Investigation of Cherenkov Radiation-Induced Hyperthermia in Radionuclide Therapy for Liver Cancer
Abstract
Purpose: Beta-emitting radionuclides used in liver cancer therapy generate cytotoxic effects and Cherenkov radiation. This study aims to evaluate the potential of Cherenkov radiation to induce localized hyperthermia in hepatic tumors during radionuclide therapy.
Materials and Methods: Monte Carlo simulations were performed using the GATE platform to model Cherenkov radiation transport and heat deposition in hepatic tumor tissue. The absorbed thermal dose was quantified using the integrated bioheat transfer model, allowing accurate voxel-level mapping of temperature distribution. Six beta-emitting radionuclides, including ³²P, ⁹⁰Y, ¹⁶⁶Ho, ¹⁸⁸Re, ¹⁷⁷Lu, and ¹³¹I, were evaluated to assess their potential for inducing thermal effects through Cherenkov radiation absorption during liver radionuclide therapy.
Results: Among the radionuclides studied, ³²P and ⁹⁰Y generated the highest number of Cherenkov photons in the liver tumor, resulting in significant heat deposition and uniform tumor temperatures ranging from 41 to 49°C, consistent with mild hyperthermia and, in the case of ³²P, partial thermal ablation with approximately 20% of the tumor volume exceeding 60°C. ¹⁶⁶Ho induced moderate heating, raising tumor temperatures to around 41°C in most of the tumor volume. In contrast, radionuclides with lower beta energies, such as ¹⁷⁷Lu, ¹³¹I, and ¹⁸⁸Re, produced minimal Cherenkov photon emission, resulting in negligible thermal effects within the tumor.
Conclusion: The integration of radionuclide therapy with Cherenkov radiation-induced hyperthermia presents a promising strategy for radiosensitization and thermal ablation in hepatocellular carcinoma.
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5- Omar Desouky, Nan Ding, and Guangming Zhou, "Targeted and non-targeted effects of ionizing radiation." Journal of Radiation Research and Applied Sciences, Vol. 8 (No. 2), pp. 247-54, 2015/04/01/ (2015).
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36- S. Kwon, S. Jung, and S. H. Baek, "Combination Therapy of Radiation and Hyperthermia, Focusing on the Synergistic Anti-Cancer Effects and Research Trends." (in eng), Antioxidants (Basel), Vol. 12 (No. 4), Apr 13 (2023).
37- M. F. Righini, A. Durham, and P. G. Tsoutsou, "Hyperthermia and radiotherapy: physiological basis for a synergistic effect." (in eng), Front Oncol, Vol. 14p. 1428065, (2024).
38- Loïc Van Dieren et al., "Combined Radiotherapy and Hyperthermia: A Systematic Review of Immunological Synergies for Amplifying Radiation-Induced Abscopal Effects." Cancers, Vol. 16 (No. 21), p. 3656, (2024).
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1.
Rezaei H, Mahmoudian B, Talebi AS. Investigation of Cherenkov Radiation-Induced Hyperthermia in Radionuclide Therapy for Liver Cancer. Frontiers Biomed Technol. 2026;.
