Ponente
Descripción
A fine control of DNA metabolism is needed in order to ensure genomic stability, which is compromised in cancer cells. Proton Beam Therapy (PBT) is considered the most precise and less invasive form of radiation therapy available nowadays for cancer treatment and it is particularly important for paediatric cases involving brain tumours. However, the detailed biological response triggered by PBT remains to be elucidated. We are trying to explore in detail the cellular response to the irradiation with protons in Human cell lines. Indeed, we have already started working with cell cultures irradiated with proton beams. The irradiations were performed at CNA making use of the 3 MV Tandem Accelerator and the 18 MeV Cyclotron which have provided proton beams up to 4 MeV and 18 MeV, respectively. In both cases the beamline was optimized to ensure the irradiation of cell cultures with an accurate and homogeneous dose. Indeed, we have a very preliminary yet highly interesting observation that might indicate that the DSBs produced by protons might be channelled preferentially through the homologous recombination pathway.
