  Published survival data for V79 cells irradiated by monoenergetic protons,
helium-3, carbon, and oxygen ions and for CHO cells irradiated by carbon ions
have been analyzed using the probabilistic two-stage model of cell
inactivation. Three different classes of DNA damages formed by traversing
particles have been distinguished, namely severe single-track damages which
might lead to cell inactivation directly, less severe damages where cell
inactivation is caused by their combinations, and damages of negligible
severity that can be repaired easily. Probabilities of single ions to form
these damages have been assessed in dependence on their linear energy transfer
(LET) values.
  Damage induction probabilities increase with atomic number and LET. While
combined damages play crucial role at lower LET values, single-track damages
dominate in high-LET regions. The yields of single-track lethal damages for
protons have been compared with the Monte Carlo estimates of complex DNA
lesions, indicating that lethal events correlate well with complex DNA
double-strand breaks. The decrease in the single-track damage probability for
protons of LET above approx. 30 keV/$\mu$m, suggested by limited experimental
evidence, is discussed, together with the consequent differences in the
mechanisms of biological effects between protons and heavier ions. Applications
of the results in hadrontherapy treatment planning are outlined.
