Effect of negative pions on the proliferative capacity of ascites tumor cells (lymphoma) grown in vivo

Abstract

We have attempted to determine the relative biological effectiveness (RBE) of negative pions in the Bragg-peak region as compared to the plateau region and to gamma rays. We irradiated LAF{sub 1} mice, bearing 5-day-old lymphoma ascites tumors, in the peak and plateau regions of a 90-MeV pion beam for 40 hours in temperature-controlled holders. The animals were then sacrificed; lymphoma cells were withdrawn and titrated into adult female LAF{sub 1} mice. The proliferative capacity of the irradiated tumor cells was evaluated after 8 weeks by observing the percentage of animals developing ascites tumors. Surviving fractions were then calculated from LD{sub 50}`s of control and irradiated animals. Radiation doses in the 50 plateau region were measured with LiF dosimeters calibrated against cobalt-60 gamma rays. We calculated peak doses from those at the plateau, using a measured average peak-to-plateau ionization ratio of 1.5. Doses in the plateau region ranged from 145 to 250 rads; doses in the peak region ranged from 220 to 380 rads. The survival curve for cells irradiated in the peak region gave a D{sub 0} of 65 {plus_minus} 15 rads. The plateau points were not reliable. A replicate experiment was performed using Co{sup 60} {gamma}-rays, yielding a survival-curve D{sub 0} of 350 {plus_minus} 50 rads. If the {gamma}-ray D{sub 0} is taken as a baseline, an RBE of 5.4 {plus_minus} 1.8 is obtained for negative pions in the peak region, based on the ratio of-peak-region D{sub 0} to Co{sup 60} D{sub 0}.