Evening star., 1952-08-13
Sub-Atomic 'ArtiIIer'
Tested Against Cancer
Deuteron Beums Show Promise
Of Being Better Thun x-Ruys
By Thomos R. Henry

SSuhS <\-NoYS
By Thomas R. Henry
A new sub-atomic heavy artillery now
is being tested against deep-seated can
GERS.
1t consists of beams of deuterons,
double-weight nuclei of hydrogen atoms.
These particles are, with one exception,
by far the heaviest yet used against
malignant growths inside of the body and
they show promise of being consider
ably better than X-rays. They are
heavy artillery shells which act like rifle
bullets.
Thus far the deuteron beams have
been used only against experimental
cancers in mice and on "lucite phan-
TOMS" plates of plastic which have
about the same absorbing qualities as
human flesh. 1t is hoped that the tech
nique will be ready for use with humans
by the time the new cancer hospital now
under construction at the Atomic
Energy Commissions Argonne Labora-
tory at the University of Chicago is COM
pleted.
Lose Energy in Penetration.
X-rays, 1t is explained by Atomic
Energy Commission doctors, can be made
to penetrate tissue about as far as is
desired, II enough energy Is used. They
have, however, their maximum effect on
the surface and lose energy very rapidly
the farther they penetrate. The point
soon is reached where small dose &C
tually is delivered at the site of an in
ternal cancer while the destruction Of
skin tissue is too great to be tolerated.
Various devices, none very successful.
are used to overcome this. One is to di-
rect the X-ray beam from several angles,
so That too heavy a desc against any
part OF the surface Is avoided. Thus
the energy can be pushed up as high
as two million volts.
Now, the Atomic Energy biologists ex-
plain, the effect Of a deuteron beam is
almost exactly the opposite. 1t delivers
its maximum destructive effect at the
precise site of the cancer at which 1t Is
aimed. There is almost no skin burning
or destruction of other tissue. The pene-
tration is almost precisely like that of
X-rays, depending on the energy.
In the past there has been some treat
ment of cancers with beams of protons.
the positively charged particles found in
the nuclei Of atoms, which also have
been likened to heavy artillery when
compared with X-rays. Some of the
treatments have been satisfactory. But.
it is explained. deuteron beam can be
aimed much more sharply at the malig-
nant tissue whose destruction is sought.
The other heavy particles. neutrons.
can also be used in the same way. but
their effects are unpredictable. The
best results have been obtained by i'm
planting In cancer tissue atoms Of the
element boron and then directing neu-
irons against it. The boron atoms act
like land mines which are exploded when
hit by the neutronS.
The deuteron consists of proton and
a neutron bound together. The only
heavier projectile used Is the alpha par
ticle. which is twice as heavy again but
which has very slight penetrating power.
Electrons, or beta rays, have good pene-
trating power and do not have as bad
surface effects as do X-rays. They have
not proved. however, as good as the deu-
teronS promise to be.
Difficult to Produce.
There are still difficulties in the way
which must be overcome before deuteron
beams can be used in treatment Of hui
mans. First. they are difficult to pro-
duce. Second, a very high degree Of
technical skill is required and there are
few who possess that skill. The possible
dangers have not been well explored and
thousands Of mouse experiments will be
necessary before any chances are taken.
The Argonne hospital will be provided
with newly designed atom smasher, q
so-called linear accelerator especially
adapted to provide deuteron beams. at
high energies.
Almost equally important with the mice
experiments, the Atomic Energy Com
mission biologists say, are the tests being
made with the lucite 'phantoms" by
which can be determined the amounts OF
energy required for the beams to pene-
trate desired distances. This penetration
must be exact within fractions Of cent?
meters In order to achieve the desired
results.
The lucite can be moulded into the
precise shape and size of various human
organs, in order to determine the i'm
portance Of these factors.
For superficial cancers the deuteron
beams probably would be less desirable
than X-rays, which deliver their maxi
mum effects at the surface.