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Grilj V, Leavitt RJ, El Khatib M, Paisley R, Franco-Perez J, Petit B, Ballesteros-Zebadua P, Vozenin MC. In vivo measurements of change in tissue oxygen level during irradiation reveal novel dose rate dependence. Radiother Oncol 2024; 201:110539. [PMID: 39299575 DOI: 10.1016/j.radonc.2024.110539] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2024] [Revised: 09/09/2024] [Accepted: 09/12/2024] [Indexed: 09/22/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE This study aimed to investigate the radiochemical oxygen depletion (ROD) in vivo by directly measuring oxygen levels in various mouse tissues during ultra-high dose rate (UHDR) irradiation at clinically relevant doses and dose rates. MATERIALS AND METHODS Mice bearing subcutaneous human glioblastoma (U-87 MG) tumors were used for tumor and normal tissue (skin, muscle, brain) measurements. An oxygen-sensitive phosphorescent probe (Oxyphor PtG4) was injected into the tissues, and oxygen levels were monitored using a fiberoptic phosphorometer during UHDR irradiation with a 6 MeV electron linear accelerator (LINAC). Dose escalation experiments (10-40 Gy) were performed at a dose rate of 1300 Gy/s, and dose rate escalation experiments were conducted at a fixed dose of 40 Gy with dose rates ranging from 2 to 101 Gy/s. RESULTS Radiation-induced change in tissue oxygenation (ΔpO2) increased linearly with dose and correlated with baseline tissue oxygenation levels in the range of 0 - 30 mmHg. At higher baseline tissue oxygenation levels, such as those observed in muscle and brain, there was no corresponding increase in ΔpO2. When we modulated dose rate, ΔpO2 increased steeply up to ∼ 20 Gy/s and plateaued thereafter. The relationship between ΔpO2 and dose rate showcases the interplay between ROD and reoxygenation. CONCLUSION While UHDR irradiation induces measurable oxygen depletion in tissues, the observed changes in oxygenation levels do not support the hypothesis that ROD-induced radioresistance is responsible for the FLASH tissue-sparing effect at clinically relevant doses and dose rates. These findings highlight the need for further investigation into alternative mechanisms underlying the FLASH effect.
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Affiliation(s)
- Veljko Grilj
- Institute of Radiation Physics, University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland; Radiation Oncology Laboratory, Department of Radiation Oncology, Lausanne, University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.
| | - Ron J Leavitt
- Radiation Oncology Laboratory, Department of Radiation Oncology, Lausanne, University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Mirna El Khatib
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States; Department of Chemistry, School of Arts and Sciences, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Ryan Paisley
- Institute of Radiation Physics, University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Javier Franco-Perez
- Radiation Oncology Laboratory, Department of Radiation Oncology, Lausanne, University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland; Instituto Nacional de Neurología y Neurocirugía Manuel Velasco Suarez, Mexico City, Mexico; LiRR- Laboratory of Innovation in Radiobiology Applied to Radiotherapy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Benoit Petit
- Radiation Oncology Laboratory, Department of Radiation Oncology, Lausanne, University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland; Radiotherapy and Radiobiology Sector, Radiation Therapy Service, University Hospital of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland; LiRR- Laboratory of Innovation in Radiobiology Applied to Radiotherapy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Paola Ballesteros-Zebadua
- Radiation Oncology Laboratory, Department of Radiation Oncology, Lausanne, University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland; Instituto Nacional de Neurología y Neurocirugía Manuel Velasco Suarez, Mexico City, Mexico; LiRR- Laboratory of Innovation in Radiobiology Applied to Radiotherapy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Marie-Catherine Vozenin
- Radiation Oncology Laboratory, Department of Radiation Oncology, Lausanne, University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland; Radiotherapy and Radiobiology Sector, Radiation Therapy Service, University Hospital of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland; LiRR- Laboratory of Innovation in Radiobiology Applied to Radiotherapy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
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Zhang J, Wu X, Qi P, Wang J. Prediction of the treatment effect of FLASH radiotherapy with synchrotron radiation from the Circular Electron-Positron Collider (CEPC). JOURNAL OF SYNCHROTRON RADIATION 2024; 31:1189-1196. [PMID: 39172092 PMCID: PMC11371022 DOI: 10.1107/s1600577524006878] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2024] [Accepted: 07/13/2024] [Indexed: 08/23/2024]
Abstract
The Circular Electron-Positron Collider (CEPC) in China can also work as an excellent powerful synchrotron light source, which can generate high-quality synchrotron radiation. This synchrotron radiation has potential advantages in the medical field as it has a broad spectrum, with energies ranging from visible light to X-rays used in conventional radiotherapy, up to several megaelectronvolts. FLASH radiotherapy is one of the most advanced radiotherapy modalities. It is a radiotherapy method that uses ultra-high dose rate irradiation to achieve the treatment dose in an instant; the ultra-high dose rate used is generally greater than 40 Gy s-1, and this type of radiotherapy can protect normal tissues well. In this paper, the treatment effect of CEPC synchrotron radiation for FLASH radiotherapy was evaluated by simulation. First, a Geant4 simulation was used to build a synchrotron radiation radiotherapy beamline station, and then the dose rate that the CEPC can produce was calculated. A physicochemical model of radiotherapy response kinetics was then established, and a large number of radiotherapy experimental data were comprehensively used to fit and determine the functional relationship between the treatment effect, dose rate and dose. Finally, the macroscopic treatment effect of FLASH radiotherapy was predicted using CEPC synchrotron radiation through the dose rate and the above-mentioned functional relationship. The results show that the synchrotron radiation beam from the CEPC is one of the best beams for FLASH radiotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junyu Zhang
- Institute for Advanced StudiesWuhan UniversityWuhanChina
| | - Xiangyu Wu
- Institute for Advanced StudiesWuhan UniversityWuhanChina
| | - Pengyuan Qi
- Cancer Center, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical CollegeHuazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhanChina
| | - Jike Wang
- Institute for Advanced StudiesWuhan UniversityWuhanChina
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Taylor E, Létourneau D. How quickly does FLASH need to be delivered? A theoretical study of radiolytic oxygen depletion kinetics in tissues. Phys Med Biol 2024; 69:115008. [PMID: 38608644 DOI: 10.1088/1361-6560/ad3e5e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2023] [Accepted: 04/12/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024]
Abstract
Purpose. Radiation delivered over ultra-short timescales ('FLASH' radiotherapy) leads to a reduction in normal tissue toxicities for a range of tissues in the preclinical setting. Experiments have shown this reduction occurs for total delivery times less than a 'critical' time that varies by two orders of magnitude between brain (∼0.3 s) and skin (⪆10 s), and three orders of magnitude across different bowel experiments, from ∼0.01 to ⪆(1-10) s. Understanding the factors responsible for this broad variation may be important for translation of FLASH into the clinic and understanding the mechanisms behind FLASH.Methods.Assuming radiolytic oxygen depletion (ROD) to be the primary driver of FLASH effects, oxygen diffusion, consumption, and ROD were evaluated numerically for simulated tissues with pseudorandom vasculatures for a range of radiation delivery times, capillary densities, and oxygen consumption rates (OCR's). The resulting time-dependent oxygen partial pressure distribution histograms were used to estimate cell survival in these tissues using the linear quadratic model, modified to incorporate oxygen-enhancement ratio effects.Results. Independent of the capillary density, there was a substantial increase in predicted cell survival when the total delivery time was less than the capillary oxygen tension (mmHg) divided by the OCR (expressed in units of mmHg/s), setting the critical delivery time for FLASH in simulated tissues. Using literature OCR values for different normal tissues, the predicted range of critical delivery times agreed well with experimental values for skin and brain and, modifying our model to allow for fluctuating perfusion, bowel.Conclusions. The broad three-orders-of-magnitude variation in critical irradiation delivery times observed inin vivopreclinical experiments can be accounted for by the ROD hypothesis and differences in the OCR amongst simulated normal tissues. Characterization of these may help guide future experiments and open the door to optimized tissue-specific clinical protocols.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edward Taylor
- Radiation Medicine Program, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Daniel Létourneau
- Radiation Medicine Program, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
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Tang R, Yin J, Liu Y, Xue J. FLASH radiotherapy: A new milestone in the field of cancer radiotherapy. Cancer Lett 2024; 587:216651. [PMID: 38342233 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2024.216651] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2023] [Revised: 11/03/2023] [Accepted: 01/13/2024] [Indexed: 02/13/2024]
Abstract
Radiotherapy plays a pivotal role in the control and eradication of tumors, but it can also induce radiation injury to surrounding normal tissues while targeting tumor cells. In recent years, FLASH-Radiotherapy (FLASH-RT) has emerged as a cutting-edge research focus in the field of radiation therapy. By delivering high radiation doses to the treatment target in an ultra-short time, FLASH-RT produces the FLASH effect, which reduces the toxicity to normal tissues while achieving comparable tumor control efficacy to conventional radiotherapy. This review provides a brief overview of the development history of FLASH-RT and its impact on tumor control. Additionally, it focuses on introducing the protective effects and molecular mechanisms of this technology on various normal tissues, as well as exploring its synergistic effects when combined with other tumor therapies. Importantly, this review discusses the challenges faced in translating FLASH-RT into clinical practice and outlines its promising future applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rui Tang
- Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, 610072, Sichuan, China; Division of Thoracic Tumor Multimodality Treatment, Cancer Center, The National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, China
| | - Jianqiong Yin
- Division of Thoracic Tumor Multimodality Treatment, Cancer Center, The National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, China
| | - Yuanxin Liu
- Division of Thoracic Tumor Multimodality Treatment, Cancer Center, The National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, China
| | - Jianxin Xue
- Division of Thoracic Tumor Multimodality Treatment, Cancer Center, The National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, China; Department of Radiation Oncology, Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, China; Laboratory of Clinical Cell Therapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, China; Disaster Medical Center, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, China.
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Oesterle R, Bailat C, Buhlmann D, Bochud F, Grilj V. Construction and dosimetric characterization of a motorized scanning-slit system for electron FLASH experiments. Med Phys 2024; 51:1396-1404. [PMID: 37439505 PMCID: PMC10787038 DOI: 10.1002/mp.16610] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2023] [Revised: 06/18/2023] [Accepted: 06/21/2023] [Indexed: 07/14/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Beam scanning is a useful technique for the treatment of large tumors when the primary beam size is limited, which is the case with radiation beams used in FLASH radiotherapy. PURPOSE To optimize beam scanning as a dose delivery method for FLASH radiotherapy, it is necessary to first understand the effects of beam scanning on the FLASH effect. To do so, biological FLASH experiments need to be done using defined beam parameters with beam scanning and compared to the situation without beam scanning. In this regard, we propose implementation of a simple slit scanning system with an electron FLASH beam to obtain a scanned radiation field that closely resembles a static field. METHODS A pulsed electron linear accelerator (linac) was used in combination with a scanning slit system in order to simulate a scanned electron beam. Three configurations that produced homogeneous lateral profiles and high enough doses per pulse for FLASH experiments were established. The optimal scanning parameters were found for each configuration by examining the flatness of the obtained lateral dose profiles. Using the optimal scanning parameters, the scanned FLASH beams were dosimetrically characterized and compared to non-scanned open field beam. RESULTS A final electron FLASH beam scanning configuration was found for a 1 mm wide slit at a distance of 350 mm from the linac and a 2 mm wide slit at distances of 350 and 490 mm from the linac. The lateral profiles for these final configurations were found to have a homogeneity that is comparable to the open field profiles. The percentage depth dose (PDD) values found for these final configurations closely matched (by a few percentage) the PDD of the open field beam. CONCLUSIONS Three electron FLASH beam scanning configurations achieved by the motorized slit system were found to produce radiation fields similar to a non-scanned open field electron beam. These final configurations can therefore be used in future biological FLASH experiments to compare to non-scanned beam experiments in order to optimize beam scanning as a technique permitting the treatment of larger tumors with FLASH radiotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roxane Oesterle
- Institute of Radiation Physics, Lausanne University Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Claude Bailat
- Institute of Radiation Physics, Lausanne University Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Damien Buhlmann
- Institute of Radiation Physics, Lausanne University Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Francois Bochud
- Institute of Radiation Physics, Lausanne University Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Veljko Grilj
- Institute of Radiation Physics, Lausanne University Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland
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Zhu H, Schuemann J, Zhang Q, Gerweck LE. Modeling the impact of tissue oxygen profiles and oxygen depletion parameter uncertainties on biological response and therapeutic benefit of FLASH. Med Phys 2024; 51:670-681. [PMID: 36939370 PMCID: PMC10509320 DOI: 10.1002/mp.16366] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2022] [Revised: 02/22/2023] [Accepted: 03/06/2023] [Indexed: 03/21/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Ultra-high dose rate (FLASH) radiation has been reported to efficiently suppress tumor growth while sparing normal tissue; however, the mechanism of the differential tissue sparing effect is still not known. Oxygen has long been known to profoundly impact radiobiological responses, and radiolytic oxygen depletion has been considered to be a possible cause or contributor to the FLASH phenomenon. PURPOSE This work investigates the impact of tissue pO2 profiles, oxygen depletion per unit dose (g), and the oxygen concentration yielding half-maximum radiosensitization (the average of its maximum value and one) (k) in tumor and normal tissue. METHODS We developed a model that considers the dependent relationship between oxygen depletion and change of radiosensitivity by FLASH irradiation. The model assumed that FLASH irradiation depletes intracellular oxygen more rapidly than it diffuses into the cell from the extracellular environment. Cell survival was calculated based on the linear quadratic-linear model and the radiosensitivity related parameters were adjusted in 1 Gy increments of the administered dose. The model reproduced published experimental data that were obtained with different cell lines and oxygen concentrations, and was used to analyze the impact of parameter uncertainties on the radiobiological responses. This study expands the oxygen depletion analysis of FLASH to normal human tissue and tumor based on clinically determined aggregate and individual patient pO2 profiles. RESULTS The results show that the pO2 profile is the most essential factor that affects biological response and analyses based on the median pO2 rather than the full pO2 profile can be unreliable and misleading. Additionally, the presence of a small fraction of cells on the threshold of radiobiologic hypoxia substantially alters biological response due to FLASH oxygen depletion. We found that an increment in the k value is generally more protective of tumor than normal tissue due to a higher frequency of lower pO2 values in tumors. Variation in the g value affects the dose at which oxygen depletion impacts response, but does not alter the dose-dependent response trends, if the g value is identical in both tumor and normal tissue. CONCLUSIONS The therapeutic efficacy of FLASH oxygen depletion is likely patient and tissue-dependent. For breast cancer, FLASH is beneficial in a minority of cases; however, in a subset of well oxygenated tumors, a therapeutic gain may be realized due to induced normal tissue hypoxia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongyu Zhu
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangzhou 510060, China
| | - Jan Schuemann
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, United States of America
| | - Qixian Zhang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Leo E Gerweck
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, United States of America
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Barghouth PG, Melemenidis S, Montay-Gruel P, Ollivier J, Viswanathan V, Jorge PG, Soto LA, Lau BC, Sadeghi C, Edlabadkar A, Zhang R, Ru N, Baulch JE, Manjappa R, Wang J, Le Bouteiller M, Surucu M, Yu A, Bush K, Skinner L, Maxim PG, Loo BW, Limoli CL, Vozenin MC, Frock RL. FLASH-RT does not affect chromosome translocations and junction structures beyond that of CONV-RT dose-rates. Radiother Oncol 2023; 188:109906. [PMID: 37690668 PMCID: PMC10591966 DOI: 10.1016/j.radonc.2023.109906] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2023] [Revised: 09/01/2023] [Accepted: 09/04/2023] [Indexed: 09/12/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The impact of radiotherapy (RT) at ultra high vs conventional dose rate (FLASH vs CONV) on the generation and repair of DNA double strand breaks (DSBs) is an important question that remains to be investigated. Here, we tested the hypothesis as to whether FLASH-RT generates decreased chromosomal translocations compared to CONV-RT. MATERIALS AND METHODS We used two FLASH validated electron beams and high-throughput rejoin and genome-wide translocation sequencing (HTGTS-JoinT-seq), employing S. aureus and S. pyogenes Cas9 "bait" DNA double strand breaks (DSBs) in HEK239T cells, to measure differences in bait-proximal repair and their genome-wide translocations to "prey" DSBs generated after various irradiation doses, dose rates and oxygen tensions (normoxic, 21% O2; physiological, 4% O2; hypoxic, 2% and 0.5% O2). Electron irradiation was delivered using a FLASH capable Varian Trilogy and the eRT6/Oriatron at CONV (0.08-0.13 Gy/s) and FLASH (1x102-5x106 Gy/s) dose rates. Related experiments using clonogenic survival and γH2AX foci in the 293T and the U87 glioblastoma lines were also performed to discern FLASH-RT vs CONV-RT DSB effects. RESULTS Normoxic and physioxic irradiation of HEK293T cells increased translocations at the cost of decreasing bait-proximal repair but were indistinguishable between CONV-RT and FLASH-RT. Although no apparent increase in chromosome translocations was observed with hypoxia-induced apoptosis, the combined decrease in oxygen tension with IR dose-rate modulation did not reveal significant differences in the level of translocations nor in their junction structures. Furthermore, RT dose rate modality on U87 cells did not change γH2AX foci numbers at 1- and 24-hours post-irradiation nor did this affect 293T clonogenic survival. CONCLUSION Irrespective of oxygen tension, FLASH-RT produces translocations and junction structures at levels and proportions that are indistinguishable from CONV-RT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul G Barghouth
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Stavros Melemenidis
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Pierre Montay-Gruel
- Laboratory of Radiation Oncology, Department of Radiation Oncology, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Switzerland; Department of Radiation Oncology, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697-2695, USA
| | - Jonathan Ollivier
- Laboratory of Radiation Oncology, Department of Radiation Oncology, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Vignesh Viswanathan
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Patrik G Jorge
- Institute of Radiation Physics/CHUV, Lausanne University Hospital, Switzerland
| | - Luis A Soto
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Brianna C Lau
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Cheyenne Sadeghi
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Anushka Edlabadkar
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Richard Zhang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697-2695, USA
| | - Ning Ru
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697-2695, USA
| | - Janet E Baulch
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697-2695, USA
| | - Rakesh Manjappa
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Jinghui Wang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Marie Le Bouteiller
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Murat Surucu
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Amy Yu
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Karl Bush
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Lawrie Skinner
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Peter G Maxim
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697-2695, USA
| | - Billy W Loo
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Charles L Limoli
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697-2695, USA
| | - Marie-Catherine Vozenin
- Laboratory of Radiation Oncology, Department of Radiation Oncology, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Richard L Frock
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.
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Zou W, Zhang R, Schüler E, Taylor PA, Mascia AE, Diffenderfer ES, Zhao T, Ayan AS, Sharma M, Yu SJ, Lu W, Bosch WR, Tsien C, Surucu M, Pollard-Larkin JM, Schuemann J, Moros EG, Bazalova-Carter M, Gladstone DJ, Li H, Simone CB, Petersson K, Kry SF, Maity A, Loo BW, Dong L, Maxim PG, Xiao Y, Buchsbaum JC. Framework for Quality Assurance of Ultrahigh Dose Rate Clinical Trials Investigating FLASH Effects and Current Technology Gaps. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 2023; 116:1202-1217. [PMID: 37121362 PMCID: PMC10526970 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2023.04.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2023] [Revised: 03/28/2023] [Accepted: 04/17/2023] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
FLASH radiation therapy (FLASH-RT), delivered with ultrahigh dose rate (UHDR), may allow patients to be treated with less normal tissue toxicity for a given tumor dose compared with currently used conventional dose rate. Clinical trials are being carried out and are needed to test whether this improved therapeutic ratio can be achieved clinically. During the clinical trials, quality assurance and credentialing of equipment and participating sites, particularly pertaining to UHDR-specific aspects, will be crucial for the validity of the outcomes of such trials. This report represents an initial framework proposed by the NRG Oncology Center for Innovation in Radiation Oncology FLASH working group on quality assurance of potential UHDR clinical trials and reviews current technology gaps to overcome. An important but separate consideration is the appropriate design of trials to most effectively answer clinical and scientific questions about FLASH. This paper begins with an overview of UHDR RT delivery methods. UHDR beam delivery parameters are then covered, with a focus on electron and proton modalities. The definition and control of safe UHDR beam delivery and current and needed dosimetry technologies are reviewed and discussed. System and site credentialing for large, multi-institution trials are reviewed. Quality assurance is then discussed, and new requirements are presented for treatment system standard analysis, patient positioning, and treatment planning. The tables and figures in this paper are meant to serve as reference points as we move toward FLASH-RT clinical trial performance. Some major questions regarding FLASH-RT are discussed, and next steps in this field are proposed. FLASH-RT has potential but is associated with significant risks and complexities. We need to redefine optimization to focus not only on the dose but also on the dose rate in a manner that is robust and understandable and that can be prescribed, validated, and confirmed in real time. Robust patient safety systems and access to treatment data will be critical as FLASH-RT moves into the clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Zou
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
| | - Rongxiao Zhang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Geisel School of Medicine, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH, USA
| | - Emil Schüler
- Department of Radiation Physics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Paige A Taylor
- Department of Radiation Physics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | | | - Eric S Diffenderfer
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Tianyu Zhao
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Washington University, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Ahmet S Ayan
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Manju Sharma
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Shu-Jung Yu
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Weiguo Lu
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Texas Southwestern, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Walter R Bosch
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Washington University, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Christina Tsien
- Department of Radiation Oncology, McGill University Health Center, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Murat Surucu
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Julianne M Pollard-Larkin
- Department of Radiation Physics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Jan Schuemann
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Eduardo G Moros
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL, USA
| | | | - David J Gladstone
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Geisel School of Medicine, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH, USA
| | - Heng Li
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Charles B Simone
- Department of Radiation Oncology, New York Proton Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Kristoffer Petersson
- Department of Radiation Oncology, MRC Oxford Institute for Radiation Oncology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Stephen F Kry
- Department of Radiation Physics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Amit Maity
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Billy W Loo
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Lei Dong
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Peter G Maxim
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Ying Xiao
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Jeffrey C Buchsbaum
- Radiation Research Program, Division of Cancer Treatment and Diagnosis, National Cancer Institute, National Institute of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
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Cooper CR, Jones DJL, Jones GDD, Petersson K. Comet Assay Profiling of FLASH-Induced Damage: Mechanistic Insights into the Effects of FLASH Irradiation. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:7195. [PMID: 37108360 PMCID: PMC10138874 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24087195] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2023] [Revised: 04/06/2023] [Accepted: 04/10/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Numerous studies have demonstrated the normal tissue-sparing effects of ultra-high dose rate 'FLASH' irradiation in vivo, with an associated reduction in damage burden being reported in vitro. Towards this, two key radiochemical mechanisms have been proposed: radical-radical recombination (RRR) and transient oxygen depletion (TOD), with both being proposed to lead to reduced levels of induced damage. Previously, we reported that FLASH induces lower levels of DNA strand break damage in whole-blood peripheral blood lymphocytes (WB-PBL) ex vivo, but our study failed to distinguish the mechanism(s) involved. A potential outcome of RRR is the formation of crosslink damage (particularly, if any organic radicals recombine), whilst a possible outcome of TOD is a more anoxic profile of induced damage resulting from FLASH. Therefore, the aim of the current study was to profile FLASH-induced damage via the Comet assay, assessing any DNA crosslink formation as a putative marker of RRR and/or anoxic DNA damage formation as an indicative marker of TOD, to determine the extent to which either mechanism contributes to the "FLASH effect". Following FLASH irradiation, we see no evidence of any crosslink formation; however, FLASH irradiation induces a more anoxic profile of induced damage, supporting the TOD mechanism. Furthermore, treatment of WB-PBLs pre-irradiation with BSO abrogates the reduced strand break damage burden mediated by FLASH exposures. In summary, we do not see any experimental evidence to support the RRR mechanism contributing to the reduced damage burden induced by FLASH. However, the observation of a greater anoxic profile of damage following FLASH irradiation, together with the BSO abrogation of the reduced strand break damage burden mediated by FLASH, lends further support to TOD being a driver of the reduced damage burden plus a change in the damage profile mediated by FLASH.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian R. Cooper
- Leicester Cancer Research Centre, University of Leicester, Robert Kilpatrick Clinical Sciences Building, Leicester Royal Infirmary, Leicester LE2 7LX, UK; (D.J.L.J.); (G.D.D.J.)
- MRC Oxford Institute for Radiation Oncology, University of Oxford, Old Road Campus Research Building, Oxford OX3 7DQ, UK
| | - Donald J. L. Jones
- Leicester Cancer Research Centre, University of Leicester, Robert Kilpatrick Clinical Sciences Building, Leicester Royal Infirmary, Leicester LE2 7LX, UK; (D.J.L.J.); (G.D.D.J.)
| | - George D. D. Jones
- Leicester Cancer Research Centre, University of Leicester, Robert Kilpatrick Clinical Sciences Building, Leicester Royal Infirmary, Leicester LE2 7LX, UK; (D.J.L.J.); (G.D.D.J.)
| | - Kristoffer Petersson
- MRC Oxford Institute for Radiation Oncology, University of Oxford, Old Road Campus Research Building, Oxford OX3 7DQ, UK
- Department of Haematology, Oncology and Radiation Physics, Skåne University Hospital Lund University, 221 85 Lund, Sweden
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10
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Dai Y, Liang R, Wang J, Zhang J, Wu D, Zhao R, Liu Z, Chen F. Fractionated FLASH radiation in xenografted lung tumors induced FLASH effect at a split dose of 2 Gy. Int J Radiat Biol 2023; 99:1542-1549. [PMID: 36952604 DOI: 10.1080/09553002.2023.2194403] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2022] [Accepted: 03/16/2023] [Indexed: 03/25/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE To explore the minimum split dose of FLASH radiotherapy (FLASH). MATERIAL AND METHODS Lungs of nude mice were used to verify the capacity of normal tissue sparing of FLASH, while tumor-bearing nude mice were used to evaluate the curative power. Xenografted tumor models were established in Balb/c-nu mice using A549 cells at a concentration of 5 × 10 6 / 100 μ L . With the same total dose (20 Gy), the dose rate of FLASH was 200 Gy/s when conventional radiotherapy(CONV) was 0.033 Gy/s. Two schemes of FLASH irradiations were applied: single pulse (FLASH1) and ten pulses (FLASH10). Then, according to the different tissue types and irradiation schemes, mice were divided into eight groups: Control-T, CONV-T, FLASH1-T, FLASH10-T (T for tumor) and Control-L, CONV-L, FLASH1-L, FLASH10-L (L for lung). Evaluation of FLASH effect was based on the changes in tumor volume and pathological analysis of tumor and lung tissues before and after irradiation. RESULTS Compared to control group, the mean volume of tumors in nude mice increased slowly or decreased after irradiation with both FLASH and CONV (Control-T: 233.6± 55.19 mm3, CONV-T: 146.1± 50.62 mm3, FLASH1-T: 148± 18.83 mm3, FLASH10-T: 119.1± 50.62 mm3, p ≤ . 05) . Tumor cells of irradiated groups had similar degrees of dissolution damage and inflammation, while the acute radiation pneumonia induced by FLASH was less severe. The pulmonary pathology of FLASH1-L and FLASH10-L were similar, and only a few neutrophils were observed. In addition to inflammatory cells, slight thickening of alveolar septum and obvious interstitial hemorrhage were also observed in the CONV-L group. CONCLUSION The FLASH effect was successfully reproduced in both single and fractionated irradiation, with 2 Gy being the minimum split dose to achieve the FLASH effect in existing experiments. It is suggested that the transient oxygen depletion might not be the only mechanism behind the FLASH effect.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuling Dai
- Nuclear and Radiation Frontier Technology Research Center, China Institute for Radiation Protection, Taiyuan, China
- Shanxi Provincial Key Laboratory for Translational Nuclear Medicine and Precision Protection, Taiyuan, China
| | - Runcheng Liang
- Nuclear and Radiation Frontier Technology Research Center, China Institute for Radiation Protection, Taiyuan, China
- Shanxi Provincial Key Laboratory for Translational Nuclear Medicine and Precision Protection, Taiyuan, China
| | - Jianxin Wang
- Institute of Applied Electronics, China Academy of Engineering Physics, Mianyang, China
| | - Jing Zhang
- Nuclear and Radiation Frontier Technology Research Center, China Institute for Radiation Protection, Taiyuan, China
- Shanxi Provincial Key Laboratory for Translational Nuclear Medicine and Precision Protection, Taiyuan, China
| | - Dai Wu
- Institute of Applied Electronics, China Academy of Engineering Physics, Mianyang, China
| | - Ri Zhao
- Nuclear and Radiation Frontier Technology Research Center, China Institute for Radiation Protection, Taiyuan, China
- Shanxi Provincial Key Laboratory for Translational Nuclear Medicine and Precision Protection, Taiyuan, China
| | - Zhaoxing Liu
- Nuclear and Radiation Frontier Technology Research Center, China Institute for Radiation Protection, Taiyuan, China
- Shanxi Provincial Key Laboratory for Translational Nuclear Medicine and Precision Protection, Taiyuan, China
| | - Faguo Chen
- Nuclear and Radiation Frontier Technology Research Center, China Institute for Radiation Protection, Taiyuan, China
- Shanxi Provincial Key Laboratory for Translational Nuclear Medicine and Precision Protection, Taiyuan, China
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11
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Barghouth PG, Melemenidis S, Montay-Gruel P, Ollivier J, Viswanathan V, Jorge PG, Soto LA, Lau BC, Sadeghi C, Edlabadkar A, Manjappa R, Wang J, Le Bouteiller M, Surucu M, Yu A, Bush K, Skinner L, Maxim PG, Loo BW, Limoli CL, Vozenin MC, Frock RL. FLASH-RT does not affect chromosome translocations and junction structures beyond that of CONV-RT dose-rates. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.03.27.534408. [PMID: 37034651 PMCID: PMC10081175 DOI: 10.1101/2023.03.27.534408] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
The molecular and cellular mechanisms driving the enhanced therapeutic ratio of ultra-high dose-rate radiotherapy (FLASH-RT) over slower conventional (CONV-RT) radiotherapy dose-rate remain to be elucidated. However, attenuated DNA damage and transient oxygen depletion are among several proposed models. Here, we tested whether FLASH-RT under physioxic (4% O 2 ) and hypoxic conditions (≤2% O 2 ) reduces genome-wide translocations relative to CONV-RT and whether any differences identified revert under normoxic (21% O 2 ) conditions. We employed high-throughput rejoin and genome-wide translocation sequencing ( HTGTS-JoinT-seq ), using S. aureus and S. pyogenes Cas9 "bait" DNA double strand breaks (DSBs), to measure differences in bait-proximal repair and their genome-wide translocations to "prey" DSBs generated by electron beam CONV-RT (0.08-0.13Gy/s) and FLASH-RT (1×10 2 -5×10 6 Gy/s), under varying ionizing radiation (IR) doses and oxygen tensions. Normoxic and physioxic irradiation of HEK293T cells increased translocations at the cost of decreasing bait-proximal repair but were indistinguishable between CONV-RT and FLASH-RT. Although no apparent increase in chromosome translocations was observed with hypoxia-induced apoptosis, the combined decrease in oxygen tension with IR dose-rate modulation did not reveal significant differences in the level of translocations nor in their junction structures. Thus, Irrespective of oxygen tension, FLASH-RT produces translocations and junction structures at levels and proportions that are indistinguishable from CONV-RT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul G. Barghouth
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Stavros Melemenidis
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Pierre Montay-Gruel
- Laboratory of Radiation Oncology, Department of Radiation Oncology. Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Switzerland
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697-2695, USA
| | - Jonathan Ollivier
- Laboratory of Radiation Oncology, Department of Radiation Oncology. Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Vignesh Viswanathan
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Patrik G. Jorge
- Institute of Radiation Physics/CHUV, Lausanne University Hospital, Switzerland
| | - Luis A. Soto
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Brianna C. Lau
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Cheyenne Sadeghi
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Anushka Edlabadkar
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Rakesh Manjappa
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Jinghui Wang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Marie Le Bouteiller
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Murat Surucu
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Amy Yu
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Karl Bush
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Lawrie Skinner
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Peter G. Maxim
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697-2695, USA
| | - Billy W. Loo
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Charles L. Limoli
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697-2695, USA
| | - Marie-Catherine Vozenin
- Laboratory of Radiation Oncology, Department of Radiation Oncology. Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Richard L. Frock
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
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12
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Zou W, Kim H, Diffenderfer ES, Carlson DJ, Koch CJ, Xiao Y, Teo BK, Kim MM, Metz JM, Fan Y, Maity A, Koumenis C, Busch TM, Wiersma R, Cengel KA, Dong L. A phenomenological model of proton FLASH oxygen depletion effects depending on tissue vasculature and oxygen supply. Front Oncol 2022; 12:1004121. [PMID: 36518319 PMCID: PMC9742361 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.1004121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2022] [Accepted: 10/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction Radiation-induced oxygen depletion in tissue is assumed as a contributor to the FLASH sparing effects. In this study, we simulated the heterogeneous oxygen depletion in the tissue surrounding the vessels and calculated the proton FLASH effective-dose-modifying factor (FEDMF), which could be used for biology-based treatment planning. Methods The dose and dose-weighted linear energy transfer (LET) of a small animal proton irradiator was simulated with Monte Carlo simulation. We deployed a parabolic partial differential equation to account for the generalized radiation oxygen depletion, tissue oxygen diffusion, and metabolic processes to investigate oxygen distribution in 1D, 2D, and 3D solution space. Dose and dose rates, particle LET, vasculature spacing, and blood oxygen supplies were considered. Using a similar framework for the hypoxic reduction factor (HRF) developed previously, the FEDMF was derived as the ratio of the cumulative normoxic-equivalent dose (CNED) between CONV and UHDR deliveries. Results Dynamic equilibrium between oxygen diffusion and tissue metabolism can result in tissue hypoxia. The hypoxic region displayed enhanced radio-resistance and resulted in lower CNED under UHDR deliveries. In 1D solution, comparing 15 Gy proton dose delivered at CONV 0.5 and UHDR 125 Gy/s, 61.5% of the tissue exhibited ≥20% FEDMF at 175 μm vasculature spacing and 18.9 μM boundary condition. This percentage reduced to 34.5% and 0% for 8 and 2 Gy deliveries, respectively. Similar trends were observed in the 3D solution space. The FLASH versus CONV differential effect remained at larger vasculature spacings. A higher FLASH dose rate showed an increased region with ≥20% FEDMF. A higher LET near the proton Bragg peak region did not appear to alter the FLASH effect. Conclusion We developed 1D, 2D, and 3D oxygen depletion simulation process to obtain the dynamic HRF and derive the proton FEDMF related to the dose delivery parameters and the local tissue vasculature information. The phenomenological model can be used to simulate or predict FLASH effects based on tissue vasculature and oxygen concentration data obtained from other experiments.
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13
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Ha B, Liang K, Liu C, Melemenidis S, Manjappa R, Viswanathan V, Das N, Ashraf R, Lau B, Soto L, Graves EE, Rao J, Loo BW, Pratx G. Real-time optical oximetry during FLASH radiotherapy using a phosphorescent nanoprobe. Radiother Oncol 2022; 176:239-243. [PMID: 35964762 PMCID: PMC11277691 DOI: 10.1016/j.radonc.2022.08.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2022] [Revised: 08/04/2022] [Accepted: 08/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The rapid depletion of oxygen during irradiation at ultra-high dose rate calls for tissue oximeters capable of high temporal resolution. This study demonstrates a water-soluble phosphorescent nanoprobe and fiber-coupled instrument, which together are used to measure the kinetics of oxygen depletion at 200 Hz during irradiation of in vitro solutions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Byunghang Ha
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Department of Radiation Oncology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Kaitlyn Liang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Department of Applied Physics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Cheng Liu
- Molecular Imaging Program at Stanford, Departments of Radiology and Chemistry, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Stavros Melemenidis
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Rakesh Manjappa
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Vignesh Viswanathan
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Neeladrisingha Das
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Ramish Ashraf
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Brianna Lau
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Luis Soto
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Edward E Graves
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Jianghong Rao
- Molecular Imaging Program at Stanford, Departments of Radiology and Chemistry, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Billy W Loo
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Guillem Pratx
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.
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14
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Vozenin MC, Bourhis J, Durante M. Towards clinical translation of FLASH radiotherapy. Nat Rev Clin Oncol 2022; 19:791-803. [DOI: 10.1038/s41571-022-00697-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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15
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Potential Molecular Mechanisms behind the Ultra-High Dose Rate "FLASH" Effect. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232012109. [PMID: 36292961 PMCID: PMC9602825 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232012109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2022] [Revised: 09/26/2022] [Accepted: 10/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
FLASH radiotherapy, or the delivery of a dose at an ultra-high dose rate (>40 Gy/s), has recently emerged as a promising tool to enhance the therapeutic index in cancer treatment. The remarkable sparing of normal tissues and equivalent tumor control by FLASH irradiation compared to conventional dose rate irradiation—the FLASH effect—has already been demonstrated in several preclinical models and even in a first patient with T-cell cutaneous lymphoma. However, the biological mechanisms responsible for the differential effect produced by FLASH irradiation in normal and cancer cells remain to be elucidated. This is of great importance because a good understanding of the underlying radiobiological mechanisms and characterization of the specific beam parameters is required for a successful clinical translation of FLASH radiotherapy. In this review, we summarize the FLASH investigations performed so far and critically evaluate the current hypotheses explaining the FLASH effect, including oxygen depletion, the production of reactive oxygen species, and an altered immune response. We also propose a new theory that assumes an important role of mitochondria in mediating the normal tissue and tumor response to FLASH dose rates.
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16
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Schneider T, Fernandez-Palomo C, Bertho A, Fazzari J, Iturri L, Martin OA, Trappetti V, Djonov V, Prezado Y. Combining FLASH and spatially fractionated radiation therapy: The best of both worlds. Radiother Oncol 2022; 175:169-177. [PMID: 35952978 DOI: 10.1016/j.radonc.2022.08.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2022] [Revised: 07/23/2022] [Accepted: 08/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
FLASH radiotherapy (FLASH-RT) and spatially fractionated radiation therapy (SFRT) are two new therapeutical strategies that use non-standard dose delivery methods to reduce normal tissue toxicity and increase the therapeutic index. Although likely based on different mechanisms, both FLASH-RT and SFRT have shown to elicit radiobiological effects that significantly differ from those induced by conventional radiotherapy. With the therapeutic potential having been established separately for each technique, the combination of FLASH-RT and SFRT could therefore represent a winning alliance. In this review, we discuss the state of the art, advantages and current limitations, potential synergies, and where a combination of these two techniques could be implemented today or in the near future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tim Schneider
- Institut Curie, Université PSL, CNRS UMR3347, Inserm U1021, Signalisation Radiobiologie et Cancer, 91400 Orsay, France; Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS UMR3347, Inserm U1021, Signalisation Radiobiologie et Cancer, 91400 Orsay, France
| | | | - Annaïg Bertho
- Institut Curie, Université PSL, CNRS UMR3347, Inserm U1021, Signalisation Radiobiologie et Cancer, 91400 Orsay, France; Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS UMR3347, Inserm U1021, Signalisation Radiobiologie et Cancer, 91400 Orsay, France
| | - Jennifer Fazzari
- Institute of Anatomy, University of Bern, Baltzerstrasse 2, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Lorea Iturri
- Institut Curie, Université PSL, CNRS UMR3347, Inserm U1021, Signalisation Radiobiologie et Cancer, 91400 Orsay, France; Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS UMR3347, Inserm U1021, Signalisation Radiobiologie et Cancer, 91400 Orsay, France
| | - Olga A Martin
- Institute of Anatomy, University of Bern, Baltzerstrasse 2, 3012 Bern, Switzerland; Division of Radiation Oncology, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, 305 Grattan St, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia; University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia
| | - Verdiana Trappetti
- Institute of Anatomy, University of Bern, Baltzerstrasse 2, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Valentin Djonov
- Institute of Anatomy, University of Bern, Baltzerstrasse 2, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Yolanda Prezado
- Institut Curie, Université PSL, CNRS UMR3347, Inserm U1021, Signalisation Radiobiologie et Cancer, 91400 Orsay, France; Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS UMR3347, Inserm U1021, Signalisation Radiobiologie et Cancer, 91400 Orsay, France.
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17
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Böhlen TT, Germond JF, Bourhis J, Vozenin MC, Ozsahin EM, Bochud F, Bailat C, Moeckli R. Normal tissue sparing by FLASH as a function of single fraction dose: A quantitative analysis. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 2022; 114:1032-1044. [PMID: 35810988 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2022.05.038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2022] [Revised: 04/26/2022] [Accepted: 05/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE The FLASH effect designates normal tissue sparing by ultra-high dose rate (UHDR) compared to conventional dose rate (CONV) irradiation without compromising tumor control. Understanding the magnitude of this effect and its dependency on dose are essential requirements for an optimized clinical translation of FLASH radiation therapy. In this context, we evaluated available experimental data on the magnitudes of normal tissue sparing provided by the FLASH effect as a function of dose, and followed a phenomenological data-driven approach for its parameterization. METHODS We gathered available in vivo data of the normal tissue sparing of CONV compared to UHDR single fraction doses and converted it to a common scale using isoeffect dose ratios, hereafter referred to as FLASH modifying factors (FMF). We then evaluated the suitability of a piecewise linear function with two pieces to parametrize FMF × D as a function of dose D. RESULTS We found that the magnitude of FMF generally decreases (i.e., sparing increases) as function of single fraction dose and that individual data series can be described by the piecewise linear function. The sparing magnitude appears organ specific. Pooled skin reaction data followed a consistent trend as a function of dose. Average FMF values and their standard deviations were 0.95±0.11 for all data below 10 Gy, 0.92±0.06 for mouse gut data between 10-25 Gy, and 0.96±0.07 and 0.71±0.06 for mammalian skin reaction data between 10-25 Gy and >25 Gy, respectively. CONCLUSIONS The magnitude of normal tissue sparing by FLASH is increasing with dose and is dependent on the irradiated tissue. A piecewise linear function can parameterize currently available individual data series.
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Affiliation(s)
- Till Tobias Böhlen
- Institute of Radiation Physics, Lausanne University Hospital and Lausanne University, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Jean-François Germond
- Institute of Radiation Physics, Lausanne University Hospital and Lausanne University, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Jean Bourhis
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Lausanne University Hospital and Lausanne University, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Marie-Catherine Vozenin
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Lausanne University Hospital and Lausanne University, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Esat Mahmut Ozsahin
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Lausanne University Hospital and Lausanne University, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - François Bochud
- Institute of Radiation Physics, Lausanne University Hospital and Lausanne University, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Claude Bailat
- Institute of Radiation Physics, Lausanne University Hospital and Lausanne University, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Raphaël Moeckli
- Institute of Radiation Physics, Lausanne University Hospital and Lausanne University, Lausanne, Switzerland..
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18
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Taylor E, Hill RP, Létourneau D. Modeling the impact of spatial oxygen heterogeneity on radiolytic oxygen depletion during FLASH radiotherapy. Phys Med Biol 2022; 67. [PMID: 35576920 DOI: 10.1088/1361-6560/ac702c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2021] [Accepted: 05/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Purpose.It has been postulated that the delivery of radiotherapy at ultra-high dose rates ('FLASH') reduces normal tissue toxicities by depleting them of oxygen. The fraction of normal tissue and cancer cells surviving radiotherapy depends on dose and oxygen levels in an exponential manner and even a very small fraction of tissue at low oxygen levels can determine radiotherapy response. To quantify the differential impact of FLASH radiotherapy on normal and tumour tissues, the spatial heterogeneity of oxygenation in tissue should thus be accounted for.Methods.The effect of FLASH on radiation-induced normal and tumour tissue cell killing was studied by simulating oxygen diffusion, metabolism, and radiolytic oxygen depletion (ROD) over domains with simulated capillary architectures. To study the impact of heterogeneity, two architectural models were used: (1) randomly distributed capillaries and (2) capillaries forming a regular square lattice array. The resulting oxygen partial pressure distribution histograms were used to simulate normal and tumour tissue cell survival using the linear quadratic model of cell survival, modified to incorporate oxygen-enhancement ratio effects. The ratio ('dose modifying factors') of conventional low-dose-rate dose and FLASH dose at iso-cell survival was computed and compared with empirical iso-toxicity dose ratios.Results.Tumour cell survival was found to be increased by FLASH as compared to conventional radiotherapy, with a 0-1 order of magnitude increase for expected levels of tumour hypoxia, depending on the relative magnitudes of ROD and tissue oxygen metabolism. Interestingly, for the random capillary model, the impact of FLASH on well-oxygenated (normal) tissues was found to be much greater, with an estimated increase in cell survival by up to 10 orders of magnitude, even though reductions in mean tissue partial pressure were modest, less than ∼7 mmHg for the parameter values studied. The dose modifying factor for normal tissues was found to lie in the range 1.2-1.7 for a representative value of normal tissue oxygen metabolic rate, consistent with preclinical iso-toxicity results.Conclusions.The presence of very small nearly hypoxic regions in otherwise well-perfused normal tissues with high mean oxygen levels resulted in a greater proportional sparing of normal tissue than tumour cells during FLASH irradiation, possibly explaining empirical normal tissue sparing and iso-tumour control results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edward Taylor
- Radiation Medicine Program, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Richard P Hill
- Radiation Medicine Program, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Daniel Létourneau
- Radiation Medicine Program, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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19
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El Naqa I, Pogue BW, Zhang R, Oraiqat I, Parodi K. Image guidance for FLASH radiotherapy. Med Phys 2022; 49:4109-4122. [PMID: 35396707 PMCID: PMC9844128 DOI: 10.1002/mp.15662] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2021] [Revised: 03/10/2022] [Accepted: 03/30/2022] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
FLASH radiotherapy (FLASH-RT) is an emerging ultra-high dose (>40 Gy/s) delivery that promises to improve the therapeutic potential by limiting toxicities compared to conventional RT while maintaining similar tumor eradication efficacy. Image guidance is an essential component of modern RT that should be harnessed to meet the special emerging needs of FLASH-RT and its associated high risks in planning and delivering of such ultra-high doses in short period of times. Hence, this contribution will elaborate on the imaging requirements and possible solutions in the entire chain of FLASH-RT treatment, from the planning, through the setup and delivery with online in vivo imaging and dosimetry, up to the assessment of biological mechanisms and treatment response. In patient setup and delivery, higher temporal sampling than in conventional RT should ensure that the short treatment is delivered precisely to the targeted region. Additionally, conventional imaging tools such as cone-beam computed tomography will continue to play an important role in improving patient setup prior to delivery, while techniques based on magnetic resonance imaging or positron emission tomography may be extremely valuable for either linear accelerator (Linac) or particle FLASH therapy, to monitor and track anatomical changes during delivery. In either planning or assessing outcomes, quantitative functional imaging could supplement conventional imaging for more accurate utilization of the biological window of the FLASH effect, selecting for or verifying things such as tissue oxygen and existing or transient hypoxia on the relevant timescales of FLASH-RT delivery. Perhaps most importantly at this time, these tools might help improve the understanding of the biological mechanisms of FLASH-RT response in tumor and normal tissues. The high dose deposition of FLASH provides an opportunity to utilize pulse-to-pulse imaging tools such as Cherenkov or radiation acoustic emission imaging. These could provide individual pulse mapping or assessing the 3D dose delivery superficially or at tissue depth, respectively. In summary, the most promising components of modern RT should be used for safer application of FLASH-RT, and new promising developments could be advanced to cope with its novel demands but also exploit new opportunities in connection with the unique nature of pulsed delivery at unprecedented dose rates, opening a new era of biological image guidance and ultrafast, pulse-based in vivo dosimetry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Issam El Naqa
- Department of Machine Learning, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL 33612, USA
| | - Brian W. Pogue
- Thayer School of Engineering, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH 03755, USA
- Department of Medical Physics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, WI 53705, USA
| | - Rongxiao Zhang
- Giesel School of Medicine, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH 03755, USA
| | - Ibrahim Oraiqat
- Department of Machine Learning, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL 33612, USA
| | - Katia Parodi
- Department of Medical Physics, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Am Coulombwall 1, Garching 85748, Germany
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20
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Cooper CR, Jones D, Jones GDD, Petersson K. FLASH irradiation induces lower levels of DNA damage ex vivo, an effect modulated by oxygen tension, dose, and dose rate. Br J Radiol 2022; 95:20211150. [PMID: 35171701 PMCID: PMC10993968 DOI: 10.1259/bjr.20211150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2021] [Revised: 01/07/2022] [Accepted: 01/31/2022] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE FLASH irradiation reportedly produces less normal tissue toxicity, while maintaining tumour response. To investigate oxygen's role in the 'FLASH effect', we assessed DNA damage levels following irradiation at different oxygen tensions, doses and dose rates. METHODS Samples of whole blood were irradiated (20 Gy) at various oxygen tensions (0.25-21%) with 6 MeV electrons at dose rates of either 2 kGy/s (FLASH) or 0.1 Gy/s (CONV), and subsequently with various doses (0-40 Gy) and intermediate dose rates (0.3-1000 Gy/s). DNA damage of peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) were assessed by the alkaline comet assay. RESULTS Following 20 Gy irradiation, lower levels of DNA damage were induced for FLASH, the difference being significant at 0.25% (p < 0.05) and 0.5% O2 (p < 0.01). The differential in DNA damage at 0.5% O2 was found to increase with total dose and dose rate, becoming significant for doses ≥20 Gy and dose rates ≥30 Gy/s. CONCLUSION This study shows, using the alkaline comet assay, that lower levels of DNA damage are induced following FLASH irradiation, an effect that is modulated by the oxygen tension, and increases with the total dose and dose rate of irradiation, indicating that an oxygen related mechanism, e.g. transient radiation-induced oxygen depletion, may contribute to the tissue sparing effect of FLASH irradiation. ADVANCES IN KNOWLEDGE This paper is first to directly show that FLASH-induced DNA damage is modulated by oxygen tension, total dose and dose rate, with FLASH inducing significantly lower levels of DNA damage for doses ≥20 Gy and dose rates ≥30 Gy/s, at 0.5% O2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian R Cooper
- Leicester Cancer Research Centre, University of Leicester,
Robert Kilpatrick Clinical Sciences Building, Leicester Royal
Infirmary, Leicester,
UK
| | - Donald Jones
- Leicester Cancer Research Centre, University of Leicester,
Robert Kilpatrick Clinical Sciences Building, Leicester Royal
Infirmary, Leicester,
UK
| | - George DD Jones
- Leicester Cancer Research Centre, University of Leicester,
Robert Kilpatrick Clinical Sciences Building, Leicester Royal
Infirmary, Leicester,
UK
| | - Kristoffer Petersson
- MRC Oxford Institute for Radiation Oncology, University of
Oxford, Old Road Campus Research Building,
Oxford, UK
- Department of Haematology, Oncology and Radiation Physics,
Skåne University Hospital Lund University,
Lund, Sweden
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21
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Romano F, Bailat C, Jorge PG, Lerch MLF, Darafsheh A. Ultra‐high dose rate dosimetry: challenges and opportunities for FLASH radiation therapy. Med Phys 2022; 49:4912-4932. [PMID: 35404484 PMCID: PMC9544810 DOI: 10.1002/mp.15649] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2021] [Revised: 02/03/2022] [Accepted: 02/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Romano
- Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare Sezione di Catania Catania Italy
| | - Claude Bailat
- Institute of Radiation Physics Lausanne University Hospital Lausanne University Switzerland
| | - Patrik Gonçalves Jorge
- Institute of Radiation Physics Lausanne University Hospital Lausanne University Switzerland
- Department of Radiation Oncology Lausanne University Hospital Lausanne Switzerland
- Radio‐Oncology Laboratory DO/CHUV Lausanne University Hospital Lausanne Switzerland
| | | | - Arash Darafsheh
- Department of Radiation Oncology Washington University School of Medicine St. Louis MO 63110 USA
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22
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Cui S, Pratx G. 3D computational model of oxygen depletion kinetics in brain vasculature during FLASH RT, and its implications for in vivo oximetry experiments. Med Phys 2022; 49:3914-3925. [PMID: 35393643 DOI: 10.1002/mp.15642] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2021] [Revised: 02/19/2022] [Accepted: 03/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Ultra-high dose rate irradiation, also known as FLASH, has been shown to improve the therapeutic ratio of radiation therapy (RT). The mechanism behind this effect has been partially explained by the radiochemical oxygen depletion (ROD) hypothesis, which attributes the protection of the normal tissue to the induction of transient hypoxia by ROD. To better understand the contribution of oxygen to the FLASH effect, it is necessary to measure oxygen (O2 ) in vivo during FLASH irradiation. This study's goal is to determine the temporal resolution required to accurately measure the rapidly changing oxygen concentration immediately after FLASH irradiation. METHODS We conducted a computational simulation of oxygen dynamics using a real vascular model that was constructed from a public fluorescence microscopy dataset. The dynamic distribution of oxygen tension (po2 ) during and after FLASH RT was modeled by a partial differential equation (PDE) considering oxygen diffusion, metabolism, and ROD. The underestimation of ROD due to oxygen recovery was evaluated assuming either complete or partial depletion, and a range of possible values for parameters such as oxygen diffusion, consumption, vascular po2 and vessel density. RESULT The O2 concentration recovers rapidly after FLASH RT. Assuming a temporal resolution of 0.5 s, the estimated ROD is only 50.7% and 36.7% of its actual value in cases of partial and complete depletion, respectively. Additionally, the underestimation of ROD is highly dependent on the vascular density. To estimate ROD rate with 90% accuracy, temporal resolution on the order of milliseconds is required considering the uncertainty in parameters involved, especially, the diverse vascular density of the tissue. CONCLUSION The rapid recovery of O2 poses a great challenge for in vivo ROD measurements during FLASH RT. Temporal resolution on the order of milliseconds is recommended for ROD measurements in the normal tissue. Further work is warranted to investigate whether the same requirements apply to tumors, given their irregular vasculature. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sunan Cui
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Stanford University, Palo Alto, California, USA
| | - Guillem Pratx
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Stanford University, Palo Alto, California, USA
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23
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Favaudon V, Labarbe R, Limoli CL. Model studies of the role of oxygen in the FLASH effect. Med Phys 2022; 49:2068-2081. [PMID: 34407219 PMCID: PMC8854455 DOI: 10.1002/mp.15129] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2020] [Revised: 06/02/2021] [Accepted: 06/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Current radiotherapy facilities are standardized to deliver dose rates around 0.1-0.4 Gy/s in 2 Gy daily fractions, designed to deliver total accumulated doses to reach the tolerance limit of normal tissues undergoing irradiation. FLASH radiotherapy (FLASH-RT), on the other hand, relies on facilities capable of delivering ultrahigh dose rates in large doses in a single microsecond pulse, or in a few pulses given over a very short time sequence. For example, most studies to date have implemented 4-6 MeV electrons with intra-pulse dose rates in the range 106 -107 Gy/s. The proposed dependence of the FLASH effect on oxygen tension has stimulated several theoretical models based on three different hypotheses: (i) Radiation-induced transient oxygen depletion; (ii) cell-specific differences in the ability to detoxify and/or recover from injury caused by reactive oxygen species; (iii) self-annihilation of radicals by bimolecular recombination. This article focuses on the observations supporting or refuting these models in the frame of the chemical-biological bases of the impact of oxygen on the radiation response of cell free, in vitro and in vivo model systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vincent Favaudon
- Institut Curie, Inserm U 1021- CNRS UMR 3347, University Paris-Saclay, PSL Research University, Centre Universitaire, 91405 Orsay Cedex, France
- Corresponding author:
| | - Rudi Labarbe
- Ion Beam Applications S.A. (IBA), Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium
| | - Charles L. Limoli
- Dept. of Radiation Oncology, Medical Sciences I, B146B, Irvine, California 92697-2695, USA
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24
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Kim MM, Darafsheh A, Schuemann J, Dokic I, Lundh O, Zhao T, Ramos-Méndez J, Dong L, Petersson K. Development of Ultra-High Dose-Rate (FLASH) Particle Therapy. IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON RADIATION AND PLASMA MEDICAL SCIENCES 2022; 6:252-262. [PMID: 36092270 PMCID: PMC9457346 DOI: 10.1109/trpms.2021.3091406] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Research efforts in FLASH radiotherapy have increased at an accelerated pace recently. FLASH radiotherapy involves ultra-high dose rates and has shown to reduce toxicity to normal tissue while maintaining tumor response in pre-clinical studies when compared to conventional dose rate radiotherapy. The goal of this review is to summarize the studies performed to-date with proton, electron, and heavy ion FLASH radiotherapy, with particular emphasis on the physical aspects of each study and the advantages and disadvantages of each modality. Beam delivery parameters, experimental set-up, and the dosimetry tools used are described for each FLASH modality. In addition, modeling efforts and treatment planning for FLASH radiotherapy is discussed along with potential drawbacks when translated into the clinical setting. The final section concludes with further questions that have yet to be answered before safe clinical implementation of FLASH radiotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michele M Kim
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Arash Darafsheh
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Jan Schuemann
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Ivana Dokic
- Clinical Cooperation Unit Translational Radiation Oncology, National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), Heidelberg University Hospital (UKHD) and German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Im Neuenheimer Feld 460, Heidelberg, Germany
- Division of Molecular and Translational Radiation Oncology, Department of Radiation Oncology, Heidelberg Faculty of Medicine (MFHD) and Heidelberg University Hospital (UKHD), Heidelberg Ion-Beam Therapy Center (HIT), Im Neuenheimer Feld 450, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK) Core-Center Heidelberg, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Im Neuenheimer Feld 280, Heidelberg, Germany
- Heidelberg Institute of Radiation Oncology (HIRO), National Center for Radiation Oncology (NCRO), Heidelberg University and German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Im Neuenheimer Feld 222, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Olle Lundh
- Department of Physics, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Tianyu Zhao
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - José Ramos-Méndez
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Lei Dong
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Kristoffer Petersson
- Department of Oncology, The Oxford Institute for Radiation Oncology, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
- Radiation Physics, Department of Haematology, Oncology and Radiation Physics, Skåne University Hospital, Lund, Sweden
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25
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Okoro CM, Schüler E, Taniguchi CM. The Therapeutic Potential of FLASH-RT for Pancreatic Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14051167. [PMID: 35267474 PMCID: PMC8909276 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14051167] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2022] [Revised: 02/21/2022] [Accepted: 02/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Ultra-high dose rate radiation, widely nicknamed FLASH-RT, kills tumors without significantly damaging nearby normal tissues. This selective sparing of normal tissue by FLASH-RT tissue is called the FLASH effect. This review explores some of the proposed mechanisms of the FLASH effect and the current data that might support its use in pancreatic cancer. Since radiation for pancreatic cancer treatment is limited by GI toxicity issues and is a disease with one of the lowest five-year survival rates, FLASH-RT could have a large impact in the treatment of this disease with further study. Abstract Recent preclinical evidence has shown that ionizing radiation given at an ultra-high dose rate (UHDR), also known as FLASH radiation therapy (FLASH-RT), can selectively reduce radiation injury to normal tissue while remaining isoeffective to conventional radiation therapy (CONV-RT) with respect to tumor killing. Unresectable pancreatic cancer is challenging to control without ablative doses of radiation, but this is difficult to achieve without significant gastrointestinal toxicity. In this review article, we explore the propsed mechanisms of FLASH-RT and its tissue-sparing effect, as well as its relevance and suitability for the treatment of pancreatic cancer. We also briefly discuss the challenges with regard to dosimetry, dose rate, and fractionation for using FLASH-RT to treat this disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chidi M. Okoro
- Department of Experimental Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA;
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Emil Schüler
- Department of Radiation Physics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Correspondence: (E.S.); (C.M.T.)
| | - Cullen M. Taniguchi
- Department of Experimental Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA;
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Correspondence: (E.S.); (C.M.T.)
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26
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Borghini A, Vecoli C, Labate L, Panetta D, Andreassi MG, Gizzi LA. FLASH ultra-high dose rates in radiotherapy: preclinical and radiobiological evidence. Int J Radiat Biol 2021; 98:127-135. [PMID: 34913413 DOI: 10.1080/09553002.2022.2009143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Flash radiotherapy (FLASH-RT) is currently being regarded as the next breakthrough in radiation treatment of cancer, delivering ultrahigh radiation doses in a very short time, and sparing normal tissues from detrimental injury. Here we review the current evidence on the preclinical findings as well as the radiobiological mechanisms underlying the FLASH effect. We also briefly examine the scenario of available technologies for delivering FLASH dose-rates for research and their implications for future clinical use. CONCLUSIONS Preclinical studies report that the FLASH-RT reduces radiation-induced toxicity whilst maintaining an equivalent tumor response across different animal models. However, the molecular radiobiology underlying FLASH effect is not fully understood and further experiments are necessary to understand the biological response. Future studies also includes the design of a FLASH delivery system able to produce beams appropriate for treatment of tumors with ultra-high dose rates. All these research activities will greatly benefit from a multidisciplinary collaboration across biology, physics and clinical oncology, increasing the potential of a rapid clinical translation of FLASH-RT.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Luca Labate
- CNR National Institute of Optics, Pisa, Italy
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27
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Ultra-High Dose Rate (FLASH) Carbon Ion Irradiation: Dosimetry and First Cell Experiments. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 2021; 112:1012-1022. [PMID: 34813912 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2021.11.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2021] [Revised: 11/07/2021] [Accepted: 11/15/2021] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE To establish a beam monitoring and dosimetry system to enable the FLASH dose rate carbon ion irradiation and investigate, at different oxygen concentrations, the in vitro biological response in comparison to the conventional dose rate. METHODS AND MATERIALS CHO-K1 cell response to irradiation at different dose rates and at different levels of oxygenation was studied using clonogenic assay. The Heidelberg Ion-Beam Therapy Center (HIT) synchrotron, after technical improvements, was adjusted to extract ≥5 × 108 12C ions within approximately 150 milliseconds. The beam monitors were filled with helium. RESULTS The FLASH irradiation with beam scanning yields a dose of 7.5 Gy (homogeneity of ±5%) for a 280 MeV/u beam in a volume of at least 8 mm in diameter and a corresponding dose rate of 70 Gy/s (±20%). The dose repetition accuracy is better than 2%, the systematic uncertainty is better than 2%. Clonogenic assay demonstrates a significant FLASH sparing effect which is strongly oxygenation-dependent and mostly pronounced at 0.5% O2 but absent at 0% and 21% O2. CONCLUSION The FLASH dose rates >40 Gy/s were achieved with carbon beams. Cell survival analysis revealed FLASH dose rate sparing in hypoxia (0.5%-4% O2).
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28
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Zakaria AM, Colangelo NW, Meesungnoen J, Jay-Gerin JP. Transient hypoxia in water irradiated by swift carbon ions at ultra-high dose rates: implication for FLASH carbon-ion therapy. CAN J CHEM 2021. [DOI: 10.1139/cjc-2021-0110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Large doses of ionizing radiation delivered to tumors at ultra-high dose rates (i.e., in a few milliseconds) paradoxically spare the surrounding healthy tissue while preserving anti-tumor activity (compared with conventional radiotherapy delivered at much lower dose rates). This new modality is known as “FLASH radiotherapy” (FLASH-RT). Although the molecular mechanisms underlying FLASH-RT are not yet fully understood, it has been suggested that radiation delivered at high dose rates spares normal tissue via oxygen depletion followed by subsequent radioresistance of the irradiated tissue. To date, FLASH-RT has been studied using electrons, photons, and protons in various basic biological experiments, pre-clinical studies, and recently in a human patient. However, the efficacy of heavy ions, such as energetic carbon ions, under FLASH-RT conditions remains unclear. Given that living cells and tissues consist mainly of water, we set out to study, from a pure radiation chemistry perspective, the effects of ultra-high dose rates on the transient yields and concentrations of radiolytic species formed in water irradiated by 300-MeV per nucleon carbon ions (LET ∼ 11.6 keV/µm). This mimics irradiation in the “plateau” region of the depth–dose distribution of ions, i.e., in the “normal” tissue region in which the LET is rather low. We used Monte Carlo simulations of multiple, simultaneously interacting radiation tracks together with an “instantaneous pulse” irradiation model. Our calculations show a pronounced oxygen depletion around 0.2 μs, strongly suggesting, as with electrons, photons, and protons, that irradiation with energetic carbon ions at ultra-high dose rates is suitable for FLASH-RT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdullah Muhammad Zakaria
- Département de médecine nucléaire et de radiobiologie, Faculté de médecine et des sciences de la santé, Université de Sherbrooke, 3001, 12ème Avenue Nord, Sherbrooke, QC J1H 5N4, Canada
| | - Nicholas W. Colangelo
- Department of Radiation Oncology, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Jintana Meesungnoen
- Département de médecine nucléaire et de radiobiologie, Faculté de médecine et des sciences de la santé, Université de Sherbrooke, 3001, 12ème Avenue Nord, Sherbrooke, QC J1H 5N4, Canada
| | - Jean-Paul Jay-Gerin
- Département de médecine nucléaire et de radiobiologie, Faculté de médecine et des sciences de la santé, Université de Sherbrooke, 3001, 12ème Avenue Nord, Sherbrooke, QC J1H 5N4, Canada
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29
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FLASH radiotherapy: Considerations for multibeam and hypofractionation dose delivery. Radiother Oncol 2021; 164:122-127. [PMID: 34563608 DOI: 10.1016/j.radonc.2021.09.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2021] [Revised: 08/13/2021] [Accepted: 09/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
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30
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Zhu H, Li J, Deng X, Qiu R, Wu Z, Zhang H. Modeling of cellular response after FLASH irradiation: a quantitative analysis based on the radiolytic oxygen depletion hypothesis. Phys Med Biol 2021; 66. [PMID: 34464946 DOI: 10.1088/1361-6560/ac226d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2021] [Accepted: 08/31/2021] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
Purpose.Recent studies suggest ultra-high dose rate (FLASH) irradiation can spare normal tissues from radiotoxicity, while efficiently controlling the tumor, and this is known as the 'FLASH effect'. This study performed theoretical analyses about the impact of radiolytic oxygen depletion (ROD) on the cellular responses after FLASH irradiation.Methods.Monte Carlo simulation was used to model the ROD process, determine the DNA damage, and calculate the amount of oxygen depleted (LROD) during FLASH exposure. A mathematical model was applied to analyze oxygen tension (pO2) distribution in human tissues and the recovery of pO2after FLASH irradiation. DNA damage and cell survival fractions (SFs) after FLASH irradiation were calculated. The impact of initial cellular pO2, FLASH pulse number, pulse interval, and radiation quality of the source particles on ROD and subsequent cellular responses were systematically evaluated.Results.The simulated electronLRODrange was 0.38-0.43μM Gy-1when pO2ranged from 7.5 to 160 mmHg. The calculated DNA damage and SFs show that the radioprotective effect is only evident in cells with a low pO2. Different irradiation setups alter the cellular responses by modifying the pO2. Single pulse delivery or multi-pulse delivery with pulse intervals shorter than 10-50 ms resulted in fewer DNA damages and higher SFs. Source particles with a low linear energy transfer (LET) have a higher capacity to deplete oxygen, and thus, lead to a more conspicuous radioprotective effect.Conclusions. A systematic analysis of the cellular response following FLASH irradiation was performed to provided suggestions for future FLASH applications. The FLASH radioprotective effect due to ROD may only be observed in cells with a low pO2. Single pulse delivery or multi-pulse delivery with short pulse intervals are suggested for FLASH irradiation to avoid oxygen tension recovery during pulse intervals. Source particles with low LET are preferred for their conspicuous radioprotective effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongyu Zhu
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou 510060, People's Republic of China.,Department of Engineering Physics, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, People's Republic of China.,Key Laboratory of Particle & Radiation Imaging (Tsinghua University), Ministry of Education, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Junli Li
- Department of Engineering Physics, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, People's Republic of China.,Key Laboratory of Particle & Radiation Imaging (Tsinghua University), Ministry of Education, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaowu Deng
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou 510060, People's Republic of China
| | - Rui Qiu
- Department of Engineering Physics, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, People's Republic of China.,Key Laboratory of Particle & Radiation Imaging (Tsinghua University), Ministry of Education, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhen Wu
- Department of Engineering Physics, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, People's Republic of China.,Nuctech Company Limited, Beijing 100084, People's Republic of China
| | - Hui Zhang
- Department of Engineering Physics, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, People's Republic of China.,Key Laboratory of Particle & Radiation Imaging (Tsinghua University), Ministry of Education, Beijing, People's Republic of China
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31
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Cao X, Zhang R, Esipova TV, Allu SR, Ashraf R, Rahman M, Gunn JR, Bruza P, Gladstone DJ, Williams BB, Swartz HM, Hoopes PJ, Vinogradov SA, Pogue BW. Quantification of Oxygen Depletion During FLASH Irradiation In Vitro and In Vivo. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 2021; 111:240-248. [PMID: 33845146 PMCID: PMC8338745 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2021.03.056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 87] [Impact Index Per Article: 29.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2020] [Revised: 03/28/2021] [Accepted: 03/31/2021] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Delivery of radiation at ultrahigh dose rates (UHDRs), known as FLASH, has recently been shown to preferentially spare normal tissues from radiation damage compared with tumor tissues. However, the underlying mechanism of this phenomenon remains unknown, with one of the most widely considered hypotheses being that the effect is related to substantial oxygen depletion upon FLASH, thereby altering the radiochemical damage during irradiation, leading to different radiation responses of normal and tumor cells. Testing of this hypothesis would be advanced by direct measurement of tissue oxygen in vivo during and after FLASH irradiation. METHODS AND MATERIALS Oxygen measurements were performed in vitro and in vivo using the phosphorescence quenching method and a water-soluble molecular probe Oxyphor 2P. The changes in oxygen per unit dose (G-values) were quantified in response to irradiation by 10 MeV electron beam at either UHDR reaching 300 Gy/s or conventional radiation therapy dose rates of 0.1 Gy/s. RESULTS In vitro experiments with 5% bovine serum albumin solutions at 23°C resulted in G-values for oxygen consumption of 0.19 to 0.21 mm Hg/Gy (0.34-0.37 μM/Gy) for conventional irradiation and 0.16 to 0.17 mm Hg/Gy (0.28-0.30 μM/Gy) for UHDR irradiation. In vivo, the total decrease in oxygen after a single fraction of 20 Gy FLASH irradiation was 2.3 ± 0.3 mm Hg in normal tissue and 1.0 ± 0.2 mm Hg in tumor tissue (P < .00001), whereas no decrease in oxygen was observed from a single fraction of 20 Gy applied in conventional mode. CONCLUSIONS Our observations suggest that oxygen depletion to radiologically relevant levels of hypoxia is unlikely to occur in bulk tissue under FLASH irradiation. For the same dose, FLASH irradiation induces less oxygen consumption than conventional irradiation in vitro, which may be related to the FLASH sparing effect. However, the difference in oxygen depletion between FLASH and conventional irradiation could not be quantified in vivo because measurements of oxygen depletion under conventional irradiation are hampered by resupply of oxygen from the blood.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xu Cao
- Thayer School of Engineering, Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire; Engineering Research Center of Molecular and Neuro Imaging of the Ministry of Education & School of Life Science and Technology, Xidian University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Rongxiao Zhang
- Thayer School of Engineering, Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire; Norris Cotton Cancer Center, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, New Hampshire; Department of Medicine, Geisel School of Medicine, Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire
| | - Tatiana V Esipova
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Department of Chemistry, School or Arts and Sciences, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Srinivasa Rao Allu
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Department of Chemistry, School or Arts and Sciences, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Ramish Ashraf
- Thayer School of Engineering, Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire
| | - Mahbubur Rahman
- Thayer School of Engineering, Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire
| | - Jason R Gunn
- Thayer School of Engineering, Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire
| | - Petr Bruza
- Thayer School of Engineering, Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire
| | - David J Gladstone
- Thayer School of Engineering, Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire; Norris Cotton Cancer Center, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, New Hampshire; Department of Medicine, Geisel School of Medicine, Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire
| | - Benjamin B Williams
- Thayer School of Engineering, Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire; Norris Cotton Cancer Center, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, New Hampshire; Department of Medicine, Geisel School of Medicine, Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire
| | - Harold M Swartz
- Thayer School of Engineering, Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire; Norris Cotton Cancer Center, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, New Hampshire; Department of Medicine, Geisel School of Medicine, Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire
| | - P Jack Hoopes
- Thayer School of Engineering, Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire; Norris Cotton Cancer Center, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, New Hampshire; Department of Surgery, Geisel School of Medicine, Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire
| | - Sergei A Vinogradov
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Department of Chemistry, School or Arts and Sciences, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
| | - Brian W Pogue
- Thayer School of Engineering, Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire; Norris Cotton Cancer Center, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, New Hampshire; Department of Surgery, Geisel School of Medicine, Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire.
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Evans T, Cooley J, Wagner M, Yu T, Zwart T. Demonstration of the FLASH Effect Within the Spread-out Bragg Peak After Abdominal Irradiation of Mice. Int J Part Ther 2021; 8:68-75. [PMID: 35530182 PMCID: PMC9009457 DOI: 10.14338/ijpt-20-00095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2020] [Accepted: 07/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose The effects of FLASH-level dose rates delivered at the spread-out Bragg peak (SOBP) on normal tissue damage in mice were investigated. Materials and Methods Fifty nontumor-bearing mice received abdominal irradiation, 30 at FLASH dose rates (100 Gy/s) and 20 at conventional dose rates (0.1 Gy/s). Total dose values ranged from 10 to 19 Gy, delivered in a single spot by a synchrocyclotron proton therapy system. Centered on the abdomen, the collimated field delivered was an 11-mm diameter circle with a water-equivalent depth of 2.4 cm from entrance to distal 80% dose. A ridge filter was used to provide dose uniformity over the full 2.4-cm range. The spatial distribution was identical for both the FLASH and conventional deliveries. Results Overall survival and individual mouse weights were tracked for 21 days after the exposure date, and LD50 values were compared for the FLASH and conventional dose rate groups. Mice exposed to FLASH dose rates had a higher LD50 value as compared with mice exposed to conventional dose rates, with a dose-dependent improvement in survivability of 10% to 20%. The FLASH cohort also showed greater or equal percent population survival for each day of the study. Conclusion These results are preliminary confirmation of the potential for the combination of the advantages of the Bragg peak with the normal tissue sparing benefits of FLASH treatments. This experiment also confirms that pulsed synchrocyclotrons can be used for the purpose of FLASH research and treatment.
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Weber UA, Scifoni E, Durante M. FLASH radiotherapy with carbon ion beams. Med Phys 2021; 49:1974-1992. [PMID: 34318508 DOI: 10.1002/mp.15135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2021] [Revised: 07/19/2021] [Accepted: 07/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
FLASH radiotherapy is considered a new potential breakthrough in cancer treatment. Ultra-high dose rates (>40 Gy/s) have been shown to reduce toxicity in the normal tissue without compromising tumor control, resulting in a widened therapeutic window. These high dose rates are more easily achievable in the clinic with charged particles, and clinical trials are, indeed, ongoing using electrons or protons. FLASH could be an attractive solution also for heavier ions such as carbon and could even enhance the therapeutic window. However, it is not yet known whether the FLASH effect will be the same as for sparsely ionizing radiation when densely ionizing carbons ions are used. Here we discuss the technical challenges in beam delivery and present a promising solution using 3D range-modulators in order to apply ultra-high dose rates (UHDR) compatible with FLASH with carbon ions. Furthermore, we will discuss the possible outcome of C-ion therapy at UHDR on the level of the radiobiological and radiation chemical effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Uli Andreas Weber
- Biophysics Department, GSI Helhmoltzzentrum für Schwerionenforschung, Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Emanuele Scifoni
- Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare (INFN), Trento Institute for Fundamental Physics and Applications (TIFPA), Trento, Italy
| | - Marco Durante
- Biophysics Department, GSI Helhmoltzzentrum für Schwerionenforschung, Darmstadt, Germany.,Institute of Condensed Matter Physics, Technische Universität Darmstadt, Darmstadt, Germany
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Velalopoulou A, Karagounis IV, Cramer GM, Kim MM, Skoufos G, Goia D, Hagan S, Verginadis II, Shoniyozov K, Chiango J, Cerullo M, Varner K, Yao L, Qin L, Hatzigeorgiou AG, Minn AJ, Putt M, Lanza M, Assenmacher CA, Radaelli E, Huck J, Diffenderfer E, Dong L, Metz J, Koumenis C, Cengel KA, Maity A, Busch TM. FLASH proton radiotherapy spares normal epithelial and mesenchymal tissues while preserving sarcoma response. Cancer Res 2021; 81:4808-4821. [PMID: 34321243 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-21-1500] [Citation(s) in RCA: 76] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2021] [Revised: 06/29/2021] [Accepted: 07/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
In studies of electron and proton radiotherapy, ultrahigh dose rates of FLASH radiation therapy appear to produce fewer toxicities than standard dose rates while maintaining local tumor control. FLASH-proton radiotherapy (F-PRT) brings the spatial advantages of PRT to FLASH dose rates (>40 Gy/sec), making it important to understand if and how F-PRT spares normal tissues while providing anti-tumor efficacy that is equivalent to standard-proton radiotherapy (S-PRT). Here we studied PRT damage to skin and mesenchymal tissues of muscle and bone and found that F-PRT of the C57BL/6 murine hind leg produced fewer severe toxicities leading to death or requiring euthanasia than S-PRT of the same dose. RNAseq analyses of murine skin and bone revealed pathways upregulated by S-PRT yet unaltered by F-PRT, such as apoptosis signaling and keratinocyte differentiation in skin, as well as osteoclast differentiation and chondrocyte development in bone. Corroborating these findings, F-PRT reduced skin injury, stem cell depletion, and inflammation, mitigated late effects including lymphedema, and decreased histopathologically detected myofiber atrophy, bone resorption, hair follicle atrophy, and epidermal hyperplasia. F-PRT was equipotent to S-PRT in control of two murine sarcoma models, including at an orthotopic intramuscular site, thereby establishing its relevance to mesenchymal cancers. Finally, S-PRT produced greater increases in TGF-β1 in murine skin and the skin of canines enrolled in a phase 1 study of F-PRT versus S-PRT. Collectively, these data provide novel insights into F-PRT-mediated tissue sparing and support its ongoing investigation in applications that would benefit from this sparing of skin and mesenchymal tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Michele M Kim
- Radiation Oncology, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine
| | | | - Denisa Goia
- Radiation Oncology, University of Pennsylvania
| | - Sarah Hagan
- Radiation Oncology, University of Pennsylvania
| | | | | | - June Chiango
- Department of Clinical Studies and Advanced Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, School of Veterinary Medicine
| | - Michelle Cerullo
- Department of Clinical Studies and Advanced Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, School of Veterinary Medicine
| | - Kelley Varner
- Department of Clinical Studies and Advanced Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, School of Veterinary Medicine
| | - Lutian Yao
- Orthopedic Surgery, University of Pennsylvania
| | - Ling Qin
- Orthopedic Surgery, University of Pennsylvania
| | | | - Andy J Minn
- Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, Philadelphia
| | - Mary Putt
- Department of Biostatistics, Epidemiology & Informatics, University of Pennsylvania
| | - Matthew Lanza
- Pathobiology, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine
| | | | | | - Jennifer Huck
- Department of Clinical Studies and Advanced Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, School of Veterinary Medicine
| | | | - Lei Dong
- Radiation Oncology, University of Pennsylvania
| | - James Metz
- Radiation Oncology, University of Pennsylvania
| | | | | | - Amit Maity
- Radiation Oncology, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine
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Khan S, Bassenne M, Wang J, Manjappa R, Melemenidis S, Breitkreutz DY, Maxim PG, Xing L, Loo BW, Pratx G. Multicellular Spheroids as In Vitro Models of Oxygen Depletion During FLASH Irradiation. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 2021; 110:833-844. [PMID: 33545301 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2021.01.050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2020] [Revised: 12/15/2020] [Accepted: 01/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE The differential response of normal and tumor tissues to ultrahigh-dose-rate radiation (FLASH) has raised new hope for treating solid tumors but, to date, the mechanism remains elusive. One leading hypothesis is that FLASH radiochemically depletes oxygen from irradiated tissues faster than it is replenished through diffusion. The purpose of this study was to investigate these effects within hypoxic multicellular tumor spheroids through simulations and experiments. METHODS AND MATERIALS Physicobiological equations were derived to model (1) the diffusion and metabolism of oxygen within spheroids; (2) its depletion through reactions involving radiation-induced radicals; and (3) the increase in radioresistance of spheroids, modeled according to the classical oxygen enhancement ratio and linear-quadratic response. These predictions were then tested experimentally in A549 spheroids exposed to electron irradiation at conventional (0.075 Gy/s) or FLASH (90 Gy/s) dose rates. Clonogenic survival, cell viability, and spheroid growth were scored postradiation. Clonogenic survival of 2 other cell lines was also investigated. RESULTS The existence of a hypoxic core in unirradiated tumor spheroids is predicted by simulations and visualized by fluorescence microscopy. Upon FLASH irradiation, this hypoxic core transiently expands, engulfing a large number of well-oxygenated cells. In contrast, oxygen is steadily replenished during slower conventional irradiation. Experimentally, clonogenic survival was around 3-fold higher in FLASH-irradiated spheroids compared with conventional irradiation, but no significant difference was observed for well-oxygenated 2-dimensional cultured cells. This differential survival is consistent with the predictions of the computational model. FLASH irradiation of spheroids resulted in a dose-modifying factor of around 1.3 for doses above 10 Gy. CONCLUSIONS Tumor spheroids can be used as a model to study FLASH irradiation in vitro. The improved survival of tumor spheroids receiving FLASH radiation confirms that ultrafast radiochemical oxygen depletion and its slow replenishment are critical components of the FLASH effect.
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Affiliation(s)
- Syamantak Khan
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Stanford University, Stanford, California
| | - Maxime Bassenne
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Stanford University, Stanford, California
| | - Jinghui Wang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Stanford University, Stanford, California
| | - Rakesh Manjappa
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Stanford University, Stanford, California
| | | | | | - Peter G Maxim
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Indiana University, Indianapolis, Indiana
| | - Lei Xing
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Stanford University, Stanford, California
| | - Billy W Loo
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Stanford University, Stanford, California
| | - Guillem Pratx
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Stanford University, Stanford, California.
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36
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Boscolo D, Scifoni E, Durante M, Krämer M, Fuss MC. May oxygen depletion explain the FLASH effect? A chemical track structure analysis. Radiother Oncol 2021; 162:68-75. [PMID: 34214612 DOI: 10.1016/j.radonc.2021.06.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2021] [Revised: 06/14/2021] [Accepted: 06/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Recent observations in animal models show that ultra-high dose rate ("FLASH") radiation treatment significantly reduces normal tissue toxicity maintaining an equivalent tumor control. The dependence of this "FLASH" effect on target oxygenation has led to the assumption that oxygen "depletion" could be its major driving force. MATERIALS AND METHODS In a bottom-up approach starting from the chemical track evolution of 1 MeV electrons in oxygenated water simulated with the TRAX-CHEM Monte Carlo code, we determine the oxygen consumption and radiolytic reactive oxygen species production following a short radiation pulse. Based on these values, the effective dose weighted by oxygen enhancement ratio (OER) or the in vitro cell survival under dynamic oxygen pressure is calculated and compared to that of conventional exposures, at constant OER. RESULTS We find an excellent agreement of our Monte Carlo predictions with the experimental value for radiolytic oxygen removal from oxygenated water. However, the application of the present model to published radiobiological experiment conditions shows that oxygen depletion can only have a negligible impact on radiosensitivity through oxygen enhancement, especially at typical experimental oxygenations where a FLASH effect has been observed. CONCLUSION We show that the magnitude and dependence of the "oxygen depletion" hypothesis are not consistent with the observed biological effects of FLASH irradiation. While oxygenation plays an undoubted role in mediating the FLASH effect, we conclude that state-of-the-art radiation chemistry models do not support oxygen depletion and radiation-induced transient hypoxia as the main mechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daria Boscolo
- GSI Helmholtzzentrum für Schwerionenforschung GmbH, Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Emanuele Scifoni
- Trento Institute for Fundamental Physics and Applications (TIFPA), National Institute for Nuclear Physics (INFN), Trento, Italy
| | - Marco Durante
- GSI Helmholtzzentrum für Schwerionenforschung GmbH, Darmstadt, Germany; Institut für Physik Kondensierter Materie, Technische Universität Darmstadt, Germany.
| | - Michael Krämer
- GSI Helmholtzzentrum für Schwerionenforschung GmbH, Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Martina C Fuss
- GSI Helmholtzzentrum für Schwerionenforschung GmbH, Darmstadt, Germany.
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Zou W, Diffenderfer ES, Ota K, Boisseau P, Kim MM, Cai Y, Avery SM, Carlson DJ, Wiersma RD, Lin A, Koumenis C, Cengel KA, Metz JM, Dong L, Teo BK. Characterization of a high-resolution 2D transmission ion chamber for independent validation of proton pencil beam scanning of conventional and FLASH dose delivery. Med Phys 2021; 48:3948-3957. [PMID: 33843065 DOI: 10.1002/mp.14882] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2020] [Revised: 02/17/2021] [Accepted: 03/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Ultra-high dose rate (FLASH) radiotherapy has become a popular research topic with the potential to reduce normal tissue toxicities without losing the benefit of tumor control. The development of FLASH proton pencil beam scanning (PBS) delivery requires accurate dosimetry despite high beam currents with correspondingly high ionization densities in the monitoring chamber. In this study, we characterized a newly designed high-resolution position sensing transmission ionization chamber with a purpose-built multichannel electrometer for both conventional and FLASH dose rate proton radiotherapy. METHODS The dosimetry and positioning accuracies of the ion chamber were fully characterized with a clinical scanning beam. On the FLASH proton beamline, the cyclotron output current reached up to 350 nA with a maximum energy of 226.2 MeV, with 210 ± 3 nA nozzle pencil beam current. The ion recombination effect was characterized under various bias voltages up to 1000 V and different beam intensities. The charge collected by the transmission ion chamber was compared with the measurements from a Faraday cup. RESULTS Cross-calibrated with an Advanced Markus chamber (PTW, Freiburg, Germany) in a uniform PBS proton beam field at clinical beam setting, the ion chamber calibration was 38.0 and 36.7 GyE·mm2 /nC at 100 and 226.2 MeV, respectively. The ion recombination effect increased with larger cyclotron current at lower bias voltage while remaining ≤0.5 ± 0.5% with ≥200 V of bias voltage. Above 200 V, the normalized ion chamber readings demonstrated good linearity with the mass stopping power in air for both clinical and FLASH beam intensities. The spot positioning accuracy was measured to be 0.10 ± 0.08 mm in two orthogonal directions. CONCLUSION We characterized a transmission ion chamber system under both conventional and FLASH beam current densities and demonstrated its suitability for use as a proton pencil beam dose and spot position delivery monitor under FLASH dose rate conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Zou
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Eric S Diffenderfer
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Kan Ota
- Pyramid Technical Consultants, Inc, Boston, MA, 02421, USA
| | - Paul Boisseau
- Pyramid Technical Consultants, Inc, Boston, MA, 02421, USA
| | - Michele M Kim
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | | | - Stephen M Avery
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - David J Carlson
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Rodney D Wiersma
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Alexander Lin
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Constantinos Koumenis
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Keith A Cengel
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - James M Metz
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Lei Dong
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Boonkeng K Teo
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
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van Marlen P, Dahele M, Folkerts M, Abel E, Slotman BJ, Verbakel W. Ultra-High Dose Rate Transmission Beam Proton Therapy for Conventionally Fractionated Head and Neck Cancer: Treatment Planning and Dose Rate Distributions. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13081859. [PMID: 33924627 PMCID: PMC8070061 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13081859] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2021] [Revised: 04/02/2021] [Accepted: 04/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Standard intensity-modulated proton therapy (IMPT) places the Bragg-peak in the target. However, it is also possible to use high energy proton transmission beams (TBs), where the Bragg-peak is placed outside the patient, irradiating with the beam section proximal to the Bragg-peak. TBs use only one energy, increase robustness, are insensitive to density changes and have sharper penumbras. TBs can also be delivered at ultra-high dose-rates (UHDRs, e.g., ≥40 Gy/s), which is one of the requirements for the FLASH-effect. The aim of this work was twofold: (1) comparison of TB-plan quality to IMPT and photon volumetric-modulated arc therapy (VMAT) for conventionally fractionated head-and-neck cancer; (2) analysis of TB-plan UHDR-metrics. We showed that TB-plan quality was comparable to IMPT for contoured organs at risk and better than VMAT. Any potential FLASH-effect would only further improve plan quality. TB plans can also be delivered quickly, which might facilitate higher patient through-put and enhance patient comfort. Abstract Transmission beam (TB) proton therapy (PT) uses single, high energy beams with Bragg-peak behind the target, sharp penumbras and simplified planning/delivery. TB facilitates ultra-high dose-rates (UHDRs, e.g., ≥40 Gy/s), which is a requirement for the FLASH-effect. We investigated (1) plan quality for conventionally-fractionated head-and-neck cancer treatment using spot-scanning proton TBs, intensity-modulated PT (IMPT) and photon volumetric-modulated arc therapy (VMAT); (2) UHDR-metrics. VMAT, 3-field IMPT and 10-field TB-plans, delivering 70/54.25 Gy in 35 fractions to boost/elective volumes, were compared (n = 10 patients). To increase spot peak dose-rates (SPDRs), TB-plans were split into three subplans, with varying spot monitor units and different gantry currents. Average TB-plan organs-at-risk (OAR) sparing was comparable to IMPT: mean oral cavity/body dose were 4.1/2.5 Gy higher (9.3/2.0 Gy lower than VMAT); most other OAR mean doses differed by <2 Gy. Average percentage of dose delivered at UHDRs was 46%/12% for split/non-split TB-plans and mean dose-averaged dose-rate 46/21 Gy/s. Average total beam-on irradiation time was 1.9/3.8 s for split/non-split plans and overall time including scanning 8.9/7.6 s. Conventionally-fractionated proton TB-plans achieved comparable OAR-sparing to IMPT and better than VMAT, with total beam-on irradiation times <10s. If a FLASH-effect can be demonstrated at conventional dose/fraction, this would further improve plan quality and TB-protons would be a suitable delivery system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patricia van Marlen
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Cancer Center Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1117, 1118, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands; (M.D.); (B.J.S.); (W.V.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Max Dahele
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Cancer Center Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1117, 1118, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands; (M.D.); (B.J.S.); (W.V.)
| | - Michael Folkerts
- Varian Medical Systems, 3120 Hansen Way, Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA; (M.F.); (E.A.)
| | - Eric Abel
- Varian Medical Systems, 3120 Hansen Way, Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA; (M.F.); (E.A.)
| | - Ben J. Slotman
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Cancer Center Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1117, 1118, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands; (M.D.); (B.J.S.); (W.V.)
| | - Wilko Verbakel
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Cancer Center Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1117, 1118, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands; (M.D.); (B.J.S.); (W.V.)
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Soto LA, Casey KM, Wang J, Blaney A, Manjappa R, Breitkreutz D, Skinner L, Dutt S, Ko RB, Bush K, Yu AS, Melemenidis S, Strober S, Englemann E, Maxim PG, Graves EE, Loo BW. FLASH Irradiation Results in Reduced Severe Skin Toxicity Compared to Conventional-Dose-Rate Irradiation. Radiat Res 2021; 194:618-624. [PMID: 32853385 DOI: 10.1667/rade-20-00090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2020] [Accepted: 06/18/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Radiation therapy, along with surgery and chemotherapy, is one of the main treatments for cancer. While radiotherapy is highly effective in the treatment of localized tumors, its main limitation is its toxicity to normal tissue. Previous preclinical studies have reported that ultra-high dose-rate (FLASH) irradiation results in reduced toxicity to normal tissues while controlling tumor growth to a similar extent relative to conventional-dose-rate (CONV) irradiation. To our knowledge this is the first report of a dose-response study in mice comparing the effect of FLASH irradiation vs. CONV irradiation on skin toxicity. We found that FLASH irradiation results in both a lower incidence and lower severity of skin ulceration than CONV irradiation 8 weeks after single-fraction hemithoracic irradiation at high doses (30 and 40 Gy). Survival was also higher after FLASH hemithoracic irradiation (median survival >180 days at doses of 30 and 40 Gy) compared to CONV irradiation (median survival 100 and 52 days at 30 and 40 Gy, respectively). No ulceration was observed at doses 20 Gy or below in either FLASH or CONV. These results suggest a shifting of the dose-response curve for radiation-induced skin ulceration to the right for FLASH, compared to CONV irradiation, suggesting the potential for an enhanced therapeutic index for radiation therapy of cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luis A Soto
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California 94305.,Cancer Biology Program, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California 94305
| | - Kerriann M Casey
- Department of Comparative Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California 94305
| | - Jinghui Wang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California 94305
| | - Alexandra Blaney
- Department of Comparative Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California 94305
| | - Rakesh Manjappa
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California 94305
| | - Dylan Breitkreutz
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California 94305
| | - Lawrie Skinner
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California 94305
| | - Suparna Dutt
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California 94305.,Department of Medicine, Division of Immunology and Rheumatology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California 94305
| | - Ryan B Ko
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California 94305
| | - Karl Bush
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California 94305
| | - Amy S Yu
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California 94305
| | - Stavros Melemenidis
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California 94305
| | - Samuel Strober
- Department of Medicine, Division of Immunology and Rheumatology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California 94305.,Stanford Cancer Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California 94305
| | - Edgar Englemann
- Department of Medicine, Division of Immunology and Rheumatology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California 94305.,Stanford Cancer Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California 94305.,Department of Pathology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California 94305
| | - Peter G Maxim
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana 46202
| | - Edward E Graves
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California 94305.,Stanford Cancer Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California 94305.,Department of Pathology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California 94305
| | - Billy W Loo
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California 94305.,Stanford Cancer Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California 94305.,Department of Pathology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California 94305
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40
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Vozenin MC, Montay-Gruel P, Limoli C, Germond JF. All Irradiations that are Ultra-High Dose Rate may not be FLASH: The Critical Importance of Beam Parameter Characterization and In Vivo Validation of the FLASH Effect. Radiat Res 2021; 194:571-572. [PMID: 32853355 DOI: 10.1667/rade-20-00141.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2020] [Accepted: 06/11/2020] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Marie-Catherine Vozenin
- Laboratory of Radiation Oncology, Department of Radiation Oncology, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Pierre Montay-Gruel
- Laboratory of Radiation Oncology, Department of Radiation Oncology, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.,Department of Radiation Oncology, University of California Irvine, Irvine, California
| | - Charles Limoli
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of California Irvine, Irvine, California
| | - Jean-François Germond
- Institute of Radiation Physics/CHUV, Lausanne University Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland
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41
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Chabi S, To THV, Leavitt R, Poglio S, Jorge PG, Jaccard M, Petersson K, Petit B, Roméo PH, Pflumio F, Vozenin MC, Uzan B. Ultra-high-dose-rate FLASH and Conventional-Dose-Rate Irradiation Differentially Affect Human Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia and Normal Hematopoiesis. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 2021; 109:819-829. [PMID: 33075474 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2020.10.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2020] [Revised: 09/30/2020] [Accepted: 10/09/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Ultra-high-dose-rate FLASH radiation therapy has been shown to minimize side effects of irradiation in various organs while keeping antitumor efficacy. This property, called the FLASH effect, has caused enthusiasm in the radiation oncology community because it opens opportunities for safe dose escalation and improved radiation therapy outcome. Here, we investigated the impact of ultra-high-dose-rate FLASH versus conventional-dose-rate (CONV) total body irradiation (TBI) on humanized models of T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) and normal human hematopoiesis. METHODS AND MATERIALS We optimized the geometry of irradiation to ensure reproducible and homogeneous procedures using eRT6/Oriatron. Three T-ALL patient-derived xenografts and hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells (HSPCs) and CD34+ cells isolated from umbilical cord blood were transplanted into immunocompromised mice, together or separately. After reconstitution, mice received 4 Gy FLASH and CONV-TBI, and tumor growth and normal hematopoiesis were studied. A retrospective study of clinical and gene-profiling data previously obtained on the 3 T-ALL patient-derived xenografts was performed. RESULTS FLASH-TBI was more efficient than CONV-TBI in controlling the propagation of 2 cases of T-ALL, whereas the third case of T-ALL was more responsive to CONV-TBI. The 2 FLASH-sensitive cases of T-ALL had similar genetic abnormalities, and a putative susceptibility imprint to FLASH-RT was found. In addition, FLASH-TBI was able to preserve some HSPC/CD34+ cell potential. Interestingly, when HSPC and T-ALL were present in the same animals, FLASH-TBI could control tumor development in most (3 of 4) of the secondary grafted animals, whereas among the mice receiving CONV-TBI, treated cells died with high leukemia infiltration. CONCLUSIONS Compared with CONV-TBI, FLASH-TBI reduced functional damage to human blood stem cells and had a therapeutic effect on human T-ALL with a common genetic and genomic profile. The validity of the defined susceptibility imprint needs to be investigated further; however, to our knowledge, the present findings are the first to show benefits of FLASH-TBI on human hematopoiesis and leukemia treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Chabi
- Team Niche and Cancer in Hematopoiesis, Fontenay-aux-Roses, France; Laboratoire des cellules Souches Hématopoïétiques et des Leucémies, Service Cellules Souches et Radiations, Fontenay-aux-Roses, France; UMRE008 Stabilité Génétique, Cellules Souches et Radiations, Université de Paris and Université Paris-Saclay, Fontenay-aux-Roses, France
| | - Thi Hong Van To
- Laboratoire des cellules Souches Hématopoïétiques et des Leucémies, Service Cellules Souches et Radiations, Fontenay-aux-Roses, France; UMRE008 Stabilité Génétique, Cellules Souches et Radiations, Université de Paris and Université Paris-Saclay, Fontenay-aux-Roses, France; Laboratory of Radiation Oncology, Department of Radiation Oncology, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Ron Leavitt
- Laboratory of Radiation Oncology, Department of Radiation Oncology, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Sandrine Poglio
- Team Niche and Cancer in Hematopoiesis, Fontenay-aux-Roses, France; Laboratoire des cellules Souches Hématopoïétiques et des Leucémies, Service Cellules Souches et Radiations, Fontenay-aux-Roses, France; UMRE008 Stabilité Génétique, Cellules Souches et Radiations, Université de Paris and Université Paris-Saclay, Fontenay-aux-Roses, France
| | - Patrik Gonçalves Jorge
- Laboratory of Radiation Oncology, Department of Radiation Oncology, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Switzerland; Institute of Radiation Physics/CHUV, Lausanne University Hospital, Switzerland
| | - Maud Jaccard
- Institute of Radiation Physics/CHUV, Lausanne University Hospital, Switzerland
| | - Kristoffer Petersson
- Laboratory of Radiation Oncology, Department of Radiation Oncology, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Switzerland; Institute of Radiation Physics/CHUV, Lausanne University Hospital, Switzerland
| | - Benoit Petit
- Laboratory of Radiation Oncology, Department of Radiation Oncology, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Paul-Henri Roméo
- Team Niche and Cancer in Hematopoiesis, Fontenay-aux-Roses, France; UMRE008 Stabilité Génétique, Cellules Souches et Radiations, Université de Paris and Université Paris-Saclay, Fontenay-aux-Roses, France; Laboratoire de la Régulation de la Transcription dans les cellules Souches, Service Cellules Souches et Radiations, Fontenay-aux-Roses, France
| | - Françoise Pflumio
- Team Niche and Cancer in Hematopoiesis, Fontenay-aux-Roses, France; Laboratoire des cellules Souches Hématopoïétiques et des Leucémies, Service Cellules Souches et Radiations, Fontenay-aux-Roses, France; UMRE008 Stabilité Génétique, Cellules Souches et Radiations, Université de Paris and Université Paris-Saclay, Fontenay-aux-Roses, France
| | - Marie-Catherine Vozenin
- Laboratory of Radiation Oncology, Department of Radiation Oncology, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Switzerland.
| | - Benjamin Uzan
- Team Niche and Cancer in Hematopoiesis, Fontenay-aux-Roses, France; Laboratoire des cellules Souches Hématopoïétiques et des Leucémies, Service Cellules Souches et Radiations, Fontenay-aux-Roses, France; UMRE008 Stabilité Génétique, Cellules Souches et Radiations, Université de Paris and Université Paris-Saclay, Fontenay-aux-Roses, France
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42
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Rothwell BC, Kirkby NF, Merchant MJ, Chadwick AL, Lowe M, Mackay RI, Hendry JH, Kirkby KJ. Determining the parameter space for effective oxygen depletion for FLASH radiation therapy. Phys Med Biol 2021; 66. [PMID: 33535191 PMCID: PMC8208623 DOI: 10.1088/1361-6560/abe2ea] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2020] [Accepted: 02/03/2021] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
There has been a recent revival of interest in the FLASH effect, after experiments have shown normal tissue sparing capabilities of ultra-high-dose-rate radiation with no compromise on tumour growth restraint. A model has been developed to investigate the relative importance of a number of fundamental parameters considered to be involved in the oxygen depletion paradigm of induced radioresistance. An example eight-dimensional parameter space demonstrates the conditions under which radiation may induce sufficient depletion of oxygen for a diffusion-limited hypoxic cellular response. Initial results support experimental evidence that FLASH sparing is only achieved for dose rates on the order of tens of Gy/s or higher, for a sufficiently high dose, and only for tissue that is slightly hypoxic at the time of radiation. We show that the FLASH effect is the result of a number of biological, radiochemical and delivery parameters. Also, the threshold dose for a FLASH effect occurring would be more prominent when the parameterisation was optimised to produce the maximum effect. The model provides a framework for further FLASH-related investigation and experimental design. An understanding of the mechanistic interactions producing an optimised FLASH effect is essential for its translation into clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bethany Cordelia Rothwell
- Division of Cancer Sciences, The University of Manchester Faculty of Biology Medicine and Health, Manchester, UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND
| | - Norman F Kirkby
- Division of Cancer Sciences, The University of Manchester Faculty of Biology Medicine and Health, Manchester, UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND
| | - Michael J Merchant
- Division of Cancer Sciences, The University of Manchester Faculty of Biology Medicine and Health, Manchester, UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND
| | - Amy L Chadwick
- Division of Cancer Sciences, The University of Manchester Faculty of Biology Medicine and Health, Manchester, UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND
| | - Matthew Lowe
- Christie Medical Physics and Engineering, The Christie NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND
| | - Ranald I Mackay
- Christie Medical Physics and Engineering , The Christie NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND
| | - Jolyon H Hendry
- Christie Medical Physics and Engineering, The Christie NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND
| | - Karen J Kirkby
- Division of Cancer Sciences, The University of Manchester Faculty of Biology Medicine and Health, Manchester, UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND
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43
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Lyu Q, Neph R, O'Connor D, Ruan D, Boucher S, Sheng K. ROAD: ROtational direct Aperture optimization with a Decoupled ring-collimator for FLASH radiotherapy. Phys Med Biol 2021; 66:035020. [PMID: 33207321 DOI: 10.1088/1361-6560/abcbd0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
Ultra-high dose rate in radiotherapy (FLASH) has been shown to increase the therapeutic index with markedly reduced normal tissue toxicity and the same or better tumor cell killing. The challenge to achieve FLASH using x-rays, besides developing a high output linac, is to intensity-modulate the high-dose-rate x-rays so that the biological gain is not offset by the lack of physical dose conformity. In this study, we develop the ROtational direct Aperture optimization with a Decoupled ring-collimator (ROAD) to achieve simultaneous ultrafast delivery and complex dose modulation. The ROAD design includes a fast-rotating slip-ring linac and a decoupled collimator-ring with 75 pre-shaped multi-leaf-collimator (MLC) modules. The ring-source rotates at 1 rotation per second (rps) clockwise while the ring-collimator is either static or rotating at 1 rps counterclockwise, achieving 75 (ROAD-75) or 150 (ROAD-150) equal-angular beams for one full arc. The Direct Aperture Optimization (DAO) for ROAD was formulated to include a least-square dose fidelity, an anisotropic total variation term, and a single segment term. The FLASH dose (FD) and FLASH biological equivalent dose (FBED) were computed voxelwise, with the latter using a spatiotemporal model accounting for radiolytic oxygen depletion. ROAD was compared with clinical volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) on a brain, a lung, a prostate, and a head and neck cancer patient. The mean dose rate of ROAD-75 and ROAD-150 are 76.2 Gy s-1 and 112 Gy s-1 respectively to deliver 25 Gy single-fraction dose in 1 s. With improved PTV homogeneity, ROAD-150 reduced (max, mean) OAR physical dose by (4.8 Gy, 6.3 Gy). The average R50 and integral dose of (VMAT, ROAD-75, ROAD-150) are (4.8, 3.2, 3.2) and (89, 57, 56) Gy×Liter, respectively. The FD and FBED showed model dependent FLASH effects. The novel ROAD design achieves ultrafast dose delivery and improves physical dosimetry compared with clinical VMAT, providing a potentially viable engineering solution for x-ray FLASH radiotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qihui Lyu
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, United States of America
| | - Ryan Neph
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, United States of America
| | - Daniel O'Connor
- Department of Mathematics and Statistics, University of San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, United States of America
| | - Dan Ruan
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, United States of America
| | - Salime Boucher
- RadiaBeam Technologies, Santa Monica, CA 90404, United States of America
| | - Ke Sheng
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, United States of America
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44
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Abdominal FLASH irradiation reduces radiation-induced gastrointestinal toxicity for the treatment of ovarian cancer in mice. Sci Rep 2020; 10:21600. [PMID: 33303827 PMCID: PMC7728763 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-78017-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 124] [Impact Index Per Article: 31.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2020] [Accepted: 11/11/2020] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Radiation therapy is the most effective cytotoxic therapy for localized tumors. However, normal tissue toxicity limits the radiation dose and the curative potential of radiation therapy when treating larger target volumes. In particular, the highly radiosensitive intestine limits the use of radiation for patients with intra-abdominal tumors. In metastatic ovarian cancer, total abdominal irradiation (TAI) was used as an effective postsurgical adjuvant therapy in the management of abdominal metastases. However, TAI fell out of favor due to high toxicity of the intestine. Here we utilized an innovative preclinical irradiation platform to compare the safety and efficacy of TAI ultra-high dose rate FLASH irradiation to conventional dose rate (CONV) irradiation in mice. We demonstrate that single high dose TAI-FLASH produced less mortality from gastrointestinal syndrome, spared gut function and epithelial integrity, and spared cell death in crypt base columnar cells compared to TAI-CONV irradiation. Importantly, TAI-FLASH and TAI-CONV irradiation had similar efficacy in reducing tumor burden while improving intestinal function in a preclinical model of ovarian cancer metastasis. These findings suggest that FLASH irradiation may be an effective strategy to enhance the therapeutic index of abdominal radiotherapy, with potential application to metastatic ovarian cancer.
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45
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Esplen N, Mendonca MS, Bazalova-Carter M. Physics and biology of ultrahigh dose-rate (FLASH) radiotherapy: a topical review. Phys Med Biol 2020; 65:23TR03. [PMID: 32721941 DOI: 10.1088/1361-6560/abaa28] [Citation(s) in RCA: 117] [Impact Index Per Article: 29.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Ultrahigh dose-rate radiotherapy (RT), or 'FLASH' therapy, has gained significant momentum following various in vivo studies published since 2014 which have demonstrated a reduction in normal tissue toxicity and similar tumor control for FLASH-RT when compared with conventional dose-rate RT. Subsequent studies have sought to investigate the potential for FLASH normal tissue protection and the literature has been since been inundated with publications on FLASH therapies. Today, FLASH-RT is considered by some as having the potential to 'revolutionize radiotherapy'. FLASH-RT is considered by some as having the potential to 'revolutionize radiotherapy'. The goal of this review article is to present the current state of this intriguing RT technique and to review existing publications on FLASH-RT in terms of its physical and biological aspects. In the physics section, the current landscape of ultrahigh dose-rate radiation delivery and dosimetry is presented. Specifically, electron, photon and proton radiation sources capable of delivering ultrahigh dose-rates along with their beam delivery parameters are thoroughly discussed. Additionally, the benefits and drawbacks of radiation detectors suitable for dosimetry in FLASH-RT are presented. The biology section comprises a summary of pioneering in vitro ultrahigh dose-rate studies performed in the 1960s and early 1970s and continues with a summary of the recent literature investigating normal and tumor tissue responses in electron, photon and proton beams. The section is concluded with possible mechanistic explanations of the FLASH normal-tissue protection effect (FLASH effect). Finally, challenges associated with clinical translation of FLASH-RT and its future prospects are critically discussed; specifically, proposed treatment machines and publications on treatment planning for FLASH-RT are reviewed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nolan Esplen
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
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46
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Poppinga D, Kranzer R, Farabolini W, Gilardi A, Corsini R, Wyrwoll V, Looe HK, Delfs B, Gabrisch L, Poppe B. VHEE beam dosimetry at CERN Linear Electron Accelerator for Research under ultra-high dose rate conditions. Biomed Phys Eng Express 2020; 7. [PMID: 34037536 DOI: 10.1088/2057-1976/abcae5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2020] [Accepted: 11/16/2020] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
The aim of this work is the dosimetric characterization of a plane parallel ionization chamber under defined beam setups at the CERN Linear Electron Accelerator for Research (CLEAR). A laser driven electron beam with energy of 200 MeV at two different field sizes of approximately 3.5 mm FWHM and approximately 7 mm FWHM were used at different pulse structures. Thereby the dose-per-pulse range varied between approximately 0.2 and 12 Gy per pulse. This range represents approximately conventional dose rate range beam conditions up to ultra-high dose rate (UHDR) beam conditions. The experiment was based on a water phantom which was integrated into the horizontal beamline and radiochromic films and an Advanced Markus ionization chamber was positioned in the water phantom. In addition, the experimental setup were modelled in the Monte Carlo simulation environment FLUKA. In a first step the radiochromic film measurements were used to verify the beamline setup. Depth dose distributions and dose profiles measured by radiochromic film were compared with Monte Carlo simulations to verify the experimental conditions. Second, the radiochromic films were used for reference dosimetry to characterize the ionization chamber. In particular, polarity effects and the ion collection efficiency of the ionization chamber were investigated for both field sizes and the complete dose rate range. As a result of the study, significant polarity effects and recombination loss of the ionization chamber were shown and characterized. However, the work shows that the behavior of the ionization chamber at the laser driven beam line at the CLEAR facility is comparable to classical high dose-per-pulse electron beams. This allows the use of ionization chambers on the CLEAR system and thus enables active dose measurement during the experiment. Compared to passive dose measurement with film, this is an important step forward in the experimental equipment of the facility.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Rafael Kranzer
- PTW Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.,University Clinic for Medical Radiation Physics, Medical Campus Pius Hospital, Carl von Ossietzky University, Oldenburg, Germany
| | | | - Antonio Gilardi
- Federico II, DIETI, University of Napoli, Napoli, Italy.,CERN, CH1211 Geneva, Switzerland.,National Institute for Nuclear Physics (INFN), Section of Napoli, Italy
| | | | | | - Hui Khee Looe
- University Clinic for Medical Radiation Physics, Medical Campus Pius Hospital, Carl von Ossietzky University, Oldenburg, Germany
| | - Björn Delfs
- University Clinic for Medical Radiation Physics, Medical Campus Pius Hospital, Carl von Ossietzky University, Oldenburg, Germany
| | - Lukas Gabrisch
- University Clinic for Medical Radiation Physics, Medical Campus Pius Hospital, Carl von Ossietzky University, Oldenburg, Germany
| | - Björn Poppe
- University Clinic for Medical Radiation Physics, Medical Campus Pius Hospital, Carl von Ossietzky University, Oldenburg, Germany
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47
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Zhang Q, Cascio E, Li C, Yang Q, Gerweck LE, Huang P, Gottschalk B, Flanz J, Schuemann J. FLASH Investigations Using Protons: Design of Delivery System, Preclinical Setup and Confirmation of FLASH Effect with Protons in Animal Systems. Radiat Res 2020; 194:656-664. [DOI: 10.1667/rade-20-00068.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2020] [Accepted: 08/14/2020] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Qixian Zhang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Ethan Cascio
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Chengming Li
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Qingyuan Yang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Leo E. Gerweck
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Peigen Huang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Bernard Gottschalk
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Jacob Flanz
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Jan Schuemann
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
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48
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Petersson K, Adrian G, Butterworth K, McMahon SJ. A Quantitative Analysis of the Role of Oxygen Tension in FLASH Radiation Therapy. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 2020; 107:539-547. [PMID: 32145319 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2020.02.634] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2019] [Revised: 02/14/2020] [Accepted: 02/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Recent demonstrations of normal tissue sparing by high-dose, high-dose-rate FLASH radiation therapy have driven considerable interest in its application to improve clinical outcomes. However, significant uncertainty remains about the underlying mechanisms of FLASH sparing and how deliveries can be optimized to maximize benefit from this effect. Rapid oxygen depletion has been suggested as a potential mechanism by which these effects occur, but this has yet to be quantitatively tested against experimental data. METHODS AND MATERIALS Models of oxygen kinetics during irradiation were used to develop a time-dependent model of the oxygen enhancement ratio in mammalian cells that incorporates oxygen depletion. The characteristics of this model were then explored in terms of the dose and dose-rate dependence of the oxygen enhancement ratio. This model was also fit to experimental data from both in vitro and in vivo data sets. RESULTS In cases of FLASH radiation therapy, this model suggests that oxygen levels can be depleted by amounts that are sufficient to affect radiosensitivity only in conditions of intermediate oxygen tension, with no effect seen at high or very low initial oxygen levels. The model also effectively reproduced the dose, dose rate, and oxygen tension dependence of responses to FLASH radiation therapy in a range of systems, with model parameters compatible with published data. CONCLUSIONS Oxygen depletion provides a credible quantitative model to understand the biological effects of FLASH radiation therapy and is compatible with a range of experimental observations of FLASH sparing. These results highlight the need for more detailed quantification of oxygen depletion under high-dose-rate radiation exposures in relevant systems and the importance of oxygen tension in target tissues for FLASH sparing to be observed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristoffer Petersson
- Department of Oncology, Oxford Institute for Radiation Oncology, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom; Department of Haematology, Oncology and Radiation Physics, Radiation Physics, Skåne University Hospital, Lund, Sweden
| | - Gabriel Adrian
- Department of Clinical Sciences Lund, Oncology, Skåne University Hospital, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Karl Butterworth
- Centre for Cancer Research and Cell Biology, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, Northern Ireland
| | - Stephen J McMahon
- Centre for Cancer Research and Cell Biology, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, Northern Ireland.
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Darafsheh A, Hao Y, Zwart T, Wagner M, Catanzano D, Williamson JF, Knutson N, Sun B, Mutic S, Zhao T. Feasibility of proton FLASH irradiation using a synchrocyclotron for preclinical studies. Med Phys 2020; 47:4348-4355. [DOI: 10.1002/mp.14253] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2020] [Revised: 05/15/2020] [Accepted: 05/15/2020] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Arash Darafsheh
- Department of Radiation Oncology Washington University School of Medicine St. Louis MO 63110 USA
| | - Yao Hao
- Department of Radiation Oncology Washington University School of Medicine St. Louis MO 63110 USA
| | - Townsend Zwart
- Mevion Medical Systems 300 Foster St. Littleton MA 01460 USA
| | - Miles Wagner
- Mevion Medical Systems 300 Foster St. Littleton MA 01460 USA
| | | | - Jeffrey F. Williamson
- Department of Radiation Oncology Washington University School of Medicine St. Louis MO 63110 USA
| | - Nels Knutson
- Department of Radiation Oncology Washington University School of Medicine St. Louis MO 63110 USA
| | - Baozhou Sun
- Department of Radiation Oncology Washington University School of Medicine St. Louis MO 63110 USA
| | - Sasa Mutic
- Department of Radiation Oncology Washington University School of Medicine St. Louis MO 63110 USA
| | - Tianyu Zhao
- Department of Radiation Oncology Washington University School of Medicine St. Louis MO 63110 USA
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50
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Hendry J. Taking Care with FLASH Radiation Therapy. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 2020; 107:239-242. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2020.01.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2019] [Revised: 01/14/2020] [Accepted: 01/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
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