Mini-review: recent updates on the mathematical modelling of radiation-induced bystander effects

Abstract

Radiotherapy treatment uses ionizing radiation (IR) in order to kill cancer cells. However, the IR exerted its effects outside the radiation field and causes cell death in healthy cells. This effect namely as radiation-induced bystander effects (RIBE) phenomenon. The scope of the overview of the RIBE phenomenon discussed in this paper includes the RIBE mechanism, danger signaling process, deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) double-strand breaks (DSBs) damage and the damage repair. This paper extended with the discussion of several mathematical models used to describe the RIBE phenomenon. The discussions towards the mathematical models include the models of signals concentration, the models of bystander effects and the survival fraction model. Mathematical modelling and computer simulation are powerful tools used to understand the biological phenomenon of RIBE. The suitable mathematical model of repair and mis-repair DNA DSBs damage has been briefly reviewed in view of the relevance of this model towards RIBE phenomenon. The outcome of this paper suggested a recommendation for future research on the suitable mathematical model and simulation analysis in describing the complexity of RIBE phenomenon.