Transforming prostate cancer treatment with ultra-fast radiotherapy

Grant information

Reference: RIA23-ST2-003
Lead researcher: Professor Karl Butterworth
Institution: Queen's University Belfast
Award: £326,228

What you need to know

• The researchers are exploring a new kind of radiotherapy called FLASH, which delivers radiation in less than a second compared to the several minutes needed for traditional radiotherapy.
• The team believes FLASH radiotherapy could reduce the side effects experienced by men undergoing radiotherapy for prostate cancer, while making the treatment more effective.
• The project will test how well FLASH works at treating prostate cancer, and provide evidence for its safety and effectiveness, paving the way for it to be used in the clinic.

Why are we funding this research?

Professor Butterworth and his team aim to improve how prostate cancer is treated with radiotherapy. Radiotherapy is a common treatment that uses high-energy rays, like X-rays, to kill cancer cells. However, it usually takes several minutes per session, and can sometimes cause side effects that make men feel unwell during or after their treatment.

What will the researchers do?

This research project aims to test a new method called FLASH radiotherapy, which could make treatments much faster and safer. Unlike traditional radiotherapy, FLASH radiotherapy delivers the dose of radiation in less than a second, and early studies suggest it does less damage to the tissues surrounding the cancer. This means the ultra-fast delivery of radiation could be less onerous on men, but just as effective at killing cancer cells and cause fewer side effects.

To test this theory, the team will use their FLASH radiotherapy system to see how different prostate tumours respond to FLASH-radiotherapy in a lab setting.

They'll test different doses of radiation to find the optimal amount that can effectively treat the cancer while minimising harm to surrounding healthy tissues, like the bladder and rectum.

Additionally, the researchers will study how FLASH-radiotherapy affects other parts of the body, especially those that are at risk of being damaged during treatment. They’re particularly interested in seeing if this new method can reduce the chances of side effects like bladder or bowel problems, which are common with standard radiotherapy. They will also explore whether FLASH can help prevent erectile dysfunction, a possible side effect of prostate cancer treatment.

How will this benefit men?

If this research proves that FLASH-radiotherapy is both safe and effective, it could lead to a major shift in how prostate cancer is treated. Men affected by prostate cancer could experience less pain and discomfort during treatment, recover more quickly, and return to their normal lives sooner.

Ultimately, this could improve the overall quality of life for many men dealing with prostate cancer, offering them better outcomes with fewer long-term effects.