Radiobiology
A.Y. 2024/2025
Learning objectives
To provide the students with a basic knowledge of the effects induced by ionizing radiation in living matter in a wide range of complexity, from cells to tissues, organs and a whole body, their mechanisms and their measure methods..
Expected learning outcomes
1) At the end the student will have acquired the radiobiological knowledges which are relevant in the field of radioprotection and in radiotherapy, 2) The student will be able to project radiobiological experiments with proper biological systems, effects to be studied and methods to be used, 3) The student will be able to read and understand the scientific literature to improve the knowledges on specific themes of interest. 4) Given the interdisciplinary field, the student will have acquired a proper language to communicate with professional figures of different training ( i.e. in hospital environment with biologists and doctors) to build profitable collaborations.
Lesson period: Second semester
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course can be attended as a single course.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Responsible
Lesson period
Second semester
Course syllabus
1.Directly and indirectly ionizing radiation, and notion of direct and indirect action of radiation on DNA. Physical stage. Energy deposition and ionization density patterns. Stopping power and Linear Energy Transfer (LET). Track structure. Chemical stage: free radical production and recombination. Sources of background radiation exposure.
2.Molecular effects of ionizing radiations. Main radiation-induced lesions. Multiply damaged sites (concept of clustered damage). DNA Damage Response (DDR). Chromosome aberrations and main detection techniques. Biodosimetry
3. Cellular effects of ionizing radiations. Cell death: necrosis, apoptosis, reproductive death, mitotic catastrophe, premature cellular senescence. Quantification of radiation-induced cell death: the clonogenic assay. Dose-response curves. Radiobiological models. Target theory and its modifications. Linear-quadratic model.
4. Cell radiosensitivity: its dependence on the cell cycle, Let and oxygen levels. Concept of sub-lethal damage. Dose rate and dose fractionation effects. Non-targeted effects: bystander and abscopal responses in vitro and in vivo, genomic instability, adaptive response
5. Effects of ionizing radiation exposure at the organism level: radiation syndromes. Radiation-induced carcinogenesis. Non-cancer radiation effects: radiation-induced.
6. Notions of tumour biology. Response of tumour and normal tissue (tumour local control and normal-tissue complication probability curves): the alpha/beta ratio as a measure of clinical response. Radiobioogical rationale of modern radiotherapy. The radiobiological and physical bases for the use of accelerated particle beams in radiotherapy (hadrontherapy). New frontiers in cancer treatment by radiation: radioimmunotherapy, nuclear reaction-based binary approaches (Boron-Neutron-Capture-Therapy - BNCT), effect of ultra-high dose rates (Flash-Radiotherapy)
2.Molecular effects of ionizing radiations. Main radiation-induced lesions. Multiply damaged sites (concept of clustered damage). DNA Damage Response (DDR). Chromosome aberrations and main detection techniques. Biodosimetry
3. Cellular effects of ionizing radiations. Cell death: necrosis, apoptosis, reproductive death, mitotic catastrophe, premature cellular senescence. Quantification of radiation-induced cell death: the clonogenic assay. Dose-response curves. Radiobiological models. Target theory and its modifications. Linear-quadratic model.
4. Cell radiosensitivity: its dependence on the cell cycle, Let and oxygen levels. Concept of sub-lethal damage. Dose rate and dose fractionation effects. Non-targeted effects: bystander and abscopal responses in vitro and in vivo, genomic instability, adaptive response
5. Effects of ionizing radiation exposure at the organism level: radiation syndromes. Radiation-induced carcinogenesis. Non-cancer radiation effects: radiation-induced.
6. Notions of tumour biology. Response of tumour and normal tissue (tumour local control and normal-tissue complication probability curves): the alpha/beta ratio as a measure of clinical response. Radiobioogical rationale of modern radiotherapy. The radiobiological and physical bases for the use of accelerated particle beams in radiotherapy (hadrontherapy). New frontiers in cancer treatment by radiation: radioimmunotherapy, nuclear reaction-based binary approaches (Boron-Neutron-Capture-Therapy - BNCT), effect of ultra-high dose rates (Flash-Radiotherapy)
Prerequisites for admission
Basic knowledge of the concepts of radiation-matterinteraction and of the main constituents of living matter (cellular structure and functions)
Teaching methods
Frontal, basic and application lessons, with multimedia presentations.
Teaching Resources
-Radiobiology for the Radiologist, By Eric J. Hall Amato J. Giaccia 7th edition, Lippincott Williams and Wilkins.
-Radiation Biology: a Handbook for Teachers and Students Training Course Series No. 42 International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
-Recent scientific articles
-Radiation Biology: a Handbook for Teachers and Students Training Course Series No. 42 International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
-Recent scientific articles
Assessment methods and Criteria
Oral examination aiming at verifying the level of understanding of the topics dealt with during the course.
Professor(s)