Varian Completes FAST-02 Flash Radiotherapy Trial for Bone Metastases at UC Cancer Center
Key Insights
Varian (search) successfully completed enrollment and treatment in the FAST-02 clinical trial targeting painful bone metastases (search) in the thoracic region using Flash radiotherapy (search) at the University of Cincinnati Cancer Center (search).
The trial enrolled 10 participants and evaluated treatment-related side effects and efficacy through patient-reported pain relief, building on findings from the previous FAST-01 trial.
Flash therapy delivers treatment at ultra-high dose rates in less than one second, over 100 times faster than conventional radiation therapy, with potential to reduce damage to healthy tissues.
Varian (search), a Siemens Healthineers (search) company, has successfully completed enrollment and treatment in its FAST-02 clinical trial, marking a pivotal advancement in Flash radiotherapy (search) for cancer (search) patients with painful bone metastases (search). The trial, conducted at Cincinnati Children's Hospital (search)/UC Health Proton Therapy Center, represents a significant step toward bringing this ultra-fast radiotherapy treatment into clinical practice.
Trial Design and Patient Population
The FAST-02 study enrolled 10 participants with painful bone metastases (search) in the thoracic region. The trial focused on evaluating treatment-related side effects and treatment efficacy, which was assessed using participants' reported pain relief. This study builds upon findings from Varian (search)'s previous FAST-01 trial, which evaluated clinical workflow feasibility of Flash therapy and treatment-related side effects for participants with bone metastases in the extremities.
The trial was led by Principal Investigator John Perentesis, M.D., Professor and Director of the Cancer (search) and Blood Disease Institute at Cincinnati Children's Hospital (search), and lead Co-Investigator Emily Daugherty, M.D., Associate Professor of Radiation Oncology at the University of Cincinnati Cancer Center (search).
Flash Radiotherapy Technology
Flash therapy represents a revolutionary approach to radiation treatment, delivering therapy at ultra-high dose rates in typically less than one second—over 100 times faster than conventional radiation therapy. This innovative technology has demonstrated potential in preclinical studies to reduce damage to surrounding healthy tissues while maintaining effective tumor control.
As part of the FAST-02 trial, Varian (search)'s ProBeam proton therapy system (search) was specifically modified to enable ultra-high dose rate delivery for Flash treatments. In parallel, the Eclipse treatment planning system (search) was enhanced to support planning for Flash therapy, with Varian advancing Flash therapy as an integrated system encompassing planning, quality assurance, and treatment delivery technologies.
Clinical Significance and Future Implications
"Completing treatments for FAST-02 is a pivotal and progressive step in our effort to establish the safety and effectiveness of Flash radiotherapy (search)," said Dr. Perentesis. "This trial helps lay the groundwork needed to move Flash into more advanced clinical settings—an innovation that could redefine radiation oncology and meaningfully improve patient outcomes."
The successful completion of enrollment and treatment in FAST-02 represents a crucial milestone in the development of Flash radiotherapy (search) technology. The collaboration between Varian (search) and leading institutions continues to drive progress toward next-generation cancer (search) treatments that could potentially transform how radiation therapy is delivered to cancer patients, particularly those suffering from painful bone metastases (search).