Ion-beam cancer therapy, an alternative to a common radiation therapy with X-rays, has been used clinically around the world since 1990s; the number of proton therapy centers as well as facilities using heavier ions such as α-particles and carbon ions continues to grow. A number of different methods were used by various scientific communities in order to quantitatively predict therapeutic effects of application of ion beams. A Multiscale approach (MSA) reviewed in this paper is one of these methods. Its name reflects the fact that the scenario of radiation damage following the incidence of an ion beam on tissue includes large ranges of scales in time, space, and energy. This review demonstrates the motivation and scientific justification of the MSA to the physics of ion-beam therapy and its implementation to a variety of different limits and physical conditions. A number of examples of calculations at high and low values of linear energy transfer (LET), large and small ion fluences, for a single value of LET and a combination of LETs in a spread-out Bragg peak are presented. The MSA has integrated the science involved in ion-beam therapy; in the process of the development of MSA, a new physical effect of ion-induced shock waves has been predicted. Its effect on the scenario of radiation damage is discussed in detail. Multiscale approach’s predictive capabilities are based on the fundamental scientific knowledge. Their strength is in relation to actual physical, chemical, and biological processes that take place following the ions incidence on tissue. This makes the approach flexible and versatile to include various conditions, such as the degree of aeration or the presence of sensitizing nanoparticles, related to particular cases. The ideas for how the MSA can contribute to an improved optimization of therapy planning are summarized in the review.

中文翻译：

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癌症放射治疗的多尺度建模

自1990年代以来，离子束癌症疗法是X射线常规放射疗法的替代方法，已在世界范围内临床应用。质子治疗中心以及使用重离子（例如α粒子和碳离子）的设施的数量不断增加。各种科学界使用了许多不同的方法来定量预测离子束施加的治疗效果。本文介绍的多尺度方法（MSA）是这些方法之一。它的名字反映了这样一个事实，在离子束入射到组织之后，辐射损坏的情况包括在时间，空间和能量方面的大范围尺度。这篇综述证明了MSA对离子束治疗物理学及其在各种不同的限制和物理条件下的实施的动机和科学依据。给出了在单个和单个LET值以及散布的Bragg峰中LET的组合下，线性能量转移（LET）的高和低值，离子通量大小的计算的许多示例。MSA整合了涉及离子束治疗的科学；在MSA的发展过程中，已经预测到离子引起的冲击波的新物理效应。详细讨论了其对辐射损坏情况的影响。多尺度方法的预测能力基于基础科学知识。它们的强度与实际的物理，化学，以及离子在组织上入射后发生的生物过程。这使得该方法灵活且通用，以包括各种条件，例如与特定情况相关的曝气程度或敏化纳米粒子的存在。这篇综述总结了关于MSA如何有助于改善治疗计划的想法。