Chaoui M, Tayalati Y, Bouhali O, Ramos-Méndez J
Faculty of Sciences, University Mohammed V in Rabat, Morocco.
School of applied and Engineering physics, Mohammed VI Polytechnic University, Ben Guerir, Morocco.
bioRxiv. 2025 May 15:2025.05.13.652705. doi: 10.1101/2025.05.13.652705.
BACKGROUND: Preclinical investigations studies have shown that FLASH radiotherapy (FLASH-RT), delivering radiation in ultra-high dose rates (UHDR), preserves healthy tissue and reduces toxicity, all while maintaining an effective tumor response compared to conventional radiotherapy (CONV-RT), the combined biological benefit was termed as "FLASH effect". However, the mechanisms responsible for this effect remain unclear. Research demonstrated that oxygen concentration contributes to the FLASH effect, and it has been hypothesized that Fenton reaction might play a role in the "FLASH effect". PURPOSE: We propose to investigate the effect of ultra-high dose rate (UHDR), compared to conventional dose rates (CONV), on the Fenton reaction by studying the radiolysis of Fricke solution. The study will focus on how dose, dose rate, and initial oxygen concentration influence the activation of the Fenton reaction. METHODS AND MATERIALS: TOPAS-nBio version 2.0 was used to simulate the radiolysis of the Fricke system. A cubic water phantom of 3μm side was irradiated by 300MeV protons on one of its edges. For UHDR, a proton field (1.5×1.5μm) was delivered in a single pulse of 1ns width. The protons were accumulated until reached 5Gy or 10Gy absorbed dose. For CONV, the independent history approach was used to mimic Co irradiation. For both dose-rates, oxygen concentrations representative of hypoxic and normoxic tissues (10-250μM) were simulated. The G-value for oxidant ions G(Fe3+) and ΔG-value of Fenton reaction (HO + Fe→ Fe+OH+OH) were scored. The simulations ended after G(Fe) achieved steady-state, and calculated yields were compared with published data. RESULTS: For CONV, G(Fe) agreed with ICRU-report 34 data by (0.97±0.1) %. For UHDR, G(Fe) agreed with ICRU data by (1.24±0.1)% and (0.92±0.1)% for 5Gy and 10Gy, respectively. Notably, UHDR at 10 Gy reduced the occurrence of Fenton reactions by (1.0±0.1)% and (11.5±0.1)% at initial oxygen concentrations of 250 μM and 10 μM, respectively. In consequence, UHDR decreased G(Fe3+) by (1.8±0.1)% and (12.5±0.1)% at these oxygen levels. Additionally, increasing the absorbed dose to 15 Gy and 20 Gy at low oxygen (10 μM), UHDR further reduced the ΔG-value by (15.7±0.1)% and (18.6±0.1)%, respectively. The decrease was driven by intertrack effects present in UHDR pulses and its impact on the scavenging effect that oxygen had over hydrogen radicals. CONCLUSIONS: UHDR reduces the yield of Fe (G(Fe)) and significantly impacts Fenton reactions, particularly at low oxygen concentrations, while showing minimal effects at higher oxygen levels. This effect becomes more pronounced at higher dose thresholds, such as 10-20 Gy. This emphasizes the important role of the initial oxygen concentration in UHDR and its influence on the Fenton reaction, a mechanism that may contribute to elucidate the FLASH effect.
背景:临床前研究表明,以超高剂量率(UHDR)进行的FLASH放疗可保护健康组织并降低毒性,同时与传统放疗(CONV-RT)相比保持有效的肿瘤反应,这种综合生物学益处被称为“FLASH效应”。然而,导致这种效应的机制仍不清楚。研究表明,氧浓度有助于产生FLASH效应,并且有人推测芬顿反应可能在“FLASH效应”中起作用。 目的:我们建议通过研究弗里克溶液的辐射分解来研究超高剂量率(UHDR)与传统剂量率(CONV)相比对芬顿反应的影响。该研究将集中于剂量、剂量率和初始氧浓度如何影响芬顿反应的激活。 方法和材料:使用TOPAS-nBio 2.0版模拟弗里克系统的辐射分解。一个边长为3μm的立方体水体模在其一条边上受到300MeV质子的照射。对于UHDR,一个质子场(1.5×1.5μm)以1ns宽度的单个脉冲形式输送。质子累积直至达到5Gy或10Gy的吸收剂量。对于CONV,使用独立历史方法模拟钴照射。对于两种剂量率,模拟了代表缺氧和正常氧合组织的氧浓度(10-250μM)。对氧化离子的G值G(Fe3+)和芬顿反应的ΔG值(HO + Fe→Fe+OH+OH)进行评分。模拟在G(Fe)达到稳态后结束,并将计算出的产率与已发表的数据进行比较。 结果:对于CONV,G(Fe)与ICRU报告34数据的吻合度为(0.97±0.1)%。对于UHDR,5Gy和10Gy时G(Fe)与ICRU数据的吻合度分别为(1.24±0.1)%和(0.92±0.1)%。值得注意的是,在10Gy的UHDR下,初始氧浓度为250μM和10μM时,芬顿反应的发生率分别降低了(1.0±0.1)%和(11.5±0.1)%。因此,在这些氧水平下,UHDR使G(Fe3+)分别降低了(1.8±0.1)%和(12.5±0.1)%。此外,在低氧(10μM)条件下将吸收剂量增加到15Gy和20Gy时,UHDR使ΔG值分别进一步降低了(15.7±0.1)%和(18.6±0.1)%。这种降低是由UHDR脉冲中存在的径迹间效应及其对氧对氢自由基的清除作用的影响所驱动的。 结论:UHDR降低了Fe的产率(G(Fe))并显著影响芬顿反应,特别是在低氧浓度下,而在高氧水平下影响最小。这种效应在较高剂量阈值(如10-20Gy)时变得更加明显。这强调了初始氧浓度在UHDR中的重要作用及其对芬顿反应的影响,这一机制可能有助于阐明FLASH效应。
Radiat Res. 2024-12-1
Cancers (Basel). 2025-1-3
Annu Rev Cancer Biol. 2023-4
Antioxidants (Basel). 2023-12-20
Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 2024-3-1
Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 2024-1-1