Radiation-induced cell inactivation as a cause for cancer promotion Original Research Article

In space research, estimates of health risks from high-LET radiation, as well as from mixed fields are needed. Features of several applications of the biologically based two step clonal expansion (TSCE) model on data with high-LET radiation, normally α-particles from radon and from Thorotrast, are reviewed. One conclusion is that radiation might not only influence the initiating event in carcinogenesis, but may also act as a promoter. A possible mechanism which gives a promoting action from cell inactivation is presented for the organs “lung”, with a two-dimensional arrangement of the cells at risk, and for “liver” where the sensitive cells are distributed in all three dimensions. Inferences for dose–response curves at low doses and dose rates are drawn. For liver, the number and size of premalignant clones is estimated from the cancer data.