Efficacy of Radiotherapy FLASH-RT: From Treating Lung Cancer to Preventing Pulmonary Fibrosis

FLASH radiotherapy (FLASH-RT) is a radiotherapy technique that achieves ultra-high dose rates in a fraction of a second. Based on data from experimental animal models, FLASH-RT appears to protect a number of normal tissues from radiation-induced damage, including the brain, gastrointestinal tract, and lung, while conventional radiotherapy (CONV-RT) causes radiation-induced toxicity in these tissues. In this review, we provide a brief summary of the history of radiation therapy and focus on some of the most recent FLASH-RT papers and findings. It is particularly noteworthy that pulmonary fibrosis represents a common complication of radiotherapy. New evidence indicates that FLASH-RT, unlike traditional radiotherapy methods, might help protect lung cancer patients from developing pulmonary fibrosis caused by radiation. FLASH-RT will advance more quickly than anticipated, although there are still a number of unresolved concerns. FLASH-RT will be a safer and more effective option for lung cancer treatment.