Evidence mapPaperPMID 39796760Full record

ReviewCancers2025

Exploring the Metabolic Impact of FLASH Radiotherapy.

Febe Geirnaert, Lisa Kerkhove, Pierre Montay-Gruel, Thierry Gevaert, Inès Dufait, Mark De Ridder

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Cancers, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 16 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
16citing papers in PubMed
field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

16 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Reduced corneal toxicity following whole brain irradiation in mice.Clinical and translational radiation oncology · 2026
    Article
  2. Total body irradiation-based conditioning in allogeneic transplantation in patients with hematological malignancies: impact in outcomes by stem-cell source.Clinical & translational oncology : official publication of the Federation of Spanish Oncology Societies and of the National Cancer Institute of Mexico · 2026
    Article
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  16. Mechanisms of the FLASH effect: current insights and advances.Frontiers in cell and developmental biology · 2025
    Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Febe GeirnaertDepartment of Radiotherapy, Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, 1090 Brussels, Belgium.ORCID 0000-0002-2154-0378
Lisa KerkhoveDepartment of Radiotherapy, Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, 1090 Brussels, Belgium.ORCID 0000-0003-2119-0520
Pierre Montay-GruelRadiation Oncology Department, Iridium Netwerk, 2610 Antwerp, Belgium.
Thierry GevaertDepartment of Radiotherapy, Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, 1090 Brussels, Belgium.ORCID 0000-0003-4556-5681
Inès DufaitDepartment of Radiotherapy, Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, 1090 Brussels, Belgium.ORCID 0000-0002-9945-4357
Mark De RidderDepartment of Radiotherapy, Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, 1090 Brussels, Belgium.ORCID 0000-0003-4433-8807

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

FLASH radiotherapy (FLASH RT) is an innovative modality in cancer treatment that delivers ultrahigh dose rates (UHDRs), distinguishing it from conventional radiotherapy (CRT). FLASH RT has demonstrated the potential to enhance the therapeutic window by reducing radiation-induced damage to normal tissues while maintaining tumor control, a phenomenon termed the FLASH effect. Despite promising outcomes, the precise mechanisms underlying the FLASH effect remain elusive and are a focal point of current research. This review explores the metabolic and cellular responses to FLASH RT compared to CRT, with particular focus on the differential impacts on normal and tumor tissues. Key findings suggest that FLASH RT may mitigate damage in healthy tissues via altered reactive oxygen species (ROS) dynamics, which attenuate downstream oxidative damage. Studies indicate the FLASH RT influences iron metabolism and lipid peroxidation pathways differently than CRT. Additionally, various studies indicate that FLASH RT promotes the preservation of mitochondrial integrity and function, which helps maintain apoptotic pathways in normal tissues, attenuating damage. Current knowledge of the metabolic influences following FLASH RT highlights its potential to minimize toxicity in normal tissues, while also emphasizing the need for further studies in biologically relevant, complex systems to better understand its clinical potential. By targeting distinct metabolic pathways, FLASH RT could represent a transformative advance in RT, ultimately improving the therapeutic window for cancer treatment.

Indexed as

FLASH effectFLASH radiotherapylipid peroxidationmetabolismmitochondriareactive oxygen speciesultrahigh dose rate radiotherapy

Identifiers

PMID39796760
PMCPMC11720285

What Socratic holds

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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.