A statistical framework for radiation dose estimation with uncertainty quantification from the γ-H2AX assay

Einbeck, Jochen; Ainsbury, Elizabeth A.; Sales, Rachel; Barnard, Stephen; Kaestle, Felix; Higueras, Manuel

Abstract

Over the last decade, the γ–H2AX focus assay, which exploits the phosphorylation of the H2AX histone following DNA double–strand–breaks, has made considerable progress towards acceptance as a reliable biomarker for exposure to ionizing radiation. While the existing literature has convincingly demonstrated a dose–response effect, and also presented approaches to dose estimation based on appropriately defined calibration curves, a more widespread practical use is still hampered by a certain lack of discussion and agreement on the specific dose–response modelling and uncertainty quantification strategies, as well as by the unavailability of implementations. This manuscript intends to fill these gaps, by stating explicitly the statistical models and techniques required for calibration curve estimation and subsequent dose estimation. Accompanying this article, a web applet has been produced which implements the discussed methods.

Citation

Einbeck, J., Ainsbury, E. A., Sales, R., Barnard, S., Kaestle, F., & Higueras, M. (2018). A statistical framework for radiation dose estimation with uncertainty quantification from the γ-H2AX assay. PLoS ONE, 13(11), https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0207464

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Oct 31, 2018
• Online Publication Date: Nov 28, 2018
• Publication Date: Nov 28, 2018
• Deposit Date: Dec 13, 2018
• Publicly Available Date: Dec 13, 2018
• Journal: PLoS ONE
• Electronic ISSN: 1932-6203
• Publisher: Public Library of Science
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 13
• Issue: 11
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0207464
• Public URL: https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1311634