Abstract
The feasibility of disrupting a tumor’s vascular structure with various radiation types and radionuclides is investigated. Calculated absorbed dose profiles for photons and 4He ions suggest that low-energy beta-gamma and alpha emitting radionuclides can deposit sufficient absorbed dose to disrupt a tumor’s vascular structure while minimizing the dose outside the blood vessel. Candidate radionuclides uniformly distributed in microspheres are theoretically investigated with respect to their vascular disruption potential and to offer an alternative to 90Y microsphere therapy. Requisite activities of candidate low-energy beta-gamma and alpha emitting radionuclides to facilitate vascular disruption are calculated.
Highlights
Pilat & LoRusso (2006) note that current therapy methodologies for the treatment of most solid tumors are resulting in diminishing returns
In performing the absorbed dose calculations, the internal radiation-generating device is assumed to reside at the inner blood vessel wall
A more sophisticated design effort is required to develop a viable alpha radionuclide microsphere therapy approach, but the results summarized in Table 3 suggest the alpha microsphere approach is viable in the near term and likely to be achieved before the development of equivalent internal radiation-generating devices
Summary
Pilat & LoRusso (2006) note that current therapy methodologies for the treatment of most solid tumors are resulting in diminishing returns Their focus is on chemotherapy, the arguments are applicable to radiotherapy approaches. A symptomatic solid tumor usually contains 109–1011 cells These cells must be destroyed or the treatment only results in a temporary tumor growth delay. Another issue with existing therapy approaches is that agents that deliver dose to tumor cells irradiate healthy tissue. Long-term effects of radiotherapy can include secondary cancers and cardiovascular disease (NCRP, 2012) For these reasons, it is important to continue to investigate alternative radiotherapy approaches that deliver dose selectively to the target tissue (i.e., tumor mass or vascular structure) and minimize dose to healthy tissue
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