The Relative Biological Effectiveness of ⁶⁰Co γ-rays, 55 kVp X-rays, 250 kVp X-rays, and 11 MeV Electrons at Low Doses

Abstract

The relative biological effectiveness (RBE) of selected low-LET radiation modalities (55 kVp X-rays, 250 kVp X-rays, ⁶⁰Co γ-rays, and 11 MeV electrons) was investigated for survival of two cell lines (V79 and CHO). Detailed measurements were made in the low (0 to 3 Gy) dose range using an image cytometry device to accurately determine the number of cells assayed at each dose point. Data were also collected in the high dose range (0 to 10 Gy) using conventional counting and plating techniques. RBE values (± 1 SE) varied from 1·0 ± 0·07 (V79 cells) and 1·2 ± 0·05 (CHO cells) at high doses to 1·3 ± 0·07 (V79) and 1·4 ± 0·1 (CHO) at low doses for 55 kVp X-rays, from 1·1 ± 0·05 (V79) and 1·1 ± 0·04 (CHO) at high doses to 1·1 ± 0·06 (V79) and 1·2 ± 0·2 (CHO) at low doses for 250 kVp X-rays, and from 1·1 ± 0·08 (V79) and 1·0 ± 0·04 (CHO) at high doses to 1·0 ± 0·06 (V79) and 0·9 ± 0·1 (CHO) at low doses for 11 MeV electrons. Only the low and high dose RBEs for 55 kVp X-rays relative to ⁶⁰Co γ-rays were significantly different.