ArticleJournal of applied clinical medical physics2025
Beyond a constant proton relative biological effectiveness: A survey of clinical and research perspectives among proton institutions in Europe and the United States.
Article in Journal of applied clinical medical physics, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
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Who cites it
2 citing papers in PubMed.
- Commissioning of a Monte Carlo-based scanning proton beam for breast cancer: Incorporating LETd calculations and variable RBE models.Journal of applied clinical medical physics · 2026Article
- Beyond a constant proton relative biological effectiveness: A survey of clinical and research perspectives among proton institutions in Europe and the United States.Journal of applied clinical medical physics · 2025Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
4 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
purposeAlthough proton relative biological effectiveness (RBE) depends on factors like linear energy transfer (LET), tissue properties, dose, and biological endpoint, a constant RBE of 1.1 is recommended in clinical practice. This study surveys proton institutions to explore activities using functionalities beyond a constant proton RBE.
methodsResearch versions of RayStation integrate functionalities considering variable proton RBE, LET, proton track-ends, and dirty dose. A survey of 19 institutions in Europe and the United States, with these functionalities available, investigated clinical adoption and research prospects using a 25-question online questionnaire.
resultsOf the 16 institutions that responded (84% response rate), 13 were clinically active. These clinical institutions prescribe RBE = 1.1 but also employ planning strategies centered around special beam arrangements to address potentially enhanced RBE effects in serially structured organs at risk (OARs). Clinical plan evaluation encompassed beam angles/spot position (69%), dose-averaged LET (LET
conclusionsProton institutions recognize RBE variability but adhere to a constant RBE while actively mitigating potential enhancements, particularly in serially structured OARs. Research efforts focus on planning techniques that utilize functionalities beyond a constant RBE, emphasizing standardized LET and RBE calculations to facilitate their adoption in clinical practice and improve clinical data collection. LET
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