Problems of Radiosensitivity in Mixed Cell Populations with Particular Reference to Radiotherapy

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Abstract
In a mixture of anoxic and serated organisms or cells, equal sensitisation of the 2 populations leads to no change in relative sensitivity (i.e. the ratio of doses for a given depopulation) or in the relative survival for a given survival of aerated cells. There will, however, be an increase in relative survival of the less sensitive (anoxic) cells after a given dose. This may be true even when sensitisation is greater for the anoxic cells. Protection of the more sensitive (aerated) cells may be the more reliable method of reducing relative survival of the anoxic population. As the number of dose fractions increase the relative survival of the anoxic cells increases even if the total dose gives the same surviving fraction of aerated cells in each case. These are theoretical conclusions from a consideration of dose response curves but their implications are discussed in relation to the problems of practical radiotherapy.
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