Monte Carlo Investigation of Organs Activation in ‎Proton and Heavy Ions Cancer Therapy by Spallation ‎Process

Background: High-energy heavy ions and protons produced by accelerators are used in industrial and medical applications. Recently, Helium (He), Argon (Ar), Krypton (Kr), Carbon (C) and Neon (Ne) heavy ions have been used in the treatment of cancerous tumors. High-energy protons are generally used either directly for the treatment of cancerous tumors or indirectly by neutron production of Lithium (Li), Beryllium (Be) and Thallium (Ta) targets by proton irradiation used for born neutron capture therapy (BNCT) technique. Neutron beams that produced by proton spallation, will activate the brain components before tumors. Methods: In this study, the neutron brain activation has been investigated using Monte Carlo N Particle X Version (MCNPX). Furthermore, in the direct use of high-energy ions for the treatment of cancerous tumors, the production of radioactive elements by heavy ions spallation process in healthy tissues around tumors was calculated by Monte Carlo simulation.Results: Proton beams, neutrons, and heavy ions are used to treat internal tumors. Neutron source spallation of Li, Be, Ta, Lead (Pb) targets that were used in the BNCT therapy process can produce radioactive elements in the brain tissue. The results indicate that the Sodium-۲۲ (۲۲Na) ,۲۴Na, Aluminium-۲۸ (۲۸Al), ۲۹Al, Silicon-۳۲ (۳۲Si), Chlorin-۳۴ metastable(۳۴mCl), Potasium-۳۸ (۳۸K), ۴۰K radioactive elements were produced in brain tissue for BNCT.Conclusion: In this study, the neutron brain activation has been investigated using MCNPX. Furthermore, in the direct use of high-energy ions for the treatment of cancerous tumors, the production of radioactive elements by heavy ions spallation process in healthy tissues around tumors was calculated by Monte Carlo simulation.

Keywords:

Therapy , Radioactive , Protons , Ions , Neutrons , Soft tissue , activation