A new, pioneering radiotherapy treatment is showing potential to treat a wide range of cancers with fewer side effects than conventional methods, and in under a second. This breakthrough is being developed through experiments conducted in underground caverns at the European Laboratory for Particle Physics (Cern), known for its Large Hadron Collider. The aim is to create advanced radiotherapy machines that could treat complex brain tumours, cancers that have metastasised, and significantly reduce the toll on patients.
Cern’s particle physics expertise has recently shifted focus towards cancer treatment, following the development of a ground-breaking approach to radiotherapy known as Flash. This technique, developed by Marie-Catherine Vozenin and her colleagues, delivers radiation at ultra-high dose rates in less than a second, destroying tumours in animal studies without harming healthy tissue. Early experiments with Flash have led to international enthusiasm and trials to extend the approach to human patients.
Radiotherapy has long been a standard cancer treatment, but it involves exposure to radiation over minutes, often harming healthy tissues in the process. Flash’s rapid delivery of radiation aims to solve this issue. In animal studies, Flash has shown promising results in treating a variety of tumours, including those in the head, neck, and lungs, without causing typical side effects. Experts believe Flash could offer a safer treatment alternative, particularly for complex or hard-to-treat cancers.
Human trials are underway globally, with early results pointing to potential benefits. Flash’s promise is to increase the radiation dose while minimizing the collateral damage to surrounding healthy tissue, potentially preventing long-term side effects like brain damage in paediatric cancer patients.
The treatment’s ultimate goal is to increase accessibility to radiotherapy, particularly in low-income countries where access to conventional treatments is limited. Flash’s rapid treatment method could help increase the number of patients treated per day, reducing travel and the number of sessions needed. Moreover, Cern is working on developing more compact accelerators to deliver Flash radiotherapy in more hospitals globally, bringing it closer to widespread use.
Researchers remain cautious but hopeful that this technology will not only improve cancer treatment outcomes but also make radiotherapy more accessible, efficient, and cost-effective.
