Biophysics Modeling to Optimize Ion Beam Cancer Therapy

International audienceThe optimization of treatments by Ion Beam Cancer Therapy (IBCT) relies on modeling to simulate the transport of the incident ions (and the secondary particles) into patients, and, to predict the biological effects induced by all these particles. Considering the complexity of biological systems, multi-scale approaches seem necessary to build the bridge between the primary physical and chemicals events and the consequences for patients both in healthy tissues and tumors. After a brief history of IBCT in France, this chapter presents models used to estimate the probability of tumor control by IBCT, showing the importance of predicting the survival of biological cells to complex irradiation. Then, follows a presentation and analysis of models predicting cell survival to irradiation with ions, including: the procedure developed in Japan for cancer treatments with passive beams; the microdosimetry models TDRA and MKM, and, the MMKM, a modified version of MKM used for active beam in Japan; the Katz models and the LEM, which is presently used by the European centers of therapy with carbon ions. Then, as perspectives, modeling based on nanodosimetry will be addressed with a focus on the NanOxTMmode