Heavy ion RBE and microdosimetric spectra

Reliable values for the relative biological effectiveness (RBE) of the complex field of heavy ions is essential for radiation therapy with carbon beams. Clinical experience with this novel form of therapy is still quite narrow and it is, therefore, desirable to compare and combine relevant clinical findings and theoretical approaches. One major source of available information comes from neutron therapy. The approach towards the determination of RBE for neutron therapy is, therefore, tentatively applied to the heavy ion therapy. This includes the determination of microdosimetric spectra and their numerical evaluation towards the determination of RBE. A microdosimetric detector on the basis of a tissue-equivalent proportional counter (TEPC) was developed for measurements in the heavy ion fields of the GSI, Darmstadt. Measurements were performed first near the perspex phantom surface with carbon ion energies between 89 MeV.amu-1 and 430 MeV.amu-1. Subsequently, measurements were taken at various depths in the neighbourhood of the Bragg region. The numerical techniques that were developed for neutron therapy lead to tentative values of the RBE that are compared to the RBE values from the biophysical model developed at the GSI. The comparison is still preliminary but can be helpful in modifying the microdosimetric approach for its application in heavy ion therapy.