EPJD Topical Issue : Physics of Cancer: Molecular Processes underlying Radiation Therapy

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Published on 23 October 2024

Guest Editors: Thomas Schlathölter, Ilko Bald and Filipe Ferreira da Silva

Further advancement of radiation therapy requires a detailed understanding of underlying molecular processes on the nanometer length scale and at ultrashort timescales. It is now an established fact that direct and indirect damage can affect various components of living cells, such as nucleus, mitochondria or membranes, but also components of the extracellular matrix, such as collagen. On nanometer length scales and below, the radiation action can be boiled down to direct molecular excitation and ionization of either water or of the various relevant biomolecules. In addition, radiation damage can also be induced by the action of secondary species, in particular by electrons and radicals.

A growing interdisciplinary community on the borderline of physics, chemistry and biology is investigating interactions of photons, electrons and ions with water and with biomolecular systems, either in the condensed phase or in the gas-phase. These studies not only aim at delivering ionization and fragmentation cross sections for various interaction systems, that are key input for accurate modeling of radiation damage on the molecular level. State of the art experimental and theoretical approaches also allow to study the relevance of genuine quantum processes such as intermolecular Coulombic decay or ultrafast hydrogen transport for biological radiation damage. Furthermore, intense research currently focuses on the principles of action of established and novel radiosensitizers, such as high-Z nanoparticles, which are often far from understood. Furthermore, it is a long-standing issue to transfer knowledge gained from experiments in idealized environments (such as gas phase) to a biologically more relevant condensed phase. Finally, new treatment modalities such as FLASH radiation therapy require detailed mechanistic investigations.

The aim of this topical collection is to compile cutting-edge experimental and theoretical research on molecular mechanisms underpinning radiotherapy, with an emphasis on molecular physics. This topical collection will thus be timely and clearly within the scope of EPJD.

- List of topics covered:

This Topical Issue is part of the ‘EPJ special issues on sustainable development’ (Topic Physics of Cancer, associated with SDG3 Good Health and Well-being).

The full manuscripts should be submitted before the deadline directly to the EPJ D Editorial Office at https://www.editorialmanager.com/epjd/.

Submissions should be clearly identified as intended for the Topical Issue on ‘Physics of Cancer: Molecular Processes underlying Radiation Therapy’. Papers will be published continuously and will appear as soon as accepted on the journal website. The electronic version of the Topical Issue will contain all accepted papers in the order of publication. All submitted papers will be refereed according to the usual high standards of the journal. More information about EPJ D, including instructions for authors is available here.

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Guest editors of the Topical issue :