a proton beam of therapeutically relevant energy (150 MeV) using plasmid DNA molecular probe. Two conditions of irradiation (0.44 and 3.6 keV/μm) were considered to mimic the beam properties at the entrance and at the end of the proton track. We demonstrate that the two metal-containing nanoparticles amplify, in particular, the induction of nanosize damages (>2 nm) which are most lethal for cells. More importantly, this effect is even more pronounced at the end of the proton track. This work gives a new insight into the underlying mechanisms on the nanoscale and indicates that the addition of metal-based nanoparticles is a promising strategy not only to increase the cell killing action of fast protons, but also to improve tumor targeting.

Our results indicate that diverse mechanisms involved in the development of normal tissue damage may be differentially affected by high and low LET radiation. This may have consequences for the development and manifestation of normal tissue damage.

The relative biological effectiveness (RBE) of protons is highly variable and difficult to quantify. However, RBE is related to the local ionization density, which can be related to the physical measurable dose weighted linear energy transfer (LET D ). The aim of this study was to validate the LET D calculations for proton therapy beams implemented in a commercially available treatment planning system (TPS) using microdosimetry measurements and independent LET D calculations (Open-MCsquare (MCS)).The TPS (RayStation v6R) was used to generate treatment plans on the CIRS-731-HN anthropomorphic phantom for three anatomical sites (brain, nasopharynx, neck) for a spherical target (Ø = 5 cm) with uniform target dose to calculate the LET D distribution. Measurements were performed at the University Medical Center Groningen proton therapy center (Proteus Plus, IBA) using a µ + -probe utilizing silicon on insulator microdosimeters capable of detecting lineal energies as low as 0.15 keV µm −1 in tissue. Dose averaged mean lineal energy γ D depth-profiles were measured for 70 and 130 MeV spots in water and for the three treatment plans in water and an anthropomorphic phantom. The γ D measurements were compared to the LET D calculated in the TPS and MCS independent dose calculation engine. D • γ D was compared to D • LET D in terms of a gamma-index with a distance-to-agreement criteria of 2 mm and increasing dose difference criteria to determine the criteria for which a 90% pass rate was accomplished.Measurements of D • γ D were in good agreement with the D • LET D calculated in the TPS and MCS. The 90% passing rate threshold was reached at different D • LET D difference criteria for single spots (TPS: 1% MCS: 1%), treatment plans in water (TPS: 3% MCS: 6%) and treatment plans in an anthropomorphic phantom (TPS: 6% MCS: 1%).We conclude that D • LET D calculations accuracy in the RayStation TPS and open MCSquare are within 6%, and sufficient for clinical D • LET D evaluation and optimization. These findings remove an important obstacle in the road towards clinical implementation of D • LET D evaluation and optimization of proton therapy treatment plans. Novelty and significanceThe dose weighed linear energy transfer (LET D ) distribution can be calculated for proton therapy treatment plans by Monte Carlo dose engines. The relative biological effectiveness (RBE) of protons is known to vary with the LET D distribution. Therefore, there exists a need for accurate calculation of PAPER RECEIVED

Mouse SGSC radiosensitivity seems reduced at higher LET radiation compared with transformed HSG cells. The developed model to assess the radiation response of SGSCs offers novel possibilities to study the radiation response of normal tissue in vitro.