IBA, a world leader in particle accelerator technology and proton therapy, has partnered with PARTICLE to develop ConformalFLASH, an innovative cancer treatment technique. Through this collaboration, IBA will integrate FLASH therapy into PARTICLE’s clinical proton therapy system for preclinical research. By delivering treatment at an ultra-high dose rate, FLASH therapy has the potential to minimize toxicity and enhance tumor control. This collaboration signifies a significant step towards bringing FLASH therapy to clinical implementation and improving radiation treatment for cancer patients.
IBA, a prominent company specializing in particle accelerator technology and a global leader in providing proton therapy solutions for cancer treatment, has joined forces with PARTICLE, the Particle Therapy Interuniversity Center Leuven. The partnership aims to advance the development of ConformalFLASH, a cutting-edge therapy technique.
Under this collaboration, IBA will incorporate the FLASH configuration into PARTICLE’s clinical proton therapy system, facilitating preclinical research on FLASH therapy. A team of researchers from UZ Leuven, KU Leuven, and UCLouvain will conduct experiments using IBA’s Proteus ONE to evaluate the effects of FLASH therapy on normal tissue toxicity. The outcomes of this research may lead to novel clinical applications benefiting patients in the future.
This research endeavor represents the first project exploring FLASH therapy in a clinical setting using a superconducting synchrocyclotron like IBA’s Proteus ONE. FLASH therapy involves administering treatment at an ultra-high dose rate (greater than 40 Gy/s) over one to five treatment sessions, in contrast to conventional beam treatments that are delivered at much lower dose rates and spread out over 25 to 30 sessions on average. The ultra-high dose rate delivery of FLASH therapy holds promise for reducing toxicity and minimizing damage to healthy tissues while achieving comparable tumor control to conventional treatments.
FLASH therapy has the potential to revolutionize radiation therapy and cancer treatment, supported by a growing body of preclinical evidence. The collaboration between IBA and PARTICLE signifies a significant step toward bringing FLASH therapy to clinical practice. It builds upon the enduring partnership established between the two entities in 2017.
Olivier Legrain, CEO of IBA, expressed his enthusiasm, stating, “ConformalFLASH therapy has the potential to enhance radiotherapy for patients worldwide. IBA remains dedicated to shaping the future of proton therapy in collaboration with partners and the user community. Leveraging our industry-leading expertise in FLASH research, we are thrilled to team up with PARTICLE as our first Proteus ONE research partner, further deepening our understanding of FLASH and advancing its clinical implementation.”
Professor Edmond Sterpin, Research Professor at KU Leuven and UCLouvain, commented, “At PARTICLE, we are committed to investing in the improvement of radiation treatment delivery for the benefit of our patients. Through this preclinical research, we aspire to gain further insights into how FLASH therapy can offer faster, simpler, and more effective cancer treatment.”
