Radiation therapy firm Varian Medical Systems and Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center/University of Cincinnati Medical Center Proton Therapy Center announced the start of the first human clinical trial of Flash therapy.
The first patient was treated at the hospital in Ohio during the week of November 15 as part of the recently opened FAST-01 feasibility study of Flash radiotherapy for the treatment of symptomatic bone metastases. The trial involves the investigational use of a Varian ProBeam particle accelerator that has been modified to enable radiation therapy delivery at ultrahigh doses that are delivered in less than one second.
In October, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration gave Varian an investigational use exemption to begin the first human trial with the experimental treatment technique.
Doctors hope to enroll up to 10 patients with bone metastases in the FAST-01 study, which will evaluate clinical workflow feasibility, side effects, and efficacy of treatment as assessed by measuring the pain relief of participants.
This trial hopes to build a foundation for extending this therapy to other types of cancer.
