Investigating the mechanistic basis of photon FLASH radiotherapy in tumours & normal tissues

放射治疗是治疗多种癌症的一种很好的方法，大约一半的病人可以通过它被治愈。一种新的方法涉及以超高剂量率进行放射治疗，称为FLASH放射治疗。这种创新的方法可以减少放射治疗的不良副作用，同时保持其在肿瘤中的细胞杀伤作用。目前，绝大多数FLASH研究都是使用放射治疗（质子和电子）进行的，而这些放射治疗在大多数使用光子的临床治疗中并不使用。最近MRC对我们实验室的资助使我们能够建立世界上第一个光子闪光放疗研究设施之一。这项前沿技术使研究超高剂量率放射治疗效果的新思路成为可能，使用的辐射源更接近大多数临床治疗。在这个项目中，我们将使用这项最先进的技术来探索正常组织和肿瘤对FLASH放疗的反应。使用不同的实验方法，我们将更好地了解FLASH-RT是如何工作的，并利用这些知识进一步优化治疗。这项工作将导致改进的模型，这将促进FLASH-RT向临床的发展，最终旨在改善接受放射治疗的患者的结果。

Radiotherapy is an excellent treatment for many types of cancer and about half of all patients can be cured by its use. A new approach involves the delivery of radiotherapy at ultra-high dose rates, known as FLASH radiotherapy. This innovative approach can reduce the unwanted side effects of radiotherapy whilst maintaining its cell-killing effects in tumours. Currently, the vast majority of FLASH studies have been performed using types of radiotherapy (protons and electrons) that are not used in most clinical treatments delivered that use photons. Recent MRC funding to our laboratory has allowed as to establish one of the world's first photon FLASH radiotherapy research facilities. This leading-edge technology enables new lines of research into the effects of radiotherapy at ultra-high dose rates using a radiation source that is much closer to the majority of clinical treatments.In this project, we will use this state-of-the-art technology to explore how normal tissues and tumours respond to FLASH radiotherapy. Using different experimental methods, we will gain a better understanding of how FLASH-RT works and use this knowledge to further optimize treatments. This work will lead to improved models that will facilitate the development of FLASH-RT towards the clinic ultimately aiming to improve outcomes for patients receiving radiotherapy.