¥

adequate

the average probabllity of

to evaluate

the quantal response at any

With LLE, on the other hand, each point on the curve shown

given dose D.

represents an entire population of cells, and the interest focuses on how
many in

that population will be seciously injured or killed.

number of cells hit,

Here

the

the distribution of hit sizes, and an HSEF, are

FRACTION OF ORGANS
RESPONDING QUANTALLY
Q

ZONE }

Lue f

HLE

eee

F<<t0}

Frmio;, zap

Fig. 9
Schematic showing the transition, for cell lethality,
from LLE where absorbed dose is not appropriate, to HLE where
‘ey is curve A, which is hoth an exposure~quantal
it is.

(tethal) response function for cells, and a dose-effect curve
for the next highest level of biological organization, the
At low exposures the focus {s on evaluating the number
organ.
At laree exposures the
of cell elements responding quantally,.
focus is om the degree to which function of che cell systeu,
the organ, has been compromised by massive cell killing. This
determines the probability of the organ, and therefore the
ocgantsm responding quantally (lethally).
oe

we ae of

al Teas Uae ss

——+

-

Relationship between RBE and the HSEF
AS seen from Eq (1) above,
Tihs

the RBE, with LLE,

the organ ahsorbed dose D is equal to ZF.

is simply

the ratio of zF for

the standard

radiation, divided by zF for the test high-LET radiation,
varies with radiation quality,
is

to be a measure of

lUowever,

the values of F should be made equal

the influence of quality only, as indicated by

-223-

nme

ec Day

ee dhe sas wate wine Se ery ee

6

FRACTION OF CELLS
RESPONDING QUANTALLY

reguired for cisk evaluacion,

since

{if RBE

F

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