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Review
. 2022 May 19;27(2):344-351.
doi: 10.5603/RPOR.a2022.0038. eCollection 2022.

FLASH radiotherapy: an emerging approach in radiation therapy

Natalia Matuszak  1   2 , Wiktoria Maria Suchorska  1   2 , Piotr Milecki  1   3 , Marta Kruszyna-Mochalska  1   4 , Agnieszka Misiarz  5 , Jacek Pracz  6 , Julian Malicki  1   4
Affiliations
Review

FLASH radiotherapy: an emerging approach in radiation therapy

Natalia Matuszak et al. Rep Pract Oncol Radiother. .

Abstract

FLASH radiotherapy (RT) is a technique involving the delivery of ultra-high dose rate radiation to the target. FLASH-RT has been shown to reduce radiation-induced toxicity in healthy tissues without compromising the anti-cancer effects of treatment compared to conventional radiation therapy. In the present article, we review the published data on FLASH-RT and discuss the current state of knowledge of this novel approach. We also highlight the technological constraints and complexity of FLASH-RT and describe the physics underlying this modality, particularly how technology supports energy transfer by ionising radiation (e.g., beam on/off sequence, pulse-energy load, intervals). We emphasise that current preclinical experience is mostly based on FLASH electrons and that clinical application of FLASH-RT is very limited. The incorporation of FLASH-RT into routine clinical radiotherapy will require the development of devices capable of producing FLASH photon beams.

Keywords: FLASH RT; FLASH electrons; FLASH photons; biological effect; dosimetric parameters; ionising radiation; radiotherapy; ultra-high dose rate.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflicts of interest None declared.

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