FLASH radiotherapy: pioneering the revolutionary path from bench to bedside
10.3760/cma.j.cn112271-20250916-00334
- VernacularTitle:FLASH放疗：从基础研究到临床转化的革命性探索
- Author:
Zhifei CAO
1
;
Xiaobo DU
Author Information
1. 核工业总医院 苏州大学附属第二医院病理科，苏州 215004
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
FLASH Radiotherapy;
Ultra-high dose rate;
Tumors
- From:
Chinese Journal of Radiological Medicine and Protection
2025;45(11):1047-1051
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Ultra-high dose rate radiotherapy (dose rate ≥40 Gy/s), spearheading a revolution in radiation oncology through its unique " FLASH effect", demonstrates remarkable efficacy in eradicating tumors while concomitantly mitigating damage to normal tissues. This special issue compiles cutting-edge research, offering multi-dimensional insights into its biological mechanisms. At the molecular level, FLASH achieves targeted tumor killing by differentially regulating endoplasmic reticulum stress, cell cycle arrest patterns, programmed cell death, and energy metabolism reprogramming. FLASH irradiation may induce a transient oxygen depletion, creating a hypoxic window that facilitates the efficient scavenging of free radicals within normal tissues. Various animal studies have consistently validated FLASH's capacity to significantly alleviate both acute and long-term radiation injuries while potently suppressing tumor growth. Concurrently, advancements in physics and dosimetry have addressed the core challenges of precise delivery and measurement of ultra-high dose rates, in order to clear critical hurdles for clinical translation. In summary, FLASH radiotherapy has established a solid foundation, spanning from mechanistic elucidation to technological innovation. Its clinical translation now urgently demands the advancement of high-quality, standardized research, with the ultimate goal of safely and precisely harnessing the highly promising FLASH effect for patient benefit, thereby achieving a transformative leap in both therapeutic efficacy and quality of life for cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy.
