Radiobiological quantities in proton-therapy: Estimation and validation using Geant4-based Monte Carlo simulations

Abstract

Purpose: The Geant4 Monte Carlo simulation toolkit was used to reproduce radiobiological parameters measured by irradiating three different cancerous cell lines with monochromatic and clinical proton beams.

Methods: The experimental set-up adopted for irradiations was fully simulated with a dedicated open-source Geant4 application. Cells survival fractions was calculated coupling the Geant4 simulations with two analytical radiobiological models: one based on the LEM (Local Effect Model) approach and the other on a semi-empirical parameterisation. Results was evaluated and compared with experimental data.

Results and conclusions: The results demonstrated the Geant4 ability to reproduce radiobiological quantities for different cell lines.

Keywords: Geant4; Monte Carlo; Proton; RBE; Radiobiological model; Radiotherapy; Survival fraction.