Course content

This course gives an introduction to the deposition of energy from ionizing radiation in biologic materials. Topics presented includes direct and indirect radiation effects, radiation-induced DNA damage and -repair, mechanisms of cell death following radiation, quantitative models of cell kill and cell survival, dose-response relationships, tumor and normal tissue responses to radiation, main principles for use of ionizing radiation in cancer therapy, the 5 R's of fractionation, time-dose fractionation, therapeutic ratio, the linear-quadratic model, tumor control probability and normal tissue complication probability models, the dose-rate effect, the volume effect, the oxygen effect, tumor microenvironment and hypoxia, combination of radiotherapy with chemotherapy and molecularly targeted agents, sensitizing and protective agents, hyperthermia, proton and ion therapy.

Learning outcome

Knowledge

The candidate should have knowledge about:

• The interaction of ionizing radiation with biological materials.
• Mechanisms behind the induction and repair of radiation-induced molecular and cellular effects.
• The use of ionizing radiation in cancer therapy.

Skills

The candidate should be able to:

• The use of various mathematical models for the estimation of cell kill and cell survival after irradiation of ionizing radiation.

General competence

The candidate should be able to:

• Interpretation and presentation of scientific data obtained during the practical work in the laboratory, computer simulations and group work.
• Reading and presenting research literature.

Learning methods and activities

Lectures, compulsory laboratory exercises/demonstrations, and compulsory project work in groups with presentation. Teaching will be in English if international students are attending the course. Expected workload in the course is 225 hours.

Compulsory assignments

• Lab
• Project work including presentation

Further on evaluation

Evaluation is made based on a final written (digital) exam (100%). The re-sit examination (in August) may be changed from written to oral.

Specific conditions

Recommended previous knowledge

Course TFY4225 Nuclear and Radiation Physics or equivalent. Knowledge of cell biology (TFY4260 or equivalent) would be useful.

Required previous knowledge

Master degree in physics.

Course materials

To be announced at the start of the semester.

Credit reductions