title: Prediction of lung cells oncogenic transformation for induced radon progeny alpha particles using sugarscape cellular automata.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Alpha particle irradiation from radon progeny is one of the major natural sources of effective dose in the public population. Oncogenic transformation is a biological effectiveness of radon progeny alpha particle hits. The biological effects which has caused by exposure to radon, were the main result of a complex series of physical, chemical, biological and physiological interactions. The cellular and molecular mechanisms for radon-induced carcinogenesis have not been clear yet.
  
  
  METHODS
  Various biological models, including cultured cells and animals, have been found useful for studying the carcinogenesis effects of radon progeny alpha particles. In this paper, sugars cape cellular automata have been presented for computational study of complex biological effect of radon progeny alpha particles in lung bronchial airways. The model has included mechanism of DNA damage, which has been induced alpha particles hits, and then formation of transformation in the lung cells. Biomarkers were an objective measure or evaluation of normal or abnormal biological processes. In the model, the metabolism rate of infected cell has been induced alpha particles traversals, as a biomarker, has been followed to reach oncogenic transformation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The model results have successfully validated in comparison with "in vitro oncogenic transformation data" for C3H 10T1/2 cells. This model has provided an opportunity to study the cellular and molecular changes, at the various stages in radiation carcinogenesis, involving human cells.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It has become well known that simulation could be used to investigate complex biomedical systems, in situations where traditional methodologies were difficult or too costly to employ.
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Medical Radiation Engineering, Amirkabir University of Technology, Tehran, Iran ; National Radaition Protection Department, Iranian Nuclear Regulatory Authority, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Samaneh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Baradaran
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Engineering, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Niaz
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Maleknasr
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Medical Radiation Engineering, Amirkabir University of Technology, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Saeed
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Setayeshi
authors.affiliation: Cancer Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Mohammad Esmaeil
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Akbari
keywords: Alpha Particles; Cellular Automata; Lung cells; Oncogenic transformation; Radon Progeny; Sugars cape