A review of dsb induction data for varying quality radiations.
OBJECTIVE
This short review summarizes the data obtained with various techniques for measuring the yields of double strand breaks (dsb) produced by particle radiations of differing linear energy transfer (LET) in order to obtain relative biological effectiveness (RBE) values.


CONCLUSIONS
Studies aimed at understanding the interactions of different types of radiation with cellular DNA have monitored the yields of DNA dsb versus radiation quality. Several techniques have been used to measure dsb yields in mammalian cells, and these include: neutral sedimentation gradients, filter elution and more recently pulsed field gel electrophoresis techniques (PFGE). Recent developments in PFGE have allowed the measurement of both the yields and the distribution of breaks within the genome, which go part of the way to explaining the RBE values close to 1.0 previously measured using other approaches with various radiation qualities. It is clear that future studies to determine the effectiveness of radiations of differing LET must use techniques that determine both yields and distributions of dsb, and assays need to be developed to allow these measurements at biologically relevant doses.
Gray Laboratory Cancer Research Trust, Mount Vernon Hospital, Northwood, UK.
K M
KM
Prise
G
G
Ahnström
M
M
Belli
J
J
Carlsson
D
D
Frankenberg
J
J
Kiefer
M
M
Löbrich
B D
BD
Michael
J
J
Nygren
G
G
Simone
B
B
Stenerlöw
D000468:Alkalies / Q000494:pharmacology; D002460:Cell Line; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000528:radiation effects; D002499:Centrifugation, Density Gradient; D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry / Q000528:radiation effects*; D004249:DNA Damage / Q000528:radiation effects*; D004587:Electrophoresis, Agar Gel; D016521:Electrophoresis, Gel, Pulsed-Field; D018499:Linear Energy Transfer; D011839:Radiation, Ionizing; D012062:Relative Biological Effectiveness
D000468:Alkalies; D004247:DNA