Experimental radiotherapy technique kills cancer cells while sparing healthy tissue

the Oncology Nurse Advisor take:

A new radiation technique appears to target tumor cells, leaving healthy cells unharmed, according to a new study in mice. The technique, known as FLASH, was developed by researchers at the Institute Curie in Paris, France. FLASH delivers short pulses of intense radiation to tumor cells. In contrast, radiotherapy uses high-energy radiation to permanently damage cancer cell DNA, causing the cells to commit suicide. Standard radiotherapy can also damage healthy tissue because it delivers a continuous bean of radiation to targeted areas. Researchers found that rapid pulses of high-dose radiation affected lung cancer cells differently, killing the tumor cells but leaving the surrounding healthy tissue intact. One constraint to this new method, however, is that radiotherapy facilities do not currently have the technology in place. In addition, further development would require a whole new generation of radiotherapy machinery.