Treatment of the first participant in a clinical trial of FLASH proton therapy for cancers in the bones of the chest has been completed at the Cincinnati Children’s/University of Cincinnati Medical Center Proton Therapy Center.
FLASH is an investigational mode of radiation therapy delivery that can be administered to a patient in less than 1 second. Research in the laboratory suggests that FLASH may result in fewer side effects than standard forms of radiation delivery, and the clinical trial is testing the feasibility of FLASH to treat people with cancer.
The new study, called FAST-02, marks a significant achievement for the Proton Therapy Center in Cincinnati, which continues to lead the way in global research in the field of FLASH proton therapy.
FAST-02 follows a breakthrough last year in the world’s first clinical trial of FLASH proton therapy in people, the FAST-01 study. That study focused on people with bone metastases in the extremities.
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Now, Cincinnati Children’s researchers are collaborating with University of Cincinnati researchers to establish the efficacy of ultra-high dose rate proton therapy in treating painful bone metastases in the chest. The FAST-02 study is sponsored by Varian, a Siemens Healthineers company.
Ten adults whose metastatic cancer has spread to their chest bones will participate in the research clinical trial of FLASH proton therapy.
In pre-clinical testing, FLASH proton therapy has been shown to potentially reduce side effects of radiation treatment compared to conventional radiation. However, until recently, the technology to deliver FLASH radiation for cancer patients was not available.
“Our dedicated team of researchers, clinicians, and staff are committed to advancing the field of cancer treatment and finding new ways to improve patient outcomes,” said John Breneman, MD, medical director of the Cincinnati Children’s/UC Medical Center Proton Therapy Center, who is principal site investigator for the FAST-02 clinical trial.
The Proton Therapy Center in Cincinnati is a state-of-the-art facility that features cutting-edge technology and equipment, allowing researchers to develop and test new treatments for a wide range of malignancies.
SOURCE: PR Newswire