Dose enhancement factors of some cancer drugs by Monte Carlo simulations

Abstract

Cancer treatment employs various methods, including cytotoxic drugs, radiation therapies, and surgical procedures, all aiming to control the growth of cancer cells. The effects of drugs administered before, during, and after cancer treatment should be evaluated in conjunction with the applied treatment modalities. Understanding the dose-increasing or dose-decreasing effects (expressed as the Dose Enhancement Factor (DEF)) of chemotherapy drugs is crucial for gaining insight into their interactions with radiotherapy. This study investigates the effects of chemotherapy drugs on the absorbed radiation dose in tissues through simulations conducted using the Monte Carlo N-Particle Transport Code (MCNP 6.2). Eight chemotherapy drugs commonly used for treating various cancer types were selected: Tadocel, Fluro-5, Erbitux, Carboplatin, Temodal, Tamoxifen, Endoxan, and Oxaliplatin. The dose enhancement rates of tissues containing these drugs were evaluated within the 10-200 keV energy range. Among the drugs examined, Oxaliplatin, Carboplatin, and Endoxan exhibited significantly higher dose enhancement rates compared to the others.The most critical finding of this study is that the determined dose enhancement factors of these drugs must be considered during radiation dose planning for effective and safe cancer treatment.