Unique Proton and Electron Flash Experiment Platform for Preclinical Studies


Unique Proton and Electron Flash Experiment Platform for Preclinical Studies

Beyreuther, E.

The recent rediscovery of the “Flash Effect” revived the interest in high and ultra-high dose-rate radiation
effects throughout the radiobiology community, promising protection of normal tissue, while simultaneously
not altering tumour control. Systematic preclinical studies at (modified) clinical accelerators resulted in a recipe
of necessary beam parameters for the induction of electron Flash effect (doi:10.3389/fonc.2019.01563), whereas
for protons the optimal parameter setting is still under investigation. Expanding the clinical parameter range
the “Dresden platform for high-dose rate radiobiology” enables electron and proton experiments with doserates
of up to 109 Gy/s and more flexible beam pulse structures.
For systematic studies of the available electron and proton beam parameters, the zebrafish embryo model was
irradiated under similar conditions at the different accelerators. The irradiation setup was adapted with respect
to model requirements, i.e. a certain partial oxygen pressure, and the respective beam parameters.
Making use of the flexible pulse structure of the research electron accelerator ELBE, the mean dose rate was
identified as the factor that defines the electron Flash effect with decreasing radiation damage for electron
mean dose rate from 0.1 to 10^5 Gy/s. To cover a similar range of dose rates for protons, irradiations at the
University Proton Therapy Dresden (UPTD) were combined with proton treatment at the laser proton
accelerator DRACO. In doing so, the effects of proton dose rates in the range of 0.1 to 10^9 Gy/s could be
investigated.
To sum up, using the zebrafish embryo model as showcase the possibilities of the “Dresden platform” were
demonstrated, which opens the possibility for systematic studies on the mechanisms of the Flash effect in
tissue, on physico-chemical or molecular level.

  • Invited lecture (Conferences)
    2nd Flash Radiotherapy and Particle Therapy Conference (FRPT 2022), 30.11.-02.12.2022, Barcelona, Spain

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Publ.-Id: 36084