A dosimetric and biological model for neutron capture therapy (NCT) experiments

A Kalamara; I E Stamatelatos; K L Stefanopoulos; J A Kalef-Ezra; A G Georgakilas; R D Stewart; V Rangos; K D Knudsen; G Helgesen; P Trtik; D Mannes; J Hovind; A Kaestner; M Strobl; M Vinš; V Klupák; M Rabochová; J Šoltés; J Milčák; M Grigalavicius; T A Theodossiou

doi:10.1016/j.apradiso.2025.112233

A dosimetric and biological model for neutron capture therapy (NCT) experiments

Appl Radiat Isot. 2025 Dec:226:112233. doi: 10.1016/j.apradiso.2025.112233. Epub 2025 Oct 4.

Authors

A Kalamara¹, I E Stamatelatos², K L Stefanopoulos², J A Kalef-Ezra³, A G Georgakilas⁴, R D Stewart⁵, V Rangos⁶, K D Knudsen⁷, G Helgesen⁷, P Trtik⁸, D Mannes⁸, J Hovind⁸, A Kaestner⁸, M Strobl⁸, M Vinš⁹, V Klupák⁹, M Rabochová⁹, J Šoltés⁹, J Milčák⁹, M Grigalavicius¹⁰, T A Theodossiou¹¹

Affiliations

¹ National Centre for Scientific Research "Demokritos", 15310, Aghia Paraskevi, Greece. Electronic address: a.kalamara@ipta.demokritos.gr.
² National Centre for Scientific Research "Demokritos", 15310, Aghia Paraskevi, Greece.
³ Medical Physics Laboratory, School of Health Sciences, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, 45110, Greece.
⁴ Department of Physics, School of Applied Mathematical and Physical Sciences, National Technical University of Athens (NTUA), Zografou Campus, 15780, Athens, Greece.
⁵ Department of Radiation Oncology, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98195-604, USA.
⁶ Department of Physics, School of Applied Mathematical and Physical Sciences, National Technical University of Athens (NTUA), Zografou Campus, 15780, Athens, Greece; Medical Physics Laboratory, School of Medicine, University of Athens, Greece.
⁷ Institute for Energy Technology (IFE), Instituttveien 18, 2027, Kjeller, Norway.
⁸ Laboratory for Neutron Scattering and Imaging (LNS), Paul Scherrer Institut (PSI), Forschungsstrasse 111, 5232, Villigen, Switzerland.
⁹ Research Centre Řež, Hlavní 130, 250 68, Husinec-Řež, Czech Republic.
¹⁰ Department of Radiation Biology, Institute for Cancer Research, Oslo University Hospital, 0379 Oslo, Norway; Laser Research Center, Faculty of Physics, Vilnius University, Saulėtekio av. 9, III bld., LT 10222 Vilnius, Lithuania.
¹¹ Department of Radiation Biology, Institute for Cancer Research, Oslo University Hospital, 0379 Oslo, Norway.

PMID: 41086490
DOI: 10.1016/j.apradiso.2025.112233

Abstract

A hybrid Monte Carlo approach using MCNP in combination with the cell-level code Monte Carlo Damage Simulation (MCDS) is presented to support the design and analysis of experiments for the evaluation of gadolinium (Gd) based agents in neutron capture therapy (NCT). Monoenergetic neutrons (0.025 eV-15 MeV) and polyenergetic neutron beams from NEUTRA, ICON (PSI, Switzerland), and HK1 (LVR-15, Czech Republic) were used to estimate the relative biological effectiveness (RBE) of NCT for the biologically critical endpoint of DNA double strand break (DSB) production relative to ⁶⁰Co γ-rays. Moreover, microdosimetric spectra of protons, electrons, alpha particles and heavy recoils were determined for the aforementioned neutron beams, to enhance the interpretation of energy deposition in subcellular structrures. The proposed, hybrid model and methodology builds on well-validated dosimetry and biophysical models at different spatial scales to create a versatile and generalized framework to estimate dosimetric parameters and RBE. This approach facilitates comparisons between NCT and low linear energy transfer (LET) radiation alternatives.

Keywords: High LET; MCDS; MCNP; Microdosimetry; Neutron capture therapy; RBE.

MeSH terms

Computer Simulation
Gadolinium / therapeutic use
Humans
Models, Biological*
Monte Carlo Method
Neutron Capture Therapy* / methods
Neutron Capture Therapy* / statistics & numerical data
Neutrons / therapeutic use
Radiometry* / methods
Radiotherapy Dosage
Relative Biological Effectiveness

Substances

Gadolinium