The Relation Between Tumour Lethal Doses and the Radiosensitivity of Tumour Cells

Abstract

Dose cure-rate curves for tumours have been calculated from dose: survival curves for single cells, on the assumption that if a tumour is to be cured, every cell in it must be deprived of the ability to continue to reproduce. Host factors have been neglected. A value for the radiosensitivity of the cells in squamous carcinomata of the mouth and skin has been deduced from a dose: cure-rate relation for these tumours. A figure of 134 rads was obtained for the Do value of the cells; this is similar to the values which have been reported for a number of kinds of mammalian and human cells irradiated in culture and for a strain of leukemic mouse cells irradiated in vivo.