Cf-252 leukemogenesis in the C57BL mouse.

Radiation-induced leukemia/lymphomas were induced in C57BL mice using four weekly acute 60Co fractionated irradiation exposures (to 188 cGy, or graded doses of low dose rate (LDR) Cf-252 irradiation given in fractionated exposure sessions at four weekly intervals. The acute 60Co radiation produced 84% thymic lymphomas with a median survival time (MST) of 162 days for mice developing tumors. Mice were exposed to Cf-252 n + gamma radiation in graded doses of 50, 62.5, 80, 112, and 188 cGy per week repeated 4X. Mice exposed to Cf-252 radiation developed thymic lymphomas on a much delayed time schedule. Mice irradiated at 50-80 cGy Cf-252 were killed after the 60Co induced thymoma mice had died to detect tumors. At Cf-252 doses of 112 or 188 rads 79 or 70% of mice, respectively, developed thymic lymphomas and had similar survival times which gave an estimated leukemogenesis RBEn of approximately 1.0-2.0. These studies show that for Cf-252 n + gamma radiation, compared to 60Co for leukemogenic efficiency, had a much longer latent period, and had a low RBE (1.0-2.0) at the large doses per fraction used in these studies. Under the experimental fractionated conditions tested, Cf-252 neutrons were leukemogenic, but only slightly more so than fractionated 60Co.