A DIVERSITY OF RESPONSES DISPLAYED BY A STOCHASTIC-MODEL OF RADIATIONCARCINOGENESIS ALLOWING FOR CELL-DEATH

A stochastic model is presented of carcinogenesis induced by irradiati on with arbitrary time-dependent dose rate. The key feature of the mod el is that it allows for radiation-induced cell killing to compete wit h the process of tumor promotion. Two versions of the model arise when considering target tissues with slow and rapid replacement of damaged cells. These versions show dissimilar shapes of the dose-response cur ves in the case of short-term exposure. The model provides a natural e xplanation of the basic experimental findings documented in the radiob iological literature.