Proton linear energy transfer and variable relative biological effectiveness for adolescent patients with Hodgkin lymphoma.

Objectives: Proton therapy has a theoretical dosimetric advantage due to the Bragg peak, but the linear energy transfer (LET), and therefore the relative biological effectiveness (RBE), increase at the end of range. For patients with Hodgkin lymphoma, the distal edge of beam is often located within or close to the heart, where elevated RBE would be of potential concern. The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of RBE and the choice of beam arrangement for adolescent patients with mediastinal Hodgkin lymphoma.

Proposing a Clinical Model for RBE Based on Proton Track-End Counts.

Purpose: In proton therapy, the clinical application of linear energy transfer (LET) optimization remains contentious, in part because of challenges associated with the definition and calculation of LET and its exact relationship with relative biological effectiveness (RBE) because of large variation in experimental in vitro data. This has raised interest in other metrics with favorable properties for biological optimization, such as the number of proton track ends in a voxel. In this work, we propose a novel model for clinical calculations of RBE, based on proton track end counts.

Multistage Psychometric Testing of the Homeless Health Access to Care Tool.

People experiencing homelessness find it challenging to access the healthcare they so desperately need. To address this, we have developed the Homeless Health Access to Care Tool, which assesses health related vulnerability (burden of injury and/or illness and ability to access healthcare) and can be used to prioritize people for access to healthcare. Here, we report the initial psychometrics of the Homeless Health Access to Care Tool.

A preclinical radiotherapy dosimetry audit using a realistic 3D printed murine phantom.

Preclinical radiation research lacks standardized dosimetry procedures that provide traceability to a primary standard. Consequently, ensuring accuracy and reproducibility between studies is challenging. Using 3D printed murine phantoms we undertook a dosimetry audit of Xstrahl Small Animal Radiation Research Platforms (SARRPs) installed at 7 UK centres.