Low LET radiation damages cells predominantly through the generation of reactive oxygen species, see free radicals.

[1] Another advantage is the established ability of neutrons to better treat some cancers, such as salivary gland, adenoid cystic carcinomas and certain types of brain tumors, especially high-grade gliomas [2] When therapeutic energy X-rays (1 to 25 MeV) interact with cells in human tissue, they do so mainly by Compton interactions, and produce relatively high energy secondary electrons.

[3] By comparison, the charged particles produced at a site of a neutron interaction may deliver their energy at a rate of 30–80 keV/μm.

Because the electrons produced from X-rays have high energy and low LET, when they interact with a cell typically only a few ionizations will occur.

Single strand breaks of DNA molecules can be readily repaired, and so the effect on the target cell is not necessarily lethal.

By contrast, the high LET charged particles produced from neutron irradiation cause many ionizations as they traverse a cell, and so double-strand breaks of the DNA molecule are possible.

A sufficient dose of ionizing radiation, however, delivers so many DNA breaks that it overwhelms the capability of the cellular mechanisms to cope.

The patient ultimately must decide whether the advantages of a possibly lasting cure outweigh the risks of this treatment when faced with an otherwise incurable cancer.

The UW Cyclotron is equipped with a gantry mounted delivery system an MLC to produce shaped fields.

A large, well shielded building is required to cut down on radiation exposure to the general public and to house the necessary equipment.

The advantage of having a beam transport and gantry are that the cyclotron can remain stationary, and the radiation source can be rotated around the patient.

The treatment delivery is planned to deliver the radiation as effectively as possible, and usually results in fields that conform to the shape of the gross target, with any extension to cover microscopic disease.

The deuterons are accelerated using a gantry mounted superconducting cyclotron (GMSCC), eliminating the need for extra beam steering magnets and allowing the neutron source to rotate a full 360° around the patient couch.

The KCC facility is also equipped with an MLC beam shaping device,[34] the only other neutron therapy center in the USA besides the CNTS.