Speaker
Prof.
Itzhak Kelson
(School of Physics and Astronomy, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel)
Description
Alpha particles are well known for their effectiveness against cancer cells. A few alpha particles passing through the cell DNA are sufficient to destroy it or to stop its multiplication. However, the short range (less than 0.1 mm) of naturally available alpha particles has so far prohibited their use as a practical therapeutic agent. Diffusing Alpha-emitters Radiation Therapy (DαRT) is a new modality for utilizing alpha particles for treating solid tumors which overcomes this limitation. Instead of inserting into a tumor a source emitting alpha particles, one inserts a source which releases short-lived alpha emitters. These disperse in the tumor by diffusion and by convection, emitting their alpha particles at a therapeutically significant distance (a few mm) from the source. Specifically, the parent isotope on the DαRT source is 224Ra (3.7 days half-life), which releases a sizable fraction of its progeny by its own alpha-decay induced recoil. 224Ra itself is being collected electrostatically onto the source after recoiling from a surface 228Th (1.9 years half-life) generator. An optimal method of producing such generators is through the collection of 228Fr, which results in a practical, longer lived 228Th generator fed by the intermediate isotope 228Ra (5.7 years half-life).
Author
Prof.
Itzhak Kelson
(School of Physics and Astronomy, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel)
