Biomolecular Action of Ionizing Radiation

Montreal General Hospital/McGill University, Canada

• Introduction. Basic radiation physics and chemistry. Basic cell biology and molecular genetics. Methods of cell and molecular radiobiology. Ionizing radiation effects to the cytoplasm. Damage to DNA by ionizing radiation. Repair of radiation damage to DNA. Cellular response to DNA damage. Chromatin structure and radiation sensitivity. Radiation-induced chromosome damage. Modulation of radiation response via signal transduction pathways. Radiation-induced apoptosis. Early and late responding genes induced by ionizing radiation. Cell death, cell survival, and adaptation. Bystander effects and genomic instability. Tumor radiobiology. Radiation biology of nonmammalian species: three eukaryotes and a bacterium.References. Glossary. Index.

"… The new textbook is targeted at students in radiation oncology and medical physics and should be a useful resource for graduate students with interests in radiation sciences and cancer treatment. … Overall, I felt the author has generally achieved the aim of developing a textbook on applications of molecular biology to radiation biology relating to radiation oncology. …"—Crystallography Reviews, Vol. 15, No. 2, April-June 2009"The major strength of this book likes in its in-depth coverage of recent advances in radiation-induced signal transduction pathways and molecular mechanisms of cellular responses to ionizing radiation . . . succeeded in providing an up-to-date synopsis of the field of radiation research in the early 21st century and is a worthy addition to the library of didactic textbooks in our field. This book has a comprehensive and clearly laid out table of contents. The text is succinct and easy to read. This book certainly belongs on the bookshelf of anyone who is interested in understanding radiation biology including residents, graduate students, and postdoctoral researchers. In particular, radiation oncology residents will find this book to be an excellent source of information for understanding the molecular basis of radiation biology." – Zhong Yun and Joann B. Sweasy, Department of Therapeutic Radiology, Yale University School of Medicine, 2009". . . this progressive text offers an up-to-date analysis of in vitro and in vivo molecular responses in the body induced by ionizing radiation. With a unique emphasis on medical physics applications, this volume also presents a much needed, in-depth perspective on clinical applications for the treatment of cancer and radiation injuries . . . an outstanding resource for advanced undergraduate and graduate students in medical physics, radiation oncology, radiation biology, and those who have an interest in the radiation sciences and in cancer treatment." –In Anticancer Research, Nov-Dec 2008, Vol. 28, No. 6B