A groundbreaking new treatment offers a solution for a wider range of cancers, with fewer side effects compared to traditional radiotherapy, and all done in less than a second.
These innovative treatment trials are taking place at CERN, known for developing the Large Hadron Collider, a circular structure of superconducting magnets designed to accelerate particles to almost the speed of light.
Vozenin points out the example of pediatric brain tumors, commonly treated with radiotherapy but often leading to long-lasting effects on survivors. She states, "The survivors are often left with lifelong anxiety and depression, while the impact of the radiation affects brain development, causing significant loss of IQ."
Billy Loo, who heads the Flash sciences lab at Stanford University School of Medicine, explains the challenges faced in treating tumors that intersect with healthy tissue, limiting the dose that can be safely administered.
The research's next phase aims to determine the most effective type of radiation to use. Andre-Dante Durham Faivre, a radiation oncologist, elaborates on the different types of radiation and their respective applications based on tumor depth.
Alexander Lin, a radiation oncology professor, highlights the potential of proton Flash therapy to reduce side effects for patients who cannot undergo surgery or standard radiotherapy due to the risk of severe complications.
Durham Faivre emphasizes that while proton Flash therapy shows promise, its application is limited to specialized centers due to the size of the equipment required.
The aim is to make Flash therapy more widely available to cancer patients worldwide, potentially replacing conventional X-ray machines with X-ray Flash technology in the future.
Durham Faivre expresses optimism that Flash therapy could revolutionize cancer treatment accessibility, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, by reducing the need for multiple treatment sessions and travel.
Experts believe Flash therapy could lead to significant cost savings for high-income countries and greatly improve patients' quality of life due to the reduced need for treatment sessions and hospitalizations.
Constantinos Koumenis, a radiation oncology professor, explains that initial investments in Flash therapy could result in substantial cost savings in the long run, with fewer complications requiring hospitalization.
The focus now is on determining the efficacy of Flash therapy and comparing it to traditional radiotherapy methods.