FLASH Radiotherapy: The Next Technological Advance in Radiation Therapy?

FLASH radiotherapy involves the ultra-fast delivery of radiation treatment at dose rates several orders of magnitude greater than those currently in routine clinical practice. In order to eradicate tumours, all cancerous cells must be killed with normal tissue being spared from radiation damage as much as possible. Ultra-fast dose rates allow normal tissue tolerance levels to be exceeded, at least in animal models, with a greater probability of tumour control and little or no normal tissue damage.