Varian, the cancer-care business of Siemens Healthineers, has published results of its Fast-02 clinical trial evaluating proton Flash therapy for painful thoracic bone metastases, with 75% of evaluable participants reporting complete pain relief at three months.
(From left to right) Researchers Emily Daugherty, MD, Anthony Mascia, PhD, and John Perentesis, MD, inside the proton therapy treatment room at the Cincinnati Children's/University of Cincinnati Medical Center Proton Therapy Center.Siemens Healthineers
The trial enrolled 10 adult patients with metastases in the ribs, clavicle, scapula, or sternum, each receiving a single 8 Gy fraction at a dose rate greater than 40 Gy per second, according to the study. Of eight participants with three-month pain scores, six reported complete pain relief and two reported partial pain reduction, the researchers said. Varian reported no cardiac or pulmonary toxicities despite treatment proximity to the lungs, heart, and spinal cord, as well as no serious adverse events related to treatment.
Fast-02 extends the work of Fast-01, which evaluated proton Flash therapy for extremity bone metastases. The trial was conducted at the Cincinnati Children's/University of Cincinnati Proton Therapy Center using Varian's ProBeam proton therapy system, modified to enable ultra-high-dose-rate delivery.
