Speaker
Simon Busold
(Varian Medical Systems Particle Therapy GmbH)
Description
FLASH radiotherapy is a novel treatment modality, which promises reduced normal tissue toxicity while keeping the same tumor control. This so-called "FLASH effect" can be observed when delivering high doses of radiation in very short time and was demonstrated by Favaudon et al. in 2014 using a 4.5 MeV electron beam to irradiate mouse lungs in vivo. Since then multiple other experiments followed, mainly using electrons, but also with X-rays or proton beams. The creation of "FLASH beams" is technically demanding and in the range of currently clinically available treatment machines only specific particle therapy systems like Varian's ProBeam system might be able to provide these beams.
Author
Simon Busold
(Varian Medical Systems Particle Therapy GmbH)
