Neutron-induced Carcinogenic Effects (NICE)—an examination of the biophysics underlying neutron carcinogenesis

我们的研究旨在提高我们对人体组织中中子剂量沉积的生物物理效应的理解。在太空、核电站、各种工业应用和放射治疗(RT)中都会遇到中子。辐射防护措施旨在保护人类免受中子(和其他形式的辐射)带来的危险。虽然这些措施总体上是足够的，但它们不能保护接受RT的患者。在高能(&gt；10 MeV)光子和质子束放射治疗过程中产生的副产品中子不能被屏蔽，因此暴露在辐射中的患者容易发生辐射致癌。这种风险是众所周知的，也是普遍接受的，尽管人们对此知之甚少。目前正在进行的将质子束RT引入加拿大的努力使这一问题成为焦点。被认为是质子放射治疗的主要受益者的儿科患者也最有可能罹患第二种恶性肿瘤，这是由于不可避免的全身剂量的二次辐射，部分来自中子。

Our research aims to improve our understanding of the biophysical effects surrounding neutron dose deposition in human tissue. Neutrons are encountered in space, at nuclear power plants, in various industrial applications, and in radiation therapy (RT). Radiological protection measures are designed to protect human populations from the risk that neutrons (and other forms of radiation) pose. While these measures are generally adequate, they cannot protect patients undergoing RT. Neutrons that are generated as by-product, radiation during high-energy (>10 MeV) photon- and proton-beam RT, cannot be shielded and consequently exposed patients are susceptible to radiation-induced carcinogenesis. The risk is well known and generally accepted, although poorly understood. Efforts currently underway to introduce proton beam RT into Canada have brought the issue into focus. Paediatric patients who are considered the main beneficiaries of proton RT are also the most at risk for second malignancies resulting from the unavoidable whole body dose of secondary radiation that arises in part from neutrons.