A stochastic model for cell survival after irradiation.

A theory of cell survival after irradiation has been developed based on a single compartment model of a living cell and taking into account a recovery phenomenon. The basis of the model is the assumption that once a cell is repaired, it will behave like a normal cell if irradiated further. Theoretical expressions for the probability of survival or damage of an irradiated cell at an arbitrary instant in time have been obtained for a constant damage rate and a general repair-time distribution. An application of these derived expressions has been made to experimental data.