Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42837388›Full record

ArticleMedical physics2026

Expanding dose and dose-rate capabilities of a synchrotron-based pre-clinical proton FLASH irradiation platform.

Zongsheng Hu, Yuting Li, Xiaochun Wang, Radhe Mohan, Uwe Titt

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Medical physics, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing 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

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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

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
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

5 authors.

Zongsheng HuDepartment of Radiation Physics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA.
Yuting LiDepartment of Radiation Physics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA.
Xiaochun WangDepartment of Radiation Physics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA.
Radhe MohanDepartment of Radiation Physics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA.
Uwe TittDepartment of Radiation Physics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA.

Funding

Tumor Evolution and Metastasis ProgramP30CA016672 · NCI · UNIVERSITY OF TX MD ANDERSON CAN CTR · PI DIANE BODURKA · 1985 to 2026
$290.8M
NCI NIH HHS P30 CA016672NCI NIH HHS P30CA016672The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundProton FLASH radiotherapy has demonstrated promising normal tissue sparing for similar tumor control at ultra-high dose rates (> 40 Gy/s), but systematic investigation of dose-rate-dependent biological mechanisms is limited. Most existing proton platforms operate within a narrow dose-rate range. Synchrotron-based systems are further constrained by limited beam current and cyclic ("spill-based") delivery. PURPOSE: To develop and validate a synchrotron-based small-animal proton irradiation platform with expanded and controllable dose and dose-rate capabilities, enabling systematic studies across conventional, intermediate (meso)-dose-rate (μDR: 1-40 Gy/s) and FLASH regimes.

methodsThe beamline was redesigned to incorporate three beam modulation modes (low, mid, and high dose) by modifying initial scattering conditions and re-optimizing and repositioning downstream components, including cone-shaped flattening filters, ridge filters, and range compensators. 14 discrete synchrotron beam extraction settings (denoted as "IDs") with different beam fluxes were developed and combined with 3 beam modulation modes, resulting in 42 dose and dose-rate combinations. Ridge filters were fabricated using resin-based 3D printing with an iterative geometric correction workflow. Depth-dose distributions were measured using an Advanced Markus ionization chamber, and lateral dose profiles were verified using radiochromic film.

resultsThe low-, mid-, and high-dose modes achieved maximum single-spill doses of 20.8 Gy (205 Gy/s), 30.2 Gy (297 Gy/s), and 53.8 Gy (531 Gy/s), respectively. Across all beam IDs and modulation modes, dose rates ranged from approximately 13 Gy/s to 2200 Gy/s, spanning μDR and FLASH regimes. Measured depth-dose profiles agreed with Monte Carlo simulations within ± 4%, and lateral dose flatness was within ± 3.7%.

conclusionsThis modular beamline redesign significantly expands the achievable dose and dose-rate combinations of a synchrotron-based proton irradiation platform without requiring accelerator modifications. The system enables 42 reproducible dose and dose-rate configurations with single-spill delivery, providing a flexible framework for systematic investigation of dose-rate-dependent radiobiological proton FLASH effects.

Indexed as

Proton TherapyRadiation DosageSynchrotronsAnimalsRadiotherapy Dosagedose‐rate modulationproton FLASH radiotherapysynchrotron beamline optimization

Identifiers

PMID42837388
PMCPMC13641327

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
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Registered trials

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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.