Safe radiotherapy
Scientists have made radiation therapy for cancer safe
Svetlana Maslova, Hi-tech+
The researchers changed the irradiation power and the rate of exposure to affect only the tumor without harming healthy tissues. The effect has already been achieved in the treatment of brain tumors and can be used for other types of cancer.
The new FLASH-RT technology has been developed by scientists from both the USA and Switzerland (see University of California, Irvine press release: Cancer treatment without side effects?). They have improved the traditional method of radiation therapy, which, in addition to attacking malignant cells, also affects healthy tissues.
Article by Montay-Gruel et al. Hypo-fractionated FLASH-RT as an effective treatment against glioblastoma that reduces neurocognitive side effects in mice is published in the journal Clinical Cancer Research – VM.
FLASH-RT radiation therapy allows you to deliver the same dose of radiation as usual, but in just tenths of a second due to high power. This speed eliminates many of the toxic effects of treatment that are always present in patients after radiation exposure.
In experiments on mouse models, the treatment removed brain tumors as effectively as traditional radiation, while significantly reducing the main side effects – inflammation and deterioration of cognitive functions.
Although current experiments have focused on the treatment of brain cancer, the hike can also be used for the treatment of lung, skin, bowel and other cancers. Preliminary testing has been successful for the treatment of fish, mice, pigs, cats and even one person. So far, detailed data on the results have not been provided.
"Probably, this treatment will be universal for most types of cancer. There is no reason to exclude that in 10 years this method will become a widespread therapy option for patients all over the world," says study co–author Charles Limoli.
In his opinion, this is the main event in radiobiology over the past 30-40 years.
Currently, scientists are working on the creation of equipment that will be tested in clinical trials early next year in Europe and the United States.
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