Abstract
Carbon ion is one of high LET particles and carbon ion radiotherapy is a promising modality for photon resistant tumor because of its high biological effectiveness. Additionally carbon ion has a Bragg peak with superior dose distribution in radiotherapy avoiding unexpected doses for the surrounding important normal tissues. In 1994, clinical trials for many clinical sites were initiated in the National Institute of Radiological Sciences (NIRS). Till the end of February 2005, a total of 2,192 patients were treated by carbon ions. The results of clinical trials show good tumor control, especially for non-squamous cell carcinoma in the head and neck, prostate cancer, bone and soft tissue tumors, rectal cancer( post operative relapse) and adenocarcinoma of the uterine. For the lung and the liver cancer, small fractionation method within 1 or 2 days was applied. Also clinical trials for malignant gliomas and pancreas cancer are undergoing. Carbon ion radiotherapy was permitted as highly advanced medical technology on November 2003 and 342 patients were treated till the February of 2005.To assess the genetic alterations and identify the genes induced by carbon ion irradiation in cell lines, a genome expression study was conducted. The list of differentially expressed genes includes ones that are involved in cell cycle, adhesion, proliferation and apoptosis. IPA showed that THBS1 and UPP1 were activated by linked genes associated with apoptosis, including p53 and RUNX1.
