Cell inactivation by diverse ions along their tracks

Irradiation of cell monolayers by monoenergetic ions has made it possible to establish survival curves at individual values of linear energy transfer. The two-step model of radiobiological mechanism proposed recently by Judas and Lokajicek (Judas L., Lokajicek M., 2001: Cell inactivation by ionizing particles and the shapes of survival curves. J. Theor. Biol. 210 (1), 15-21., doi:10.1006/jtbi.2001.2283) has then enabled to show that some significant deviations from the generally used linear-quadratic model should exist at higher values of linear energy transfer, which has been also demonstrated experimentally. However, the new model has been expressed in the form being applicable rightfully to low-dose parts of survival curves only. It has been now reformulated to be applicable in analyses of whole survival curves. Inactivation probabilities after different numbers of particles traversing cell nuclei (chromosomal systems) may be then derived from experimental data. Analyses of published data obtained in irradiating by protons and deuterons will be presented and discussed.